Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary

Turn your holiday into an adventure! Get your hands dirty and get involved with a huge range of activities, working with many small and large African animals. As a wildlife sanctuary volunteer, you are critical to the work the sanctuary is doing, enabling the long-term care of the animals and their rehabilitation or release. You will also experience iconic large African wildlife as you work in the conservancy alongside rhinos, elephants and lions.

This project gets deep into the heart of volunteers, with many returning time and time again.

Sanctuary volunteers are involved with a diverse variety of tasks, including:

Animal care:

Volunteers are critical to the daily care and feeding of the sanctuary’s animals that are undergoing rehabilitation or are in permanent care:

• Assist with daily food collection, preparation and small animal feeding;
• Carnivore feeding;
• Cleaning and maintaining enclosures and pens;
• Providing intensive care for baby and juvenile animals;
• Help rehabilitate animals who can one day be released back into the wild;
• Work with a range of species including zebra, ostrich, owls, raptors and bush babies, plus a range of domestic animals and birds;
• Learn about the human-wildlife conflict and the stories of individual animals. 

Habitat and Behaviour enrichment:

An important wildlife sanctuary volunteer role is to enrich the lives of animals unable to be released, and ensure they are able to enjoy as natural a life as possible.

• Build toys, platforms, playgrounds and other enrichment facilities;
• Engage and interact with juvenile monkeys and baboons who cannot be released;
• Work with animals who cannot be released due to mental or physical issues;
• Help with cheetah enrichment runs to stimulate natural behaviours;
• Learn about cheetah physiology and their conservation in Namibia.

Maintenance and repair work

• Build and repair enclosures and fences;
• Break down old structures;
• Dig trenches for water pipes or new waterholes;
• Paint and decorate at the school.

Horse riding (optional):

Conservation work such as border patrols, fence monitoring, game counts and animal monitoring are often done on horseback, so there is plenty of opportunity to get into the saddle and explore the beautiful Namibian bush.

Community outreach (optional):

As a wildlife sanctuary volunteer, you can also choose to get involved at the sanctuary’s local San Bushmen primary school, where culture and conservation come together. The students are the children of the families who live and work at the sanctuary and reserve. The school provides a full curriculum to young children, including Maths, English, Arts and Crafts, Sports and Environmental Studies.

After Grade 3 (age 9), the children are sponsored to attend mainstream primary school in Windhoek.

If you would like to help at the school as part of your conservation volunteer programme, there are two options available:

Option 1: Community Outreach – as a conservation volunteer

Wildlife Sanctuary volunteers can choose to get involved in some of the daily activities at the school. No experience is required to join this programme and volunteers can sign up 24 hours in advance for a morning or afternoon session at the school.

You may get involved in some of the following activities:

• Help the teachers with new activities such as crafts, music and dance;
• Help in the playground and with sports and games;
• Help with maintenance and cleaning around the school;

Option 2: Community Outreach – as a full time Primary School Volunteer

This option is available for teachers or student teachers and requires a minimum of 4 weeks volunteering.

Full time school volunteers will get involved with:

• Classroom assistance, handing out of assignments, tidying up and making resources
• Child management e.g. leading / assisting children with proper conduct when (for example) going to the bathroom, tying their shoes, washing hands after playtime etc.
• Quietly and respectfully listening to and observing the teacher’s lessons, using this opportunity to learn
• Creating lesson plans and presenting lessons
• Be involved in extra-curricular activities, even those which might occur over specified weekends

Please enquire for more details!

This is so much more than just a wildlife sanctuary project. Namibia sanctuary volunteers  will have the chance to go into the main 8,000-acre reserve, home to wild lions, elephants, African wild dogs and rhinos, and take part in monitoring activities of these high-profile endangered animals.

Focused research activities around the reserve include:

• Monitoring free-roaming carnivores, including cheetahs, leopards and African wild dogs;
• GPS tracking of lions, elephants and rhinos
• Spoor tracking of reserve animals – join skilled trackers in rhino tracking and elephant monitoring
• Game counts of free roaming plains game on foot, by vehicle and on horseback (horse riding is optional);
• Setting up camera traps around the reserve and analyse GPS data;
• Attending conflict calls with the wildlife rescue team (not guaranteed);
• Conducting studies of rehabilitated animals to assess their welfare and readiness for release;
• Recording behaviour patterns and social interactions;
• Assisting the Anti-Poaching Unit with K9 dog training.

