The Situation
Africa’s wild lion population is in trouble. Twenty years ago more than 200,000 lions roamed the continent’s grassy plains. Today, hunting, snaring and poaching, along with habitat loss and widespread disease have sent the number of lions, and other predators like cheetahs and hyenas, into a virtual free fall. Lions are now considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and experts claim there are as few as 23,000.

Most of the threat comes from livestock owners who live in areas surrounding national parks and have grown tired of large carnivores eating their cows, sheep and goats. And while they used to combat these animals with machetes and shields, now guns and poison are readily accessible, which makes it much easier to kill a lion when it eats a $300 cow.

Meanwhile, even within Zimbabwe’s park borders wild animals face serious struggles. The protected African outback has always provided visitors with a window into wild country and extraordinary creatures. Unfortunately, high-volume tourist traffic has had a damaging effect on both the parks’ infrastructure and the environment as a whole. Animal populations, like elephants, rhinos, monkeys, hippos and hundreds of other species, must now be carefully researched, and their behavior monitored, to ensure that conservation and wildlife management policies and procedures are effective.

What’s Being Done
Rooted in African wildlife conservation, our partner organization in Zimbabwe has set up a number of initiatives to help bolster animal preservation. In order to increase the number of lions in southern Africa, they have spent over 20 years working towards the successful reintroduction of captive-bred lions into the African bush.

They’ve also been given the unique opportunity to assist the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management in their conservation and research work in Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks. Their mission there is to conduct extensive research and collect data on animal behavior, poaching practices and sustainable tourism to improve wildlife conservation policies throughout Zimbabwe’s national park system.

What You’ll Do
Volunteers on this project will be based in Victoria Falls, dubbed the “Adrenaline Capital of Africa,” and will split their time between the lion camp and the parks. This prime location allows volunteers to mix a little city life, and maybe even a bit of bungee jumping, into their conservation experience. Through hands-on work, research and field staff guidance, volunteers will gain an intimate understanding of the successes and tribulations of wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe, while helping to create a sustainable environment for future animal life in southern Africa.

Airport Pickup and Orientation:
After arrival at Victoria Falls Airport, you will be picked up by your project coordinator and transferred to the volunteer lodge in Victoria Falls. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will take part in a multi-day orientation. During this time, you will meet the staff and receive in-depth information about the two specific projects, the national parks, and the project sites and boundaries. You will also learn about safety precautions and procedures for working with the lions and other wildlife.

Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will arrange transportation for the following:

Airport pickup and drop-off at Victoria Falls Airport
Transportation to the volunteer lodge in Victoria Falls
Local transportation between the lodge and project     locations daily

Accommodations
Volunteers will stay in a comfortable and spacious red brick, thatched-roof lodge, 20-minutes walking distance from the Victoria Falls town center. You will bunk with one or two other volunteers in comfortable bedrooms, with shared shower and bathroom facilities. You’ll also have access to a swimming pool, barbecue, vast green lawns and satellite TV..

In-Country Support:
We work directly with our partner organization to provide support during your time in Zimbabwe. You can expect help from project coordinators, field guides, fellow volunteers, and the staff of both Volunteer Adventures and our partner organization. We also provide a 24-hour cell phone number for emergencies.

Additional Activities and Excursions:
During free time (or if you have extra time in Zimbabwe after your Volunteer Adventure) you will have access to all of the extreme activities offered in Victoria Falls such as:

Bungee-jumping over Victoria Falls (world’s second highest jump)
Whitewater rafting and canoe trips down the Zambezi     River
Elephant-back and horseback riding
River boarding

Along with these activities, volunteers with additional time built into their travel schedules will have the opportunity to add a five-day excursion to their Volunteer Adventure, which features:

Rhino walks and game drives
Two days at the “sister” lion reserve with elephant and
     horseback rides
Safari in Hwange National Park
Whitewater rafting or bungee-jumping in Victoria Falls

Note: These are all additional activities and are not included in the program cost. Excursions can be arranged with your project coordinator upon arrival in the Victoria Falls. Please inquire for prices and any additional information.