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Other News Snippets Newsletters » September/October 2007 » News Snippets Feel free to contact us for email addresses and references from previous volunteers! We will gladly put you in touch with someone who is of a similar age or if possible from the same country as you. Is Zimbabwe safe for volunteering? Here’s some feedback from Jan Wilson-Ward, whos daughter Georgia volunteered at Antelope Park in June this year. “Can you please pass on to everyone at African Impact what a wonderful time Georgia had in Zimbabwe.  It has been a life-changing experience and the people she met everywhere there obviously made the experience even more special. As you know, 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 New project – St. Lucia, South Africa – The ‘Wild Coast’ is waiting for you! The Conservation Education through Photography volunteer project in St. Lucia is situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. It is a beautiful area that has been declared as South Africa’s first Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO and which is considered by many as Africa’s premier bush-and-beach destination. Encompassing almost half a million acres, it is a stunning and ecologically diverse area, where five different eco-systems meet, and where you find savannahs, wetlands, swamps, beaches, and a great wealth of wildlife. The area is home to the Zulu tribe; a group of African people with a very lively and colourful culture. It is within this impressive setting that we offer you the opportunity to photograph the phenomenal wildlife in the area, and to help raise awareness in the local community about the importance of nature and wildlife conservation. We are also involved with an Orphan Day Care volunteer programme and community assistance initiatives. Project Highlights: Improve your photography skills on a professional course by an experienced wildlife photographer Spend many hours in the bush, taking pictures of wild animals such as rhino, elephant and if you’re lucky enough, leopard Help create a photo database of the wildlife for educational purposes Teach local South African communities about the essence of nature conservation Immerse yourself in the local Zulu culture Mature volunteer? Career break in Africa? Don’t doubt that you can do it… please contact us for advice or stories from previous volunteers. Our oldest volunteer to date has been 64 who worked on our lion rehabilitation programme for 4 months in December of 2004. Neil returned with his partner again in December of 2005 to reunite with the cubs who made such a difference in his life and will be back again in January 2008 for another visit! We also have a number of specific programmes that we would particularly recommend for more mature volunteers including: Cape Town Teaching, Disadvantaged Kids Rehabilitaion and Community Programme Hwange National Park Conservation Programme, Zimbabwe (Just 2 hours drive from Victoria Falls) Kenya Nomadic Communities Trust Assistants – Assistants needed for both administrative and medical placements on this amazing volunteer programme that attends to the medical needs of many remote areas of Samburuland in Kenya Mashatu Research Shadowing Programme working with elephants and leopards, in Southern Botswana. Susie Rheault-Williams, USA. Volunteered at Antelope Park with her son Zack, in 2006 “…this is just more evidence of all the ‘above and beyond’ work and care that you extended to us while we were volunteering in Antelope Park. The month of volunteer work so far exceeded all our hopes and expectations. Thank you SO much.” Great combination programme ideas! We are also more than willing to put together great volunteer project combination packages for you. We are 100% of the opinion that whilst you contribute to Africa during your time with us, it’s equally exciting that Africa is contributing to you. As this great continent of Africa opens your eyes and changes your perspectives… Speak to one of our placement coordinators about a volunteer programme that best fits your profile and where you can be most effective. P a t h f i n d e r s is our sister company that has been designed to offer an off-the-beaten-track insight into Africa for adventurers. Pathfinders expeditions couple adventure and adrenaline with an ethos of responsible travel and learning experiences, to provide you with some of the continents most exciting extreme adventure safari packages. Pathfinders trips can be divided into 3 blocks within Southern and East Africa. Each block usually consists of four 1-week trips that you can do as 1-week options or month-long excursions into Africa. East Africa: The land of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti. Take part in Kilimanjaro treks; raft the first 100 miles of the Nile; Camel Trek into the Kenyan wilderness; bush tracking and a survival course on a Kenyan ranch. Southern East Africa: Explore the fresh waters of the World Heritage Site of the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique; PADI certified scuba diving courses off Mozambique’s coastal town of Vilanculos; a one week river exploration that takes you from inland Mozambique to the river mouth at the Indian Ocean and complete a 1 month trip with one week of soccer coaching and community development on the mainland. Southern Africa: Game ranging courses in Kruger National Park; mountain biking through Botswana’s Tuli Block and a private wildlife reserve; bush awareness and survival courses in Hwange National Park and a true African experience of walking with lions and swimming with Elephants at Antelope Park in the Zimbabwe Midlands. Please note: Almost any Pathfinders expeditions can be arranged for you as an add-on to our African Impact projects. Please consult your placement coordinator or email rob@africanencounter.org for more information! Other stories in this newsletter: Update: African Lion Rehabilitation & Release Program, by ALERT Welcome: Anna Burn, new African Impact Senior Project Manager Volunteer Profile: Zoe Cartwright Featured Project: St. Lucia Conservation Education through Photography Project News Snippets Subscribe to our free newsletter Africa volunteer opportunities       print this page | bookmark this page (CTRL-D) | send to a friend back to top