Elephant & Rhino Conservation Volunteering
Volunteer with Rhinos and Elephants
Zimbabwe
1 - 12 weeks
Every Monday
Mondays
Max 12 people
Max 12
Age 17+
From $915
Elephant & Rhino Conservation
This project is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife, with a focus on protecting endangered black rhinos, white rhinos and elephants. When you join the Rhino & Elephant project in Zimbabwe, you’re making life better for the amazing animals and the human communities they share their environment with.
The project’s mission is to ensure the long-term future of Africa’s remaining rhinos, combining wildlife protection, community involvement and responsible tourism.
Ready to work with rhinos and volunteer with elephants? Read on for more about this life-changing opportunity.
How will I be helping?
When you join the Rhino & Elephant project, you become part of a dedicated, passionate volunteering family who are committed to wildlife rehabilitation and protection. This unique wildlife conservation volunteer program combines conservation work with rhinos and elephants, with community projects and wildlife research.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to volunteer with rhinos and play an important role in the daily activities of a wildlife conservancy. Whether you’re tracking elephants, hammering in nails or monitoring one of the five rhino calves, you’re contributing to something very special.
Is volunteering with rhinos ethical?
It is indeed. Privately owned conservancies are vital in the mission to save rhinos. The human-wildlife conflict is probably the biggest issue we face as conservationists. But you can make a difference.
By volunteering with rhinos and elephants at this program in Zimbabwe, you play a hands-on role in protecting endangered wildlife and contribute to a conservation success story – where communities and wildlife can coexist peacefully and productively.
Rhino conservation is critically important; with less than 80 Javan rhinos left, volunteers play an essential part in ensuring that other rhino species, such as the black and white rhino don’t suffer the same fate.
Project showreel
Project gallery
Project videos
Project information
Our Elephant & Rhino Conservation Programme takes an integrated approach to conserving endangered wildlife. Volunteers like you are key to protecting the conservancy’s 26 rhinos and three elephants, through a variety of different activities and projects. You’ll work closely with local staff and community members to help keep the rhinos and elephants safe from harm.
This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in day-to-day life in Africa. In return, you’ll contribute to an important conservation cause. It’s truly life-changing.
- Work and live alongside black and white rhinos, elephants and a wide range of other wildlife including giraffes, buffalos, zebras and plains game.
- Learn to track rhinos using radio telemetry.
- Interact with elephants and track black and white rhinos on foot in their natural habitat.
- Conduct wildlife observations and animal monitoring.
- Participate in important conservation activities including game counts, bush walks and wildlife research.
- Work with local school children and community groups on sustainability, literacy and conservation projects.
- Learn about wildlife conservation and the ongoing threat to African wildlife, and experience the huge responsibility of managing a wildlife conservancy.
Volunteers will usually get involved in some or all of the following activities:
Endangered species conservation – volunteer with elephants and rhinos:
- Monitor rhinos and elephants and collect observational data on animal behaviour, health, movements, interactions and feeding activities.
- Have close-up encounters with the rhinos and elephants while you gather data.
- Repair elephant damage.
- Learn to use telemetry and identify rhino and other wildlife tracks and signs in the bush.
- Observe both species on guided bush walks and game drives
- Assist anti-poaching units to track and locate black and white rhino using telemetry devices.
- Track and locate animals using simple tracking of spoor and other signs with skilled guides and rangers.
- Log and record data on territorial and feeding behaviour/signs of individual rhinos through GPS mapping of dung middens and vegetation surveys.
- Assist rangers with supplement feeding of black rhinos in designated ‘observation bomas’. Assist rangers with monitoring the physical condition of each rhino, as well as feeding them organic feed to maintain an optimal nutritional intake throughout the year.
Anti-poaching and security
- Secure, repair and check the boundary fences.
- Meet the K9 Unit and the highly trained working dogs. Observe them in action during simulations and training sessions.
- Conduct weapons training and safety with the Anti-Poaching Unit.
Conservancy management
- Maintain fences, roads, observation bomas and equipment.
- Plant trees in the rewilding areas. Increasing the number of indigenous tree species will provide new and essential habitats for birds, and food for browsers.
- Bush clearing and removal of invasive, non-indigenous plant species.
- Assist with the burning of fireguards around our perimeter to create buffer zones which prevent wildfires from jumping into the conservancy.
- Feed nutritional supplements to rhino, elephant and other plains game. This ensures optimal nutritional intake throughout the year, particularly during the dry season, when food availability is sparse.
- Conduct game counts of different species on foot and in the vehicle.
Community projects
The project has been closely involved with the local rural community since its foundation. Community engagement is the essence of their conservation philosophy. This can be seen in the long-running involvement in local employment opportunities, education support, healthcare and poverty alleviation projects. Rhino volunteers may get involved with:
- Education projects focusing on English literacy and conservation education.
