About
This project takes you to the northwestern regions of the Namib Desert, traditionally known as ‘Damaraland’. This harsh tribal wilderness area, runs parallel to the Skeleton Coast National Park, and is home to a small population of desert-adapted elephants.
Facilitate the peaceful co-habitation between the subsistence farmers, and the desert adapted elephants.
As a volunteer, you will work with the local subsistence farmers building protective walls around their water points to stop elephants causing damage. You will also take part in following and monitoring the movements of these elephants on patrol, camping in the wild with elephants and people.
Other volunteers
This project is specifically selected to give you a unique and personal experience. Khaya believes in smaller projects with a limited number of volunteers to guarantee this uniqueness.
Induction and Training
Besides a willing mind, and a strong back, you do not need any special training to work on this project. During your time spent with us, we would teach you the following:
- Camp craft including cooking over a fire, bush camp setup, safety and hygiene.
- Bush craft, such as approaching dangerous animals on foot, animal behavior, bush walking, navigation, map reading, GPS etc.
- Compiling identification kits on elephants.
- Traditional building skills.
A Day as a Volunteer
In the first week everyone wakes up early to beat the heat and have the first cup of coffee around the fire. After breakfast the team heads to the project site for the day where construction and work will be done. At lunch time the group heads back to camp for a bit to eat and doing some things around camp to avoid the mid-day heat. Evenings are spent around the campfire, eating and talking about the day's events.
The second week is spent out on elephant patrol. This is the time when the group camps wild, sleep under the stars and track elephants on foot.
This is a life that few ever have the privilege to experience!
Area
Namibia is in South West Africa, bordering on South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Zambia. Most of the work that the project does is concentrated in the North West region of Namibia, known as Damaraland. Damaraland 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.
Accommodation
The project staff can make your accommodation bookings for you at Desert Sky Backpackers. Please note accommodation in Swakopmund is at your own cost. If you are staying at the project for more than 2 weeks then remember to budget for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in between projects. The cost is N$200 for a bed in the desert elephant’s dorm, N$450 for a single room per night, and N$ 600 for a double room. If you would like information on other guest houses, please do let us know, it is not compulsory to stay here. Check out Desert Sky’s website for more info!
Pick Up information
The pickup point is from Desert Sky Backpackers in Swakopmund at 11am on the Monday of the start of the project. If you are staying at alternative accommodation in Swakopmund we can arrange to pick you up from there. Please just let us know where you are staying.
If you have made your own way to Swakopmund and are not staying at Desert Sky Backpackers, please do contact us as the volunteer group will arrive in Swakopmund on the Friday and it is good for everyone to meet before the Monday departure.
Camp Accommodation
We set up a mobile camp at each project site we work at. We have an enclosed and private long drop toilet, tents for getting changed in, and then everyone normally sleeps under the stars under shade and on a tarpaulin. We provide ‘bed rolls’ which are foam mattresses which roll up. Washing facilities are limited, however if there is a water dam at the farm we can set up a ‘bushman shower’.
Meals
Meals are prepared on a rotational basis, over the fire and eaten around the camp fire together. We pride ourselves on providing the most amazing camp meals with adequate vegetarian options. Examples of meals include Spaghetti Bolognese, Thai Curry and Roast Chicken! There is even an Apple Crumble cooked on the fire!
Whilst on patrol we sleep wild and under the stars. Toilets and showers are not available during this week.
Transport
You can arrive either at Windhoek International Airport or Walvis Bay Airport.
From there everyone makes their way to the pickup point of Swakopmund, Desert elephant staff will book your airport transfer and shuttle service through to this interesting coastal town, once we have your flight details.
There are scheduled, safe and professional shuttles from Windhoek International Airport and Walvis Bay airport and the drivers will meet you in arrivals with a sign with your name on. On the Monday of the start of the project, the whole team will be transferred to the Desert Elephant base camp in the staff bus!
Fees & Dates
| DURATION: |
GBP |
| 2 Weeks |
£900,00 |
| 4 Weeks |
£1 750,00 |
| 6 Weeks |
£2 500,00 |
| 8 Weeks |
£3 300,00 |
| 10 Weeks |
£4 000,00 |
| 12 Weeks |
£4 500,00 |
What’s included in your fee:
- 3 basic meals a day
- Accommodation (shared rooms)
- Transportation during the project
What’s excluded from your fee:
- Own personal luxury items
- Flight tickets
- Personal insurance
- Volunteer work visa - (required by law) takes 23-27 working days to obtain if applied for online.
- Weekend to Swakopmund
Starting dates
The project takes place in 2-week rotations.
|
2018
|
2019
|
| 3rd to 14th September 2018 |
7th January to 18th January 2019 |
| 17th to 28th September 2018 |
21st January to 1st February 2019 |
| 1st to 12th October 2018 |
4th February to 15th February 2019 |
| 15th to 26th October 2018 |
18th February to 1st March 2019 |
| 29th October to 9th November 2018 |
4th March to 15th March 2019 |
| 12th to 23rd November 2018 |
18th March to 29th March 2019 |
| 26th November to 7th December 2018 |
1st April to 12th April 2019 |
| |
15th April to 26th April 2019 |
| |
29th April to 10th May 2019 |
| |
13th May to 24th May 2019 |
| |
27th May to 7th June 2019 |
| |
10th June to 21st June 2019 |
| |
24th June to 5th July 2019 |
| |
8th July to 19th July 2019 |
| |
22nd July to 2nd August 2019 |
| |
5th August to 16th August 2019 |
| |
19th August to 30th August 2019 |
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2nd September to 13th September 2019 |
| |
16th September to 27th September 2019 |
| |
30th September to 11th October 2019 |
| |
14th October to 25th October 2019 |
| |
28th October to 8th November 2019 |
| |
11th November to 22nd November 2019 |
| |
25th November to 6th December 2019 |
Add Ons To Your Trip
10% OFF on your Nomad Africa tour when booking through Khaya
Nomad Africa Adventure Tours offers organized tours over Africa. Whether you’re young or young at heart, adventurous or more relaxed, it doesn’t matter, you will always find a fitting tour with them.
Their tours ensure you safety and give you the chance to meet new friends along the way. They are an exciting way of travelling that allows you to explore the country and its surroundings at affordable rates and without having to worry about anything yourself!
And we can make it even better. If you book your next Nomad Tour with Khaya, you will get a 10% off the tour price! We have picked a few of our favorites to combine with this project, check them out below!
7 Day Tours:
Longer Tours:
10% OFF on your Chameleon Safari tour when booking through Khaya
Chameleon Safaris Namibia focuses on good quality and value for money Namibia safari arrangements for individuals, families and group travel. We can offer you "small group" scheduled accommodated safaris, self drive safaris, tailor made safaris, fly in safaris, and for the adventure traveller, good value guided camping safaris.
Location
Swakopmund, Namibia
