Noahs Ark Wildlife Sanctuaryfrom £995 (2 weeks)

Duration & Fees

• £995 - 2 weeks
• £1,445 - 3 weeks
• £1,895 - 4 weeks
• £2,295 - 5 weeks
• £2,795 - 6 weeks

• £3,795 - 8 weeks

Start Dates

Volunteers can join on any Friday throughout the year.

Payment

£180 deposit at time of booking – balance of project fee due 12 weeks before departure

What's Included

• Transfers to and from the airport on arrival and at the end of the project
• Full orientation by local staff on arrival
• Support from your project Manager
• Accommodation and meals as indicated above
• Free internet available at the kiosk

What's not included

• International and domestic flights including arrival and departure fees if applicable
• Travel insurance to cover your project (to include cover for repatriation)
• Visas
• Personal items, clothes, travel goods etc
• Use of telephone, wines and spirits.
• Trips undertaken other than in the planned programme

Noah's Ark is located approximately 250 kilometres east of Windhoek, close to the border with Botswana.  This wildlife sanctuary is situated within a 10,000 hectare area which has been farmed by the same family for the last 30 years during which time it has cared for and rehabilitated many thousands of orphaned, injured, neglected, abused or abandoned wild animals including lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, meerkat, baboon and many antelope species.  Wildlife are often considered a problem in Namibia as they cause widescale damage to livestock and agriculture with the result that they are often shot and injured.  As well as caring for the injured wildlife the project aims to educate local farmers and tries to find solutions to these ongoing problems.   

History

Noah's Ark - a family-run project - has been involved in the care and rehabilitation of orphaned, neglected, abused and abandoned wild animals for more than 30 years and continues with its management and development on a daily basis.  What used to be a hobby is now a full-time occupation for about 60 local people who are all dedicated to helping the animals and preserving their natural habitat and is a registered animal welfare organisation.  Without places such as Noah's Ark it would be difficult to prevent many wild animals in Africa becoming extinct.  Although the ethos of the organisation is against the confinement of wild animals, sometimes this is inevitable as mortality rates for previously captive animals is high.  The project provides a safe home for wildlife that has nowhere else to go and the opportunity to live in semi-wild conditions in secure release sites.  Local people are employed as widely as possible which supports the social and economic growth of these communities and encourages a spirit of conservation within them. 

Volunteer Programme

Volunteers work primarily with the resident wildlife, helping to create a stable environment for them, as well as working on reserve maintenace and assisting the local field guides.  Daily duties may include:

• feeding the cheetahs and baboons (twice daily)
• meal preparation and feeding all other wildlife (4-5 times daily)
• caring for, hand rearing and cleaning baby animals
• night duty with infant animals (including taking them to bed at times!)
• cleaning animals enclosures
• helping with repair and maintenance on the farm, including maintaining fences
• assisting the qualified vet in the clinic with injured wildlife
• training to assist as a Field Guide for the daily tours of Noah's Ark
• assisting at the local bushman clinic

At certain times of the year and subject to need it may also be possible to assist with the African Wild Dog Project, identifying individual dogs, looking at familial patterns and recording data.

Working with Wildlife

Problem Animals
Wildlife poses a considerable threat to the local farmers as they kill livestock and damage crops.  Farmers then take steps to rid themselves of the problems, often resulting in injury.  Noah's Ark works with the farmers - offering advice, collecting animals that have been caught and helping to work out solutions to this ongoing problem between the farmers and the wild animals of Namibia.

Injured Animals
Animals may often be caught in traps and suffer serious injuries - well beyond normal recovery.  It is not always possible to rehabilitate these animals but good medical care is given and those that survive live happily on the sanctuary - maybe for the remainder of their lives.

Unwanted Pets
The worst and most commonly found problems arise when people try to domesticate wild animals to become "house pets".  Sometimes female animals are deliberately killed so that the babies may be taken.  However, these playful babies grow rapidly and may become jealous, aggressive and protective and the owners are no longer able to handle them and often resort to cruel means of controlling them.  These animals have lost their ability to survive and have become dependent upon man, and Noah's Ark acts as a haven for these pets that are no longer wanted.

Orphaned Baby Animals
Poaching and road accidents often robs young animals of their mothers - and these youngsters - often only a day old - find round-the-clock care and attention at Noah's Ark.  These animals often become "tame" and used to the company of humans and although the aim is always to try to release them back into their normal environment once they have reached an age where they can fend for themselves, this is not always possible.  Volunteers therefore will have the opportunity to get close to and care for some of the large carnivores as well as the smaller wildlife and the first intereaction with a tame cheetah or lion that has found safety at Noahs Ark is something they will never forget!

The project itself is in a remote location and whilst there are facilities on site for the volunteers, it is worth bearing in mind that it is not possible to pop to town or the shops.  That said, you will be based at a beautiful camp in rural Africa surrounded by the animals and able to use the camp pool on occasions.

Volunteers may also have the opportunity to become involved in the ongoing and projects in development below: 

Wild Dog Project

One of the most endangered predators in Africa is the African Wild Dog (Lycaon Pictus, derived from the Greek meaning painted wolf). There were once over half a million wild dogs spread over 39 countries but now there are only small populations in 14 countries and only six of these countries have populations of more than 100.  However they are one of Namibia's most valuable assets and the only existing population of wild dogs in Namibia is at the Noah’s Ark.  There are plans to release some of the current captively-held dogs into a proposed 10,000 hectare reserve.  This is an exciting project and important to the conservation and protection of Namibia and its wildlife.

