Description

Expedition Summary
Help the world's fastest mammal in a race against extinction in Namibia's ranching heartland.

Expedition Details
Your team will be based at Eland's Joy, a 15,000-hectare working farm and headquarters of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. You will assist the CCF staff with the day-to-day duties associated with active and ongoing research, conservation, and education programs both in the field and on the farm. Primary duties will include participating in wildlife surveys, assisting with the livestock guarding dog program and the management of their corresponding goat and sheep herds, helping with various aspects of cheetah husbandry, contributing to vital data collection and entry, on-going archiving of research documents, and conducting a 12-hour waterhole count. Earthwatch teams can also have the opportunity to aid CCF staff with radio tracking and monitoring of cheetahs. Should you choose to participate in a recreational trip to Etosha National Park, the largest National Park in Namibia, youll have a chance to view elephants, zebras, lions, rhinos, giraffes, many species of antelope, and perhaps even a cheetah in the wild. Please note, however, that the Etosha excursion is an additional expense and not a CCF activity.

Meals and Accommodations
At Eland's Joy, you'll stay in two-person bungalows, or rondavels, with sinks and beds with mosquito nets. In a separate unisex bathhouse you'll find showers with limited hot water and flush toilets. Laundry is washed regularly by camp staff. The camp is solar-powered and has potable water. A staff cook will prepare most meals but volunteers may occasionally be asked to share in cooking duties. Youll be able to enjoy your meals in a shady, thatched-roof pavilion with a view of the Namibian bush.

About the Research Area
The Republic of Namibia is a large, sparsely populated country on Africas southwest coast. Since achieving independence in 1990 the country has enjoyed nearly two decades of stability. Namibias national language is English, though Afrikaans and German are widely spoken. The expedition is based out of the 14,000-acre farm Elandsvreugde (Elands Joy). Besides cheetahs, the farm is home to many species, including kudus, hartebeest, oryx, duiker, steenbok, warthogs, jackals, leopards, brown hyenas, and numerous bird species, as well as an array of smaller animals.

Elands Joy is situated in the north-central part of Namibia, approximately 45 kilometers east of the town of Otjiwarongo. Namibias capital city, Windhoek, is about three and a half hours drive south. This environment is the last stronghold of the wild cheetah.

Highlights

Cheetahs can run 110 kilometers per hour, yet they can't run away from habitat loss, a reduced gene pool, and conflicts with humans and their livestock. Namibia is home to the world's largest remaining cheetah population, with 90 percent of its cheetahs living on livestock farmlands where conflict with humans is the greatest threat. The survival of the Namibian cheetah lies in the hands of about 1,000 commercial farmers, who generally view this predator as a threat to their livelihoods. In the 1980s, the Namibian cheetah population declined by half as farmers killed over 6,000 animals, and then another 3,000 in the 1990s. Dr Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, has been collecting essential data on cheetah behavior and ecology and working with Namibia's farmers to change their attitudes toward cheetahs. But to save the cheetah from local extinction, she needs your help.

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Environmental Studies
• Nature Tours
• Volunteering
• Photography
• Tours

Qualifications

No experience is necessary  all you will need is enthusiasm and the desire to make a difference. For over 40 years Earthwatch Institute has pioneered the involvement of ordinary people in peer-reviewed scientific research worldwide. By joining an Earthwatch Expedition, you have a unique opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of the worlds rarest animals and visit remote and beautiful locations, while directly supporting conservation science. We offer life enhancing experiences in nearly 50 countries each year, with projects for teens, adults, and families.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

4,595 USD

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Our volunteers not only contribute essential funds that help to cover the cost of the research, but also, through their inspiration and effort, they provide the people power without which many of our vital projects simply couldnt take place. We are a non-profit organization but accommodation, meals, insurance, training and transport in the field are also included in your contribution cost. As a non-profit organization that supports scientific research, your contribution and airfare costs are usually tax-deductible for U.S. citizens.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people, including students, retirees, families, educators, and anyone seeking an exciting journey that enables them to give back to the environment. Our expeditions have a wide range of activity levels, from hiking intensive to easy expeditions with limited physical activity. There is an Earthwatch expedition out there for everyone!

Age Range

Adult (age 18-90) teams available.

This Program is open to

Worldwide, American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Scholarships are Available

Very limited fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Typically The Application Process Time is

Brief

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement

Our mission is to inspire connections between people and the environment by engaging them in worldwide scientific field research and education. These efforts will promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. We believe it is essential that people participate in solving the environmental challenges we face.

Year Founded

1971