Wildlife Volunteer in Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark (Namibia)

For volunteers who are tired of everyday life, who are looking for an experience out of the ordinary and who want to experience an untouched continent, then this is the project for you. Volunteers can work in close contact with wild animals and people from all walks of life. You will be taken on adventures and taught how to read nature and its wildlife. You will conquer fears, the African savannah and experience the unique interaction and bonding with animals. You don’t have to be physically strong, because you will learn how to feel strong. At this project, volunteers live by two things - being an animal lover and to always expect the unexpected. All the money raised through the volunteering program goes directly back into the project and provides employment, education and accommodation to the local Bushman community and ensuring the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of the animals which are housed in natural environments around the site. The funds helps the project to continue the battle for environmental welfare and helps to buy items such as GPS collars for research, building materials, fuel, food and medication for the animals, as well as meals for the volunteers.

Goal Of Project/ How Volunteer Can Contribute

The vision of this project is to be a sustainable nature reserve where specific species can be released, as well as to function as a temporary reception center and recover station for those animals that will be released back into the wild in different areas. All volunteers going to Noah's Ark can be certain that there will be something they can help the project with. Everything from feeding the animals, financial contributions, and using your skills in practical ways, Noah's Ark gives all volunteers the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the animals living here.

This project is for volunteers who are willing to make a personal sacrifice and anyone who cares to make a difference. Volunteers will not only experience adventure and wisdom, but the satisfaction of giving back a little of what we have taken away. It is about assisting communities by constructing protective structures around water points, educating community members about elephant behavior, creating alternative drinking points and promoting tourism in affected areas, and ultimately, alleviating the pressure facing communal farmers

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Volunteer Responsibilities

As a volunteer you will be involved in all the daily activities which will include food preparation, feeding, caretaking, cleaning and building of enclosures, waterholes and fences, fence patrol, game counting, animal studies, helping in the children’s day care center, research rehabilitated animals, fear factor games, survivor games, dress up nights, bush walks as well as animal walks and star gazing. This project gives volunteers the opportunity to make a difference in the animals’ lives, and provide the best living conditions and care for the animals that are still in rehabilitation.

Room & Food

Volunteers will be accommodated in wooden cabins in the Volunteer Village. Each cabin can accommodate 4 volunteers at a time, on a same sex basis. There are communal showers and toilets for volunteers to use, and are separate from the cabins. Towels and bed linen is supplied by the project.

The volunteer village is run on solar power, and each room has solar panel lights. Since there is no power at the village, there is a separate room in the main farm where volunteers can charge their cell phones, laptops and cameras.

The volunteer village is located approximately 700 meters from the main farm. Meals can vary from day to day. Volunteers will prepare their own breakfasts, while lunch and dinner is prepared for volunteers. A specific area is allocated to volunteers for their meals, and volunteers are expected to serve themselves, and clear their tables after their meals.

Examples of meals are:

Breakfast - cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, tea and coffee.

Lunch – sandwiches, burgers, rolls and cold meat, salads.

Dinner – barbeques, lasagna, pastas, vegetables, salads.

Volunteer Program Dates And Fees (US$)

The Updated fee is:

Free time/what volunteer can do in free time

Since this project is located in a remote area, volunteers are limited to spending their free time in camp.
Volunteer are encouraged to relax around the animals during their free time. It is not uncommon to find volunteers lying in one of the cheetah enclosures reading a book, for example. There is a swimming pool and a bar area where working guests may also spend their free time, cooling off in the pool, taking in the sun, or just relaxing with a drink or book in their hands. There is no radio or TV at the project, and it is therefore recommend that volunteers bring their own entertainment with them.

MAJOR FAQ

• When does the project begin?

  Every second Monday (as per the set dates), volunteers will depart from Swakopmund for the project's base camp. Volunteers are accompanied by the project managers, and they use the project's vehicle. It is a 3 hour drive to camp. The group returns to Swakopmund the following week on Friday.

• Where do I need to fly?

  Volunteers must book their flights to arrive and depart from Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek.

• How can I get to the project?

  The transfer to the project leaves Windhoek on a Friday morning between 08H00 and 09H00, and takes about three hours with asphalt, and sand / gravel roads. A stop will be made along the way to refuel, use the toilets and have a drink.

• What vaccination I need?

  The area around the project is not a high risk malarial area, however, areas around the project may be a higher risk. It is advisable to take precautions against malaria, especially if you intend to travel to other destinations within Namibia before or after your volunteer experience. Rabies vaccination is also highly recommended, as some of the smaller animals at this project may be carriers.

• How can I communicate with family?

  There are internet cafes and good mobile phone reception in Windhoek. It is advisable to let your family and friends know that you have arrived safely in Windhoek, before you head out for camp, and to contact them again once you return to Windhoek at the end of your volunteer experience. Once you head out to base camp, communication is severely limited. Although local SIM cards can be purchased once in Windhoek, due to the rural location of the project, mobile reception can be weak and inconsistent.

• How safe is this project?

  Very safe. Volunteers must however be aware of their personal belongings when in town, and should also adhere to the safety tips given at orientation once at the project. Volunteers are advised to not leave personal items (passport, air tickets, money etc.) lying around – it is better to take precautions than to lose an important item.

• Will there be someone to guide/supervise us?

  Volunteers are divided into groups, and a supervisor is allocated to each group. Each morning, volunteers meet with their supervisor to be given the tasks of the day. At the end of each day, groups meet up with their supervisor to discuss daily progress, any problems that have occurred and how best they might be resolved and how to move forward.

• Will there be other volunteers?

  There will always be other volunteers at the project with you, and this number will vary from 15 – 60 volunteers, depending on the time of the year.

• Any other important information to consider

  Please note that the project is over 300km from Windhoek, and transport does not go out each day, as this is unpractical and costly. Volunteers must arrive in Windhoek no later than a Thursday, to be available to go out to the project on a Friday morning with the scheduled transfer. Should you arrive before a Thursday, you will be expected to wait in Windhoek until the scheduled vehicle leaves for the project on the Friday morning. The transfer from the project back to Windhoek takes place on a Thursday, and as the vehicle doesn't get back in to Windhoek until around 13H00, flights out of Namibia should only be booked for 15H00 and onwards on a Thursday afternoon. Should you arrive in Windhoek after the scheduled transfer has left for the project, or book your return flight earlier than the morning you are due to leave the project, you will have to pay for your own transfer to the project / back to Windhoek.

  A variety of tours are also available for volunteers to do, either before or after their volunteer experience. Tours include: 3 day Etosha Link / Express, 3 day Sossusvlei Link / Express, 6 day Taste Of Namibia, and others.

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