Zimbabwe - African Wildlife Orphanage

Working with the Wilson was the most rewarding experience of my life. We worked with a leopard that had been trapped so that it was all healthy enough to be released back. After working on the leopard and putting a gps collar on him we released him back into the wild far away from human activity to keep him safe. The love for animals this family has was so amazing and they made everyone feel like family.

We had so many wonderful moments, so. it is hard to choose. Working with the staff, talking to the international inters and local ones, being so close with animals, all were great snd precious moments

It was all incredible, an experience of a lifetime. One of my most memorable experiences while being at the camp was when Cindy, the samango monkey, kindly groomed my hair before I had to go home. Another memorable experience was seeing the kids face light up when I handed out stickers, at the local primary school. Spending time with Apollo, the spotted hyena, is something I will never forget. The animals are absolutely beautiful and the people are equally as lovely to spend time with. I’m hoping to go back in the next couple of years.

These three weeks in Chipangali have been one experience that i will stay with me forever. The morals, the ethic with the animals cannot be better. I felt welcome from the first minute. People are so lovely and kind that it will make your departure very hard

The most memorable experience during my time in Zimbabwe, was prepare food for lion and fed the lion. I love them seem so happy and I learned about circle of life. It was good experience to think about life.

Releasing Dumpling the pangolin was my most memorable experience at Chipangali, Zimbabwe with GoEco. Pangolins are such rare and special creatures, I just felt really lucky to be able to see one in real life.

Was just amazing - the staff ! All volunteers- plus all the critters big and small ! Wonderful experience will be back . And bring more people! Well done to all the team . Appreciate all . Cheers ⛄️ Paul

The best memories I had were taking care of a baby hiena for 3 weeks and definitely the friends I made because of volunteering. These friendships are for life. The trip to Zimbabwe was the most amazing thing ever and chipangali is amazing, the connection with the animals and how close we are with them

Have a fantastic time at Chipnagali for 2 weeks, the families love and dedication to the animals is amazing! An experience I will never forget hope to do again soon!! Your communication throughout the 2 weeks was great. Thank you .

Getting to know the animals at the orphanage was a special treat. Having 3 weeks to observe and interact with them was something that will always remember. All of the other volunteers were fantastic and made our stay better than I could have imagined❤️

Difficult to choose just one because there were 3 distinct experiences: 1-the other volunteers, especially from the first two weeks I was there. That group made everything so much more memorable and enjoyable. Those who came later were also fun, but there were distinct little groups which created a divide. 2-Bonding with the animals, especially a baboon named Kassie for me. I could just speak to her, read, listen to music. She became a friend who was excited to see me and had no judgement. 3-the staff was so welcoming and inspiring, they do so much with so little, especially those who work directly with the animals. that is why I decided I needed to do more for them and for Chipangali and I organized two fundraisers to get them new uniforms, safety equipment, tools, personal hygiene items, and school supplies for their kids. I hope Chipangali continues with that. Once a month or a quarter put together a "wish list" of all of these items, and take the volunteers interested shopping. Spending that time with Kevin, the owner, shopping around was so fun and I got to know more about the community and the work they do. It was rewarding in more ways than one and I know the volunteers who came with me during the first fundraiser loved going shopping and giving the supplies out. It was special for everyone involved and 100% voluntary but when I was able to involve everyone, 100% participated vs when it was just me, participation was significantly lower. Either way, I really appreciate everything the whole team did and does for the volunteers and animals. I'm glad I was able to do something more for them and Chipangali that had long lasting impact.

There were so many great experiences it’s hard to choose! The one thing I became super lucky to see was multiple releases of multiple different species of animals! First a leopard, then a jackal, two baboons as well as hedgehogs and chameleons. This just begins to scratch the surface of all the amazing experiences. The Wilson’s were wonderful, the trips were wonderful, the whole staff was wonderful. I definitely plan on coming back in the future!

