“Being so close to lions and just getting absorbed into the Zimbabwean culture. People that are always smiling no matter what. Seeing Victoria Falls for real. I met some wonderful people that i will never forget.” Frederic Soulie (24), Netherlands
“Being given the opportunity to bond with the cubs and gain their trust, in particular Etosha and Echo.
Meeting amazing, knowledgeable and friendly people who made my stay truly incredible
” Lisa Porter (33), England
“Days in the national park doing animal counts etc..
Red Cross Feeding and contact with the local community.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything!
” Anna Whatley (26), Britain
“Getting the once in a life time chance to be with lions and going to the project on my own and coming home making very good friends that I hope will stay in touch for a long time” sean marah (40), Middlesex
“Working with the Lions. This was the best thing I have ever done! Taking lions for walks through BEAUTIFUL Antelope Park several times a day and all the while making new friends and learning from them. What an experience. It will live with me forever!” Tim Kirkpatrick (32), Northen Ireland
“Walking with the lions of course!” Lisa Clifforde (24), UK
African Lion Rehabilitation and Conservation - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Against the backdrop of the majestic Victoria Falls, this project 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 conservation education in the local school.
African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Conservation, Victoria Falls - Volunteer Project in Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls
Location
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Project Length
2 weeks - 6 weeks
Age Limit
Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health
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 - Conservation, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Photos of African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Conservation, Victoria Falls in Africa.
More about the African Lion Rehabilitation and Conservation - Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
“The most brilliant part for me has been working with the lions in such a close-knit team. Not only have I learned more than I ever expected about the animals and their habitat, I’ve also made some brilliant friends and feel as though we’ve all helped to make a difference. Working in the community has been absolutely fantastic and I’ve been proud to be associated with the program.” Rachael Lonsdale, UK
THE LION REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
The involvement of volunteers on the project is paramount to achieving our aims on all fronts. You can expect days to be long, but you will also be able to end each day knowing that you have given something back to Africa; having made a difference to the animals and people that you come into contact with. The work is varied and will include:
Lion Walks. Spending time with the lions in the wild each day is an essential part of the cubs upbringing. If the cubs are to be successfully released it is important that they spend time out in a natural environment. They need to adapt to it, learn from it, understand, observe, feel and smell the wild.
Alongside the walks you will be involved in the care of the animals which overnight in enclosures. They need feeding, cleaning, and occasionally will need veterinary care to ensure that they are kept in the best of health.
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.
Research. As part of the program we conduct a number of research activities to better understand lion behaviour and ecology. The lion walks offer unique opportunities to observe lions close up in their natural environment with the data collected assisting us to make the best decisions for the animal’s welfare and eventual release. Volunteers will assist our research technician in gathering and analyzing this vital data. You will receive all the training you need in order to ensure that you are able to provide valuable input to this program regardless of previous experience.
Work in the National Park. There is a vast amount to do to keep a National Park ecosystem healthy, and this project is blessed by having two unique parks right on its doorstep.
The Zambezi National Park lies six kilometres from the Victoria Falls; wild with bush and big game it stretches along the river for 40 kilometres. Game includes mega fauna such as elephant, buffalo and lion; large antelope like greater kudu and waterbuck, along with a number of smaller mammal species such as common duiker, small‐spotted genet and honey badger.
As a volunteer you will work with the CCWA research team and National Park rangers on any number of conservation activities that may include some or all of the following, based on National Parks needs at the time of your placement:
Assisting in the development of a new waterhole and renovation of a tourist observation tower;
Camping out overnight to conduct a game census to see what animals come to drink; you may see herds of elephant and buffalo or maybe an elusive leopard;
Conduct surveys of tourist movement patterns within the Park to assist in better management of the area to reduce soil erosion from the numerous vehicles in the Park;
Assist in controlled burns as part of the ongoing bush fire management scheme;
Conduct surveys of the wild lion population, tracking spoor (the signs left behind by an animal as it moves through the Bush, such as paw prints); taking photographs for identification; and recording important information so we can gain a better understanding of the species within the Park;
Carry out snare sweeps to remove the wires set by poachers to illegally catch the animals that inhabit the Park;
Work with local communities to mitigate lion / human conflict.
