LION REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROJECT
VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE

An incredible opportunity to help address the seriously decreasing number of lions in the wild throughout Africa. Join the world's first lion rehabilitiation/release programme at Victoria Falls where you will walk with lions, hand rear cubs and help conduct invaluable research on lion behaviour. As part of this project all volunteers will also be involved with exciting conservation education initiatives and their time at the project will be divided between the lion rehabilitation programme and conservation work in local schools. Take the time to visit the world famous Falls themselves and experience some of the many amazing adventure activities on offer.

	Location:	VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE	Dates:	Any date throughout the year.
	Fees:	£1,195 - 2 weeks £1,575 - 3 weeks £1,895 - 4 weeks	Payment:	£180 deposit at time of booking – balance of project fee due 8 weeks before departure
	Reference:	AV022

General Information

This project is based on the outskirts of Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe - just a stone's throw from the magnificent thundering waters of the Falls themselves. Volunteers will work on the world's leading programme for the release of lions back into the wild - learning how to bottle feed the younger cubs, walking with them as they learn to stalk their prey and experiencing the African Bush in a special way as they spend time out in the Masuwe Big 5 area where the lion project is based. The opportunity to help with conservation education in the local schools gives volunteers a fantastic insight into the lives of the local community and Zimbabwean culture. There will also be opportunities to take part, with other volunteers, in optional visits to the nearby National Parks, at an additional cost.

Lion Rehabiltiation/Release Programme

Although as recently as 1975 more than 200,000 lions roamed the African continent, two surveys in 2002 showed evidence of an 80 - 90% decline in the lion population estimating then that only 23,000 - 39,000 remained - with a lowest estimate being just 16,500. This valuable project, with its headquarters in Gweru (Central Zimbabwe) is thought to be the first in the world of its kind and aims to rehabilitate captive-bred lions back into the wild so that their cubs, raised by the pride, can learn the skills necessary to ensure their successful transition into their natural environment. Volunteers, by spending part of each day with the lions in the wild, will be helping with this initial phase of the project. Since the inception of the project a marked increase in the lions' awareness of their natural surroundings and an improvement in their hunting skills have been observed and these improvements are being enhanced daily with the help and supervision of the volunteers. Volunteers should note that in order to raise vital funding to support the project, tourists are also given the opportunity to walk with the lions in the wild and experience the programme first-hand and volunteers may be accompanied by such paying tourists on some of their lion walks.

STAGE 1:

Young lion cubs (2 - 18 months) spend as many daylight and night hours as possible in the wild. They are observed and accompanied by volunteer workers, guides or lion handlers. This stage is already underway at the project headquarters and it is remarkable to observe the development of the natural stalking and hunting instincts of the young lions. By the age of 16 -24 months the young lions are already able to successfully stalk and hunt down the young of wildebeest, impala, zebra, kudu, tsessebe and other smaller antelope.

STAGE 2:

Lions too old to walk with clients are given the opportunity to hone their hunting skills and develop a natural pride social system in a minimum 500 acre enclosure. They have plenty of game to hunt, and are monitored closely as to their progress.

STAGE 3:

From Stage 2 the lions are translocated in selected groups to a managed ecosystem where:

• There are no other lions
• There are no resident human beings
• There are sufficient prey species for the lions to hunt and survive on

These areas will generally be a minimum of 10,000 acres in size and will be located in various African countries.

STAGE 4:

The lions in Stage 3 will give birth to cubs, which will be raised by their pride in the managed ecosystem. We believe that these lions, born in Stage 3 will be able to be released when and where necessary into appropriate game reserves, conservancies and National Parks across the African continent.

Researchers have noticed improvements in the lions' awareness of surroundings and hunting skills since the inception of this programme and the older cubs can now be observed taking down smaller species of game whilst walking with the volunteers. These are encouraging signs for this project team who appreciate the assistance that our volunteers can offer.

