Antelope Park Lion Breeding & Rehabilitation Project
Walk and work with lions in this exclusive private game reserve. Be involved in the research of lions' behaviour and work with us on the world's only programme for their release into the wild. Also assist with orphaned Elephants the wildlife management and boundary patrols of the reserve.
Project Location: Antelope Park, 10km from Gweru town centre, in the heart of the Zimbabwe Midlands
Project Age Limit: Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants' health
Project Highlights:
Walk alongside lions as part of the pride and enjoy the exhilaration of being part of a hunt as the young cubs learn to stalk their prey
Bottle feed and help take care of younger lion cubs, should there be any in camp at the time
Work on the world's first, and currently the only, programme for the release of lions back into the wild of its kind
Experience the African bush in a very special way on this private reserve. Explore the savannah grasslands on horseback or whilst riding on African Elephants
Have horse riding lessons from our experienced guides
Immerse yourself in local Zimbabwean culture
Visit the Stage 2 release site where you help take data on the world's first released pride of captive bred lions and also help with the maintenance of the site.
Make friends for life with the other international volunteers on the programme
Project Travel Highlights:
During your stay at Antelope Park you will have the opportunity to enjoy an excursion to some of the other spectacular spots that Zimbabwe has to offer. These trips are also a great time for volunteers to interact and get to know each other better. An expedition such as the one outlined below will cost you approximately US$315 (this includes National Parks fees, transport, meals (except in Victoria Falls) and accommodation).
Day 1: Leave after breakfast from Antelope Park for Granite Ridge Lodge (Motobo National Park). Enjoy a half-day Rhino Walk & Game Drive as well as a Cave Painting tour. You will also have the chance to visit Cecil Rhodes' resting place at 'worlds' view'
Day 2-4: Leave after breakfast from Granite Ridge for Victoria Falls. Adrenalin capital of Africa! You have the option to bungee jump, white water raft, visit the Falls, gorge swing across the Batoka Gorge below the Falls or just enjoy the great social atmosphere at this tourist hot-spot!
Day 5: Leave Victoria Fall for Miombo Safari Lodge (Hwange National Park); the largest national park in Zimbabwe, and the same size as Belgium! You will get the opportunity to go on a game drive where you could get up close to a herd of elephants, buffalo, a pride of lions, and many more
Day 6: Leave after breakfast from Miombo for Antelope Park
Further Information on Antelope Park:
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.
Elephants... You will also have the opportunity to spend time with our orphaned African Elephants and their trainers. The elephants at Antelope Park were saved from certain death during a severe drought that ravaged Zimbabwe's South Eastern Lowveld in 1991 and 1992.
The elephants play an important role in the Antelope Park's activities schedule. You may be asked to assist in the daily duties with the elephants.
Free roaming wildlife... The few remaining areas of wildlife sanctuary in Zimbabwe are extremely precious and must at all costs be protected. Part of your project will involve assistance with the wildlife management scheme such as finding and removing snares ('snare sweeps') within the game park and checking for holes or fence cuttings on the boundary fence ('Boundary Patrols') and repairing them. These activities are usually conducted on foot, within the Park and accompanied by one of our trained guides.
You may also be asked to assist in any other duties at the game park such as:
Cleaning the lion enclosures; preparing meat for the lions; building and painting new lion enclosures;
Cutting and collecting firewood; daily schooling and exercising of horses; basic repairs and maintenance; any other wildlife or camp related activities that involve the assistance and development of the lion programme.
Project Typical Day:
A day in the life of an Antelope Park volunteer...
6:00am - Bottle feed the cubs in camp ranging in age from 3 weeks old to 5 months (If there are cubs in camp at the time).
6:30am - 8:00am Meet the guide and their clients and join them for a lion walk, taking cubs from 7 months to 18 months out into the bush. If there are no clients then volunteers and staff will be involved in taking the lions out for their walks. Observe and take data notes as the cubs practice their hunting skills. Or possibly spend the morning training the elephants and going on a ride.
8:30am - 9:30am Breakfast
9:30am - 12:30pm You could be involved in various duties including enclosure cleaning, cub walking, boundary patrols or meat preparation, snare sweeping, bush walks, enclosure maintenance.
12:30pm - 2:00pm Lunch
2:15pm - 4:00pm Your afternoon duties could include include cub sitting, horse rides, cub descriptions, elephant herding, or more enclosure cleaning and maintenance if needed.
