NOAHS ARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
GOBABIS DISTRICT, NAMIBIA

Take the once in a life time opportunity to volunteer on the world renowned Noah’s Ark project in the stunning and remote backdrop of the Gobabis district of Namibia. This unique wildlife orphanage and welfare centre was born out of a real passion for the animals of Namibia. You can become part of this wonderful project where you will get close to and care for over 200 animals that have found sanctuary there including cheetahs, lions, leopards as well as lots of smaller wildlife.

	Location:	GOBABIS DISTRICT, NAMIBIA	Dates:	Regular start dates throughout the year.
	Fees:	£895 - 2 weeks £1,495 - 4 weeks £2,195 - 6 weeks £2,795 - 8 weeks £4,195 - 12 weeks	Payment:	£180 deposit at time of booking – balance of project fee due 8 weeks before departure
	Reference:	AV011

General Information

Situated within a 10,000 hectare farm area, Noah’s Ark has become one of Southern Africa’s most successful animal welfare projects. The farm itself has been in the same hands for three generations and for the last 25 years.  The farm has become an increasingly important refuge and sanctuary for the animals of the region. The demand for the services of the project is constantly expanding and due to the charitable status of the project, the help of the dedicated volunteers that travel to Noah’s Ark is an essential element of the project’s ongoing success. The project receives animals from all over Namibia and offers a continuing refuge and home for those that are unable to care for themselves or return to the wild. There are over 200 animals resident on the farm including lion, leopard, cheetah and baboon.

History

The wildlife project was born out of its owners’ love for wild animals and a true desire to help those animals that were unable to care for themselves or who needed a new home due to conflict with man or the environment. What started as a hobby and pastime for the founders has turned into a major animal welfare programme due to the increasing success of the project itself. In 2003, in order to meet the increasing demands, Noah’s Ark was launched to ensure the continued survival of this very important programme . The project has continued to expand since this time and provides care and shelter to the 200 resident animals as well as the various other wild animals that have made the farm their home. Progressively more and more of the traditional farm land is being handed over for the care of the animals that rely on the project for their survival.

The ethos of the project is that the confinement of animals should be avoided where possible. The project accepts that in some circumstances, for example a tame animal no longer able to fend for itself in the wild, that confinement is preferable to the death of the animal. The project is strongly against hunting and the commercial trade of animals and does everything in its power to ensure that none of the animals cared for by the project are used for such purposes. 

Volunteer Programme

The care of these incredible animals is extremely demanding but very rewarding and every day is full of activity. You will have the opportunity to take part in a life-changing experience and those who jointhis project leave with a lifelong passion for its work. Volunteers joining this project make a substantial commitmen to become involved in the project's ongoing aims and objectives.

The needs of the animals are always the first task that the volunteers address each day.   Some days all that can be achieved is meeting the needs of the many animals that have found sanctuary here.  The continued aim of the project is to expand and continue to evolve to improve the welfare of the animals. Each volunteer brings with them a unique skill set and particular passion.  We hope that everyone will get the chance to contribute in their own unique way dependent on the demands placed on the project at that particular time.

Many of the animals at the sanctuary are tame and volunteers will have the opportunity to get close to and care for some of the large carnivores as well as the smaller wildlife.  A volunteer's first intereaction with the tame cheetah or lion that has found safety at Noahs Ark is something they never forget!

Each volunteer receives a comprehensive induction and training programme on arrival at Noah’s Ark. The project has clear guidelines and policies and offers continued support to volunteers to ensure success for both the project and the volunteers themselves.  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 threatened 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 this population has shrunk to less than 4,000 in 14 countries. Only six of these countries have populations of more than 100. At their peak, packs of over 100 individuals were not uncommon. The wild dog is a pack animal and can reach top speeds approaching 45 mph in their far ranging hunts. They are a remarkably efficient predator with approaching 80% of hunts ending in a kill. They also have the strongest bite force to mass ratio of any surviving predator. The two largest remaining populations of wild dog are found in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and the population centre of northern Botswana and eastern Namibia.

The African Wild Dog has been pushed to the brink of extinction by the loss of habitat and competition with other, often larger, predators. The wild dog packs roam over huge ranges and the protected areas are often not large enough to sustain a pack. The animals therefore move to unprotected land where they are often killed by farmers who are protecting their livestock. The wild dog is in direct competition for prey with animals such as the lion and hyena leading to conflict between the species.

