Desert Elephant Conservation Volunteer Project
Country
Namibia
Duration
15-84 Days
From
US$1170
Highlights
Join an award winning volunteering project tracking desert elephants and working on a community construction program in Damaraland. Through the Desert Elephant project, volunteers can experience hands-on conservation and have a direct impact on fostering a peaceful relationship between elephants and humans, thereby securing their existence.
Overview
The Desert Elephant project collaborates closely with local communities, engaging in on-the-ground conservation by constructing protective walls. These walls strike a balance: they facilitate water access for Namibia’s desert elephants, while averting potential damage to windmills, water storage facilities, and pumps. Given the recurring droughts that have left the region parched, desert elephants often find themselves in competition with both humans and other animals for water resources, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable solutions.
These remarkable desert elephants, renowned for their daily consumption of up to 160 liters of water, traverse great distances guided by their exceptional sense of smell. When desperation sets in, they might resort to actions such as damaging water pipes or piercing water tanks with their tusks, inadvertently disrupting local water supplies. The solution lies in the protective walls, an immediate response that encourages harmonious coexistence by enabling humans, livestock, and elephants to share water points. With a history of constructing over 220 protective walls since 2003, involving the dedication of more than 3,500 volunteers, the project seeks ongoing support to extend its transformative efforts.
Project area
Swakopmund is a great little town, safe, by the sea, surrounded by sand dunes and with lots of activities to keep you entertained, from skydiving, kayaking, dolphin watching, sand boarding to name a few. There are lots of cafes, interesting shops, restaurants, a few bars and even a cinema! For anyone traveling onwards through Namibia we can also help you to plan your trip and recommend the best agents, car hire, places to stay and see.
The majority of the work that we do is concentrated in the North West region of Namibia, known as the Southern Kunene region, which is considered one of the most stunning areas in the world. Its free-roaming desert elephants are among the most special wildlife you will ever see, and their ability to survive in the harsh conditions of the Namib Desert showcase nature at its best.
Photo Gallery
Activities
Week 1 – Building Week
Tuesday morning we travel to the local Namibian farm or homestead where you will spend building week, building protection walls around water sources or building alternative water points for the elephants and even the areas newly released black rhinos.You rise early to beat the Namibian heat and then stop around 12 to travel back to camp for a traditional African siesta and lunch. In the afternoons you start work after 2.30pm and work for a couple of hours, before the time comes to head back to camp in time for a fantastic sundowner. Evenings are spent talking and relaxing around the camp fire, listening to the sounds of Africa. Building walls is sweaty, hard work but each volunteer does what they are capable of, and you work as a team to complete the project.
Base Camp
Base CampSaturday morning you pack up the camp and travel back to the Base Camp for a much deserved shower and relaxation. The next two days are yours to explore, read, relax, take a swim in the elephant drinking dam and enjoy yourselves!
Week 2 – Elephant Patrols
On Monday morning volunteer teams pack the Landcruisers and leave on Elephant Patrol. This is an amazing week where you join the elephant trackers on a (mostly) vehicle based patrol where you travel through the area to track the local herds of desert elephants. This week is your reward for all the hard work on building week.The aim of this week is to track the elephants, record data on births, deaths and new elephants, GPS their positions and take ID shots and notes about each and every elephant.
Field conditions
Expect to get sweaty, learn about conservation, make new friends, sleep under the stars and enjoy the natural surroundings. At the Desert Elephant base camp everyone sleeps in a large tree on a wooden platform! There are also showers and long-drop toilets here.
You will leave base camp and be camping in the African wilderness for the duration of your time on each project. There are no washing facilities on either build or patrol weeks but you can enjoy a shower at the EHRA base camp when we return for the weekend in between the two weeks. Occasionally, if there is enough water available at the build site, we may set up a basic shower at the build project camp. Tents are provided this week and soon you will make the camp home!
All cooking is done over the fire and you work in pairs taking it in turn to be on kitchen duty, which includes providing the first cup of coffee to everyone in bed, to breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have great recipes and we can also cater for vegans and vegetarians. Please let us know if you have any particular dietary requirements including food sensitivities. We can accommodate varying needs including gluten or lactose intolerance.
Costs
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 12 Nights | £920 |
| 24 Nights | £1,785 |
| 36 Nights | £2,550 |
| 48 Nights | £3,360 |
| 60 Nights | £4,080 |
| 72 Nights | £4,590 |
Included
Prices include return transfers from Swakopmund to the Desert Elephant Base Camp, and all accommodation, food and camping equipment during the Volunteer Project.
Excluded
Flights, insurance, airport transfers along with food and accommodation while you are in Swakopmund are all excluded from this price, but we can advise you on getting the best deals.
FAQ
How to get there?
You have the choice of two airports to fly into. Windhoek International Airport in Namibia’s capital city or Walvis Bay Airport on the coast.
Windhoek is a five-hour drive from Swakopmund, so please land by 12 noon at the latest on the Sunday; so that you can catch the scheduled shuttle service through to Swakopmund on the same day.
Walvis Bay is just a 30 minute transfer to Swakopmund. This is a much easier journey although flights are often cheaper into Windhoek.
When booking a return flight from Windhoek please ensure that you are not flying any earlier than 2pm on the Saturday following the end of your volunteer project. This will allow you time to get the shuttle from Swakopmund to Windhoek airport to catch your flight.
Enquiries
Excited to join this project? Share your preferred dates, interests, and any specific needs with us!