I really enjoyed seeing the impact I was making on the animals first hand in Zimbabwe with GoEco. It was also wonderful to working with the other volunteers and getting to know about the workers lives.

We have had a marvellous time - on one our our game drives we stopped and were surrounded by lots of giraffes - such elegant and gentle creatures. We were very close to a rhino mum and her baby - superb. Lots of wonderful experiences. Chipangali is an excellent place who really care for their animals.

Being with the Wilson family and the staff at the orphanage living and working and on day and over night trips has been a great privilege.<br><br>The orphanage animals and their stories has greatly increased my understanding and love of the wilderness and fuelled my want to support wildlife further.<br><br>The experiences beyond the orphanage have been dreams come true and stories I will tell for a long time to come.

Everything is memorable for me starting from handling babies to chopping cow and sheep for carnivores. I have not done these things before. My two weeks ended very fast, so i have to come back again next year. Stay was very comfortable I felt like home.

Working with the crew at Chipangali was like being adopted into a giant family who were all united in their love for animals and travel. From the very first night, conversation flowed, inside jokes were established and bonds began to form. By the time my placement was up, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. <br><br>I especially loved how much hands on time we got with the African animals. There were so many memorable experiences, from hand feeding monkeys to petting a lion to darting and performing vet work on a wild hyena. There’s even time built into every work day to spend bonding with the animals. Working at the Wildlife Orphanage was such a unique and incredible experience, I am so glad I decided to volunteer here!

I have met incredible people, and I loved the Rhino walk ! Taking care of the animals was so much fun especially with animal time. I learned so much about each and every one of them, I d love to come back as soon as I can.

Most memorable part was definitely helping the orphanage dart and re locate and wild Kudu that had gone into the town. It was great to see this work being done and to be part of it was incredible special

The Wilson family are amazing, the work they do is so important and I was glad I could be a part of that. I learned a lot from the volunteering and got to experience some of Zimbabwe also through the trips we had organized for us. I am already dreaming of when I'll be back

My most memorable experience was going to help with the rescue and relocation of a Nyala. Riding in the pack of a pickup truck through the African Bush with the rest of the volunteers, allowed me to say to myself, “I made it, I am actually here doing this.”

Micala and Ryan were so caring and great people. Always there to offer support when needed. Overall the experience was amazing, the people who I met was all so lovely and welcoming I felt like I was part of the family. Would not change anything! Just an unreal experience that I will never forget

One of the most remarkable aspects of my time at the orphanage was the up-close and personal approach to working with the animals. Whether it was feeding monkeys or cleaning out lion cages, I was constantly amazed by the level of trust and connection that the animals had with the staff. The experiences I had were nothing short of extraordinary. Getting to know the individual personalities of the resident animals, like the mischievous monkey named Jasper or the friendly lion named Dash, was a privilege I'll cherish forever.

During out stay, we released a Hyena and a Leopard from the African Wildlife Orphanage to a National Park.The Moment the Hyena realised it was free and run into the open plain was breathtakingly beautiful.

We loved working with the animals each day. We got to learn their story, learn about caring for them and what each animal needed, and got to work hands on in many different facets of their care. Being on the orphanage was such a memorable and enriching experience, the people we worked with were wonderful!

I can't possibly choose between all the memorable experiences! Feeding the lions, encountering elephants and rhinos, catching a glimpse of a wild bush baby at night, and seeing Victoria Falls all spring to mind!

One of the most remarkable aspects of my time at the orphanage was the up-close and personal approach to working with the animals. Whether it was feeding monkeys or cleaning out lion cages, I was constantly amazed by the level of trust and connection that the animals had with the staff. The experiences I had were nothing short of extraordinary. Getting to know the individual personalities of the resident animals, like the mischievous monkey named Jasper or the friendly lion named Dash, was a privilege I'll cherish forever.

It is an amazing experience! The family running the African Wildlife Orphanage are doing an amazing job. We learned a lot from them. We were very well looked after and enjoyed every minute! Thank you!!

