LION BREEDING AND RELEASE PROJECT
GWERU, ZIMBABWE

A once in a lifetime experience to work with the majestic African Lion on this world leading lion breeding and release project.  In addition to walking with lions, hand rearing cubs and conducting invaluable research into lion behaviour at this exclusive and beautiful game reserve in Gweru, volunteers will also have the opportunity to work with orphaned elephants. This game reserve, teeming with wildlife, is the headquarters of the project and the contribution made by volunteers helps to address the seriously decreasing numbers of lions in the wild throughout Africa.  Volunteers will also have the opportunity to work with orphaned elephants as well as helping out with wildlife management and boundary patrols on the reserve and will be able to take advantage of activities such as canoeing, fishing and horseback riding.

	Location:	GWERU, ZIMBABWE	Dates:	Volunteer should arrive on the Sunday before the first and third Monday of each month.
	Fees:	£1,095 - 2 weeks £1,525 - 3 weeks £1,885 - 4 weeks £2,425 - 6 weeks	Payment:	£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
	Reference:	AV021

Highlights

• Work on the world's leading programme for releasing lions back into the wild
• Walk with the lions and experience the excitement of watching young cubs play in the bush 
• Nurse and bottle feed the young cubs - if there are any in camp at the time
• Spend time in the bush - exploring the wildlife by horseback or riding the elephants
• Discover and enjoy the local Zimbabwean culture
• Take part in important research into the behaviour of the African Lion and assist with lots of activities related to their care
• Take advantage of the many optional trips available to see more of the wildlife - particularly in the Hwange National Park or Matopos National Park
• Take part in some of the many adventure activities available in the Victoria Falls area
• Make friends for life with other interntional volunteers

General Information

Although in 1975 Africa was home to some 250,000 lions, figures from 2002 show an 80-90% reduction in this number and it is estimated that now less than 15,000 remain.  This valuable project, the leading exponent of its kind in the world, aims to re-introduce captive-bred lions back into the wild through a phased programme. 
Daily tasks may include:

Lion Walks

Spending time with the lions in the wild each day is an essential part of the cub's upbringing.  If the cubs are to be released into the wild in the future it is important that they spend time out in this natural environment. They need to adapt and learn from it, and to understand, observe, feel and smell the wild.  Since the beginning of this programme, a marked increase in the lions' awareness of their natural surroundings has been noted, as well as an improvement in their bush skills and these are improving all the time.   Volunteers will also be involved in the care of these animals which are kept overnight in enclosures.  They need feeding, cleaning and occasional veterinary care to ensure they are kept in good health.

Research

Volunteers will take part in valuable research activities that will improve man's understanding of lion behaviour and ecology.  Lion walks offer an excellent opportunity to oberve these animals closely in their natural environment and volunteers will assist in collecting data that will enable the best decisions for the welfare and eventual release of the lions to be made.  Research projects will vary from time to time but may include looking at character traits, spoor sizes and mane growth.  No previous experience is necessary as full training will be given.

Elephant

Volunteers will have the opportunity to spend time with the orphaned African Elephants and their trainers and may assist in their daily care.

Free Roaming Wildlife

Volunteers will be involved in protecting the few remaining areas of wildlife sanctuary left in Zimbabwe by helping with wildlife management schemes such as snare sweeps within the game park and boundary patrols to check fences and repair them if necessary.  Such activities are usually done on foot with a trained guide. 

Other Duties

Volunteers will be involved in the day-to-day work such as cleaning the lion enclosures; preparing meat for the lions; building and painting new lion enclosures; cutting and collecting firewood; exercising the horses; and any other wildlife or camp related activities connected with the development of the programme.  There may also be an opportunity to visit the children in a local orphanage who love to see the volunteers who give them lots of care and attention.

A Day in the Life of a Volunteer ...