- Join the Women’s Support Group, who make an enormous difference in their community. The current projects include a reusable sanitary pad project for girls in the local communities.
- Organic gardening and tree planting.
- Visit one of the local primary or secondary schools, close to the boundary of the conservancy.
- Work with the Secondary School Conservation Club, helping them to maintain a vegetable garden that provides fresh food for the pupils.
- Village visit and cultural day – learn how to make peanut butter, fetch and carry water and learn to plough (seasonal). During this visit you will also experience life in a rural Shona village and homestead to learn more about Shona culture and customs. Be guided through extensive Bushman paintings at Mhakwe caves, a national monument and sacred burial site of local chiefs.
- Help at a local vegetable farm and learn from the young farmer, growing a sustainable and organic farming business. Assist with planting, harvesting and farm maintenance (seasonal).
When can I volunteer?
- Volunteers can join the Rhino & Elephant Conservation Programme on Mondays.
- The project is closed from from 21st December 2026 – 4th January 2027.
Current pricing:
1 week: $1,120
2 weeks: $2,240
3 weeks: $3,150
4 weeks: $3,995
Each additional week: $865 up to a maximum stay of 12 weeks
Discounted rates for quieter periods (projects starting from December to the end of May)
1 week: $915
2 weeks: $1,830
3 weeks: $2,640
4 weeks: $3,395
Each additional week: $760
All prices are in USD.
What’s included in the cost?
- Project contribution: this goes directly to our project partner, and provides funding to ensure the programme can continue to meet its goals. For this project it will cover things like staff costs, equipment purchases, maintenance of buildings, equipment and vehicles, veterinary fees, animal feed, fencing, and funding for community projects
- Accommodation and three meals per day
- Return airport transfers (Mondays at set times)
- Laundry and housekeeping
- Comprehensive orientation and supervision
- Practical instruction by experienced guides
- Equipment and materials required to do your work
What’s not included?
- Flights or travel to Harare, Zimbabwe
- Visa fees ($35-$75 depending on nationality)
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Administration fee ($40)
Optional costs to include in your trip budget:
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks from the bar, snacks
- Pre and / or post programme accommodation (if required)
- Additional excursions
- WiFi ($10 per device per week)
View our full booking terms and conditions.
Zimbabwe volunteer packages
HORSE RIDING & RHINO CONSERVATION COMBO
If you are a keen horse rider, adding a week or two on the Horse Riding & Rhino Conservation Programme, based at the same location, makes an incredible all-round volunteer experience. Ride alongside zebras and giraffes; carry out horseback patrols to deter poachers, and monitor the boundary fences – all on the back of your very own bush horse.
Combination project pricing:
1 week Rhino Conservation / 1 week Horse Riding: from $2,410
2 weeks Rhino Conservation / 1 week Horse Riding: from $3,325
1 week Rhino Conservation / 2 weeks Horse Riding: from $3,905
Click for more details of the Horse Riding & Rhino Conservation Programme.
WATCH: Horse Riding & Rhino Conservation Project video.
CONSERVATION & COMMUNITIES COMBO
We have introduced a new Conservation & Communities combination project which enables volunteers to combine two very different projects within Zimbabwe.
If you want to experience iconic wildlife, but also learn first-hand about the challenges of rural life, and work on much-needed community support projects, we highly recommend spending a week or two at our Community Outreach Programme, based just outside Africa’s Adventure Capital – Victoria Falls. Click for more details of our new Conservation & Communities Programme.
CONSERVANCY & SANCTUARY COMBO
We’ve also combined our Rhino & Elephant Programme with our popular Primate Conservation Programme.
Experience large and small animal conservation, working with two organisations dedicated to Zimbabwe’s animal welfare. As well as interacting with and learning about Africa’s iconic large mammals, you can also get to grips with caring for a range of smaller mammals and birds, based at Zimbabwe’s only dedicated primate rehabilitation centre. Click for more details of our Conservancy & Rehabilitation combination project.
Volunteer reviews
Other projects you might like
Combine horse riding safaris, anti-poaching patrols and horseback game counts, with volunteer work with rhinos and elephants.
From $1,495
1 - 2 weeks
Volunteer with monkeys and baboons at Zimbabwe’s only primate rehabilitation centre. Gain animal care experience and assist in wildlife rescue.
From $875
1 - 12 weeks
Volunteer with lions and other predators. Get involved with wildlife monitoring and daily bush walks. Track lions, elephants and cheetahs, and support anti-poaching initiatives.
From $1,875
2 - 12 weeks
Volunteer with rhinos and get practical experience in anti-poaching techniques. Learn from South Africa’s most experienced conservationists.
From $1,395
7, 10, 14 days
