Namibia wildlife sanctuary volunteering vacation

Environment

The main aim of this project is to rescue and rehabilitate cheetahs, lions, baboons and a variety of other indigenous animals. Many animals at the sanctuary are relocated, due to being threatened by farmers who view them as threats to their livestock. The baboons in particular often come to the centre as orphaned babies. The animals that can be released are encouraged to emulate natural, wild behaviour and then sent to a sister project to begin the stages of re-release.

Volunteers are key to the success of the wildlife sanctuary, as participation in the programme ensures the on-going rescue, survival and rehabilitation of the animals which have found a safe refuge there.

This project directs all its efforts towards long term rehabilitation, but sadly not all of the animals who find a home at the sanctuary are able to be released back into the wild. Only those that cannot be, usually for reasons involving human intervention, remain at the sanctuary. Many of these animals have been orphaned, hand raised from a very young age and as a consequence become too used to captivity and so cannot be released safely.

The work being carried out by this project is essential in the continued crusade to protect some of Namibia’s most treasured species. Any volunteer taking part in this project will leave safe in the knowledge that their efforts have greatly contributed to this endeavour.

Community

This project focuses particularly on addressing human-animal conflicts that have arisen between the area's wildlife and local communities. If the locals do not want the animals nearby, the sanctuary works to relocate them to a safer and more remote environment, to ease the tension that such close proximity often causes.

The interaction of volunteers with local communities also greatly helps to build a positive relationship between the project and local people. The work that is carried out by the sanctuary is not only beneficial for the area's wildlife, but for the communities that are struggling to live alongside the animals themselves.