The only existing population of wild dogs in Namibia is at the Noah’s Ark project. The project began in 1996 when seven free-roaming adult dogs, that had been caught in traps near Epukiro, were brought to the project for rehabilitation. A further four pups were added to the population when they were brought to the project following the shooting of their pack. Since this small beginning the animals have been separated into three packs that have successfully bred four litters and the current population stands at 35 individuals. It is the primary aim of the project to ensure the survival of the African Wild Dog with their reintroduction  into the wild being an aim for the future as the population continues to expand. The project also provides a haven for problem dogs that can subsequently be translocated to other wild ranges.

There is a focus on research into the African Wild Dog and the project continues to strive to collect pertinent information to improve the chances of survival for this unique animal. The data currently being collected includes: genetics, parasitology, morphometrics, reproductive physiology, disease screening and vaccine testing. The dogs are continually observed to allow the development of programmes for planned reintroduction of the dog on the basis of their prey and hunting behavior, predators, interspecies competition and hunting success. There is interaction with the local community to allow them to see the benefit of the African Wild Dog and allow the development of income generation for the community by the formation of low impact eco-tourism opportunities.

The main programme activities currently underway include:

• Conversion of the current 10,000 hectare cattle ranch into a protected reserve by breaking down the internal fences
• Construction of 70km of Bonnox field fence. This electrified protective fence prevents the pack escaping into areas where they may be hunted and keeps larger predators out
• Construction of release bomas
• Construction of a 2,000 hectare game camp to serve as a prey reservoir containing further release/capture bomas
• Establishment of a meta-population management programme
• Establishment of commercial conservancy

Rehabilitation/Reintroduction Programme

The focus of the project has been the development of the perfect environment in which to rehabilitate animals that come to the project in need of aid. The infrastructure that has been developed is based around this aim and is uniquely successful in this respect. Only around one quarter of the animals that come to the project are classified as suitable for release or reintroduction into a wild and independent environment.

The ongoing objectives of the programme are:

• Continued rehabilitation of animals
• Setting of an internationally recognized standard for care and rehabilitation of wildlife
• The release of suitable animals into the proposed reserve
• The monitoring and management of animals in the reserve to ensure their ongoing wellbeing and success of the release programme
• Identification and utilization of more suitable release sites for the rehabilitated animals
• Gaining government and international recognition and assistance for the release effort

Cheeky Cheetahs Day Care Centre

The Day Care programme and “Cheeky Cheetahs” School Project were founded with the aim of providing some form of education for the children of the farm workers. The projects also aim to provide social development, hygiene and basic healthcare for the children. The project owners have, over the years, funded the schooling of a number of the children of the farm workers at local Namibian schools.

Most of the farm workers at the project come from the indigenous bushman population. The bushman people have a nomadic background which tends to result in little formal schooling and education for their children. The aim of the Day Care programme is to provide a pre-school level of education for the children of the farm workers.  It is hoped this will provide them with a sound grounding in basic education and prove advantageous to them in further school level education.  It is a further aim of the project that the school can act as a centre where the women can work on craft projects to help fund the schooling of the children. The first school classroom was the old office adjacent to the farm house.

Project in development

The Namibian land is becoming more and more fragmented as new commercial farms are being established. Farmers do not tolerate predators very well as they pose a threat to their livestock.  It is the vision that this project will play a pro-active role in reducing the predator/human conflict especially in the Windhoek area. Discussions are currently underway to encourage farmers to buy into the new project:
This initiative will radio collar predators that are caught by farmers on their farmland. After they are fitted with GPS radio enabled collars they will be re-released. A team of trackers that will also include volunteers will then monitor animal movements and inform farmers when the predator comes close to his herd of livestock.

Support

Support and advice is available from your Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.

Find out more about Amanzi Travel support

Accommodation and Meals

Your accommodation will be in a wendy house or in the volunteer house. The wendy houses are wooden cabins with a bedroom, bathroom and small kitchen area. If need be, single working guests will be asked to share. We will ensure that same sex sharing takes place. The wendy houses are situated within easy reach of the central area. Towels and bed linen will be provided. The volunteer house is situated directly next to to farm house and has several bedrooms and bathrooms that have to be shared too, if needed.

Food

All your food will be provided. Please ensure that special requirements are detailed on your application form.

Getting There

Fly directly into Windhoek International Airport where you will be met on arrival and transferred to your accommodation. Transfers are included in the program. Transfer time is approximately 3 hours. On arrival you will be introduced to the project team and other volunteers, the accommodation and facilities and of course the animals living in and around the lodge. Activities are continuous so you will be able to get hands-on on your first day and start your once in a lifetime experience!

(There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport - for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel)

Project Fees

What is 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

What is excluded

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