Africa Bush Wildlife and Cultural Experience
Livingstone Medical and Community Development Volunteer Project
Lion Walking and Elephant Swimming Adventure
Heather Kennedy's Experience (April - June 2007)
Itinerary:
7 days - African Bush Wildlife and Cultural Experience. more...
58 days – Medical, Aids Orphan and Community Volunteer Experience. more...
7 days – Lion Walking and Elephant Swimming Adventure. more...
My African Adventure
My daily wake up call…the roaring of lions. Part of everyday life in the beautiful country that is Africa.
During my time in Zimbabwe and Zambia I experienced many breathtaking moments. It would be impossible to pick out my favourite part but here are a few memories that I treasure from my time away.
- Tracking rhino on foot through the African bush.
- Herding giraffe on horseback.
- Walking the lion cubs.
- Seeing all the stars in the Milky Way in the vast African night sky.
- Tasting the local delicacies (mapani worms!!)
- Dancing the night away with the local tribal dancers.
- The emotion I felt whilst helping to deliver a baby in one of the clinics.
- Enjoying a relaxing massage on the banks of the Zambizi River.
When I look back on all of these experiences they seem surreal, but when in Africa you truly feel that it is normal to be walking besides an 18month lion cub, or eating the local foods. I believe that it is down to the fact that the locals that I met were so welcoming and made you feel totally at ease in their home country.
I spent 2 months in Zambia, Livingstone working on a medical project. Whilst this was a tough experience for me, I feel that it was the most rewarding part of my trip. I spent my time either working in the local clinics weighing babies or working in the out patients department taking patients blood pressure, temperature etc. I also spent a bit of my time in the labs testing for malaria (blood samples) and TB (sputum samples) The lab technicians in the clinics are overwhelmed buy the workload and volunteer help is gladly welcomed.
I got a true insight into the way of life in Zambia when I chose to do home based care. This project is run by 30 local women, all volunteers. We spent each morning going into the local community visiting patients. The patients generally have the late stages of HIV, TB or malaria. Often they cannot afford to go to a clinic or hospital. As well as bringing medical supplies we also gave them advice on nutrition and the correct way to take their medication. I created a strong bond with the ladies that I worked along side, admiring their strength and commitment, as most of them were looking after 5 or more children of their own at home, whilst giving their time to the project voluntarily.
I felt that I gained the most out of my time away, and this was due to the organisation and planning of Amanzi travel, prior to and during my visit. I was fully prepared to all that I faced, down to the right equipment and what to expect. This was all included in an excellent pre-departure pack (it was my bible!).
Heather Kennedy - volunteer and African convert!
[ ASK QUESTIONS ] [ BOOK NOW ] [ CALL BACK ] [ ADVICE & INFO ]
›› Back