I was very anxious to do any voluntary work, but as I had a short break from work to recover from life I thought this is the moment to embrace some hands on experience outside of the UK. Everyone essentially is travelling alone or with an academic institution. The age range can be from 16 to 60 years, it all depends on who attends what projects and when. I was so nervous and GoEco were the only programme out of a couple that I had contacted globally who provided consistent communication and spoke to me at my time UK time within reasonable hours, irrespective for the time on their side. Elinor was great she really helped me select the right programme to reflect my objectives at this time and the duration I was available for. I honestly could not decide. However, that said I decided to go on the Turtle Rehabilitation Programme in Sri Lanka. It was the best decision of my life. Zoe then jumped in to ensure my documents were all up to date and I was happy with what was going to happen next, just a phone call away. Don't get me wrong it is hard work and the night patrol was hard, but looking back after completing the experience is was an absolute blessing to be part of such a project. GoEco team are contactable from beginning to the end. They message on WhatsApp and are there if you need them. The project you select also add you to a group chat and are always there to answer questions. You will get picked up and from that point are taken care of, security is excellent at the volunteer house (Aasha House). I stayed in a separate room near the house in a guest house as I needed AC to keep the mosquitos off me during the night, there are plenty of ceiling fans at the house. My guest house was very spacious and cool, only issue I had loud walkers upstairs so I didn't really sleep well so hopefully this aspect will improve moving forward. That said, I was always at the house with then other volunteers. Citronella pure oil is just amazing and works fabulously as a repellent, which can be bought across the road outside of the house. My location was in Unawatuna Beach. We were literally walking distance to the beach restaurants and the main road where you can make purchases and also go to the infamous coffee house 'Wild & Sage'. Here you can grab a latte, read a book or crack on, on your laptop. Some you time. There are also plenty of Spa places to go to, my recommendation would be Kahuna Spa on Beach Road. Time really does fly and the programme is very structured as soon as you arrive. This helps to integrate volunteers quickly. You will feel nervous at first but I promise you after a day or so you will settle in and get to know other people. Not everyone clicks but this is normal, just give people time as you have to remember this is a global programme everyone is from different backgrounds and cultures. I have actually made contacts who I plan to meet up later this year. I love the group I have made friends with and they are so much younger than me, but here age is no concern as the objective and mindset are the same. You need to embrace and be open minded. I had warm water for my shower after 2 days and I was so grateful. The Team Leaders fitted this in for me and ensured I was happy with my facilities. Do not expect 5 star luxury, you are staying in the heart of a residential village and this is real Sri Lanka. We can all have holidays but sometimes you need to kick back and appreciate where everything comes from and what people do for us outside of the UK. The turtles are just beautiful creatures, but watch your hands because they are ratty when they are hungry We cleaned their tanks, filled the tanks with clean water with labour intensive water bucket filling from the sea and carrying it back to the tanks. Clean water from the ocean is a must, you have to wash your hands all the time. We gutted sardines with our fingers, fed the turtles one at a time, washed them off with clean water after removing them from the feeding tank, cared for their eggs and eventually released a baby into the ocean if you are lucky to do this when you are there. This was just a beautiful moment, we hope they survive but at least this egg was saved from poachers and has a chance to be free in the ocean. Food wise there is plenty to eat at the house, the cooks work so hard to prepare the food. Breakfast is toast and jam with salad/ coconut rice sometimes eggs. I am gluten free so brought my own bread from the UK and I was more than happy to do this. There are plenty of restaurants outside of the house if you want to top up on food and it really is inexpensive. Great seafood and veg options. I just want to say thank you so much to Aasha House for taking care of me and keeping me going in the 33 degrees heat. We had fresh juice and water is filtered. There is also a pool at the house but you will just go to the beach every day, not to mention the beach club parties, amazing ! Beware of the Tuk Tuk drivers they can be aggressive. You have to haggle as they seriously overcharge and think you are millionaires when actually you are working for free to help their country, you just need to be savvy. Also do not travel alone if you are female and new to the area, certainly not at night. Just not safe in the sense of female security. Aasha house is cleaned regularly. Falik, Amjad, Rishad and Viduni (other staff in the house) are all there for you at the site. All your questions can be answered and they can also exchange money for you with no issues. They are a fabulous management team and seriously have to manage so many programmes and volunteers it is not easy. I really do miss the Turtles, especially George. She can never go back into the ocean as she has gas in her shell. She also has one less flipper. We all really bonded with George, and I think she did too! She loved us stroking her shell. Thank you very much for helping me through this project and I look forward to my next adventure, I had better start saving

