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We take your safety seriously and have partnered with organisations to help you prepare for your experience of a lifetime:
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We give you the chance to offset your carbon emissions from your flight by contributing to Climate Care. More>> |
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We aim to promote sustainable behaviours both in the UK office and through our participants in overseas placements. More>> |
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 Elephant Conservation Namibia
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Namibia is one of the only countries in the world that has a growing elephant population.
While most people agree that this is a good thing, it also causes problems for the people that live in the areas the elephants are returning to. |
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This project is a perfect opportunity for people to really return to basic levels of living, learn simple camp-craft and survival skills and get back in touch with nature; whilst becoming directly involved in spearhead conservation work.
 Interested in a safari as well? Please click here for more information! (PDF 173 KB) |
Most of the work is concentrated in the North West region of Namibia, known as Damaraland. This is a vast, scarcely populated communal trust land. As it is a transitional zone between the high rainfall area in the east, and the Skeleton coast in the west, it is regarded as un-farmable on a commercial basis. Therefore it has become a natural, unfenced refuge for desert adapted animals such as black rhino, oryx, giraffe, springbuck, kudu, steenbok, baboon, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, brown hyena, black backed jackal and more.
Due to successful conservation practices and the growth of local herds, elephants have expanded their range to the south and east into territories they have not occupied for many years. Subsistence farmers husbanding mainly cattle, goats and sheep, traditionally occupy these areas. As a result competition for water and grazing has escalated tremendously causing conflict between farmers and elephants.
A willing mind, and a strong back is all you need to join the project. Appropriate training is provided including:
- Camp craft including cooking over a fire, bush camp setup, safety and hygiene.
- Bush craft like tracking, approaching dangerous animals on foot, animal behaviour, bush walking, navigation, map reading, GPS etc.
- Compiling identification kits on elephants.
- Traditional building skills.
The project works in 2-week rotations. Volunteers will first join a team in building protection walls around vitally important water sources for Damaraland homesteads. The walls are built to protect water-pumping facilities: a borehole, solar panel and pump or windmill. The elephants are given access to the water at certain points, thus preventing them from damaging the pumping mechanics and allowing the farmers use of the clean, fresh water.
The weekend is spent relaxing at the base camp in the Ugab River. We then head off on patrol for the next week. Patrols are lead by at least one experienced guide on our very specialised 4x4 vehicles with minimum of equipment, setting up camp at a different site every evening. You will be experiencing areas of Damaraland and surrounding area that no safari or overland tour will ever venture into, tracking and observing our local desert-adapted elephant herds. Volunteers will help with herd identification and data collection projects.
After leaving the office in Swakopmund, you will initially travel to the tented Ugab Base Camp (left). From there you’ll set up mobile base camp at each project site. You will be accommodated in two man tents or you can choose to sleep under the stars. Washing facilities are limited but a ‘bushman’ shower will be made available. Toilet facilities will be in the form of long drops (enclosed and private).
Meals are prepared collectively on a rotational basis, over the open fire, and eaten around the campfire together. You will be supplied with basic, but balanced food with adequate vegetarian options. Whilst on patrol, you will wild camp and sleep under the stars on bedrolls with mosquito nets. There are no showers or toilets out there, so you’ll be roughing it.
- 2008 start dates: Jan 28. Feb 11, 25. March 10, 24. April 07, 21. May 05, 19. June 02, 16, 30. July 14, 28. Aug 11, 25. Sept 08, 22. Oct 06, 20, Nov 03, 17.
- Minimum duration is 2 weeks, and you can extend your stay on a 2 weekly basis. Programmes start on Monday finish Friday. (Please note that accommodation between project rotations is not included)
- International flights are not included.
- Volunteers are required to make their way to Swakopmund for the start of the programme. Minibus shuttles between Windhoek and Swakopmund run on a daily basis. The journey takes approximately 3.5 hours and costs N$200. This can be booked in advance for you but paid locally.
- 4 x 4 pick up’s (baccies) and trucks are used for local transportation.
- Please aim to arrive on the weekend before the start of the programme. Hostel accommodation will be booked for you in Swakopmund and is paid for locally (N$85 per night includes breakfast)
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- All of Twin’s volunteer placements are in partnership with recognised Charities, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), government ministries or registered agents, giving you the confidence to work with reputable organisations.
- Comprehensive insurance is available for each of the volunteer placements, please click here for full details.
- Our local partner provides 24-hour support.
- Your project manager is first aid qualified, and has many years of experience in the field. Namibia has first world medical facilities, and first-rate emergency service.
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- This project is real spearhead conservation work. It is not about cuddling baby animals, or being an observer of conservation from the comfort of a game drive vehicle.
- You need to have an open mind, a willing heart and be prepared to put in some hard work.
- This is about true adventure with likeminded people that care. This is about teamwork and tolerance. We live close together, close to the ground, and close to the animals.
- Your project manager is there to make your time in the bush educational and safe, but it is up to you to make a success of the expedition.
- You need to have an average degree of fitness, as lot of the work is manual, and we could spend a lot of time in high temperatures on foot. A bit of training beforehand would make your time more comfortable.
- But don’t worry, anyone is capable, the project staff will be there for you every step of the way.
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- It is important to understand that this project is entirely funded by the volunteers, there is no outside funding whatsoever and the project does not ask for any compensation from the communities helped. The work you will be doing is having a direct impact on the lives of local communities and wildlife.
- 2 week programme = £1250 (additional multiples of 2 weeks = £1000)
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