Lion Rehabilitation and Conservation Education
Project Location: On the outskirts of Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe. A stone's throw away from the magnificent thundering waters of the Falls themselves.
Project Summary: This programme involves work on our lion breeding and rehabilitation programme, along with exciting conservation education initiatives in the local rural schools and communities. The lion programme entails hands-on experience with our lion cubs as they prepare for their eventual release into the wild.
Project Age Limit: Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants' health
Project Highlights:
Project Travel Highlights:
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| Victoria Falls | Hwange National Park | Antelope Park |
THE LION REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
Lions... This breeding and rehabilitation project is a World First and is supported by some of the worlds leading ecologists in this field. We invite you to walk with African Lions, to be involved in our in-depth research and data-collection activities and to help rehabilitate lions back into their natural environment.
Over 200,000 lions roamed the African continent as recently as 1975. In 2002 two surveys provided evidence of a dramatic decline estimating that only 23 to 39,000 remain, with the lowest estimate being just 16,500. This represents an 80 to 90% population decline in less than 30 years. It is widely accepted that the population has continued to decline in the subsequent years. The end objective of the Antelope Park lion project, along with our Victoria Falls programme, is the rehabilitation of captive-bred lions into a wild environment so that their cubs, raised by the pride, can learn the skills necessary to ensure their successful reintroduction into the wild.
Spending time with the lions in the wild each day is an essential part of the cubs upbringing. If the cubs are to be successfully released it is important that they spend time out in a natural environment. They need to adapt to it, learn from it, understand, observe, feel and smell the wild.
Since the start of this intensive programme, we have noted a marked increase in the Lions awareness of their natural surroundings, as well as an improvement in their hunting skills. The larger cubs are now able to take down smaller game species whilst out on walks, and these abilities are being enhanced each day whilst under the supervision of volunteers. These are invaluable discoveries, which have earned us further support for our world first endeavours.
Join our team of professional guides and other dedicated volunteers, gain a deeper understanding of the King of Beasts and assist us in gathering vital information that will facilitate their eventual release back into the wild.
Please note: In order to raise vital funding and awareness for the continuation of our lion release efforts we also have a commercial tourist aspect to the lion programme in Victoria Falls. 'The Lion Encounter' offers tourists the chance to walk with our lions through the wild and experience our programme first-hand. As a result you might be accompanied by tourists on a portion of your lion walks as a volunteer. This gives you an exciting opportunity to share your volunteer experiences with them, as well as educate them further on our lion release work.
CONSERVATION EDUCATION IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
We believe that our work would be incomplete without involvement in the local community. We have recently developed an exciting Conservation Education syllabus that we are in the early stages of launching at the local schools in the Victoria Falls area.
We firmly believe that one of the best long-term sustainable solutions for solving the conservation crisis that this country is currently facing is by educating local children and communities.
Depending on the status of this programme at the time of your placement, volunteers will be involved in the teaching and instruction of the conservation education syllabus to local school children for approximately 1 or 2 days each week. You will find that the children flock to the lessons and look forward both to the interaction with the volunteers and to the chance to learn more about what is going on around then in the conservation arena.
We have been very impressed with the feedback the kids have been giving. They have a relatively sound knowledge of things like the food chain and the animals in the area. Moving into 2008 we will start with the specific lessons e.g how plants and animals adapt to their environment, life in water, a day in the life of an insect etc.
WORK AT ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
Alongside your involvement with the lions and our conservation education initiatives, volunteers also have the chance to visit a local Elephant orphanage, where our assistance in data capture and other duties is greatly appreciated.
Depending on the status of the Elephant involvement when you are there, you will have the opportunity to be involved in some or all of the following areas: record traits such as behaviour, allegiances, dominance and aggression to enable them to be able to form a herd for possible release into the wild. Duties might also include feeding and caring for some of the very young elephants.
Useful Links for further information:
www.lionalert.org
http://africanimpact.blogspot.com
A day in the life of a Victoria Falls volunteer...
