Namibia Wildlife Rescue and School Assistant

This is a combination of the Wildlife Rescue and School Assistant Projects for those interested in both the wildlife and assisting at the primary school.
Originating as a small wildlife sanctuary nestled in the Namibian bush, just 45km from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, the Wildlife Sanctuary Foundation has grown into a world-famous conservation organisation, providing a safe haven and second chance for countless injured, orphaned and conflict animals. Whenever possible their goal is to release animals back into the wild - only those animals too ill, abused or habituated remain at the sanctuary. The volunteers are critical to enabling the project to continue caring for the animals.
A unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the local San Bushman children
You will be living close to many wild animals in the Namibian bush and nothing beats being surrounded by a pride of lions, leopards or cheetahs and being able to spend time observing their individual traits
You will be accompanied by other people who are very passionate about teaching.
Assist with education the San Bushman Children and providing them with a better future.
2 Weeks Wildlife Rescue Project:
Volunteers will have the rare and exciting opportunity to actively participate in the conservation, rehabilitation, care and research of African wildlife.
Wildlife Conservation Volunteers are crucial in helping to care for the animals in rehabilitation or permanent captivity at the sanctuary, as well as helping to maintain and develop the sanctuary.
An exceptional opportunity to get hands on experience with African wildlife and the many aspects of their care.
Volunteering at the local school provides a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the local San Bushman children, whilst surrounded by Namibia’s beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Located at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary, the School co-exists with nature and is truly a place where wildlife and communities come together. All routine aspects of the program are carried out in a rotational group system to ensure that everybody gets exposed to the variety of experiences available. For the full experience and understanding of what the project does, it is highly recommend that you book at least three weeks on the project.
Volunteers will be expected to be involved in the daily activities of the school. Tasks may include:
- Assisting the teachers in preparations of lessons, develop/create teaching aids
- Classroom chores e.g. handing out of assignments, tidyingup, preparing daily presentations
- Leading / assisting children with proper conduct when (for example) going to the bathroom, tying their shoes, washing hands after playtime etc.
- Helping in the playground and ensure the safety of the children
- Actively participating in school projects
- Observing the teacher’s lessons, using this opportunity to learn
- Teaching the students new skills such as arts and crafts, music, dance, etc
- The teacher may or may not ask the volunteer to present a particular activity or classroom task, which will be in line with the curriculum. This opportunity is, however, not guaranteed
- Planning and take part in the extracurricular activities
- Assisting with homework and student school projects.
Wildlife Rescue Project:
Duties that do not directly interact with the animals are still crucial to their well-being. General maintenance and cleaning of the grounds (for example: cutting grass to ensure there are no ticks, fleas, snakes, and spiders, and poop scooping); are regular tasks on the farm for the health and safety of all the animals in our care. Tasks may include:
- Food preparation and small animal feeding
- Carnivore feed
- Providing intensive care for juvenile wildlife
- Cheetah run observation and the education of cheetah physiology
- Project work including building camps and new facilities, breaking down oldstructures, maintaining roads, fence work, assisting with the various projectsthat arise at the sanctuary and much more
- Monitoring high-profile species on the reserve
- Spoor tracking of reserve animals. Join skilled trackers to identify gameand carnivore numbers and learn the ins and outs of animal populations
- Rhino Rangers “Lite”: This activity provides a taste of the freestanding“Rhino Rangers” program itself and includes: Tracking, overnightingin the bush, own food preparation and wildlife monitoring
- Focused research:
monitoring free-roaming carnivores
analyzing camera traps
analyzing GPS data
research on the Zannier Reserve by N/a’an ku sê
- Game counts on horseback
- Attending conflict calls (if they arise)
As a volunteer, you will be able to experience each of the various jobs on the farm; as the tasks are rotated among the volunteers to ensure each person has an opportunity to both help with farm maintenance and interact with the animals equally.
Preparing food * and feeding the animals
Cleaning of enclosures
Providing enrichment ie. creating devices and objects that stimulate the animals' natural behaviour physically and mentally
Caring for juvenile wildlife
Physical labour such as building new facilities
Research including monitoring free-roaming carnivores, analysing camera traps and GPS data
Game counts in the bush
* While we require a lot of assistance with preparing meat for the animals, volunteers who do not feel comfortable with this task will not be forced to do so.
