Desert Elephants Volunteer Project, Namibia

Be a community development volunteer and work in the gorgeous Damaraland region of the Namid Desert. You will be able to assist in tracking desert elephants, animals that have adapted to desert living.

You will be placed in the northwestern areas of the Namib Desert called Damaraland. There is a small group of desert-adapted elephants that reside in this tribal landscape. The project that you will be involved with was created to facilitate in finding long-term solutions for addressing the issues facing a beneficial co-existence with the elephants and the local subsistence farmers.

Volunteers will work with the subsistence farmers in order to create walls of protection surrounding the watering points which will deter elephants from causing any damage. Volunteers will also participate in the trailing and monitoring of elephants while on patrol or camping.

Volunteer responsibilities include:

- Erecting walls and barriers surrounding crucial water areas for the Damaraland homesteads in order to protect the water pumping facilities against elephants
- Building other watering holes far from homesteads that are elephants and black rhinos
- Showing farmers’ wives how to create paper with elephant dung
- Provide aid for community members in constructing a tourist camp

During your time as a volunteer, you will spend time on elephant patrol. You will take along basic camping equipment and drive off in a 4x4 in search of the desert elephants. You will be able to camp out under the stars. While you will be following elephants in 4x4s, you will also walk on foot and even observe them from a rocky outcrop as the elephants enjoy the shade.

Few people will ever have the opportunity to work with elephants in this environment. You will be able to work in genuine conservation efforts rather than just posing for photo ops with cuddly animals or going on a safari. This position requires volunteers with open minds, adaptable wills and the willingness to put in solid work and effort. This is an exciting adventure for dedicated people that are interested in teamwork close to animals.

You will have a project manager to ensure your bush time is educational and secure. However, you must be willing to put forth the effort. Project managers will provide you with shelter and food. You need to be a fair level of fitness since you will be in high temperatures while on foot. You will be trained beforehand and you will also need to be able to speak English. We accept applications from those 18 years old and above.

This is a great volunteer opportunity for those who want to live under the stars, learn survival skills, and work in real conservation efforts. You will be directly involved in the elephant conservation field.

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