Conservation holiday in Namibia, Leopards & Cheetahs
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Namibia is a leading example in the field of nature conservation and the protection of species and ecosystems, not only in Africa, but in the world. 45% of Namibia is under some sort of protection, be it through national parks, private game reserves or communal conservancies. In the latter, wise management allows people to benefit from nature and sustain their livelihoods through consumptive and non-consumptive utilisation of wildlife and other natural resources. In addition, farmland, especially if well managed within the framework of the commercial conservancies, contributes to the rich Namibian biodiversity, providing habitat for impressive flora and (mega)fauna assemblages, as well as intact and functioning ecosystems on a large scale. But here to human-wildlife conflict is a growing cause for concern, especially in the light of growing human populations and an increasingly economically-driven society. Predators preying on livestock (whether in reality or only in people’s imagination) and elephants destroying water wells and habitat (very much in reality) pose a serious problem leading to wildlife persecution and declining populations.
We are a multi-award winning (including multiple awards from Responsible Travel), not-for-profit organisation committed to running real wildlife conservation research expeditions to all corners of the Earth and says
Our projects are not tours, photographic safaris or excursions but genuine research expeditions, promoting sustainable conservation and preservation of the planet's wildlife by forging alliances between scientists and the public. Our goal is to make, through our expedition work, an active contribution towards a sustainable biosphere. We believe in empowering ordinary people by placing them at the centre of scientific study and by actively involving them out in the field, where there is conservation work to be done.
We always work in close conjunction with local people and scientists and try our best to ensure that the fruits of our expedition work benefit our local helpers, their society and the environment they live in. Adventure, remote locations, different cultures and people are part and parcel of our expeditions, but also the knowledge that you will have played an active role in conserving part of our planet's biosphere. We exist for those who, through their hands-on work, want to make a difference to the survival of the particular species or habitat under investigation, and to the world at large. We invite everyone to come and join us out in the field, at the forefront of conservation, to work, learn, experience and take responsible guardianship of our planet.
To achieve this we will wherever possible: + collaborate with reputable scientists, research institutions and educational establishments (wherever possible from the host nation) who are experts in their field + collaborate with organisations and businesses which operate in an ethical and/or sustainable way + operate in an ethical and sustainable way, minimising negative impacts on local cultures, environments and economies + publish results and recommendations based on collaborative work together with those who helped gather data and draw conclusions.
Community
On this expedition we are working with the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the University of Namibia, the Namibia Polytechnic University, as well as other local authorities and communities. Land Rover, Swarovski Optik, Motorola, Vectronic Aerospace, mtc Namibia and the Yves Rocher Foundation also support this expedition.
All missions are developed with local partners and scientists, as well as community representatives where appropriate. This consultation serves to minimise negative impacts on local cultures. This is often developed through a more complete integration into the local community, by working alongside them to achieve a conservation objective.
Accommodation varies from fixed camps, jungle lodges to tents. Where applicable, these will be owned locally.
Where possible food is sourced from locally supplied produce and ideally from organic sources.
Where applicable, team members are encouraged to spend their relaxation time using local facilities and resources.
We always work in close conjunction with local people and makes sure that the fruits of our work benefit local helpers, their society and the environment they live in.
Briefings before the start of the mission and leaders during the mission highlight relevant social issues and offer best practice examples to team members.
1of10
