Livingstone Lion Rehabilitation And Release Programme Highlights

The highlights

• Walk alongside lions as part of the pride and enjoy the exhilaration of being part of a hunt as the young cubs learn to stalk their prey
• Work on the world’s leading programme for the release of lions back into the wild
• Experience the African bush in a very special way as you spend time out in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. You will be actively involved in a number of conservation activities
• Join the conservation education team in local schools giving you a wonderful insight into the community, as well as giving you a chance to help save the future of the Zambian environment by educating the local children
• Immerse yourself in local Zambian culture
• Enjoy the many adventure activities available from white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi River; bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge or taking to the air for a helicopter flight over the Falls giving a bird’s eye view of this natural wonder
• Take advantage of optional trips to see more of the areas spectacular wildlife areas in neighbouring Botswana or Zimbabwe including the enormous Hwange National Park, Chobe National Park, the chance to walk with rhino at Matopos National Park and visit the lion rehabilitation programme’s breeding base at Antelope Park
• You have the option to spend a night on our very own island in the centre of the Zambezi River and wake to the sounds of hippos
• Make friends for life with the other international volunteers on the programme

Optional activities and excursions

There are a huge number of optional activities and trips that are available to you, at additional cost, whilst on your placement. Here are just a few ideas:

On your time off why not take advantage of the multitude of activities available at Victoria Falls itself, Africa’s adrenaline capital; there are

• helicopter or microlight flights over the Falls
• bungee jumping
• white water rafting
• horse rides
• elephant rides
• game drives
• gorge jumps
• skydiving
• canoeing and a host of other options.

There are also day and weekend trips available to the neighbouring countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe.

During your stay in Livingstone you may have the opportunity to enjoy an excursion to some of the other spectacular spots that the region has to offer.

• Day 1: Leave after breakfast from Livingstone for the breathtaking Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe, home of the Matopos National Park. Enjoy a half-day Rhino Walk & Game Drive as well as a bushman Cave Painting tour. You will also have the chance to visit Cecil Rhodes’ resting place at ‘worlds’ view’
• Day 2-4: Today you travel to Antelope Park, the breeding base for the Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program. In addition to touring the facilities to see the adult lions, here you can also ride through the savannah plains of the game reserve on horseback or take a swim on the back of an African elephant (seasonal) whilst staying at our safari camp on the banks of a beautiful river.
• Day 5: Journey to Hwange National Park; the largest national park in Zimbabwe. You will get the opportunity to go on a game drive where you could get up close and personal with a herd of elephant, buffalo, a pride of lion, clan of hyena and many more.
• Day 6: Leave after breakfast from Miombo for your return to Livingstone

Note: This trip only operates with sufficient volunteer interest.

Where will I sleep?

You will be staying at our volunteer house in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park a stone’s throw from the lion enclosures and the mighty Zambezi River. Rooming will be sharing with up to 3 others although we try and make sure you do not share a room with more than 2 other volunteers. We can also arrange for couples or groups of friends to share rooms. The accommodation is simple but comfortable and completely suited to your needs.

And Meals?

Unless you happen to take a packed breakfast into the park on a long lion walk, will be served at the house and are prepared by our chefs.

The house has running hot and cold water and electricity although this is Africa so there are occasional lapses of both!

What does the cost include?

Project Fee:

This entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as food for lions, management and maintenance of parks infrastructure, and the development of the lion breeding and rehabilitation programme

• All transfers to and from Livingstone Airport upon your arrival and departure
• Assistance in your projects by various trained guides, ecologists and field staff during your stay
• Any wildlife education talks that take place during your stay and that you might wish to partake in
• Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day and unlimited tea, coffee and juice throughout the day
• Laundry service during your stay and the service of a cleaner to attend to your room each day

Do I need experience, is there orientation?

Project Orientation:

On arrival at the Livingstone project, the following orientation will take place:

• You will receive your volunteer's manual which includes information that will help with your integration into the project, as well as give you further tips for your involvement at the Livingstone programme
• Introduction to all senior project staff and heads of department
• Familiarization of the work areas – including rivers, internal roads and tracks and some of the wildlife species
• Introduction to the lions and cub enclosures
• Briefing on how to complete data capture forms and enter data into the computer systems
• Further information on the lion breeding programme and our ultimate objective of free releasing lions into the wild
• Familiarization with all duties you will be involved in

Required experience:

No specific prior experience is required for this project but an interest in and passion for wildlife and conservation is important

What's the age limit?

Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health