Antelope Park, Zimbabwe
Contribute to an incredible conservation program that aims to release lions (born to captivebred parents) into the wild, featured in: BBC s Nature s Miracle Orphans, ITV s Lion Country and Animal Planet s Roaring with Pride. Enjoy extremely close encounters with lions on a daily basis, walking them through the bush while undertaking important research on lions set for release into the wild. Become a role model for disadvantaged children while you spend time at a drop-in center for children living on the streets, and at a boys orphanage. Help children falling behind in their education by providing one-to-one support and teaching assistance at a pre-school and primary school in the area. Interact with - and help care for - the 4 rescued elephants that live at Antelope Park. Take advantage of the amazing activities Antelope Park has to offer on-site; night encounters with lions, overnight horse safaris, or even a day spent relaxing by the pool. Spend your free time exploring everything Zimbabwe has to offer by visiting Victoria Falls (one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World), going rhino trekking, or discovering the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. The African lion population has decreased by an astonishing 90% in the last 40 years, with only 20,000 individuals now left in the wild. In an attempt to off-set this rapid decline of lion populations, we partnered with the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust (a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the African lion) to launch the Lion Release into the Wild Program back in 2004. With the help of volunteers, the program aims to release the wild offspring of captive bred lions into appropriate national parks and reserves across Africa. However, in today s Zimbabwe there is a rapidly increasing population who are living in poverty and have to compete with wildlife for space, shelter and food, meaning human-wildlife conflict does exist. As Nelson Mandela has said, ultimately, conservation is about people, so our work also includes a considerable amount of community outreach. This ensures that people
understand the benefits of co-existing with wildlife before we release any lions, and ensures future generations of conservationists in Africa. Volunteers assist ALERT s Lion Release into the Wild program by: Stage 1: Walking young captive lions through the reserve to help them experience their natural environment and develop their natural instincts. Stage 2: Capturing valuable research on the lions play and hunting behaviors, assessing viability for release into a semi-wild area with other lions. This pride of lions will give birth to cubs that are raised without human interference, with the goal of releasing them into the wild. Stage 3: Participating in vital research on our Ngamo Pride; where our wildborn lions are due to be released into a national park for the first time ever. Of course, taking care of these lions also means that volunteers help to clean enclosures, prepare meat and create exciting enrichment activities that stimulate the lions predatory and sensory behaviors. To positively impact the lives of those with limited opportunities in this rural part of Zimbabwe, volunteers help mentor and support youth at a drop-in center for street children, as well as at a boys orphanage. A large part of a volunteer s role is also to help overburdened teachers in rural classrooms, offering one-to-one attention to the children who are falling behind in their education. Without this dedicated support system, it is unlikely that these children would complete their schooling. When class is over, volunteers get involved in extra-curricular activities, including sports, book clubs and after-school programs that encourage a child s creativity and development. A future for lions and other wildlife is only possible when people want to live alongside these animals and understand the important role they play in the ecosystem. As a volunteer, you will help educate children from local schools on the advantages of living alongside - and conserving - local wildlife habitats and ecosystems, encouraging children to grow up as conservationists. This is an integral part of preserving the African Lion, and other wildlife, for future generations.
CONSERVATION EDUCATION - You are helping the children of Africa to understand the importance of wildlife, who will grow up to respect and conserve animals. In the end, we conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught. Baba Dioum LION CONSERVATION - You are helping to secure a population of healthy African lions suitable for release into the wild. - You are also securing a healthy future ecosystem as the lion plays an integral role in the food chain. EDUCATION - You are providing improved and more effective basic education to children. - You are providing literacy, numeracy and science support that otherwise would not exist. - You are offering training to adults to improve their job prospects. LIFE SKILLS - You are directly supporting orphaned and street children at facilties in the area. - You are providing children with a positive role model and tools to improve their future. HOW YOU HELP THE COMMUNITY AND WILDLIFE MONITORING / PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE - You are ensuring that Antelope Park remains a safe and clean environment for its wildlife by performing frontline conservation initiatives, such as snare-weeps and mitigating human-wildlife conflict. TOURISM / EMPLOYMENT - You are aiding in the sustainable development of the park by developing tourism facilities - You are providing economic benefits for local communities who rely on Antelope Park
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri EARLY AM Walk the lions to help introduce them to their natural habitat Assist local teachers at the rural Julena Primary School Walk the lions to help introduce them to their natural habitat Provide basic life-skills at a drop-in center for street children Take our 4 rescued elephants on a walk through the reserve Get involved in the MID AM Provide teaching assistance at Mickey Mouse Pre- School building of additional classrooms for Julena Primary School Teach children about the importance of wildlife at Conservation Club At the drop-in center, help engage and feed children living on the streets Work with children in a special needs class PM Help children learn to read at Book Club Go to After-School Club or adult literacy lessons Join Reading Club or Youth Group Read books with local children at Book Club Spend time with our lion cubs (when possible) Evening Experience a night encounter with lions (additional cost) Free time to bond and relax with your fellow volunteers Research our pride of semi-wild lions in the release site Overnight horse safari (additional cost) Head out on another lion walk AM PM Sat Help prepare meat for the lions and take them on a walk, or take a trip to Gweru and visit the Boys Orphanage Enjoy an afternoon off your chance to enjoy a horse swim, try out a game of polocrosse, or go on the sunset carriage ride picnic in the reserve Sun A full day off to either chill by the pool or take part in optional excursions such as rhino trekking, a safari, visiting the Great Ruins of Zimbabwe or taking a trip to a wildlife rehabilitation center Due to the nature of project life and African time, these activities may change on a daily basis.
