Volunteer Abroad
Africa Volunteer Trip Aiding Elephants
Experience Africa in a Meaningful Way!
Imagine experiencing Africa — we mean really experiencing it. Imagine getting to know the indigenous culture while encountering wild rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras and springboks. Imagine falling asleep to the roar of a desert lion. Imagine an elephant’s life being spared as a result of your direct efforts. From this truly unforgettable experience, your life will inevitably change — from new relationships, the satisfaction of making a difference and the connection with Mother Africa.
The Effort
This is a volunteer project created as a result of the escalation in competition in natural resources between the desert elephants and human inhabitants of the northern Erongo and Kunene regions of Namibia. During the project, you will work with local subsistence farmers, building protective walls around their critical water sources while educating locals on how to manage conflict with the elephants. In addition, you will learn to track elephants, recording invaluable data on their movements and diet. Kirk, co-owner of Outdoor Bound, participated in this endeavor in 2006 and found it so worthwhile he insisted that we promote it via Outdoor Bound.
Event Details
- Prices
- 2 weeks, $1,550
- 4 weeks, $2,250
- 6 weeks, $2,950
- 8 weeks, $3,650
- 10 weeks, $4,325
- 12 weeks, $5,025
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Aiding Elephants in Namibia
Project Location
The project will be based in Damaraland, located in the northwest section of Namibia. Damaraland has no fences, no boundaries in the vast, stony desert landscape. Just endless vistas across stark plains, ancient valleys and brooding, distant mountains which bring the traveler as close to nature as is comfortably possible. Here, the plants and animals have evolved side by side with their environment over millennia and unusual geological features, a wealth of rock paintings and engravings, and populations of elephant, rhino, springbok, giraffe and lion combine to form the unique attraction of Damaraland.
The Issue & the Solution
Depletion of the natural water table with increasing human use has led to less-available surface water for consumption. Therefore, man-made water points located close to the riverbeds have become the target for elephants in their quest for fresh water. In their search for the source of such points elephants cause extensive damage to windmills, dams, reservoirs, hand-pumps and wells. With the escalation of tourism as an increasing potential revenue stream for these communities, the value of elephants and other wildlife in communal areas has increased dramatically. Through assisting these communities by constructing protective structures around water points, educating community members about elephant behavior, creating alternative drinking points for the elephants and promoting tourism in the affected areas, we can assist in alleviating the current pressure facing communal farmers, thereby helping to promote the future of the desert dwelling elephant in harmony with the continuous positive development of the conservancies and their ideals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Physical Requirements & Skills
To make the most of this project, you must be reasonably fit. There are no special skills required. You will be trained on proper desert camping, wall construction and elephant tracking.
Meals & Conditions
Meals will be provided by your fellow volunteers on a rotational basis. The food, while basic out of necessity, is given utmost care and is quite delicious. If you have special dietary requirements, we advise you bring your own food to supplement your meals.
While on patrol, you will be sleeping under the desert stars. Bed rolls will be provided, but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag. While the seasons vary, the climate is nearly always ideal for open-air camping. Showers are available during portions of the project. Throughout your time in the desert, you will always have access to a long-drop toilet.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
Your day will start by a cup of tea or coffee. As you take in the gorgeous sunrise, your breakfast is being prepared for you over the fire. Once fully fed, your day of making a difference begins. Depending on the stage of the project, you will either be constructing a wall around a well or be on patrol tracking elephants. Once your day is complete, you’ll settle back into the camp where dinner is being prepared. The evenings consist of great food, stories from the day and camaraderie. Sitting around the fire, you will inevitably forge lifetime bonds with your fellow volunteers, most of whom are multinational.
Volunteers
Volunteers hail from all over the world with the majority coming from the United States, Canada and Europe. Ages range from college graduates to retirees, including an even mix of males and females. While there is no consistent demographic, you can be sure every volunteer is an amazing and interesting individual.
Trip Includes
- All accommodations during project
- All meals during project
- All transportation (excluding airfare)
- Experienced guides
What Is Not Included
- Round-trip air transportation to Walvis Bay, Namibia
- Travel and lodging before and after project
- Shuttle from airport
- Travel insurance
- Personal items
Travel Information
You will fly into Walvis Bay, a coastal town in Namibia. From there, a shuttle will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel 30 minutes away in Swakopmund. Here you will unwind, rest and meet your fellow volunteers. In the evening, the project team will take you through the details of the next two weeks. You will learn more about the importance of the effort, how it has made a difference and hear stories from past volunteers. The project begins Monday morning, so it is recommended you arrive at least by Sunday prior to the start date.
After the project completes, you can either fly back that Sunday or stay in Africa for more adventure! Many volunteers choose to further explore the region by staying on project another two weeks, venturing to Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls or fly to Cape Town for a change in pace. These are just a few examples—your guides have a wealth of knowledge and will happily assist you in planning your next adventure.
Contact us with questions. We love to help!
We love talking about this project so please feel free to contact us with any questions. Occasionally, we host meet-and-greets so you can ask all your questions in person and meet other volunteers. If you do not see one scheduled on our calendar, please contact us and we will happily arrange a meeting.
Africa Volunteer Question & Answer Evening
Experienced, Fun & Qualified Guides
From cycling across the United States to leading horse treks through New Zealand to scaling Nepalese peaks, Outdoor Bound guides have real-world outdoor experience. Collectively, they have hiked, biked, climbed and kayaked tens of thousands of miles around the globe.
Whether their professional backgrounds are as teachers, personal trainers, artists, environmentalists or business leaders, they all have an extensive knowledge of the natural world and local history. Each guide has also passed a rigorous guide certification program and is trained in wilderness first aid or as a Wilderness First Responder.
Diverse & Interesting Groups
There is no typical Outdoor Bound participant. While ages typically range from 20 to 50, those who come to experience outdoor adventure range from singles to couples, from lawyers to waiters. They are a mix of women and men. While the group is always diverse, you will certainly feel welcome. Our guides go the extra mile to make the atmosphere of each trip social and fun. Many people in the Outdoor Bound community have forged lasting friendships as a result of our trips.
New Experiences
Skydiving, ice-climbing, hot-air ballooning, skiing and hiking every weekend are just a few of Outdoor Bound’s year-round adventures. These trips are accessible to everyone, including the novice, who might feel a little uneasy, the young urban professional trying to get away and even the adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush.
Environmental Awareness
“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures,” is the Leave No Trace motto embraced by Outdoor Bound. From purchasing bamboo T-shirts to printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper, Outdoor Bound strives to create the least environmental impact possible while on trips and in the office.
Africa Volunteer Question & Answer Evening
Other Trips in This Category
Bringing a Friend or Two?
Please be sure to enter the total number of people in the Qty box. In addition, be sure to include your friends’ names and cell-phone numbers on the final Checkout page. The final discount price is the price per person, multiplied by the Qty you enter.
Reminder about Winter Trip Conditions
We closely monitor snow, ice and related weather conditions before each trip. Lack of snow or similar, unsatisfactory weather/trail/river conditions may lead to changes to the trip or rescheduling or cancellation.
Please consult the individual trip description or Event Calendar for notice of any such changes. Refer to our full Policies page for more information about reservations and cancellations.