The rehabilitation and release project has recently entered its exciting second stage. In the summer of 2007 the first pride of lions was released into a 500 acre enclosure within a large reserve in central Zimbabwe. This area is stocked with game and at this point of the programme all human contact is removed from the lions. This is the prides chance to prove that they can establish themselves and survive in the wild. The animals are monitored during this phase of the programme to check on their progress. Prior to release all lions are radio-collared, micro-chipped, DNA tested, screened for diseases and vaccinated. The progress of the project is going extremely well and the lions in this stage have established a pride structure and have hunting prey independently to feed themselves for a year now.  

Conservation Education in the Local Community

All volunteers will be involved in the new and exciting Conservation Education syllabus that is currently being launched in the local schools in the Victoria Falls area. This work is seen as a vital part of the lion rehabilitation programme in that one of the best long-term sustainable solutions to solving the conservation crisis in Arica is by educating the local children and their communities.

This is a brand new initiative and depending on the status of the programme at the time of the visit volunteers can expect to be involved in the teaching and instruction of the Conservation Education syllabus to local school children for approximately two days each week. The children love the lessons and look forward both the interaction with the volunteers and the chance to learn more about what is going on around them in the conservation arena. The feedback from the kids has been impressive; their knowledge of the animals in the area and the food chain is good and the initial lessons will cover topics such as: "How plants and animals adapt to their environment"; "Life in Water"; "A day in the life of an Insect" etc.

In addition to your involvement with the lions and the conservation education initatives volunteers will also have the chance to visit the local elephant orphange where duties might include feeding and caring for some of the young elephants who often follow the volunteers, are very affectionate but can be pushy in order to get attention!  Volunteers can also be involved in recording their eating habits, behaviour traits and dominance and any agression.

The Zambezi National Park Conservation Programme

Since the inception of this programme mid-way through 2006, volunteers have been and will continue to be involved in some or all of the following activities during their placement:

G.P.S Mapping:

From the beginning of this work in the Park we have been logging the position of the roads and the majority of the campsites and bush camps. This is a wealth of information that will be used to provide the Department of National Parks with a modern, updated and useful tourist map to more effectively promote the natural beauty that characterizes the Zambezi National Park.

Walked Dung Transects:

Usually three volunteers participate in this activity with the main aim being to assess the density of a specific species in any given area. Eventually after enough data is captured we can begin to get an idea of species distribution within the Park and an idea of abundance for each species.

Small Carnivore Census:

Very little information is known about the more secretive and nocturnal small carnivores such as the genets (Genetta spp.) and civet (Civettictis civetta) amongst many others. This research exercise is carried out in two parts consisting of early morning spoor counts along a road and with night drives to sight these species.

Large Carnivore Research:

Starting in 2007, volunteers hope to investigate the status and distribution of large carnivore species in Victoria Falls National Park by creating a database of predator sightings. Volunteers will attempt to document the following factors for as many sightings of carnivores, or of carnivore spoor (foot prints) as possible: Date, Location, Habitat type, Species, Number, age (i.e. juvenile, sub adult, adult), sex of individuals,Behaviour at time of observation, Collation of game scouts reports, Mitigating the impact of the bush-meat trade on wildlife populations, Identifying causes and impacts of natural mortalities of wildlife in the Park

Assessing the Population Status of Elephants in ZNP:

National Parks have little information concerning the population size of elephants within the National Park and therefore volunteers will assist in the following research:

• Assessing the population size of elephants in the National park
• Determining whether the population is increasing or decreasing
• Assessing the impact of elephants on vegetation within the National Park

Other Activities:

• Alien plant removal
• Natioanl Parks maintenance
• Driven Road Strip Counts
• Assisting National Parks with the design and implementation of game counts

Optional Excursions

During your stay at Victoria Fall you will have the opportunity to enjoy an excursion to some of the other spectacular spots that Zimbabwe has to offer. These trips are also a great time for volunteers to interact and get to know each other better. An optional extra excursion such as the one outlined below will cost you approximately US$310 (this includes the National Parks fees), which are payable in cash on arrival at the project.

