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To apply for an

Enkosini Eco Experience

volunteer project:

(Damaraland, Namibia)

The Desert Elephant project takes you to the northwestern regions of the Namib Desert, traditionally known as ‘Damaraland’, one of the most scenic wilderness areas in Namibia.  This harsh tribal wilderness area runs parallel to the Skeleton Coast National Park, and is home to a small population of desert-adapted elephants. 

The project was launched in December 2001 as a result of the escalation in competition for natural resources (water and grazing) between the desert dwelling elephants and human inhabitants of the northern Erongo and Kunene regions.  Depletion of the natural water table with increasing human use has led to less available surface water for consumption.  Therefore, man-made water points located close to the riverbeds have become the target for elephants in their quest for fresh water. In their search for the source of such water points, elephants cause extensive damage to windmills, dams, reservoirs, hand-pumps and wells.  As the farmers’ homesteads are normally located close to the water source, secondary damage is also caused and the lives of humans and livestock are threatened.  

We believe that through assisting the local communities with constructing protective structures around water points, educating community members about elephant behavior, creating alternative drinking points for the elephants and promoting tourism in the affected areas, we can assist in alleviating the current pressure facing communal farmers.  In turn this will help to promote the future of the desert dwelling elephant in harmony with the continuous positive development of the conservancies and their ideals.

Volunteer Work

Through research, education and development, the project is part of a long-term initiative to find solutions to the ever-growing problem of facilitating the peaceful co-habitation between the subsistence farmers and the desert adapted elephants. The emphasis is on the building of protective structures around communal water points, creation of additional water points for elephants, assisting with, and teaching the farmers how they can financially benefit from tourism in the area, researching elephant movements and distribution, and compiling identikits on herds and individuals.

The first week of the project is spent working with the local subsistence farmers, building protective walls around their water points, and teaching them the skills needed in managing the conflict with the resident elephant populations.  Volunteers may also be involved in the creation of new water points for elephants.

The following week is spent assisting the staff in following and monitoring the movements of these elephants on patrol, camping wild and living close to the earth, elephants and people. This area is still regarded as one of the last true wilderness areas left on earth!

For volunteers staying longer than 2 weeks, the programme runs on a rotational basis - building and working with farmers during odd weeks and monitoring the elephant herds during even weeks.  

Field Conditions

During the building week, you will be working in the vicinity of our mobile base camp near the ephemeral Ugab River, at the foot of the majestic Brandberg.  You will be accommodated in 2 man tents or you can choose to sleep under the stars.  Meals are prepared by you and your fellow volunteers on a rotational basis, over the open fire, and eaten around the campfire together. 

Washing facilities are limited but a 'bushman' shower will be available.  Toilet facilities will be in the form of long drops (enclosed and private).  We supply basic but balanced food – three meals a day.  We do our best to cater for all dietary requirements although we suggest that participants with specific needs do bring food/vitamins with them to supplement their diet.  

Whilst on patrol, we camp wild, living close to the earth, elephants and people, and sleeping under the stars on our bedrolls with mosquito nets. No showers or toilets out there, so be prepared to rough it!  There is no electricity at the camp.  You can hand wash your clothes in camp or wait until you return to Swakopmund to get it done there at the backpackers.

As well as the desert elephants, volunteers may experience a variety of other desert-adapted animals including: black rhino, ostrich, oryx, giraffe,  springbok, kudu, steenbok, baboon, spotted hyena, brown hyena, black backed jackal, leopard, cheetah and possibly even the roar of desert lions!

Training / Skills

This project is real spearhead conservation work. It is not about cuddling baby animals, or being an observer of conservation from the comfort of a game drive vehicle. You need to have an open mind, a willing heart and be prepared to put in work for something bigger than yourself.

This is about true adventure with likeminded people that care. This is about teamwork and tolerance. We live close together, close to the ground, and close to the animals. Your project manager is there to make your time in the bush educational and safe, but it is up to you to make a success of the expedition.

You need to speak English and have an average degree of fitness, as much of the work is manual, and we could spend a lot of time in high temperatures on foot. But don’t worry, anyone is capable, and we would be there for you every step of the way. 

During your time spent with us, we will train you in the following:

• Camp craft; including cooking over a fire, setting up a bush camp, safety and hygiene.

• Bush craft, such as tracking, approaching dangerous animals on foot, animal behavior, bush walking, navigation, map reading, GPS

• Compiling identification kits on elephants.

