VOLUNTEER PROJECTS Community Work HIV/AIDS Medical Work Sports Coaching Teaching & Education Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Research Expeditions Compare all projects Corporate Volunteering University Volunteering Family Volunteering Tailor-made for groups GENERAL Contact Us Book Now Read our blog Subscribe to our Newsletter Send to a Friend Sitemap

Lion Conservation & Community Education, Zimbabwe This programme is a combination of work on our lion breeding and rehabilitation programme that is an extension of our Antelope Park programme, along with National Parks conservation work and community development initiatives. African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Community Work, Victoria Falls - Volunteer Project in Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls Location Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Project Length 3 weeks - 6 weeks Age Limit Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health Project Fee £1795 / $3590 (1 month) £2245 / $4490 (6 weeks) Volunteer Project Information The following links will jump you to different sections on this page, which provide all the information you will need for this Africa volunteer project: African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Community Work, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. » photo gallery | » more about this project | » volunteer & travel highlights » project fee includes & excludes | » day in the life of a volunteer... » volunteer support & orientation | » accommodation & meals | » getting there Photos Zimbabwe Photos of African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Community Work, Victoria Falls in Africa.   More about the Lion Conservation & Community Education in Zimbabwe THE LION REHABILITATION PROGRAMME Over 200,000 lions used to roam the African continent, as recently as 1975. The latest estimates show an 80 – 90% population decline in the last 30 years. The end objective of the Victoria Falls lion project, along with our Antelope Park programme, is the reintroduction of the offspring of captive-bred lions into the wild by means of a four-stage process, which you will learn more about during your involvement with the project. This breeding and rehabilitation project is a World First and is supported by leading ecologists in this field. We invite you to walk and work with African Lions, and to be involved in our in-depth research and data-collection activities. Spending time with the lions in the wild each day is an essential part of the cub’s upbringing. If the cubs are to be released into a wild environment it is important that they spend time in that environment. They need to adapt to it, learn from it, understand, observe, feel and smell the wild. Since the start of this intensive programme, we have noted a marked increase in the Lions’ awareness of their natural surroundings, as well as an improvement in their hunting skills. The larger cubs are now able to take down smaller game species whilst out on walks, and these abilities are being enhanced each day whilst under the supervision of volunteers. These are invaluable discoveries, which have earned us further support for our world first endeavours. Join our team of professional guides and other dedicated volunteers, gain a deeper understanding of the King of Beasts and assist us in gathering vital information that will facilitate their eventual release back into the wild… THE ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK CONSERVATION PROGRAMME Since the inception of this programme mid-way through 2006, volunteers have been and will continue to be involved in soem or all of the following during their placement: G.P.S Mapping: From the beginning of our work in the Park we have been logging the position of the roads and the majority of the campsites and bush camps. This is a wealth of information that African Impact hopes to use to provide the Department of National Parks with a modern, updated and useful tourist map to more effectively promote the natural beauty that characterizes the Zambezi National Park. Walked Dung transects: Usually three volunteers participate in this activity with the main aim being to assess the density of a specific species in any given area. Eventually after enough data is captured we can begin to get an idea of species distribution within the Park and an idea of abundance for each species. Small carnivore census: Very little information is known about the more secretive and nocturnal small carnivores such as the genets (Genetta spp.) and civet (Civettictis civetta) amongst many others. This research exercise is carried out in two parts consisting of early morning spoor counts along a road and with night drives to sight these species. Large Carnivore Research: Starting in 2007, African Impact volunteers hope to investigate the status and distribution of large carnivore species in Victoria Falls National Park by creating a database of predator sightings. Volunteers will attempt to document the following factors for as many sightings of carnivores, or of carnivore spoor as possible: • Date • Location • Habitat type • Species • Number, age (i.e. juvenile, sub adult, adult) and sex of individuals • Behaviour at time of observation • Collation of game scouts reports • Mitigating the impact of the bush-meat trade on wildlife populations in ZNP • Identifying causes and impacts of natural mortalities of wildlife in the Zambezi National Park Assessing the population status of elephants