In addition to captive animal care in the sanctuary, you will also take part in conservation research in the game reserve, to allow as many animals as possible to survive and thrive in the wild. You will get a practical, hands-on introduction to animal care and wildlife conservation, while surrounded by the beautiful Namibian bush.

Horse Riding (optional)

Border patrols and fence monitoring are often done on horseback, so horse riders will have lots of chances to go out on the sanctuary’s bush horses and get off the beaten track!

Maintenance Work

• Maintaining roads and fences
• Removal of invasive species and tree planting

Carnivore Conservation and Wildlife Research Programmes – add-on

The Foundation has two carnivore research sites set in the beautiful Namibian wilderness. The wildlife research projects   focus on the  monitoring of threatened species, particularly cheetahs, lions and hyenas. Wildlife sanctuary volunteers have a unique opportunity to visit one or both of these sites during their time in Namibia. 

Namibia is home to 25% of the global cheetah population and is one of only a few African countries which has free-ranging populations of 6 species of large carnivore (lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog, spotted hyena and brown hyena). The project works hard to keep these large carnivores in the wild and is conducting research into the territories, behaviour and populations of these animals.

The goal of all the research activity is to develop a greater understanding of Namibian wildlife that regularly comes into conflict with humans, on commercial farmland and outside protected areas. 

 Research site 1: Desert Retreat Research

The Desert Retreat site is around 8 hours south-west of Windhoek, bordering the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Home to iconic red sand dunes, vast open plains and imposing mountain ranges, the area is home to wild cheetahs, brown and spotted hyenas, leopards and other desert-adapted wildlife such as the oryx.

Volunteers get involved with:

• Game counts and tracking
• Hikes to discover signs of carnivore activity
• Camera trap monitoring
• Fence removal and wire braiding
• Maintenance and security across the reserve
• Sunrise breakfast amidst the magical dunes
• Sundowner under billion-star night skies
• Sandboarding

Research site 2: Conflict Animal Research, Omaruru

This project is located in the Omaruru region of northern Namibia, southwest of Etosha National Park and around 4 hours drive from Windhoek. The reserve covers an area of 35,000 hectares and focuses on the relocation and monitoring of conflict animals. Currently, lions, rhinos, elephants, African wild dogs and brown hyenas occur within the reserve and there are also populations of cheetahs.

Volunteers are involved with ongoing research efforts and the management of the native and reintroduced animals within the reserve.

Volunteer activities include:

• Wildlife tracking – the research team shows volunteers how to identify tracks and marking from animals, plus how to use GPS tracking equipment.
• Camera traps – place camera traps at strategic points to establish biodiversity. You will also organise and catalogue camera trap images.
• Game counts and biodiversity studies of all focus species including large carnivores.
• Assisting in internal fence removal to aid environmental rehabilitation
• Working on maintenance and building projects.

Click for more details of our Carnivore Conservation Programme, and see the Rates and Dates tab for combination pricing details.

WATCH: Carnivore Conservation Project video.

Immerse yourself in nature and take in some of Namibia’s most breathtaking scenery! Natural water springs, meandering canyons and a network of river beds make this unique area  perfect for adventure-lovers! The region  is also home to highly adapted wildlife including wild cheetahs, leopards and hyenas.

On Adventure Week you will explore the majestic Naukluft Mountain range and hike through a maze of ancient canyons, which have a unique underground cave system, fascinating geological formations and natural fountains. 

You will live amongst Namibia’s famous red sand dunes, an hour from the iconic Sossusvlei Dunes and 3 hours south of Windhoek.

Adventure week – what you’ll be doing!

• Hiking
• Swimming
• Team building
• Sleep outs
• Animal husbandry
• Wine tasting
• Witnessing outstanding night skies and spectacular sunsets!