Working with animals requires flexibility, and while on weekends there are fewer tasks, the animals still need to be fed. Something out of the ordinary can also happen at night if it's for example your turn to look after the baby baboons. Please note the only animal interaction is with the baboons. On Saturday afternoons there will be a fun non-work related activity followed by a braai (barbeque). On Sundays you will be on food preparation duty either in the morning or in the afternoon, so you will have half the day off. All non-working hours are free time to explore the sanctuary!
Please note that from time to time there can be unavoidable changes to the project. These can be caused by weather, conservation priorities, materials supply, or because ongoing projects have progressed more quickly or slowly than originally planned. We ask you to accept the changes - we are sure that you will enjoy the replacement projects just as much.
Volunteering at N/a’an ku sê Primary School
The colorful facility providing free education and support to all of N/a’an ku sê’s children, is possible in two ways:
As part of the Wildlife Rescue volunteer program: This allows volunteers to participate in a briefing given by the school principal, after which they design and lead a one-hour activity for the children - education and fun combined.
Namibia Teaching Assistant: Ideal for qualified teachers or those in the process of completing a teaching qualification. Volunteer on a “full-time” basis at the Primary School and let our children, all from unique and often challenging backgrounds, change your life. The minimum duration of stay is one month (4 weeks), and volunteers are only assigned to school related activities. Ask for more details
Public Holidays 2026
26 August
10, 25-26 December
School Holidays 2026
04 July-26 July
03 October-11 October
05-31 December
Public Holidays 2027
01 January
21 - 22, 26 & 29 March
01, 04, 06, 25 & 28 May
26 August
10, 25-27 December
School Holidays 2027
01-10 January
27 March-11 April
03 July-25 July
02 October-10 October
04-31 December
Accommodation
Three meals a day
Transport to and from the project
1 x green uniform sets (pants and shirts)
24 hour support and supervision
Donation to the project
Certificate of appreciation
Completed application form
High level of competency in English
Police clearance certificate from your home country
Copy of return flight itinerary
Medium level of fitness
Code of conduct: Volunteers will sign the school’s code of conduct, agreeing to adhere to all values, rules and regulations of the school.
Visa Info
You need to apply online for your 30 day visa before departure, this is called a Visa On Arrival on the online website.
The volunteers will each receive one shirt and a pair of pants, however if they need more they will need to purchase extra.
Uniform costs are as follows:
- Shirt N$230
- Trousers N$520
- Jacket N$570
Get out and explore the deserts of Namibia. Activities included are hiking (approximately 5k - 10km per day), Sossusvlei day trip, sleep outs in the bush, and wine tasting.
Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.
Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.
Bring warm clothes for sleeping during the winter months, it can get cold at night and there isn't heating in the tents.
You will be met at Windhoek International Airport and taken to the project.
Departure
You will be taken to Windhoek International Airport to catch your departure flight. The departure time from the project is approximately between 11:00 and 13:00.
Breakfast consists of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, toast and spreads
Lunch varies from cold to hot meals for example: wraps, salads, pasta dishes, sandwiches
Dinner consists of a hot meal such as a traditional BBQ (braai), stews, chicken dishes, etc. Vegetarian options are available upon request and all dietary resrtiction can be accommodated for provided you inform us prior to arrival.
All customers can enter on a 90-day tourist visa which they need to apply for online before arrival - you can find all the information about applying for a visa in links on SAVE supplier information. It currently costs NAD 1600 (approx. USD 90)
Customer must use the link for VISA ON ARRIVAL, they should NOT choose the Holiday Visa application.
When making a booking, SAVE will send you a copy of the supporting letter which confirms this. Make sure the customer prints this and has it ready, if requested on arrival.
Project Requirement
You need to send a copy of the Volunteer application form to SAVE, this is a requirement.
Police Clearance Certificate, if volunteering at the San bushmen school
Namibia Adventure Week Add On
Why not add on the Namibia Adventure Week?
Get out and explore the deserts of Namibia. Activities included are hiking (approximately 5k - 10km per day), Sossusvlei day trip, sleep outs in the bush, and wine tasting.
Insurances & Flight Tickets
Travel insurance is compulsory. You are also required to present a copy of your return flight itinerary when entering Namibia.