As a volunteer at Chipangali over Christmas and New Years was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. We booked this trip over two years ago but due to COVID we only got to go in December 22. The whole experience was great and everyone from the staff to the Wilson family are second to none. Other volunteers are helpful and everyone works together to achieve one common goal. As an older couple we took on the role as parents to other volunteers lol. We had options everyday after work to do what we wanted. We could rest in our room or socialize with the others. The rhino encounter was educational and also a once in a lifetime experience. The excursions were all optional and nothing was forced upon you. The Wilson family are super friendly and they are willing to do anything for you and the animals.

My most memorable moments at the African Wildlife Orphanage have been in the daily free time given to volunteers. Walking around the property, experiencing the animals myself, and taking time to write, draw, and reflect on my surroundings and volunteer work let me appreciate the work we do even more.

I think that the entire trip itself was the most memorable experience I’ve ever had in my life so far, I’m already planning to go back again this year! But Victoria falls was by far my favorite place that I got to visit in Zimbabwe while I was there.This was the best trip of my life I’d recommend doing it to anybody.

An incredible time spent with amazing people. The opportunity to help the animals at the orphanage, get to know them as well as a couple of outside trips including Victoria Falls and a Rhino walk. The African Wildlife Orphanage helped with everything and really welcomed you.

I absolutely loved the wildlife orphanage! I couldn’t choose just one favourite moment or experience. The whole experience was just incredible! From the interaction with the animals, to the excursions, to the staff. I do think we work very little in terms of hours, there are a lot of breaks, and it bothered be a little bit a first. I had the feeling that they could make better use of us, volunteers. But it was amazing!

Work with amazing animals and birds, some animal interaction, make some fab new friends of all ages. School visits, local community, research project, time out in Victoria Falls and other opportunities. Family atmosphere, friendly, approachable staff. Rustic accommodation, home made food, clean and perfectly adequate. Owners go the extra mile to ensure all volunteers are happy and settled. Some hard work physically, and very varied, although not forced to do anything you don't want to.

The family's devotion to the animals is amazing. On top of that, they give you a feeling like you are part of the family, even when you go out travelling. The animal care is very loving an the local stafff is amazing. This was a life changing experience, making us much aware to our planet ecological issues, such as the loss of biodiversity, animals habitats, etc.

It was an amazing place.The family that runs the place very helpful and cooperative.The animals were great.Amazing experience. The food was good.The volunters were nice people who love animals. The local staff was very friendly. Nothing was missing.

My time in Zimbabwe was amazing. Feeding lions, cutting branches for the antelopes and interacting with monkeys during the animal time were some of the most incredible things I did there, plus knowing people from all over the world. The accommodation is super cozy and comfortable. The project also helped me to improve my skills in team work, witch was really good. The staff is really kind and careful with the volunteers.

The African Wildlife Orphanage program was overall unforgettable. The people there are what make the experience what it is. Getting to know people from all over the world and learn from one another provided me with new perspectives on the world and animal care. I believe the advertising could be slightly more informative of the volunteer's role. Based on the information provided, it seemed like more rehabilitation work than long term animal care.