Animal husbandry

The site is home to seven cheetahs, brought to the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary after being involved in human-wildlife conflict. The cheetahs were too habituated to be released into the wild,, so live in a 7 hectare fenced area. You will assist in their daily feeding, giving you great photographic opportunities to get close an ordinarily elusive animal. The encounters will also give you a first-hand insight into the impact of the human-wildlife conflict.

Hiking

You will go hiking almost every day of the programme, so be prepared to walk a minimum of 5km daily over uneven terrain. The longest distance will be just over 10km. The rewards for your hard work are amazing! You will have the chance to experience breathtaking rock formations and you will also visit two of the most popular tourist attractions in Namibia: Sossusvlei and the Olive Trail.

Sossusvlei

Explore Big Daddy, the Deadvlei and Sesriem Canyon – three of Namibia’s most iconic destinations! Your day at Sossusvlei will also include lunch and a cool-down swim at one of the local lodges.

Sossusvlei is just an hours drive and is a must-see destination while you are in Namibia.

Namib-Naufkluft National Park – hike the Olive Trail

During Adventure Week you will hike the infamous Olive Trail in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, a 10km route through the mountain range. If you are lucky you may see wildlife such as klipspringer, duiker, baboons, jackals and mongeese, and you may even see tracks for leopard and hyena.

After the hike you will have lunch by the natural water springs for an afternoon of relaxing and swimming!

Wine Production

In addition to all the adventure activities, you will also get the opportunity to sample unique wines, grown in the second driest vineyard in the world. You may also get the chance to help with the harvesting, bottling and labelling of the wines before they are sent for distribution.

Adventure Week is currently priced at $725 for the week, inclusive of transfers to and from the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary. Some activities and excursions incur an extra charge, payable locally. Please enquire for details.

Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary – Accommodation

There are three accommodation options at the wildlife sanctuary. Volunteer rooms take three-four people sharing (same sex); or there are large tents with a living and bedroom area which can be shared by up to two people (same sex or couples); or there are bush tents which sleep two-three people (same sex or a couple). The rooms are basic but the (single) beds are comfortable and all  bedding is provided. 

Showers and toilet facilities are communal and hot water is supplied by solar power, so is sometimes restricted to certain times of day. There is electricity at the sanctuary but power cuts do occur and can be prolonged during rainy season. There are power sockets for charging items in the communal areas – plug sockets are type M so you will may need  to bring an adaptor. There is a laundry service provided.

Upgrades to a brand new Volunteer Villa are also possible. This is a 4-bedroom villa with a private swimming pool, ideal for groups of up to 7 people, or for those who want a little more privacy. There is a supplement of $25 per person per night for the villa accommodation (subject to availability).

Food and drink

Three meals a day are provided on a self-service basis. Vegetarian options are available and dietary requirements can be accommodated – please let us know before you arrive! Water, tea and coffee are freely available throughout the day and snacks, alcoholic and fizzy drinks can be purchased from the bar.

Communication

There is no WiFi available at the sanctuary, however, you can purchase a local MTC SIM card and buy data bundles for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and emails, to enable you to keep up to date with the outside world. Don’t forget to unlock your phone before you leave home.

“I was also really pleasantly surprised by the food. I’m a vegetarian and brought jars of peanut butter and dozens of protein bars assuming I wouldn’t have much to eat. To my surprise, they had vegetarian meat at many dinners. I never went hungry.”

When can I volunteer?

Arrivals at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary are year round, with Monday and Thursday arrivals preferred.

Project pricing – Wildlife Sanctuary (please add on $100 a week to change Sanctuary weeks into Research weeks):

2 weeks: $1,250
3 weeks: $1,875
4 weeks: $2,500
5 weeks: $3,150
6 weeks: $3,775
7 weeks: $4,300
8 weeks: $4,750
9 weeks: $5,150
10 weeks: $5,550
11 weeks: $5,950
12 weeks: $6,350

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, funding for community projects etc
• Accommodation and three meals per day
• Return airport transfers 
• Mandatory uniform – 1 x t-shirt, 1 pair of zip-off trousers (uniforms must be worn every working day. Additional items are available for purchase.)
• Laundry and housekeeping
• Comprehensive orientation and supervision
• Practical instruction by experienced staff members
• Equipment and materials required to do your work

What’s not included?