Every day is different but below is an example of a typical day - given as a guideline only 

6:00 am	Bottle feed the cubs - ranging in age from 3 weeks to 5 months - if there are cubs in camp at the time
6:30 am	Meet the guides and clients and join them for a lion walk, taking cubs from 7 months to 18 months out into the bush and observing and recording their behaviour. Or perhaps spend this time training the elephants or taking them for a ride.
8:30 am	Breakfast
9:30 am	Involvement in various duties including enclosure cleaning, cub walking, snare sweeping, boundary patrols, meat preparation, bush walks or enclosure maintenance
12:30	Lunch
2:15 pm	Afternoon duties could include cub sitting, horse rides,elephant herding or more enclosure cleaning and maintenance if needed
4.00 pm	Take the cubs out for their afternoon walk
6.45 pm	Briefing with the volunteer co-ordinator on the following day's activities. The volunteers socialise at dinner at 7.00 pm and sit around the camp fire under the stars.  On some nights the larger cubs are taken out for a night walk in the bush.

Optional Travel Highlights

The following optional trip gives volunteers a chance to see some of the beautiful attractions in Zimbabwe.  As an example the expedition below will cost approximately USD 450 - but it includes National Park fees, transport, meals and accommodation.  Please note that it will only operate if there is sufficient volunteer interest.

Day 1     
Leave after breakfast for Granite Ridge Lodge in the Motobo National Park where you can enjoy a rhino walk and game drive.  You may even get the chance to witness an amazing African sunset.

Day 2    
Leave Granite Ridge for Miombo Safari Lodge in the Hwange National Park - the largest national park in Zimbabwe - where you can enjoy another game drive perhaps seeing elephant, buffalo, lions and much more

Days 3-5
Leave Miombo for Victoria Falls - the adrenaline capital of Africa - where you can bungee jump, white water raft, visit the Falls, gorge swing across the Botoka Gorge or just soak up the atmosphere at this tourist hotspot

Day 5    
Travel to-day to Chundu Island on the Zambezi River for a one night stay

Day 6    
Leave Chundu Island after breakfast and return to Gweru via Victoria Falls

Project Age Range:  Volunteers should be at least 17 years of age; upper age limit will be dependent on any individual volunteer's health

Support

Support and advice is available from the Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all volunteers upon booking their trip and further advice and information will be provided via telephone and email before departure. A full orientation will be provided by the local support team on arrival at the project and will include:

• A volunteer's manual with lots of useful information
• Introduction to all senior project staff and heads of department
• Familiarisation with the working areas - including rivers, roads and tracks, and some wildlife species
• Introduction to the lions and cub enclosures
• Briefing on the way to use data capture forms and how to enter data onto the computer systems

Accommodation and Meals

All volunteers will be accommodated in twin or quad room thatched accommodation.  There are separate clean shower and toilet facilities adjacent to the sleeping quarters.  The rooms are cleaned daily and  located at the well-equipped main reserve camp.  The camp has a swimming pool and internet access which is sporadic due to the remote location.  A free laundry service is available. Three buffet-style meals a day are provided and are taken in the main camp dining room.  Packed breakfasts can be taken out into the park. 

Accommodation upgrades are available in either thatched river lodges or East African style safari tents.  Tents have twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom and lodges have twin or double rooms, en-suite bathrooms and a deck overlooking the river.   Please ask for more information and prices for the upgrade.

Getting There

• Fly into Bulawayo from Johannesburg, stay overnight at the volunteer lodge, and transfer the following morning, either with a member of the project staff, or by City Link Bus to Gweru (2 hours).
• Fly into Harare (Zimbabwe's capital), stay overnight in the volunteer lodge, and transfer the following morning, either with a member of the project staff, or by City Link Bus to Gweru (4 hours).
• It may be possible, depending on transfer availability, to be met by a member of the project staff and transferred directly without the need for an overnight stay in the volunteer lodge.
• All pick-ups, transfers and overnight accommodation at the volunteer lodges are included in the project fee

Fees

What is included

• Financing that goes directly to the project to fund items such as food for lions, enclosure maintenance, and further development of the programme
• All transfers on arrival and departure including overnight accommodation in Bulawayo or Harare if required
• "On-the-job" educational activities and support from volunteer co-ordinators and local staff
• Any wildlife educational talks that take place during your visit
• All accommodation (including lodge accommodation in Harare on arrival and departure if necessary)
• 3 meals a day
• Unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks
• Laundry and domestic service

What is excluded

• Travel insurance (to include cover for repatriation)
• Personal items eg clothes, travel goods
• Return flights to Harare or Bulawayo Airports
• Use of internet (email) and telephone (charged at cost)
• Wines, beers and spirits, cokes, chocolate or snacks not included in meals
• Visas and any optional excursions undertaken other than in the planned programme