Passionate about horses and the conservation of Africa’s most iconic endangered species? This is the wildlife conservation volunteer project for you! This project is designed for experienced riders who are looking for a uniquely African horse riding experience. You will ride for five days a week, Monday to Friday, for approximately 3 hours each day. This may be one long ride or two shorter ones, depending on the weather and what work needs to be done on the conservancy. As a wildlife conservation volunteer, you will contribute to the running of the Imire Conservancy from horseback and get involved in first-hand care of endangered rhinos and elephants on a daily basis.
Horse Riding, Elephant & Rhino Conservation in Zimbabwe
VOLUNTEER
CONSERVATION
Protect Endangered Wildlife Species in Zimbabwe
Project highlights
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Horseback Riding
Explore the Zimbabwean bush on horseback.
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Wildlife Monitoring
Assist anti-poaching units in locating and observing animals on horseback.
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Rhino Conservation
Observe and record rhino behaviour.
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Reserve Management
Get a unique, behind-the-scenes look into wildlife management.
Imire, Zimbabwe
Available: Year Round
Duration: 2 Weeks+
Price From $3,445 This cost covers your accommodation, meals, project fees, transfers, 24/7 support and in-country orientation.
Project impact areas
Here’s how you will create significant impact through the African Big 5 Conservation project in South Africa.
CONSERVATION
Anti-Poaching & Security
Volunteers will horse ride five times a week, for around 3 hours at a time. You will patrol off the beaten track to perform game counts, locate missing animals and monitor new mother animals. You will also assist in collecting snares and traps, and looking for evidence of poaching. This minimizes small animal poaching and helps the dedicated Anti-Poaching Unit in their daily work to ensure the large animals are protected. You will ride alongside herds of wildlife as you venture off the beaten track to carry out monitoring. Horse patrols offer increased protection in different areas of the park and enable coverage of less accessible areas.
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
1. Life on Land
2. Life Below Water
3. Climate Action
4. Responsible Consumption & Production
CONSERVATION
Rhino Conservation
Volunteers play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of rhinos, which are challenging to study in wild environments. By carefully observing and recording rhino behavior, volunteers help identify patterns that contribute to our knowledge base. These observations are invaluable for predicting how rhinos respond to various stimuli and inform best practices for managing both the rhino population and their habitat. This monitoring is particularly vital for tracking the development of younger rhinos. Additionally, volunteers observe feeding habits to prevent overgrazing and overbrowsing, assist in planning rhino movements within the conservancy, and determine if dietary supplements are necessary to maintain a balanced diet. Through these efforts, volunteers contribute significantly to rhino conservation and management strategies.
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
1. Life on Land
2. Life Below Water
3. Climate Action
4. Responsible Consumption & Production
CONSERVATION
Work With Elephants
Imire is dedicated to providing its elephants with an environment that closely mimics their natural habitat. These magnificent creatures serve as vital ambassadors for their species, playing a crucial role in educating local communities about conservation. As a volunteer, you’ll contribute by monitoring the elephants’ feeding habits and helping repair any damage they cause within the conservancy. You’ll have the unique opportunity to walk alongside these gentle giants during morning or evening strolls, gaining insights from their experienced handlers. Through these interactions, you’ll deepen your understanding of these iconic animals, learning about the challenges they face in the wild and the ongoing efforts to protect them. This hands-on experience offers a rare glimpse into elephant conservation and management.
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
1. Life on Land
2. Life Below Water
3. Climate Action
4. Responsible Consumption & Production
Accommodation & Meals
Imire Conservancy, Zimbabwe
Your home away from home in Imire is a comfortable, community-style base with shared accommodation in either a bush camp or farmhouse setting, plus relaxed spaces to unwind between project days.h5>
Imire offers 2 accommodation sites – at either Chiwawe Tented Camp or Numwa House where you will be comfortably accommodated with a maximum of 12 volunteers per site. Rooms are shared with same sex volunteers, of similar ages where possible. Each site has bathrooms with toilets and showers, and all bedding is provided. Chiwawe offers fixed tent accommodation in the heart of the conservancy, whilst Numwa House is a farmhouse-style building with a swimming pool.
We provide three self-serve, home-cooked meals daily. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and we can accommodate dietary allergies if informed in advance. However, we may not be able to cater to highly specific requirements (such as gluten, dairy, or wheat intolerances). If you have these needs, please bring your own specialist foods. Our chefs will be happy to prepare these alongside standard meals for other volunteers. It’s crucial to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions before your arrival.
