Victoria Falls Volunteer Program Fund

This August, through International Volunteer HQ I will be taking part in a Wildlife Conservation project in Victoria Falls. I will have the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in conservation management activities and assist with ongoing research in a private game reserve.

Some details about the reserve I will be on:

“The Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve is a 2500 hectare privately-managed piece of pristine land. It is home to Africa’s Big 5 and hosts vast species of birdlife. The focal point of activity at the Reserve is preservation and conservation through non- consumptive activity in order to sustain and support the various ecosystems.

The Reserve is the only “Big Five” area in the vicinity of Victoria Falls, due to the presence of Black Rhinoceros. The Reserve was fenced in 2000, and is recognised as an Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) for Black Rhino in the area. An intensive Black Rhino monitoring programme is in place, with the aim of increasing the Black rhino population in the area, in the fight against the recent and widespread poaching of rhinoceros in Southern Africa.”

While here, I will be taking part in conservation management activities such as:

• Alien vegetation removal
• Soil erosion control methods
• Waterhole creation, maintenance and monitoring
• Game, predator and bird monitoring, tracking and counting
• Upkeep of river crossings
• Reserve clean-up operations

I will also have the opportunity to attend lectures on related conservation topics, as well as supplement my time by visiting a local school once per week to work on development projects in the local community focused on education, fundraising, nutrition and small-scale vegetable gardening.

I will be partnering with the Nakavango Conservation Centre, Birdlife Zimbabwe, Endangered Wildlife Trust and Zimbabwe National Parks Authority.

Any donation to this trip will be greatly appreciated - even if it is an old Zimbabwe guidebook you have on your bookshelf, please send it my way! I promise to share my experience with all of you. :)