The Victoria Falls National Park contains abundant birdlife and a vast array of plants and animals. Your work here will include;
Catalouging the rich diversity of wildlife within the Park so that a more accurate record is kept of the range and extent of different species;
Removing of the non-indigenous plants – this can be hard work as many of the species protect themselves with formidable spines and thorns but it vital work to ensure the ongoing health of the eco-system;
Maintaining tourist facilities to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy this world heritage site in safety.
Teach a conservation class. Volunteers will join our ACT conservation education program visiting local schools to garner support for conservation through education. The syllabus was originally devised under the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) “We Care!” project and adapted to Zimbabwe by The Curriculum Unit of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture.
Lesson plans are designed to offer children a full understanding of their environment and to build an appreciation for the need to conserve what remains of the wild areas of Zimbabwe.
African Lion Rehabilitation and Conservation - Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls - Highlights
This volunteer project in Africa includes: African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Conservation, 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;
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” Zambezi National Park. You will be actively involved in a number of conservation activities that may include camping out overnight by a waterhole to count the animals that come to drink;
Help the Park Rangers manage the Victoria Falls National Park. The rainforest perches on high cliffs overlooking the main tracts of the Falls themselves offering breathtaking views;
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 Zimbabwean environment by educating the local children;
Immerse yourself in local Zimbabwean 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 Zimbabwe’s spectacular wildlife areas including the enormous Hwange National Park and the chance to walk with rhino at Matopos. You can also cross the border for a day trip into nearby Botswana or Zambia.
Make friends for life with the other international volunteers on the programme.
“The most brilliant part for me has been working with the lions in such a close-knit team. Not only have I learned more than I ever expected about the animals and their habitat, I’ve also made some brilliant friends and feel as though we’ve all helped to make a difference. Working in the community has been absolutely fantastic and I’ve been proud to be associated with the program.” Rachael Lonsdale, UK
Zimbabwe Travel Highlights
During your stay at Victoria Falls you may have the opportunity to enjoy an excursion to some of the other spectacular spots that Zimbabwe has to offer. A guide price for this trip is US 350 per person.
Day 1: Leave after breakfast from Victoria Falls for the breathtaking Matobo Hills, 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, 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, clan of hyena and many more.
Day 6: Leave after breakfast from Miombo for your return to Victoria Falls
• 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
This is a typical day in the life of a volunteer working on the
African Lion Rehabilitation and Conservation - Victoria Falls
project:
Every day is different, but here is an example of a typical day on the project.
6:15am You will be collected by your project manager and driven out to the lion project base at Masuwe lodge located within the Zambezi National Park. This is a 10 minute drive.
6:30 – 9:00am 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 on the many game species they encounter.
9:00am – 10:00am Breakfast.
10.00am – 12.00pm 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! The other group will be cleaning or feeding the cubs, or driving into the National Park to conduct a game census.
12:30pm – 2:00pm Lunch back in Victoria Falls town at our volunteer base.
2.30pm – 5:00pm Your afternoon duties could include pdating the species inventory in the Victoria Falls National Park or a ion walk at Masuwe.
6.45pm Briefing by your project manager 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. For others you may be camping out at a water hole to watch the African Bush come alive at night – you may spot the rarely seen Aardvark, known as the “earth pig”.
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 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
You will be staying at our volunteer house, Hunters House, in the town of Victoria Falls (10 minutes drive away from Masuwe). You will share a room with no more than 2 other volunteers, and we can also arrange for couples of groups of friends to share rooms. The accommodation is simple and rustic but comfortable and completely suited to your needs.
The accommodation has satellite television, a swimming pool and barbeque area and lovely green lawns
Hunters house is located an easy 20 minutes walk from Victoria Falls town centre
Meals
Volunteers are provided with 3 meals a day. Breakfast is at the guides’ quarters at Masuwe Safari area, where the lions are based and lunch is back at Hunters House. These meals are prepared by our volunteer cook at Masuwe or at Hunters House respectively.
A very sociable dinner usually takes place at Hunters Lodge and is prepared by the cook who is based there. Volunteers have the chance to discuss their days’ activities and plan for the next day at Masuwe over dinner.
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
SA: +2771 081 4990 | 
UK: 0800 520 0926 
US: 0877 253 2899 | 
info@africanimpact.com
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