Zimbabwe Rhino and Elephant Conservation

Your time at this project will be divided into spending time with the wildlife learning about and spending time with the animals, in particular the black rhino and elephants and getting involved with the game park, and spending time at the at the local school close to the project. The emphasis is very much on wildlife conservation and the majority of your time is spent in the game park but part of the programme includes educating the community on its importance. 

No two days are the same and some of the activities you will be involved with include:

Spending time with the Black Rhino on the reserve

Monitoring their behaviour, social activity, interactions and breeding behaviour. Your duties here may include:

• Maintenance and cleaning of the rhino beds
• Walking with the rhino and collecting data on their behaviour

Working with the elephants
Undertaking anti-poaching and snare patrols, teaching co-operative elephant handling, observing their family interactions, monitoring and assessing browsing behaviour. It is an amazing experience to spend time with these magnificent animals and their experienced handlers and you will get many opportunities to interact with these beautiful creatures. Your duties here may include;

• Maintenance and cleaning of the elephant beds
• Work around the game park involving the elphants as required, e.g. deliveries, wood collection
• Observing the elephants in their natural habitat and spending valuable time in their company whilst gathering data

You may also be involved in the following activities:

• Assisting in the general running of the game park- including; animal feeding, anti-poaching patrols, bush clearance, removal of foreign plant species, game counts and maintaining vegetable gardens
• Undertaking community projects with local schools and pre-school in permaculture, gardening, conservation education, sports and general teaching assistance
• Helping with special projects around the game park and having unexpected adventures!
• In your spare time you can go fishing, canoeing, camping in the bush, undertake rifle training or just relax by the pool at the volunteer house with a cold beer! You will have the opportunity to go horse riding in the bush - an amazing way to experience the wildlife, elephant riding and even enjoy a swim with the elephants! For those who enjoy hiking the in-country team can arrange walks both on and off the reserve, visit local cultural sites or go and enjoy the hustle and bustle of Harare.