This project is not suitable for those with severe peanut allergies.
Life at the Base
Imire Conservancy, Zimbabwe
Only 90 minutes from Harare, Imire Conservancy is dedicated to the conservation and welfare of wildlife, with a specific focus on the protection and breeding of the critically endangered black and white rhinoceros. Living on this privately owned conservancy means you’ll be up close and personal with the wildlife! Imagine waking up to the sounds of the African bush, or sharing your breakfast with a curious giraffe – at Imire, these extraordinary experiences become your daily reality.
Beyond the rhino work, Imire is a beautiful slice of Zimbabwean wilderness, with open plains, rocky hills and waterholes that draw in a constant cast of wildlife. Between project activities you’ll have time to soak up the bush atmosphere on guided drives and walks, learn about the conservancy’s wider conservation efforts, and enjoy those classic African moments, golden sunsets, a sky full of stars, and animals moving quietly past camp.
Both accommodation sites offer pay-as-you-go WiFi access. Cellphone and 3G coverage is sporadic within the conservancy, so we suggest buying an Econet SIM card upon arriving in Zimbabwe. Keep in mind that power outages are common in Africa, particularly during rainy seasons. As a contingency, we’re equipped with solar-powered lighting and a generator that operates briefly in the mornings and evenings. Plan to charge your devices during these periods to ensure full battery life.
Volunteers should arrange their arrival at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare on Mondays. For those starting their project on arrival day, flights must land no later than 1 pm to catch the complimentary shuttle transfer included in your project fee. We advise against Sunday evening arrivals, as you’ll need to book separate accommodation and return to the airport by 1 pm Monday. While private transfers are available, they come at an additional cost. Please plan your travel accordingly to ensure a smooth start to your volunteer experience.
At the helm of our conservation and community efforts stands the heart of the Imire family, Judy Travers. Her unwavering dedication and compassionate leadership form the foundation of our conservation and community initiatives. Judy’s tireless efforts extend to every corner of our work, championing the welfare of both wildlife and local communities with equal fervor. She embodies the essence of an exemplary leader, role model, and nurturing figure. Her boundless energy and unwavering commitment to the greater good serve as a beacon of hope and a source of motivation for our entire team. Her influence reaches far beyond the boundaries of Imire, inspiring positive change and fostering a deep connection between humans and nature.
At our volunteer projects in Zimbabwe, our goal is always to maintain a high level of quality in the area of safety and support. Our two decades of success running volunteering projects in Africa has relied on ensuring the safety of our volunteers, staff and local communities. From the moment you arrive to the end of your adventure, we take the utmost care in ensuring your comfort and safety as you carry out volunteer work in Zimbabwe. If you want to know more about our health and safety measures, you can review our protocols or contact us with specific questions.
Project Destination
Only 90 minutes from Harare, Imire Conservancy is dedicated to the conservation and welfare of wildlife, with a specific focus on the protection and breeding of the critically endangered black and white rhinoceros. Living on this privately owned conservancy means you’ll be up close and personal with the wildlife! Imagine waking up to the sounds of the African bush, or sharing your breakfast with a curious giraffe – at Imire, these extraordinary experiences become your daily reality.
Communication
Both accommodation sites offer pay-as-you-go WiFi access. Cellphone and 3G coverage is sporadic within the conservancy, so we suggest buying an Econet SIM card upon arriving in Zimbabwe. Keep in mind that power outages are common in Africa, particularly during rainy seasons. As a contingency, we’re equipped with solar-powered lighting and a generator that operates briefly in the mornings and evenings. Plan to charge your devices during these periods to ensure full battery life.
Flights & Arrivals
Volunteers should arrange their arrival at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare on Mondays. For those starting their project on arrival day, flights must land no later than 1 pm to catch the complimentary shuttle transfer included in your project fee. We advise against Sunday evening arrivals, as you’ll need to book separate accommodation and return to the airport by 1 pm Monday. While private transfers are available, they come at an additional cost. Please plan your travel accordingly to ensure a smooth start to your volunteer experience.