in ZNP: This is also something that we will focus on developing during 2007. National Parks have little information concerning the population size of elephants Loxodonta africana within the National Park and do not know whether the elephant population is increasing or decreasing. National Parks has requested that our volunteers assist by: • Assessing the population size of elephants in the National Park • Determining whether the population is increasing or decreasing • Assessing the impact of elephants on vegetation within the National Park Using these data, volunteers will be able to identify zones of differential intensity of elephant usage within ZNP. Within each of these zones, transects or plots are then conducted to assess elephant impact on vegetation. Other Activities: • Alien plant removal • Natioanl Parks maintenance • Driven Road Strip Counts • Assisting National Parks with the design and implementation of game counts CONSERVATION EDUCATION IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY We believe that our work would be incomplete without involvement in the local community. African Impact’s own zoologists and your Victoria Falls project managers have recently developed an exciting Conservation Education syllabus that we are in the early stages of launching at the local schools in the Victoria Falls area. We firmly believe that one of the best long-term sustainable solutions for solving the conservation crisis that this country is currently facing is by educating local children and communities. It is our hope that in 2007olunteers will be involved in the teaching and instruction of the conservation education syllabus to local school children for approximately 2 days each week. You will find that the children flock to the lessons and look forward both to the interaction with the volunteers and to the chance to learn more about what is going on around then in the conservation arena. NOTE ON NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION WORK: Please note that whilst every effort is made to give accurate information on your work within the National Parks during your time on this programme, it is also likely that there will be unforeseen schedule or activity changes due to a number of reasons, including: • Weather conditions (e.g. some areas become inaccessible due to rain) • Requirements of National Parks research departments at the time of your placement • Needs and requirements of our own ecologists and researchers at the time of your placement Regardless of your final itinerary at each National Park, please be prepared to remain flexible and trust that our experienced and dedicated project management staff will do their utmost to facilitate a placement for you that will be most beneficial to the National Parks, and that will provide you with the best insight into the beautiful Big 5 areas that you will be visiting. WORK AT THE ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE Volunteers also have the chance to visit a local Elephant orphanage, where our assistance in data capture and other duties is greatly appreciated. Depending on the status of the Elephant involvement when you are there, you will have the opportunity to be involved in some or all of the following areas: record traits such as behaviour, allegiances, dominance and aggression to enable them to be able to form a herd for possible release into the wild. Duties might also include feeding and caring for some of the very young elephants. » back to top Lion Conservation & Community Education, Victoria Falls - Highlights This volunteer project in Africa includes: African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Community Work, Victoria Falls 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 Bottle feed and help take care of younger lion cubs (should there be any very young cubs in the project at the time) 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 Big 5 area of the Zambezi National Park, and working alongside Africa’s 5th largest River, the mighty Zambezi Immerse yourself in local Zimbabwean culture Conservation Education teaching in the local community Interact with orphaned African elephants Make friends for life with the other international volunteers on the programme “Please pass on to everyone at African Impact what a wonderful time Georgia had in Zimbabwe. It has been a life-changing experience. I was a little concerned before the trip but you seem to have got the balance of genuine adventure alongside common-sense safety just right and the things she learnt have given her a new perspective. I would thoroughly recommend it as a Gap year experience. Many thanks, Jan Wilson-Ward." [for her daughter Georgia, UK] Zimbabwe Travel Highlights During your stay at Victoria Fall you will have the opportunity to enjoy an excursion to some of the other spectacular spots that Zimbabwe has to offer. These trips are also a great time for volunteers to interact and get to know each other better. An optional extra excursion such as the one outlined below will cost you approximately US$310 (this includes the National Parks fees), which is payable in cash on arrival at the project. • Day 1: Leave after breakfast from Victoria Falls for Granite Ridge Lodge (Matobo National Park). Enjoy a half-day Rhino Walk & Game Drive as well as a Cave Painting tour. You will also have the chance to visit Cecil Rhodes’ resting place at ‘worlds’ view’ • Day 2-4: Leave after breakfast from Granite Ridge for Antelope Park. Here you will have the chance to visit the headquarters of our lion rehabilitation programme, horse ride through the savannah plains of the game reserve on horseback or African elephant and stay at our safari camp on the banks of a beautiful river • Day 5: Leave Antelope Park for Miombo Safari Lodge (Hwange National Park); the largest national park in Zimbabwe, and the same size as Belgium! 