DAY 1: Matobo National Park
Leave Victoria Falls after breakfast for Granite Ridge Lodge in the Matobo National Park, where volunteers can join a rhino walk, a game drive or a cave painting tour. There will also be an opportunity to visit Cecil Rhodes' resting place at "Worlds View".

DAYS 2 - 4: Lion Rehabilitation
Leave Granite Ridge after breakfast for the headquarters of the lion rehabilitation programme in central Zimbabwe where opportunities will arise to ride - either on horseback or on the back of an African elephant - through the savannah plans of the game reserve or just stay in the safari camp on the beautiful river bank.

DAY 5: Hwange National Park
Depart for Miombo Safari Lodge in Hwange National Park - the largest National Park in Zimbabwe (approximately the size of Belgium!) - where volunteers can join a game drive and possibly get up close and personal with elephants, buffalo, lions, hyenas and many more.

DAY 6: White water rafting or bungee jumping!
Leave after breakfast to return to Victoria Falls where volunteers might wish to take the chance to do some white water rafting, bungee jumping or even a sunset cruise down the Zambezi River.

A day in the life of a volunteer

6:30am	Volunteers will be collected by the local co-ordinator and driven out to the lion project base in Mawsuwe (10 minute drive).
6:35am	Volunteers will meet their guides and their possibly clients and join them on a lion walk, taking cubs aged between 4 months to 18 months out into the bush. Data capture recordings will be made as the cubs practice their hunting skills.
9:00am	Breakfast
10:00am	Perhaps head off to the nearby Chamabondo School to begin the day's Conservation Education classes - with perhaps up to 60 kids in the class! Good Fun! Other groups will spend time in the bush with the lion cubs continuing with the data capture and essential observation work on their behaviour.
12:30pm	Lunch
2.30pm	Afternoon duties may include preparing Conservation Education lessons for the next day, or participation in a lion walk at Masuwe, gathering more information on the behaviour of the lions in the bush.
6.45pm	Briefing by volunteer co-ordinator regarding the following day's activities
Evening	Volunteers socialise over dinner at 7.00 pm in Hunters Lodge and then perhaps venture off into Victoria Falls town itself to experience the local nightlife!

"Going on this project is the best thing I have done in my life, it has opened my eyes in so many ways and feel I have come back with a much more postive attitude. Amanzi travel were excellent, they answered all my questions and were very friendly and helpful.  Zimbabwe is such an amazing country and my 4 weeks there were well spent although I wish they could have lasted a little longer.  All of the people at the lodge I was staying (Hunters lodge) and all the guides at the lion rehabilitation centre (Masuwe) were fabulous, I could not have asked for better people to have guided me on my journey. They were all incredible!!! I am so glad I took the courage to go on this trip and I hope I return"
Kerry Hinbest, UK, 2008

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

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all our 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.

Accommodation and Meals

All volunteers will stay in the Volunteer Lodge, situated approximately 20 minutes' walk from the town of Victoria Falls. Volunteers will be picked up each morning and transported either to Masuwe (base of the lion project) or to a previously organised position with the Victoria Falls National Park. The accommodation provided is simple but comfortable and completely suited to the needs of the volunteers. The Lodge is equipped with satellite television, and the gardens have green lawns, a swimming pool and a barbecue. Three meals a day are provided - breakfast and lunch are usually at the guides' quarters at Masuwe Safari area or back at the volunteer lodge for those assisting in the teaching in the morning. Meals are generally prepared by the volunteer cook.  Dinner is usually a very sociable meal at the lodge over which the guides and volunteers can discuss the day's activities and plan for the next day.

Getting There

Fly to Victoria Falls from where you will be met and transferred to the Lodge.
(There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport - by air, bus or train - for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel)
Let Amanzi Travel arrange your flights for you

Project Fees

What is included

• A contribution that goes directly back into the project itself which facilitates funding for items such as food for the lions, management and maintenance of the infrastructure and further developments
• All transfers to and from Victoria Falls Airport on arrival and departure
• "On-the-job" educational activities and support from project staff
• All accommodation including 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 Victoria Falls Airport
• Use of internet and telephone
• Visas and any trips undertaken other than in the planned programme