My most memorable experiences were: Babysitting vervet monkey Finn, Seeing a baby quail trying to walk, Making new friends. Anyone that can should do this. Lifetime experience. Only two weeks but adventure of a life time.

Being able to watch as a qualified vet spayed a lion. We watched her being darted, helped carry her and then was permitted to observe the entire procedure. Every day after, I went to check on her and spoke to her keeper to make sure she was recovering well. I really appreciated the details provided of what to expect and items to bring etc. However, should include in "what to pack" list items that the orphanage might need donations.

Being able to watch as a qualified vet spayed a lion. We watched her being darted, helped carry her and then was permitted to observe the entire procedure. Every day after, I went to check on her and spoke to her keeper to make sure she was recovering well. I really appreciated the details provided of what to expect and items to bring etc. However, should include in "what to pack" list items that the orphanage might need donations.

Didn't need to use the GoEco support team while on our trip, but all trip details were ironed out before we left anyway, so no issues there. The volunteer work was excellent considering the issues within the country we were visiting. The team at the wildlife orphanage did everything they could to make us comfortable, and provided us with a wide array of different jobs to do. I would say it would be great if they could share more details about what we would be doing before we arrived (e.g. we worked a lot with raw meat, which some of the volunteers weren't aware of before we got there). The details on GoEco and the wildlife orphanage's website do seem a bit vague in this regard (and the wildlife orphanage's website hasn't been updated since 2015!) I think this would give a lot more comfort to volunteers, as when talking amongst ourselves while we were there no-one was really sure what to expect before they arrived. This is not to say we didn't embrace and enjoy the work we did, it is for the animals after all, but more details, examples of specific work you will be doing regularly would help give volunteers a real idea of what they will be doing when they arrive at the wildlife orphanage. I am being critical, but I hope it can help to bring more people on board, as we did have to think quite hard about whether to go ahead with the volunteering when the details weren't really available on what we would be working on! My thanks to the whole wildlife orphanage family for a memorable few weeks though. They are working in the toughest conditions economically and I can only take my hat off to them and hope we helped them out a little bit on there continuing journey!

GoEco has been communicating with volunteers constantly before, during and after the trip, which make me comfortable all the time especially during preparation before departure. Chipangali is a wonderful place to get access to animals treatment, school visit and research. The staff are extremely nice and helpful. The accommodation, food and tour arrangement is beyond my expectation. The great highlight is during my 3-week volunteering experience, I witnessed the release of many animals in national park including leopard, python, hyena, duiker etc, which was almost a once in a lifetime experience. I appreciate this visit.

This is a home away from home. Couldn‘t wish for a better volunteering experience. The staff and the family made me feel welcome and safe at all times. All the different animals I got to encounter and work with made this an experience of a lifetime I‘ll never forget.

My personal experience with this project was incredible. I felt really welcomed when I first arrived and settled in pretty much immediately. It wasn't my first long stay away from home which made it a bit easier, but from what I saw the volunteers who were travelling alone for the first time received a lot of support from the owners and the staff. When I went in February there was a very group of us volunteers, which I really enjoyed because it meant that we got a lot more involved in all aspects of the work at the orphanage and we got to know each other a lot better. Being surrounded by animals all day was obviously a great part of the experience and it was a pleasure getting to see and be involved with the amazing work they're doing there. Another great part of coming to this project was the opportunity to go see the rest of the country. The project actually helped us organise our trips and understood that most of the volunteers want the opportunity to get out to see Zimbabwe and visit Victoria Falls for example, so organising a short trip there became much easier and manageable with their help. Overall I can't recommend this project enough. If you enjoy or want experience working with animals then it's a perfect opportunity for you as there are so many animals there ©goand so much work to get involved with, and you'll do it in a really friendly atmosphere with people who are ready and willing to help and support you, and who actively show appreciation for their volunteers. What I enjoyed most about the project was the fact that every day you were doing something different. The volunteers had their main duties which needed doing every day, but because of the size of the project and the range of animals they had there, there were always new tasks and a variety of jobs that needed doing which meant more fun work. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the project- everyone who works there is so friendly and the owners are incredibly welcoming and great fun. Actually there wasn't much, if anything, that I didn't enjoy about the project!

