Volunteer with us! | Hwangecommunityrhino

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COMMUNITY CONSERVATION

VOLUNTEERING ADVENTURE!

Discover the Real and Wild Zimbabwe - Hwange Community Rhino African Safari

Learn, help and enjoy

A once in a lifetime opportunity for you to learn first-hand what community-based conservation means and help implement some programmes on the ground! You will learn about the complexities involved in balancing conservation and community needs and contribute to local efforts that support both people and wildlife.

Tourism

More about Imvelo Safari Lodges

Wildlife

More about Hwange National Park

Communities

More about the local people

Wildlife conservation

Support the Cobras Community Rhino Conservation Initiative’s canine unit with walks, patrols and tracking exercises

Support the Cobras scouts in patrols and snare recovery

Carry out rhino monitoring and research

Support our pumping water for wildlife efforts by joining “pump runs” to fix and repair solar hybrid units in and around Hwange National Park

Go on game drives in and around the Park to help spot and report on animals and share stories

Community development work

Do a session on local craft making, prepare traditional meals, join the local sewing group, support local people herding cattle

Education: Carry out workshops and activities with local school children, provide teaching materials and resources for children and teachers, sort out and deliver stationary and supplies, support with maintenance work at schools, play games and sport with local children …

Healthcare: sort and deliver supplies, support with building and maintenance work …

Water provision: support with repairing boreholes for communities …

Food provision: deliver food supplies, help in food gardens and field preparation, …

Familes welcome!

Families with children 12 years and above are invited to join us at the Mlevu Rhino Camp, for our Imvelo Volunteer program to share in a once-in-a-lifetime trip, rich in experiences that will be sure to touch hearts and minds of both adults and children.

The program is filled with opportunities to learn and provide important perspective on the realities of this part of the world.

Throughout the course of your stay and through the exchange of stories on wildlife and people around the campfire.

Anti-poaching and security as well as bushcraft and survival skills
Animal tracking and spoor identification
Nature walks to explore Hwange birdlife and insect life
Importance and meaning of community-based conservation in the Hwange context
What safari companies like Imvelo Safari Lodges are doing and why it is so important
How the Community Rhino Conservaiton Initative is supporting both conservation and community development needs and the programme’s ambitions
How to empower local people, especially girls, to improve their livelihoods
How research may help inform decisions on the ground
How fundraising can and needs to be done to support both people and animals
What eco-tourism in these areas looks like and what it means to run a lodg

Conservation topics that are relevant and that you may also observe:

Elephant overpopulation in Hwange
The water situation in Hwange National Park
Human wildlife conflicts
Inspiring community-based conservation

“Overall the whole experience is just insane, mainly because of the whole culture shock and just the contrast to what we are used to in general. It’s going far out of my comfort zone being out in the bush. It’s made me want to come back.”

“I’m lucky to have experienced this. The people, the locals are just amazing. The culture and people themselves are so different, so open and friendly and real and genuine.”

“When I go home, I’ll figure it out, I know that it has changed me. I’ve done so much these last two weeks that I never thought I’d do in a lifetime.”

“Running with the Cobras, that was awesome. The first day when we were going to run with them, we were jogging and they started singing and the sunrise..that was like the most magical thing I have experienced in a long time.”

“It has been eye-opening. I feel like I’ve always been somewhat open minded, but…you need to come here to really see and understand what is happening – that’s been very humbling.”

During your time with us, you’ll have the opportunity to have some leisure time to enjoy the peace and quite of the bush, go on game drives to see wildlife and nature and to learn more about the area and its people.

We encourage volunteers to bring games (card games, balls etc) as our staff also like to get involved in games!

Check off your bucket list...Visit Victoria Falls!

To get to us in southern Hwange, we recommend you fly in and out of the world-famous Victoria Falls. It is a very special place and is worth-while to visit.

Please get in touch if you would like some help booking accommodation and activities, include a tour of the Falls, Zambezi river cruises, bungee jumps, rafting etc.

From Victoria Falls we will transfer you to Mlevu camp in southern Hwange, your volunteering destination!

Please note, expenses incurred in Victoria Falls are not covered in the pricing of the volunteering experience.

Our Mlevu Rhino Camp is located in between Ziga village (1-2km away) and Hwange National Park (a few meters), and it is within our second community rhino conservation sanctuary.

The camp is nice and rustic –firewood stoves for cooking, a campfire area for evening meals, and firewood geysers for hot showers. It has shared communal areas and shared chalets and tents with bathrooms for accommodation.

The camp is in a wooded area at the heart of Mlevu community rhino sanctuary, so there are opportunities to see birds, rhinos, elephants nearby.

There is unlimited WIFI. Three basic meals are provided as well as juice, teas and coffees. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be purchased upon request.

It is about 14km from a local airstrip near Ngamo village and Ngamo clinic and a 3-hour drive from Tsholotsho Hospital.

General management

Repairs and maintenance to vehicles, infrastructure, boreholes, fencing

Litter sweeps

Painting

Scrub clearing and habitat management

Fire fighting where necessary

Maintenance work around boreholes – troughs, trenches and piping

Distributions to schools , clinics etc

Individual booking

Arrive Monday, leave Monday for 1 -3 weeks

Activities you can get involved with include community -focussed activities, conservation-focussed activities, and a selection of extra activities.