The volunteers and guides get one official stand-by day each week, which is a day off unless there is an urgent need for your assistance.
Project Cost:
| GBP (£) | USD ($) | |
| 4 weeks placement | 1795 | 3590 |
| 6 weeks | 2245 | 4490 |
Project Cost Includes:
Project Cost Excludes:
Project Orientation:
Project Support:
Throughout your placement you will have the support and guidance of our experienced volunteer coordinators. They are part of our greater African Impact support team, which will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance.
Project Accommodation:
Project Meals:
Project Getting There: We will meet you at the airport!
You options are as follows:
Volunteer Diaries
Jan Wilson-Ward, for her daughter Georgia UK.
"Please pass on to everyone at African Impact what a wonderful time Georgia had in Zimbabwe. It has been a life-changing experience. I was a little concerned before the trip but you seem to have got the balance of genuine adventure alongside common-sense safety just right and the things she learnt have given her a new perspective. I would thoroughly recommend it as a Gap year experience. Many thanks..."
Kerry James, UK
Did you have any concerns before traveling to Africa? Can you suggest anything more that we could have done to ease these concerns?
"I was worried about the current situation in Zimbabwe which has not been expressed well on English TV... there really is no danger here!"
What were some of the highlights of your placement with us?
"The lions! Opportunity to go to Antelope Park, Rhino walk, Ellie rides and horse back safari."
At any stage during your time on the program did you feel unsafe? Please explain...
"No."
Could you please explain your true feelings and thoughts about this Program? What do you think you gained from your volunteer experience?
"I've really enjoyed my time on this project, I was able to spend a lot more time with the lions than I thought I was going to. I feel I've gained a lot from this experience and hope my input has been of help to the project. I look forward to finding out how all three sets of cubs get on in the future."
Rachael Lonsdale, UK
What were some of the highlights of your placement with us?
"The biggest surprise and most brilliant part for me has been working with the lions in such a close-knit team. Not only have I learned more than I ever expected about the animals and their habitat, I've also made some brilliant friends and feel as though we've all helped to make a difference. Working in the community has been absolutely fantastic and I've been proud to be associated with the program. Utterly unforgettable."
How has living in Africa for this period influenced your perspectives and outlook on life?
"It's been so interesting coming to Zimbabwe and seeing the truth behind the political farrago and meeting the people behind the headlines. It cannot but inspire you with humility, huge admiration for those keeping on, and the value of family and community."
Could you please explain your true feelings and thoughts about this Program? What do you think you gained from your volunteer experience?
"It's just been brilliant - not only have I had an amazing experience myself, I also feel as though I've made a worthwhile contribution. To give something back to a place that has given you so much is a real privilege."
We look forward to welcoming you to our Victoria Falls lion rehabilitation project!
www.happyafricafoundation.org
Regd UK Charity Number: 1123529
Pathfinders and The Happy Africa Foundation
Pathfinders is proud to have been instrumental in the establishment of The Happy Africa Foundation and continues to be one of the Foundations major supporters. Donations made to support our community and conservation initiatives by private donors as well as by Pathfinders as a voluntoursim company are managed and distributed on our behalf by The Happy Africa Foundation.
The mission of The Happy Africa Foundation is to empower the African people through the support of community and conservation based initiatives that operate at grass roots level.
Conservation Development:
The Happy Africa Foundation works together with local African communities to conserve and protect the environment, wildlife and cultures in areas where the Foundation is involved. Thus, the Foundation supports, financially or logistically (or both), local and international organizations that operate projects supporting conservation education and research at a grass roots level.
Community Development:
The Happy Africa Foundation strives to initiate, facilitate and support community development projects that are sustainable. As such, The Happy Africa Foundation makes every effort to ensure and takes relevant measures in assessing, planning and monitoring community development projects for the benefit of local African communities.
The Happy Africa Foundation provides travellers, volunteers and other donors with a chance to give back to the communities they visit or volunteer in on their African journeys, or that they wish to support remotely through donations.