Veterinary Science Volunteering in Zimbabwe

Had the time of my life at Antelope Park! Such nice people there, very warm and welcoming and so fun! Found friends for a lifetime from all over the world. The horses are so sweet and it was the perfect combo of work and fun - whereas the work was as fun as the activities in the afternoon. All in all I'd wish for everyone to experience this once in their life, it is truly unreal!

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.

I had the most amazing week ever and wish I could have stayed longer! The staff are all lovely and couldn’t be anymore helpful and the other volunteers were all lovely to. The animals are so well cared for and it was great to learn so much about them and be hands on. Highly recommend if you are thinking about it, book it! You will have the best experience.

I had such an incredible time at antelope park on the stables project (with a couple days on wildlife). Everyone was so friendly, it felt like one big family and have definitely made friends for life. The project was run so well, with Martha as the Vol coordinator she was so organised and very very lovely!! Skye and Ted who ran the stables project were just so great. I learnt so much from them and they are the kindest people. The food that we had was so good! I will definitely be returning.

My stay with Volunteer Encounter in Zimbabwe Antelope Park this summer was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I joined the wildlife conservation program, which was already incredible, but there was so much more to the experience than I expected. Seeing wildlife almost every day was surreal. It’s not an exaggeration! You regularly see rhinos, elephants, lions, zebras, and wildebeest. I even saw a kudu, which was really special. One of the absolute highlights for me were the sunrise rides with Ted. Those mornings were unforgettable. Ted is genuinely one of the nicest, most wonderful people I’ve ever met. Sky, one of the interns, was also fantastic, and honestly all the interns were amazing such fun, kind people who really make the whole experience even better. Massima is amazing and Marta is fantastic as well. There are also many opportunities to get involved with the local community. You can teach at the school, help with the soup kitchen, or join other community activities. Dancing with Sue and Tana during the community moments was such a fun experience. Tana is basically the community queen! Another huge highlight for me were the friendships I made there. In just the first few weeks I met people who became friends for life. We all live in different parts of the world now, but we still see each other and stay in touch, which makes the experience even more special. I would recommend Volunteer Encounter to anyone. It’s an unforgettable experience! Incredible wildlife, amazing people, and a community that welcomes you with open arms.

I had a fantastic 3 weeks at Antelope Park on Stables and Wildlife in Sept 2025. I thoroughly enjoyed all activities, especially sunrise and safari rides. I also enjoyed the optional activities on offer, e.g. Matopos. Antelope Park is a very special place, and all the people are amazing.

So everyday I tell my mum about my day and everyday I say the same thing “I’ve had the most amazing day” because everyday here is so magical I don’t think there has ever been a day where there’s not a smile on my face. Every single intern, member of staff and volunteer has been so welcoming and I’ve gotten on so well with every single person it feels like a family. I am volunteering on the stables and not only are all the horses so patient and so talented at what they can do from doing safari rides to polocross and cross country but all the stable staff like Skye and Ted are incredible too they’ve helped me grow as a person an become such a better rider teaching me so many things and growing my confidence. My highlight is the morning rides waking up in the morning and schooling the horses and going for a ride in the park whilst the sun is rising and all the animals are waking up the world feels quiet and so peaceful. I have learnt polo cross here which I never thought I would love as much it’s so much fun and so nice to get a bit competitive. I also really enjoy the parties we have on the weekends everyone getting together and having a few drinks and playing games together. I have loved every minute here and never want to leave it has truly been the best 4 weeks of my life and I wish I could never leave

The horses were great, the work was fun and meaningful. The accommodations were very good, the food was nice and the housing perfect. The people who were in charge were great. Il loved doing soup kitchen for the homeless and going to the orphanage was very sad but it made so much sense. Overall I felt like I was on another planet than mine, completely overwhelmed by Zimbabwe and it’s reality. I definitely recommend this trip.

Almost a year after returning to the US, I'm still trying to hold on to Africa and relive the amazing experience I had at Antelope Park with some of the best people know. The staff at Antelope Park are truly wonderful people and care deeply about the work they are doing in their local community and with lion conservation. As Rosine says, "this isn't just a job, it's a calling". I'm so grateful that I had the rare opportunities to interact with African wildlife that I did, but also, to experience the love and hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe. I was also VERY fortunate to share this experience with some other amazing volunteers who made my time at Antelope Park so much fun! 10/10 recommend to anyone thinking of doing this, don't wait, just go!

I’ve been to AntelopePark for two weeks and they have been life changing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. The staff is amazing, you have 24h assistance and they will make sure everything is fine. The horses are angels, you will fall in love with all of them

My week in Zimbabwe on the horse project was nothing short of incredible… short but so, so sweet. One week honestly wasn’t long enough; I’d recommend at least 2–3 weeks to truly soak it all in. Working alongside such amazing people made it even more special. Skye and Ted were the dream team - a wonderful duo who made sure every volunteer was involved in the care, the daily jobs, and the full experience. The variety of activities each day kept things exciting, and my confidence grew, whilst doing XC, more than I expected. I even got to try PoloX, which I absolutely loved. Seeing the safari animals up close was surreal such a special experience and I’ll never forget everyone going out of their way to make sure I saw a giraffe before I left. The evenings were just as memorable, especially the scavenger hunt and spontaneously jumping into the pool fully clothed (maybe not the wisest choice the night before a flight!). Missing the horses, the people, and the feeling of being there. I’ll cherish that time forever. I truly hope one day I’ll be back to make even more memories.

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.

I truly had the time of my life at Antelope Park. From the beginning I knew this would be an experience I would never forget, and it turned out to be even better than I imagined. The staff were an absolute delight to work with, the volunteers were the most vibrant group of people I’ve ever been around, and the wildlife and horses were breathtaking. I don’t know any other place quite like Antelope Park. I would recommend it to anyone looking for adventure and one hell of a time :))

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.

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions

Hice 5 años en haiti, me se su idioma, se toda su cultura, me gustaría volver y apoyarlos en todas las dificultades que tienen, ya que ameritan mucha ayuda de todos nosotros, para ellos poder sobrevivir

Great place run by a team of amazing people passionate about what they do. Overall definitely recommend! Fantastic experience! While the horse programme does not include active daily engagement with the local community or focus on the wildlife, one is frequently given opportunity to participate in community projects and wildlife observation should this be one’s preference! I would certainly recommend this part as it is highly rewarding.

I loved this trip so much I was so gutted to go home I wish I could have stayed longer. From the activities, people, wildlife everything was amazing I had so much fun. The AP team were so good at looking after us and putting in effort to ensure we had the best time possible. I had to pinch myself on a daily basis ! I couldn’t recommend this trip more, I’m already planning to come back. If you’re someone looking for new experiences, loves horses, loves adventures and meeting some incredible people this is the place for you x