• Flights or travel to Windhoek, Namibia
• Visa fees (if applicable)
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Administration fee ($40)

Optional extras to consider for your trip budget:

• Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks from the bar, snacks
• Pre and / or post programme accommodation (if required)
• Additional excursions
• Local SIM card and data / airtime bundles (optional)

View our booking terms and conditions. 

Carnivore Research  – add-on 

We highly recommend combining your Namibia wildlife sanctuary volunteer programme with time at one or two of the project’s Large Carnivore Research Sites, where you will get to experience life in Namibia’s vast wilderness areas. See the Research Sites tab for more details.

Combination project pricing 2024:

1 week Sanctuary / 1 week Carnivore Conservation: $1,350
2 weeks Sanctuary / 1 week Carnivore Conservation: $1,975
1 week Sanctuary / 2 weeks Carnivore Conservation: $2,075
2 weeks Sanctuary / 2 weeks Carnivore Conservation: $2,700 – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Longer durations are available, please enquire for pricing.

Click for more details of the Large Carnivore Conservation Programme.

Adventure Week – add-on

Explore the majestic Naukluft Mountain range and hike through a maze of ancient canyons, live amongst Namibia’s famous red sand dunes and explore the iconic Sossusvlei Dunes.

Adventure Week: $725

Click for more details of Adventure Week.

Who should join the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary volunteer project?

This wildlife sanctuary volunteer programme is a wonderful experience for volunteers who have a passion and interest in wildlife and who want to get involved in the care of animals at a busy wildlife sanctuary. It is perfect for volunteers aged 18-30, or for your first solo volunteer trip, where you can experience Africa in a safe environment, work hard and see the impact that your contribution is having. Wildlife sanctuary volunteers in Namibia come from all backgrounds and nationalities, with varied animal and wildlife experience. What all volunteers have in common is a love of wildlife and a passion for helping Africa’s threatened animals.

You should be able to communicate reasonably well in spoken English. You should be of reasonable mobility and fitness.

What should I wear?

Wildlife sanctuary volunteer work involves hands-on work with animals so you are likely to get very dirty! Volunteer uniform is mandatory during working hours. You will receive one set of volunteer uniform (T-shirt and zip-off trousers) on arrival. Additional sets can be purchased in the shop. Please bring sturdy closed shoes.

Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary uniform policy

All volunteers must wear a project uniform which can be purchased on arrival. This is to ensure that everyone adheres to the dress code and wears clothing that protects them in the bush. The uniform should be worn while participating in activities – your own clothes can be worn in the evenings and during your leisure time.

One t-shirt and pair of trousers (which can be unzipped to make shorts) are included in the project fee. Additional items can be purchased on arrival using cash or card. Uniforms are charged at cost price as follows:

Jacket (optional) – 1 recommended: NAD 570 (around USD 35)
Trousers – 2 recommended: NAD 1,040 (for both) (around USD 65)
T-shirt – 2 recommended: NAD 230 (for both) (around USD 15)

How old do I need to be to be a wildlife sanctuary volunteer?

The minimum volunteering age for solo travellers is 18 years. There are no upper age restrictions, but you must be fit enough for outdoor activities.

Can I volunteer in the wildlife sanctuary with my family?

Volunteers aged 12-17 are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent.

How many other wildlife sanctuary volunteers will there be? 

Depending on the season, volunteer numbers at the Sanctuary range from 20 – 65 people. You will be split into smaller groups and do activities on a rotation basis. The Wildlife Research sites take fewer people, as follows:
Desert Research / Adventure Week:  up to 8 volunteers
Omaruru: up to 10 volunteers

When can I arrive?

Wildlife sanctuary volunteers should ideally plan on arriving on a Monday or Thursday, as orientations are on Tuesdays and Fridays. If these dates are not possible, we can organise your collection and airport transfer on alternative days at no additional cost.