• Traditional building skills.

Costs

Volunteer Contribution:

2 weeks: GB£795 / US$1395

4 weeks: GB£1295 / US$2195

Transport

The project start-off point is in the Namibian coastal town of Swakopmund.  We strongly advise that you fly to Walvis Bay in Namibia, which is located just 20 minutes from Swakopmund.  South African Airways has a direct connection to Walvis Bay from both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Arrangements can be made to collect incoming volunteers from the Walvis Bay Airport. 

If you do decide to fly into Windhoek (the capital of Namibia), you must allow sufficient time to get to Swakopmund for the Monday morning start.  It is therefore advisable that you arrive in Windhoek on the Sunday before 12 midday so that you can catch one of the Sunday afternoon shuttle services through to Swakopmund.

If you need to overnight in Swakopmund either before, during or after your programme, we recommend that you make arrangements with Villa Wiese (www.villawiese.com).  

We meet the night before departure to discuss the upcoming project, and meet our team members. The next morning is spent in town re-supplying, and tending to administrative matters. We depart midday on the Monday from Swakopmund for the base camp, with a three hours drive north. We spend two weeks at a time in the field, after which we head back to Swakopmund on the last Friday of your schedule.  For those who have booked 4 weeks, there may be an opportunity to go to Swakopmund between schedules but this depends on space in the vehicles.  Otherwise, the base camp along the Ugab River is a fabulous way to spend your weekend before the next field excursion begins!

Other

Volunteers are required to have travel insurance that covers medical evacuation by AIR and ROAD from a remote area, as well as cover for doing the manual labour that the volunteers perform on their building week (including lifting heavy stones and mixing cement).  It is imperative that we receive a copy of your travel insurance by fax/email at least one month before arrival so we can ensure that SOS International (the medical evacuation team) has your information on file and can respond to any emergency without delay.  That said, the Desert Elephants programme has never had an accident involving any volunteers and our project managers will certainly do their best to ensure the safety of the volunteers at all times.

Your project manager is first aid qualified, and has years of experience in handling problems in the field. Namibia has first world medical facilities available, and a first-rate emergency service.

Our area of operation is regarded as malaria-free and there are no formal vaccination requirements for entering Namibia, however it is incumbent upon each person to get their own medical advice on vaccinations and on whether or not to follow a malaria prophylactic programme (especially if you are planning onward travels into malarial zones).  See FAQs for complete packing list.

Stories

A Visitor at the Base Camp

A few weeks after the first volunteer group finished the first part of our old base camp under the giant acacias on the banks of the Ugab River, the camp had a visitor.

Fleeing the blazing white desert light, an old elephant bull plunged into the dappled pools of shade. He picked his way past the boma, sniffing the newly constructed fireplace. Then he softly made his way to the tree we used as our kitchen area and stood there resting from his long desert road. His trunk probing the corners where we used to sit and talk over a steaming plate of food. Warm gusts of air, creating puffs of dust on the ground, then a deep inhale to taste the traces of scent we left behind.

It looks like he stood there for a long time thinking, before he gathered his saggy old trousers and ambled off looking for water. What could he have thought, standing alone under that tree? I wonder if he knows what we do.

I don’t know, but what I do know is that he did not touch one hut we built, or push over any of the newly constructed pole walls barring his way. He gingerly picked his way around all of the obstacles we put in his way, and only left us a steamy heap of dung as his sign of approval.

A Typical Schedule

During the first week we cheat the heat and wake up early, for our first cup of coffee around the campfire. After the team member on duty has served breakfast, we head out to our project site for the day.

It is likely that you will be busy building a wall around a local farmers windmill, although we also work on other projects such as teaching farmers wives to make paper using elephant dung, doing work on our base camp, helping community members build a tourist camp or fix a rural school.

We then head back to our camp for lunch and a siesta. You could be asked to update data forms, be on kitchen and camp duty for the day, or have to work out an educational play for the local school. The evenings are spent around the campfire, eating and talking about the day’s events. We live closely in our desert camp.

The second week is spent out on elephant patrol. We pack some basic camping equipment in the 4x4, and set off looking for the illusive elephants. On patrol we camp wild, and sleep under the stars. We follow elephants on foot, sometimes for hours under the desert sun, and sit patiently observing from some rocky outcrop whilst they laze away in the shade.

This really is the life that few ever have the privilege to live!