This was definitely one trip that I will never forget. I decided to go on this trip because I was home from college and did not really have anything to do. This trip fit perfectly in. I got to work hands on with animals while at the same time learning about conservation and what I could do to help. I think this trip is a great opportunity when you want to learn about independence and at the same time, what it would be like to have a job working with animals. I made some great friendships with friends from all over and we still talk almost ever day since we've left. I enjoyed getting to see the collar put on the hyena, the leopard get surgery and releasing the monkeys.

From my personal experience I would recommend that everyone do this project. Prague is such a beautiful city and the people that work in the hostel absolutely love their job and it shows. I made some long term friends from this experience and I've also met some people short term (just staying for a night or two) that were amazing also. This experience was one of my best so far in life and I will always remember it. I wanted to extend my time, but I couldn't because of priorities at home. I had an absolutely amazing month and I will definitely be returning to visit the workers at the hostel! What I enjoyed most during the project was all of the amazing people I met, whether they were short term or long term, it was an amazing experience!

My personal experience with this project was incredible. I felt really welcomed when I first arrived and settled in pretty much immediately. It wasn't my first long stay away from home which made it a bit easier, but from what I saw the volunteers who were travelling alone for the first time received a lot of support from the owners and the staff. When I went in February there was a very group of us volunteers, which I really enjoyed because it meant that we got a lot more involved in all aspects of the work at the orphanage and we got to know each other a lot better. Being surrounded by animals all day was obviously a great part of the experience and it was a pleasure getting to see and be involved with the amazing work they're doing there. Another great part of coming to this project was the opportunity to go see the rest of the country. The project actually helped us organise our trips and understood that most of the volunteers want the opportunity to get out to see Zimbabwe and visit Victoria Falls for example, so organising a short trip there became much easier and manageable with their help. Overall I can't recommend this project enough. If you enjoy or want experience working with animals then it's a perfect opportunity for you as there are so many animals there and so much work to get involved with, and you'll do it in a really friendly atmosphere with people who are ready and willing to help and support you, and who actively show appreciation for their volunteers. What I enjoyed most about the project was the fact that every day you were doing something different. The volunteers had their main duties which needed doing every day, but because of the size of the project and the range of animals they had there, there were always new tasks and a variety of jobs that needed doing which meant more fun work. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the project- everyone who works there is so friendly and the owners are incredibly welcoming and great fun. Actually there wasn't much, if anything, that I didn't enjoy about the project!

This was definitely one trip that I will never forget. I decided to go on this trip because I was home from college and did not really have anything to do. This trip fit perfectly in. I got to work hands on with animals while at the same time learning about conservation and what I could do to help. I think this trip is a great opportunity when you want to learn about independence and at the same time, what it would be like to have a job working with animals. I made some great friendships with friends from all over and we still talk almost ever day since we've left. I enjoyed getting to see the collar put on the hyena, the leopard get surgery and releasing the monkeys.

I loved my time in Zimbabwe! I made amazing friends and loved the volunteer experience. I hope to one day become a vet so the experience in animal care was very helpful. The volunteer work was hard but rewarding. I worked on cleaning and building enclosures, and preparing food for animals. The staff is hilarious and incredible. Animal time was my favorite part of everyday, where we got an hour to visit with whatever animals we want. I loved it! After volunteering we had a chance to relax with our fellow volunteers. I got to meet people from all over the world which was so fun. My one complaint would be the rats that came into our cabin every night. I also loved the experience to go on the Matopos trip. We got to see rhinos, cave paintings, and a local tribe. It was amazing! Overall I had an amazing time! Would definitely do it again.