Rehabilitation/Reintroduction Programme

Injured, orphaned and problem animals have been rehabilitated by Noah's Ark for the past 25 years and a perfect infrastructure has been developed during this time.  Animals are released into reserves where they can continue to be monitored and managed. New release sites are always sought as only one quarter of all the animals that come to the project in need of aid are considered suitable for release or reintroduction into a wild and independent environment.

This project is open to volunteer between the age of 18 - 40 years.

A Day in the Life of a Volunteer

7am	Breakfast
8am	Morning meeting to discuss the days programme and split into groups
9am	Daily activities - animal walks, food preparation, farmwork, horseback riding etc with the animals
3pm	Afternoon meeting and activities - perhaps spending some time on a research project or doing a big cat feeding tour with staff and guests
5.30pm	Lion feeding
7pm	Dinner and time for socialising
8pm	Overnight babysitting duties with young animals and socialising with new friends

A little bit of luxury?

Have you thought about treating yourself to a night or two of luxury at the end of your project? We can provide a perfect haven to unwind and indulge yourself before heading home. Take a look at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary Luxury Lodge to see if you're tempted.

Support and Orientation

Support and advice is available from Amanzi Travel office staff and project/trip leaders. Upon booking, you will receive a comprehensive pre-departure pack that provides all the details you will need to prepare for your trip to Africa.  This document includes information on accommodation, staff, visas, optional activities, packing checklist and medical advice and if you have any questions that are not answered in the pack we are always on hand to help and advise. We will do all we can to ensure that you are well prepared and looking forward to your trip to Africa. You will also receive an in country orientation on arrival.

A 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency contact number is provided for everyone who travels with us.

Amanzi Travel holds an ATOL licence (9401) and is able to arrange your flights on request giving you financial protection for your flight and trip costs. We also offer advice on personal travel insurance for your trip.

Accommodation will be in the volunteer village - in wooden cabin units that look out onto a large waterhole.  Each cabin can accommodate four volunteers on a single sex basis and has two wooden sides and two sides covered with mosquito netting and a canvas that can be rolled up and down.  This makes a comfortable and cool sleeping area with individual storage for personal items and single beds.

Towels and bed linen are supplied. Bathroom facilities are shared, with hot water and flush toilets. 

The village is run on solar power and each room has solar panel lights.  There is a facility at the farm to charge cell phones, laptops and cameras.  The volunteer village is located approximately 700 metres from the main sanctuary area. 

A laundry service is provided.

Three meals are provided and are prepared by the Lapa kitchen.  Although Namibia is primarily a meat-eating country, alternative needs can be met but please ensure that any special requirements are detailed on your application form.

Namibia

Why visit Namibia?

Namibia is one of those dreamlike places that makes one question whether something so visually fabulous could actually exist. It is characterised by vast open spaces, with breathtaking scenery and great contrasts – ocean, dunes, mountains and deserts. A predominantly arid country, Namibia can be divided into four main regions. The Namib Desert and vast plains of the Skeleton Coast in the west; the eastward-sloping Central Plateau; the Kalahari desert along the borders with South Africa and Botswana; and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions – a magical undeveloped oasis of waterways and wildlife, providing abundant game and birdlife viewing opportunities.  Despite its harsh climate, Namibia has some of the world’s grandest national parks, ranging from the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park, to the dune fields and desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft Park. The Namib-Naukluft Park is superb for hiking, with a number of spectacular trails. It is also home to the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei - said to be the highest in the world - and the fascinating Sesriem Canyon. Windhoek is the country’s geographical heart and commercial nerve centre, with an ethnic mix of people, while surfers, anglers and beach-lovers won’t want to miss Swakopmund, with its lively entertainment and sporting activities.

Highlights

• Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s finest parks, both in size and diversity of wildlife.
• The Namib-Naukluft Park is the largest conservation area in Namibia and one of the largest in the world.
• Two spectacular deserts - the Kalahari and Namib - each with distinctive wildlife and scenery.
• The Namib, at 80 million years, is the world's oldest desert. Namib means “open space”.
• The Namib and Damaraland offer remarkably clear skies for astronomers and keen star gazers.
• Stunning Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon – it is 161km long, up to 27km wide and 550m deep.
• Sossusvlei are said to be the highest sand-dunes in the world.
• Superb birding and good fishing is available from the banks of the Kavango and Kunene Rivers on the northern border.
• Popular self-drive destination with excellent infrastructure.
• Largely malaria-free.
• More than 300 days of sunshine per year.

Climate

Seasons	Max	Min
Summer/wet (October - April)	40 °C	20 °C
Winter/dry (May - September)	25 °C	0 °C
Rainfall: October – December “little rains”, January to April more stormy period

The winter months (May - September) range from 25 to 30°C during the day but night temperatures may drop to below freezing. June to August is the dry season with very little rain. This can be a good time for game viewing as wildlife converge at the waterholes.

The summer months (October - April) can reach highs of over 40°C and nights in the 20°C range (in the arid central Namib Desert temperatures can fall to below freezing during the night). This is a summer rainfall area, but overcast and rainy days are few and far between. Welcome thundershowers may occur in the late afternoon, bringing relief to flora and fauna. In October and November, large herds of blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok and oryx migrate from the Namutoni area to Okaukuejo, where they remain until May.

Rainfall is heaviest in the northeast, which enjoys a sub-tropical climate, and reaches over 600mm annually along the Okavango River. The northern and interior regions experience ‘little rains’ between October and December, while the main stormy period occurs from January to April.

Key Facts

Population – 2.1 million
Capital - Windhoek
Currency - Namibian dollar
Language – official language English; most widely spoken is Afrikaans; half of all Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language. German is also widely spoken, plus some Portuguese.
Namib – means “open space”
Etosha – means “great white place”
Time difference – GMT +2 hours
Telephone – country code 264, international access code 00

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