Volunteer Programs in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

I am motivated, responsible, and eager to learn from every experience. I am open to feedback and always ready to improve my skills. I value teamwork, communication, and adaptability, and I aim to contribute positively to any project or organization I join while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.

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.

Traveling half way around the world to volunteer effort, time and energy on marine conservation takes trust. GoEco delivered, far exceeding any preconceived expectations and hopes we had before arriving on Naifaru. The entire team provided thorough support, training and guidance so that we could participate, contribute and perform to our utmost potential. We left with a tremendous sense of achievement, accomplishment and countless unforgettable memories.

Hi guys here the feedback I sent to AOA:<br><br>Jule and Gércia are doing an outstanding job! The program was very well organized, and all questions were always addressed – whether directly related to the tasks or more general matters. I felt well supported at all times.<br><br>I especially want to highlight how valuable it is to have a local Mozambican staff member like Gércia on the team. She not only brings maritime knowledge but also shares important insights about local customs and culture – a huge asset!<br>When Jule was away for a few days with another group, Gércia took over the leadership of our group, smoothly managed any changes to the plan, and handled everything very professionally. You truly have a fantastic team, and that deserves to be appreciated!<br><br>Food & Meals<br>The food was consistently delicious – thank you, Brodie and the Tilak Lodge team!<br>However, after two weeks, I noticed that some meals repeated quite often. It would be great if AOA could give Brodie a bit more flexibility and resources to offer more variety in the menu. I'm sure with more freedom, Brodie could surprise us with even more creative and diverse meals!<br><br>Scuba Diving<br>The guides at Tofo Scuba were excellent – professional, experienced, and always supportive. Whether it was the Advanced Open Water course, ocean safaris, or fun dives, I always felt safe and in very good hands. They made every dive a great experience, and I appreciated their clear briefings, calm presence, and strong awareness of safety and the environment.<br><br>Suggestions for Improvement – Equipment<br>There is definitely room for improvement when it comes to technical equipment:<br>There are clearly not enough GoPros/underwater cameras for the volunteers.<br>The printer is currently unusable due to empty ink cartridges – and no replacements were available.<br>Coming from a technical/IT background myself, I was honestly surprised at how outdated and overused some of the devices are. One or two new laptops or computers would make a real difference and improve the workflow on site.<br><br>Final Words of Appreciation<br>I usually don’t give such detailed feedback – but Jule, Gércia, Brodie and the Tilak Lodge team, as well as Ross and the Tofo Scuba crew, all deserve a big compliment. Thank you for this valuable and enriching experience!

I was a little uncertain about booking a volunteer trip with an organization I didn't have personal experience with, but wow! I'm thrilled I took a chance on GoEco. Their staff were incredibly communicative, helpful and supportive throughout the process - they patiently answered all my questions, guided me to a location that suited me and made sure I had all information I needed to ensure a wonderful trip. The Giant Tortoise Breeding Center volunteer experience in the Galapagos Islands was more than I could ever have imagined... filled with ideal balance of hard work, interesting learning, plenty of free time for diving/snorkeling/relaxation, connection with the local community and endless opportunities for Spanish practice. I felt supported by both GoEco and the IOI program. I'm already looking forward to my next GoEco travel opportunity.

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 local connections the volunteer house provides for us is amazing. I can basically go to buy clothes, having surfing class, and getting a massage with discount from those connections. It feels like we’re embraced by the local community, and it feels absolutely wonderful!

The most memorable experience for me was to have a beautiful encounter with an enormous manta ray. It circled us for more than 20 minutes on our dive and it was absolutely incredible! But that was only one out of so many amazing, memorable experiences with animals as well as people!

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.

I have to say swimming with the whale sharks was one of the most amazing things I’ve done in my entire life! Everyone in the boat with the same enthusiastic energy celebrating every time we would find a whale shark and jump with them, it was a trip I’ll remember forever!

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.