Staff
At the helm of our conservation and community efforts stands the heart of the Imire family, Judy Travers. Her unwavering dedication and compassionate leadership form the foundation of our conservation and community initiatives. Judy’s tireless efforts extend to every corner of our work, championing the welfare of both wildlife and local communities with equal fervor. She embodies the essence of an exemplary leader, role model, and nurturing figure. Her boundless energy and unwavering commitment to the greater good serve as a beacon of hope and a source of motivation for our entire team. Her influence reaches far beyond the boundaries of Imire, inspiring positive change and fostering a deep connection between humans and nature.
Safety
At our volunteer projects in Zimbabwe, our goal is always to maintain a high level of quality in the area of safety and support. Our two decades of success running volunteering projects in Africa has relied on ensuring the safety of our volunteers, staff and local communities. From the moment you arrive to the end of your adventure, we take the utmost care in ensuring your comfort and safety as you carry out volunteer work in Zimbabwe. If you want to know more about our health and safety measures, you can review our protocols or contact us with specific questions.
...the joy of making a real impact...
“The rides out over the Imire property were just breathtaking, and we got to see many areas and sights that you just would not see by vehicle. We could get right up close to the wildebeest herds, and walk quietly past as the sable grazed in the distance. I remember cantering through a beautiful patch of land after a long ride with the others, zebras in the foreground and impala watching on from afar and just thinking “this is exactly what I had hoped for with I had signed up for Imire.”
Rachel Miller, Australia
Pricing
Rates
| Duration | Program Fee |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $3,445 ($1,723 per week) |
| 3 weeks | $4,705 ($1,569 per week) |
| 4 weeks | $5,965 ($1,492 per week) |
| 2 weeks | £2,760 (£1,380 per week) |
| 3 weeks | £3,765 (£1,255 per week) |
| 4 weeks | £4,775 (£1,194 per week) |
| 2 weeks | €3,170 (€1,585 per week) |
| 3 weeks | €4,330 (€1,444 per week) |
| 4 weeks | €5,490 (€1,373 per week) |
| 2 weeks | $5,100 ($2,550 per week) |
| 3 weeks | $6,965 ($2,322 per week) |
| 4 weeks | $8,830 ($2,208 per week) |
Inclusions
- Cottage or fixed tent style accommodation with swimming pools
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner (Mon - Sun)
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- All project transport, equipment and resources
- Support from experienced local and international staff
- Full orientation for responsible project contribution
Exclusions
Price excludes flights, visas, insurance, weekend tours and personal expenses.
Requirements
- The minimum age to join this project is 18 years old
- The minimum stay for this project is 2 weeks
Award-winning Volunteer and Internship Projects Since 2004
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Volunteering in Africa means travelling with purpose- joining meaningful community or conservation projects, where you pay to cover your stay and project costs, turning your trip into an immersive, impactful experience rather than a traditional holiday.
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Project faqs
How Much Horse Riding Can I Expect To Do At This Project?
You will horse ride five times a week for usually around 3 hours. During those rides you will go off the beaten track to locate missing animals, perform game counts, monitor new mothers, patrol the boundary fence or check for snares. Remote snare sweeps minimize small animal poaching and help the dedicated Anti-Poaching Unit in their daily work to ensure that the large animals are protected.
This Project Looks Like A Combination Of Horse Riding & Rhino Conservation?
Whilst this project does involve horse riding, there is a rhino and elephant conservation component included. However, as a horse riding volunteer, you will have less time to spend on the rhino and elephant conservation component of the project. We can however offer you a combination of both projects – see below.
The rates stipulated for this project are as follows:
2 weeks = 2 weeks horse riding (A 1 week horse riding / 1 week rhino conservation combination is possible. Please enquire for a discounted rate).
3 weeks = 2 weeks horse riding / 1 week rhino conservation (A 1 week horse riding / 2 weeks rhino conservation combination is possible. Please enquire for a discounted rate).
4 weeks = 2 weeks horse riding / 2 weeks rhino conservation (A 1 week horse riding / 3 weeks rhino conservation combination is possible. Please enquire for a discounted rate).
What Riding Experience Do I Need?
Our horse riding conservation volunteer programme is for experienced riders only and there are no riding lessons. You should be able to saddle your own horse, undertake a rising trot and canter, and be confident in riding over uneven terrain. There is a weight limit of 80kg for all equine volunteers.
Our favourite weekend activities in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a Southern African country known for its abundance of diverse wildlife and varied landscape – ranging from vast grassy savannas to tropical forests.