Volunteers live at Zimbabwe s Leading Private Game Reserve 2017 and 2016, Antelope Park. It is an authentic African thatched lodge, surrounded by nature and wildlife, and the home of The African Lion and Environmental Research Trust s Lion Release into the Wild Program and its 100 lions. Antelope Park volunteers share either a twin or quad room with fellow volunteers or interns, and can expect to wake up to the sounds of lions roaring at the crack of dawn each morning. Later that day, when the African sun is beating down on you and you ve been on a long lion walk through the bush, you can cool off by the pool or relax with a cold drink at our raised deck bar overlooking the river. You are able to watch the birdlife, elephants playing nearby or hear the wonderful sound of bush babies in the distance as the sun goes down. Accommodation upgrades are available to those who wish to have a more exclusive volunteer experience, so speak to your Destination Manager to find out more details! Situated in the heart of Zimbabwe - near the town of Gweru - Antelope Park is a private game reserve teeming with African wildlife, including lions, elephants, zebra and giraffe. Here, you can get up close and personal with lions and elephants on a daily basis while being within a fantastic distance to visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls, the city of Bulawayo, or even the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Zimbabwe Ruins.
2018 GBP USD EUR AUD 2 weeks 3 weeks 4 weeks *5 weeks 6 weeks 7 weeks 8 weeks Further 1134 2077 1472 2493 1440 2636 1869 3164 1745 3195 2265 3835 2207 4042 2865 4851 2495 4569 3239 5484 2783 5096 3613 6117 3071 5623 3986 6750 Please enquire. *Please note that volunteers staying longer than 4 weeks will require a temporary residence permit at an additional cost of US$500. Project fee this goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. It facilitates funding for items such as resources, building materials, equipment and project supplies. It also covers operational costs such as housing, communication and project vehicles Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at Antelope Park All airport transfers from Harare or Bulawayo International Airport upon arrival and departure All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay Housekeeping service Comprehensive orientation and training program Assistance and support from the African Impact and Antelope Park staff who live and work with you 8, 15 & 29 January 12 & 26 February 12 & 26 March 9 & 23 April 7 & 21 May 4 & 18 June 2, 16 & 30 July 13 & 27 August 10 & 24 September 8 & 22 October 5 & 19 November 3, 17 & 31 December (This project remains open over the Christmas period)
These activities are not included in the price, but they are a great way to spend your free time and ensure you make the most of your time in Zimbabwe: Popular Outings: Visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls Spot rhinos at Matobo National Park Visit the historical ruined city of Great Zimbabwe Go on game drives around the reserve to view iconic African wildlife Spend time in the bush caring for our 4 rescued elephants Go horse riding, try polocrosse, or even attempt show jumping Head out on an overnight horseback safari, camping out under the stars Bask in the sun by the pool, watching our elephants playing in the river Relax with a cold drink in our very social decking area African Impact is a multi-award-winning volunteer travel organization which runs and manages meaningful and responsible volunteer experiences, service placements and internship programs throughout Africa. The organization was founded in 2004 in Zimbabwe, and since then has grown into the African leaders in volunteer tourism, having facilitated over 12,000 volunteers and interns in 12 countries across the continent. To us, volunteering is a two-way thing. It s not just about the hands-on help and skills that volunteers bring; it s also about what this amazing continent, its people and its wildlife can give those volunteers in return. For many volunteers it s their first time to Africa, and we want it to be the first of many. It s our responsibility to make sure you have a great time and are able to make a positive contribution to our projects - it s also our responsibility to make sure that our presence on the ground is in the best interests of the local communities we work with. African Impact set and monitor our work against long term goals and objectives, which you will help us achieve. We will share these with you in your induction and you will actively contribute to these during your time on our projects. Further to our own goals and objectives, we align our work to the United Nations Global Goals. Check out the goals here, and figure out which ones you will be a part of. Time for Global Action.
Danny is your point of contact. He will walk you through the pre-arrival planning for your placement and give you all the information you need to make sure you re ready. Originally from England, Danny started off volunteering in Africa on several different wildlife conservation projects, before packing his bags and heading to Brazil. After five years living and traveling through South America, working in community-based tourism and as a teacher, Africa came calling again and he found his way back to where it all started. As an experienced volunteer, Danny is happy to answer any and all questions you might have. Just drop him an email at danny@africanimpact.com We look forward to welcoming you for a unique, rewarding and unforgettable experience!