What to Bring
The type of clothing you should bring depends on the time of year. In any case bring old work clothes that you don't mind getting worn and dirty, you will be handling meat during food preperation. Proper boots or shoes with closed toes, as well as work gloves to protect your hands. If possible, please mark your clothing with your name prior to arrival.
Internet Access
There is no WiFi at the project due to the poor reception so we suggest you purchase a Namibian SIM card and load data on it. You can purchase a SIM card at the airport upon arrival or once you get to the project.
Cashless transactions (card only) at Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary:
As shared previously, we would like to remind you that a cashless system is in place at Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary. All payments on site at our bar, coffeeshop, for transfer or additional activities can be made by card only.
ATMs
There is an ATM at the project, but it's not always functional due to signal problems. We therefore suggest that you get cash at the ATM at the airport upon arrival.
Shops/Grocery Stores
You can book a transfer to the city centre with your volunteer co-ordinator to purchase any essentials or additional food items at an additional cost of NAD250 per trip.
Winter in Namibia
May to September is the winter period and can be very cold at night and in the early mornings and daytime temperatures can vary. Please make sure to pack enough warm clothes if you plan your trip in that period. A sleeping bag is recommended! October to April is the summer period and the rainy season is from November-February. Whilst during this time it is generally hot during the day it can rain and become chilly in the evenings so do pack a jumper or fleece and waterproof jacket.
Tours en activiteiten
Alles voor je reis op één plek. Bekijk tours, activiteiten en buspassen om nog meer uit je avontuur te halen.
Minimale duur 29 Dagen
Locatie Windhoek
Groepsgrootte Volunteer numbers range from 15 to 65 depending on the season.
Aantal reizigers
Vertrekdata & opties
Reisduur
Pakket
Prijzen zijn exclusief de verplichte bijdrage aan het Calamiteitenfonds (€2), RGF contributie (€5) en internationale vliegtickets. We helpen je graag met het boeken van je vluchten, maar wacht hier alsjeblieft mee totdat een van onze reisspecialisten je tour of activiteit heeft bevestigd. Je ontvangt de boekingsbevestiging zo snel mogelijk per e-mail.





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Persoonlijk reisadvies
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Veelgestelde vragen
Alle details die je moet weten voordat je tours en activiteiten online boekt.
Niet altijd. We moeten eerst de beschikbaarheid bij de leverancier bevestigen. Zodra dat geregeld is, ontvang je een boekingsbevestiging van KILROY.
De meeste boekingen worden binnen enkele werkdagen bevestigd. Sommige activiteiten kunnen langer duren, afhankelijk van de leverancier en vertrekdatum.
Als de gevraagde vertrekdatum niet beschikbaar is, helpen we je met het vinden van een alternatieve datum, een vergelijkbare ervaring of we zorgen voor een terugbetaling.
Een reisspecialist van je lokale KILROY-kantoor is jouw contactpersoon en helpt je met de boeking indien nodig.
Zeker! Veel reizigers beginnen met een activiteit en voegen later andere reisplannen toe. Onze adviseurs helpen je graag om er een complete reis van te maken.
Je betaalt de activiteit of tour volledig tijdens het online afrekenen. De bijdrage van € 2 voor het Calamiteitenfonds en € 5 voor het RGF betaal je achteraf. Zodra je betaling binnen is, nemen we contact op met de leverancier en starten we de verwerking van je boeking.
Als een leverancier een activiteit annuleert, zoeken we samen naar een passend alternatief. Als dat niet lukt, heb je recht op een terugbetaling volgens onze voorwaarden.
Voor elke boeking betaal je € 2 bijdrage aan het Calamiteitenfonds en € 5 aan het RGF (Reisgarantiefonds). Hiermee ben je beschermd bij calamiteiten en financiële problemen, zoals een eventueel faillissement van de reisorganisatie. Eventuele extra kosten voor je tour of activiteit worden duidelijk vermeld op de betreffende pagina.
Bevestigde boekingen zijn definitief en kunnen niet worden geannuleerd. Heb je per ongeluk de verkeerde datum aangevraagd? Neem dan contact op met de reisspecialist die jouw boeking behandelt om de mogelijkheden te bespreken.
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