4.00pm - 5.30pm Afternoon lion walks. Take cubs out into 'bush' again for their evening walks.
6.45pm - Briefing by your volunteer coordinator about the following days activities.
Evening - The volunteers socialize at dinner at 7.00pm and around the cosy camp fire pit under the stars. On some nights we take out the larger cubs for a night hunt and watch as they stalk, chase and catch prey - a vital stage in their development and training for release.
Project Cost:
| GBP (£) | USD ($) |
| 4 weeks placement | 1795 | 3590 |
| 6 weeks | 2245 | 4490 |
Project Cost Includes:
Project Fee: this entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as food for lions and elephants, management and maintenance of lion enclosures, and the development of the lion breeding and rehabilitation programme.
All transfers to and from and overnights in Bulawayo or Harare International Airports upon your arrival and departure.
Assistance in your projects and comprehensive orientation by various trained guides and staff during your stay.
Any wildlife education talks that take place during your stay and that you might wish to partake in
Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our Safari Camp dining area.
Unlimited tea, coffee and juice throughout the day.
Weekly laundry service during your stay.
The service of a cleaner to attend to your room each day.
Project Cost Excludes:
All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other).
Return flights to Harare or Bulawayo International Airports.
Email and telephone calls made during your placement (charged out at cost).
Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Zimbabwe e.g. visit to the Victoria Falls.
Personal insurance cover for the duration of your placement, which is expected to include cover for repatriation.
Cokes, beers, chocolate and other food items not included in your meals
Project Orientation:
Volunteers' introduction to Antelope Park and orientation upon arrival
Introduction to all senior camp staff including Guides, Handlers of elephants, lions and horses, Heads of departments and Assistants.
Familiarization of the Safari camp and Antelope Game Park - including the park boundaries, internal roads and tracks and some of the wildlife species.
Introduction to the cubs and activity enclosures including lion handling training and full safety instructions.
Further information on the lion breeding programme and Antelope Park's ultimate objective of releasing lions into the wild.
How to conduct "Snare sweeps" and "Boundary patrols".
Familiarization with all other duties you will be involved in.
For those of you who have not ridden horses before you may also spend time being instructed in the basics of horse riding. Should our riding instructors decide you are suitable and capable then horses may possibly be used for some of your duties.
Issuing of the basic tools you require to carry out your duties.
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:
You will be staying in comfortable twin or triple room thatched accommodation at the main reserve camp
Other facilities include swimming pool and internet access which is sometimes only sporadically available due to our remote location
Volunteers have separate clean shower & toilet facilities to the rest of the camp which are located adjacent to the sleeping area
Your room will be cleaned daily by the housekeeping staff, and free use of the laundry service is available to all volunteers
Please note that accommodation upgrades are available to those who wish to have a more 'comfortable' volunteer experience.
There are 2 options of upgrades available:
East African Style Safari Tents: Twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom.
Cost: an extra GBP10 or US$20/person sharing/day. GBP20 or US$40 for single occupancy.
Thatched River Lodge: Twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom and deck overlooking the river.
Cost: An extra GBP12 or US$25/person sharing/day. GBP24 or US$50 for single occupancy.
Both the tents and lodges overlook the river at the camp and are a haven of tranquillity.
Project Meals:
You will enjoy 3 cooked meals a day. All meals are a served as a buffet style and taken in the main camp dining room, a thatched building overlooking the dam.
Project Getting There: We will meet you at the airport!
Your options are as follows:
Fly in to Bulawayo from Johannesburg, overnight Bulawayo at our volunteer lodge, and transfer by 2 hour bus/coach ride to Gweru at 8am the following morning
Fly in to Harare (Zimbabwe's capital), overnight at our volunteer lodge, and then transfer by 4 hour bus/coach ride to Gweru at 8am the following morning
There is a chance that whichever airport you arrive at you will be met directly at the airport by staff from Antelope Park and transferred directly to the park without the need for an overnight stay. It just depends on bus availability.
We organise all volunteer pick-ups, overnight accommodation at respective volunteer lodges (Bulawayo or Harare), and transfers to your programme of choice as part of your fee.
"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, Jan Wilson-Ward
for her daughter Georgia, UK. June 2006
www.happyafricafoundation.org
Regd UK Charity Number: 1123529
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