This is becoming a major problem and the poaching of wild animals in Zimbabwe is spiralling out of control. The formerly white-owned ranches and private game reserves have now lost over 80% of their original numbers of game, and the issue starts at subsistence level, from desperate people looking for food.
Rampant poaching coupled with human settlement on the once private reserves have dealt a double blow to the wildlife population, and where wildlife reserves were once the backbone of Zimbabwe's game stocks, and therefore the tourist industry, there is now very little left in these ravaged areas.
Poachers' snares kill indiscriminately, and a lot of people are now killing more than they could possibly eat. The full-scale slaughter is so bad that wild dog and cheetah are now extinct in Zimbabwe, and the National Parks are facing destruction as poaching is becoming difficult to contain. The country's critically endangered black rhino population has been reduced by 60%, and foreign trophy hunters are becoming a massive problem, paying relatively large amounts of money to kill large game.
The snare hunting is catastrophically wasteful, and poachers will often lay new snares without checking old ones, so that rare and beautiful animals are left to rot, having struggled for days to get free. This devastation must be stopped, and visitors can help by joining patrols, combing the bush and removing the lethal snares.
Set off on the adventure of a lifetime through Africa’s wide and varied landscape! Get up close to big game, take a trip to Kruger National Park and help to preserve the continent’s most iconic wildlife. Zimbabwe - Namibia - South Africa.
On an epic journey across Thailand, China, Malaysia, Africa and Australia, the ultimate wildlife experience gives you the chance to see some of the world’s rarest and most incredible animals and contribute to their preservation. Zimbabwe - Thailand - China - Malaysia - Australia - USA.
A fantastic opportunity to work on a pioneering lion breeding and rehabilitation programme supported by some of the world’s leading ecologists. Walk and work alongside lion cubs and take part in research activities, facilitating the lions’ safe release back into the wild.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Zimbabwe is a well-established country for voluntary work in conservation, especially for working with wildlife in Africa. At this project, volunteers actively participate in lion conservation practices, working closely with the lions and wildlife re-introduction programmes.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Live and work on a safari ranch, helping with efforts to protect black rhino, elephants, buffalo and more. Assist with anti-poaching measures, look after rhino, help with training elephants and get a feel for the real Africa.
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
Gap Year for Grown Ups have many Career Break Voluntary Projects in Africa for grown up gappers. Because Gap Year for Grown Ups is the leading authority and only specialist source of ideas and options for grown up gap years, it has the widest range of volunteering programmes in Africa. These include animal/wildlife conservation, teaching English in Africa, community volunteering in Africa and Voluntary work with children in Africa.
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