Wildlife Conservation with IVHQ in Victoria Falls

This was one of the best experiences of my life! IVHQ helped me all the way through, providing me with all the information I needed before I left and ensuring everything was going well while I was there. All the staff were super kind and accommodating from the moment I got there. The work was really rewarding and the local community was also wonderful. I felt super safe and taken care of all the way through my stay, not once did I feel unsafe. Anyone who has the opportunity to do this should do it and I would recommend this experience with IVHQ to anyone!

I volunteered with the Nakavango Conservation Project near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe for 10 weeks. I cannot say enough how wonderful an experience it was. All the staff were truly welcoming and made you feel as if you were part of the family—whether you were young or old, male or female, no matter which country you came from. They were also willing to share their knowledge and experience, and you certainly learnt about the ecology and felt as if you were making a contribution towards the conservation of the nature reserve. There are also opportunities for ‘adrenalin activities’ such as white water rafting and socialising. And, of course, the wildlife was wonderful! There are a couple of areas for improvement: • The documentation needs to state that volunteers need to be somewhat fit as there is a certain amount of physical labour. • The staff could put together tour packages for volunteers to see other parts of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Matopos National Park, and the Great Zimbabwe are within reasonabl travelling distance of Victoria Falls).

I didn't realize when I started this program, what an impact it would have on me. From seeing wild animals in their natural habitat to volunteering at the community school, I felt that I made a difference. The other volunteers and the staff were amazing to work with.