How long can I be a wildlife sanctuary volunteer for?

2-12 weeks, all year round. 

Do I need a visa to volunteer in Namibia?

Most nationalities do not require a pre-arranged tourist visa to enter Namibia. It is your responsibility to check your personal visa requirements on the VisaHQ website. If you do need to apply in advance, please let us know and we can send you the relevant details.

What animals are at the Namibia wildlife sanctuary?

The sanctuary is home to carnivores, including lions, leopards, cheetah, wild dogs, caracals; primates including vervet monkeys and baboons; a host of birds including peacocks, vultures, owls and eagles; antelopes (oryx, duiker, springbok and kudu); small mammals such as meerkats, polecats, genets and warthogs, and lots of farmyard and domestic animals.

What animals are in the reserve?

The neighboring reserve, which you will also experience,  is also home to free-roaming game including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffe, zebra, kudu, hartebeest and jackal.

When is the best time to volunteer in Namibia?

Namibia experiences on average around 300 days of sunshine a year, with hot summers and mild winters (with cold nighttime temperatures).
The dry season runs from May – September, where daytime temperatures are a pleasant 18-25 degrees. Night time temperatures plummet, sometimes falling to below freezing. Pack warm clothes, lots of layers and a sleeping bag!
The summer season from October – April consists of hot days, ranging from 25 to over 40 degrees, and cooler nights. From November to March, Namibia has its ‘rainy’ season, being blessed with sporadic rainfall and spectacular thunderstorms.

Do I get some time off?

The volunteer schedule is on a rotational basis, to ensure every volunteer gets to experience as many of the activities as possible. Volunteers work from Monday to Friday from around 8am to 5pm, with a short break in the morning and a longer break over lunch. On Saturdays, there is a morning activity and a non-work related afternoon activity. On Sundays, a small team will participate in morning food prep, and a different team in the afternoon, so you will always have half day off. Town trips to Windhoek (a one hour drive) are possible to join on Sundays.

We highly recommend taking a guided or self-drive tour to some of Namibia’s best landmarks, either before or after your volunteer programme. Car hire and tours are very affordable and there is lots to see – from the unique salt pans of Etosha National Park, the magnificent sand dunes at Sossusvlei, or Namibia’s adventure town of Swakopmund. 

How much spending money should I bring?

We recommend allowing $100 per week to cover personal expenses such as drinks, souvenirs, snacks, tips and internet usage. There are ATM machines at the airport but we suggest bringing a supply of South African Rand from home as the queues at the ATMs can be long!  The currency of Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (N$), but the South African Rand (ZAR) is also accepted on a 1 to 1 basis.

What vaccinations do I need?

Please consult your GP or travel clinic for detailed medical advice. All volunteers should make sure their Tetanus is up to date. A rabies vaccination is recommended but not compulsory. You must bring your vaccination certificate with you!
Malaria – the sanctuary and carnivore research project sites are regarded as low-risk malaria areas, but please consult your GP for guidance.
Please visit this UK government website for more details.

Background

The wildlife sanctuary was founded in 2005 on the outskirts of Windhoek, with a lodge also built on the property. The main aim was to combine wildlife conservation with job creation – providing jobs for the San bushmen and a home for conflict animals. 

“Returning the wild to the wild”

The project’s mission is to conserve the land, culture and wildlife of Namibia, support species affected by ever-shrinking habitats and protect those threatened by the human-wildlife conflict. The sanctuary provides a safe haven for orphaned, injured and conflict animals and the project also works towards human-wildlife conflict mitigation through conservation and research projects throughout Namibia.

The vision of the organisation is to use responsible conservation tourism to support their community and wildlife projects.

The wildlife sanctuary always aims to release rescued animals back into the wild, where it is safe and sustainable to do so. Their mantra of ‘returning the wildlife to the wild’ is the backbone of their carnivore conservation project – Namibia already being home to large populations of wild cheetah and leopard. Orphaned, abandoned and injured animals are raised with compassion and dedication and their natural needs are always considered.

Wildlife sanctuary volunteers support the project’s goal of providing environments where natural behaviours are nurtured.