$2,180 for one person for one week

$3,580 for one person for two weeks

$4,980 for one person for three weeks

Cost includes transfer to and from Victoria Falls.

It does not include travel visa, tips, travel insurance, vaccinations, souvenirs and crafts, alcoholic drinks.

Basic Activities - Community

- school workshops and meal preparation/distribution

- village visits (clinic, market, homestead)

- supplies and equipment distributions

- community vegetable garden work

- sports and games with community members and children

Basic Activities - Conservation

- 3 game drives per week

- Spend time with the community rhinos
- Meet the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts
- Animal tracking ans spoor identification
- Visit pumped pans and help with maintenance of water pumps

- Patrolling and snare collection
- Canine unit work and maintenance

- Fencing and scrub clearing work

- Rhino behaviour monitoring

Add-on activities

Basket-weaving course with local ladies (2-3 hours): learn how to make coasters/placemats/baskets using local and natural materials and take a coaster home. There will also be an opportunity to buy more from the local ladies if you want. US $ 50 per person
Meal preparation at a village homestead. Prepare and enjoy a lunchtime feast with a local family. US $20 per person
Add on additional game drives to the above. A 2-hour game drive is US $ 200 per vehicle.
Shooting practice with the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts. Shoot a few rounds at some targets or do a jungle lane exercise. US $60 per person.
Boot camp morning physical training with the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts. Test your strength and stamina with our scouts during a morning 1.5 hour long session. US $ 30 per person.
Sewing cooperative support (free of charge)

***Note that 100% of the above costs will go directly to the relevant communities or conservation projects.

Find out more here

Basic Activities - Community

- school workshops and meal preparation/distribution

- village visits (clinic, market, homestead)

- supplies and equipment distributions

- community vegetable garden work

- sports and games with community members and children

Basic Activities - Conservation

- 3 game drives per week

- Spend time with the community rhinos
- Meet the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts
- Animal tracking ans spoor identification
- Visit pumped pans and help with maintenance of water pumps

- Patrolling and snare collection
- Canine unit work and maintenance

- Fencing and scrub clearing work

- Rhino behaviour monitoring

Add-on activities

Basket-weaving course with local ladies (2-3 hours): learn how to make coasters/placemats/baskets using local and natural materials and take a coaster home. There will also be an opportunity to buy more from the local ladies if you want. US $ 50 per person
Meal preparation at a village homestead. Prepare and enjoy a lunchtime feast with a local family. US $20 per person
Add on additional game drives to the above. A 2-hour game drive is US $ 200 per vehicle.
Shooting practice with the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts. Shoot a few rounds at some targets or do a jungle lane exercise. US $60 per person.
Boot camp morning physical training with the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts. Test your strength and stamina with our scouts during a morning 1.5 hour long session. US $ 30 per person.
Sewing cooperative support (free of charge)

***Note that 100% of the above costs will go directly to the relevant communities or conservation projects.

Group booking

Agree arrival and departure dates with the team

Activities you can get involved with include community -focussed activities, conservation-focussed activities, and a selection of extra activities.

Agree cost for a group booking with the team.

For group of 4 and above:

1- week: US $ 1,620 per person

2- weeks: US $ 2,670 per person

3 - weeks: US $3,720 per person

Cost includes transfer to and from Victoria Falls, accommodation, meals and experiences, Hwange National Park fees and conservation levy.

Find out more here

Basic Activities - Community

- school workshops and meal preparation/distribution

- village visits (clinic, market, homestead)

- supplies and equipment distributions

- community vegetable garden work

- sports and games with community members and children

Basic Activities - Conservation

- 3 game drives per week

- Spend time with the community rhinos
- Meet the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts
- Animal tracking ans spoor identification
- Visit pumped pans and help with maintenance of water pumps

- Patrolling and snare collection
- Canine unit work and maintenance

- Fencing and scrub clearing work

- Rhino behaviour monitoring

Add-on activities

Basket-weaving course with local ladies (2-3 hours): learn how to make coasters/placemats/baskets using local and natural materials and take a coaster home. There will also be an opportunity to buy more from the local ladies if you want. US $ 50 per person
Meal preparation at a village homestead. Prepare and enjoy a lunchtime feast with a local family. US $20 per person
Add on additional game drives to the above. A 2-hour game drive is US $ 200 per vehicle.
Shooting practice with the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts. Shoot a few rounds at some targets or do a jungle lane exercise. US $60 per person.
Boot camp morning physical training with the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts. Test your strength and stamina with our scouts during a morning 1.5 hour long session. US $ 30 per person.
Sewing cooperative support (free of charge)

***Note that 100% of the above costs will go directly to the relevant communities or conservation projects.

Tag on a few extra days to your safari

Book an extra 4 nights at our eco-volontourism camp to tag on to your Imvelo safari at Bomani or Camelthorn lodges.

Activities you can get involved with include community -focussed activities, conservation-focussed activities, and a selection of extra activities.

US $1,905 per adult for 4 nights

Cost includes all transfers, air charters, departure taxes, park fees and Community Rhino conservation levy

Find out more here

Enquire with our team here