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, pack of hyena and many more • Day 6: Leave after breakfast from Miombo for Victoria Falls • Whilst at Victoria Falls, ‘the Adrenalin capital of Africa’ you will have the chance to take on the worlds’ premier white water rafting; bungee jump off the bridge over the gorge below the Falls; sunset cruises on the Zambezi River » back to top Project Fee Includes • 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 Victoria Falls 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 • Unlimited tea, coffee and juice throughout the day • Laundry service during your stay • The service of a cleaner to attend to your room each day Project Fee Excludes • All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other) • Flights to Victoria Falls International Airport • Email and telephone calls made during your placement (charged out at cost) • Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Zimbabwe e.g. visit to the Victoria Falls • Personal insurance cover for the duration of your placement, which must include cover for repatriation » back to top Day in the life... This is a typical day in the life of a volunteer working on the Lion Conservation & Community Education project: A day in the life of a Victoria Falls volunteer… • 6:00am You will be collected by your coordinator and driven out to the lion project base at Masuwe. This is a 10 minute drive. • 6:30 – 8:30am Meet your guide and their clients and join them for a lion walk, taking cubs from 4 months to 18 months out into the bush. Watch and take data capture recordings as the cubs practice their hunting skills. • 8:30am – 10:00am Breakfast • 10.00am – One group might head off to nearby Chamabondo school to begin the day’s Conservation Education classes – sometimes there are up to 60 kids in a class! Chaotic but fun! • 10:30am - 12:30pm Spend time out in the bush with the cubs and participate in data capture; essential observation work on the cubs behaviour, and behavioural enrichment activities with the cubs • 12:30pm – 2:30pm Lunch • 2.30pm – 5:00pm Your afternoon duties could include a snare sweep with professional National Parks scouts in the Zambezi National Park; collating game scouts reports; observations and recording of elephants behaviour for Parks’ records; large carnivore research activities • 6.45pm - Briefing by your volunteer coordinator about the following days activities • Evening – The volunteers socialize at dinner at 7.00pm at cosy Hunters Lodge. On some nights volunteers venture off into Victoria Falls town to experience the night life of this tourist mecca The volunteers and guides get one official stand-by day each week, which is a day off unless there is an urgent need for your assistance. » back to top Volunteer Support Throughout your placement you will have the support and guidance of our experienced volunteer coordinators. They are part of our greater African Impact support team, which will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance. Volunteer Orientation On arrival at the Victoria Falls 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 Victoria Falls programme • Introduction to all senior accommodation and project staff and heads of department • Familiarization of the work areas – including river’s, 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 • The basic tools you require to carry out your duties » back to top Accommodation • You will be staying at our volunteer lodge, Hunters Lodge, in the town of Victoria Falls (10 minutes drive away from Masuwe). Each morning you will be picked up and taken either to Masuwe or to a previously organised position within the Victoria Falls National Park. The accommodation is simple and rustic but comfortable and completely suited to your needs. • Hunters Lodge has a swimming pool and barbeque area and lovely green lawns • Hunters Lodge is located an easy 20 minutes walk from Victoria Falls town centre Meals • Volunteers are provided with 3 meals a day. Breakfast and Lunch are usually at the guides’ quarters at Masuwe Safari area, where the lions are based OR back at Hunters Lodge if you have been assisting in the Victoria Falls National Park for the morning. These meals are prepared by our volunteer cook at Masuwe or at Hunters Lodge respectively. • A very sociable dinner usually takes place at Hunters Lodge and is prepared by the volunteer cook who is based there. Guides and volunteers have the chance to discuss their days’ activities and plan for the next day at Masuwe over dinner. » back to top Getting There Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. We will meet you at the airport! You options are as follows: • Fly in to Victoria Falls from Johannesburg, in South Africa where we will meet you and transfer you to Hunter's Lodge • Fly in to Harare or Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, and catch a connecting domestic flight to Victoria Falls » back to top Make an Enquiry Volunteer Project in Zimbabwe - African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Community Work, Victoria Falls     print this page | bookmark this page (CTRL-D) | send to a friend back to top