Month: October 2011

MEDICAL VOLUNTEER & CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Our aim is to provide volunteers with the wonderful opportunity to contribute to the medical welfare of the San community and experience unspoiled African wilderness. Our volunteers are key to the success of this special place. All the money raised through our volunteering programme goes directly back into the project which provides employment, healthcare, education and accommodation to the local Bushman and to ensure the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured African wildlife.

Namibia truly is a wonderful country to experience, the scenery is spectacular and you will work with our friendly and dedicated team. If you come prepared to learn and to give your best you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience and wonderful memories to take home.

We do hope you will come and join us!

DR RUDIE AND MARLICE VAN VUUREN
OWNERS, N/A’AN KU SÊ FOUNDATION

MEDICAL VOLUNTEER

During the project you will spend your time at our remote San (Bushman) clinic in rural east Namibia.  The village homes around 500 San and Herero villagers and the clinic is at the heart of the community.  Here, you will assist our Doctor and Nurse with the running of the Lifeline Clinic and help provide primary healthcare to the local community. You will provide hands on support at the clinic, participating in observations, running reception and helping in the dispensary. You will deal closely with patients from the local San community, learn more about their way of life and give care to patients living in extreme poverty at the clinic’s remote location.

Your arrival and departure base will be our N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, near Windhoek Airport, so if you choose you can also have the unique opportunity to stay here a few days and work with the animals here. The Lifeline Clinic is in Epukiro (or Pos 3 as it’s commonly known), approximately a 5 hour drive from the sanctuary and we will arrange all your transfers.  Our aim is to provide volunteers with the wonderful opportunity to experience African wilderness in the knowledge that they are contributing to improving the lives of the people of Namibia.

Medical Volunteering Programme – Download PDF with full details

CARNIVORE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER

This 10 day programme offers a unique opportunity to play a hands on part in the conservation of wild cheetah, enabling you to work up close with these incredible animals and contribute towards their welfare. N/a‘an ku sê plays a vital role in rescuing and releasing threatened cats in Namibia to help reduce humanwildlife conflict. The overriding aim of our study is to alleviate existing human-wildlife conflicts using new approaches and assess whether translocations of cheetah and leopard are a viable long-term option for dealing with so-called ‘problem animals’. Since our programme began in 2008 we have rescued and released 41 cheetahs, 20 leopards and 3 brown hyena.

We have 4 release sites: NamibRand Nature Reserve, Sandfontein Nature Reserve, Solitaire and our Windhoek study site. Our new research base in the stunning area of Solitaire hosts a 500 hectare soft release boma for cheetahs.

Only large carnivores who have been held in captivity for long periods of time, or who have been rehabilitated from ill health, undergo a soft release rather than a hard release back into the wild. Cheetahs stay in this soft release site in order to acclimatise to the area and learn how to fend for themselves once again. The duration of their stay depends on how successfully the cat adapts to their new environment but can be between 6- 12 months.

You can also combine your 10 day programme in Solitaire with an additional stay at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary and Windhoek Research Study Site, which you can do before or after your Solitaire trip.

Carnivore Conservation Volunteering Programme| Solitaire – Download PDF with full details

To apply please contact Lucy Hale| [email protected] – please mentioned ‘Expedition & Wilderness Medicine’

of interest

World Extreme Medicine Specialised courses