Family Desert Elephant Project

Take your family on the adventure of a lifetime and volunteer with elephants in Namibia's beautiful desert.

This unique volunteering project gives your family the chance to immerse themselves in the beautiful Namibian desert and aid the conservation of the desert elephants that call the region home. The aim of this project is to protect the elephants from the threats of human-wildlife conflict that are sadly becoming even more common in Namibia, whilst also working to educate the local people on the importance of elephant conservation.

Volunteers on this project can be expected to take part in some amazing conservation activities such as tracking and monitoring wild elephants, helping with building work at a local school, and interacting with the native children to better educate them on the elephants with which they share their home.

Every member of the family will gain something different from this project, so if you are looking to holiday with a difference, look no further…

Itinerary

Day 1

After arriving the day before and spending the night in Swakopmund, families will take a 4-hour transfer to base camp. Upon arrival there will time to unpack and settle in. This is followed by an evening briefing, including a talk on health and safety issues that may crop up whilst in the desert.

Day 2

In the morning your group will go to the local school to meet the staff and children. You will be helping with activities such as painting the classrooms and fixes fences. After this, you will join lessons, teaching the students. After a long lunch, the afternoon is spent back at the school, before heading back to camp for dinner.

Day 3 & 4

Following a similar format to the days before, volunteers help with building and maintenance work as well as teaching. On your last day at the school, the day will end with a small celebration before heading back to camp for a well-deserved rest!

Day 5

Today you’ll have the chance to relax. There is the opportunity to take part in a nature walk and learn survival skills and about the edible plants in the desert. There will also be an evening briefing to prepare the group for the upcoming patrols.

Day 6

Your group will pack up the patrol vehicles and head out on the lookout for elephants. Evenings are spent sleeping under the stars, listening to all the amazing sounds of the elephants and other wildlife in the desert.

Day 7

Today the patrol is on foot, and you will head out in search for the elephants whilst learning about the local wildlife. There may even be a chance to walk along the local river and take part in a fishing competition!