Volun­teering Namibia – Anna

Profile

Name: Anna

Age: 48

Project: Elephant conservation in Namibia

Locations: Damaraland/Namibia

Duration: Mid til end of May 2024, 12 days

Rating

Support from the Natucate team:

Arrival:

Project partner:

Accommodation:

Volunteering in Namibia– Feedback: Seven questions for Anna

1) Could you give us a brief overview of your tasks in the project?

During the "Building Week," we built a wall around a water source. The wall had to be 2 meters high to protect it from elephants and was constructed as a double-layered wall. Our team took turns with "rock runs," where we collected stones, and then at the construction site, we mixed cement—by hand, using a wheelbarrow—and did the actual wall-building. There was always something to do, even if you weren't as strong, such as filling the gaps with smaller stones or spreading the cement on the stones.

We had frequent breaks, with a longer one after lunch during the hottest part of the day, which we spent in the shade of the few available trees—sometimes interrupted by a confused goat. Every day, there was a "duty team" of 3-4 people responsible for "household" tasks. In the morning, this meant waking up half an hour earlier to start a fire and waking the others in their sleeping bags with tea or coffee. The duty team also handled the tea break, lunch, dinner, cooking, washing dishes, etc. Everything had to be neatly and safely packed back into our boxes afterward.

In the second week, we were on "Patrol Week" and primarily focused on observation. We drove a lot and were lucky to find the elephant herd we were searching for on the first day—including a baby elephant that was only a few days old. We also visited different villages and witnessed the conversations between EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid) and the villagers, as EHRA tried to offer support while documenting all the information about the elephants and their movements. All the elephants have names and are recorded in a thick book.

In the second week, the most work was often when we set up camp. We collected wood—the "wood run"—dug two pits for the fire and compost, spread out tarps for sleeping, prepared food, and in the morning, we packed everything up neatly again and loaded it into the vehicles.

When we stopped at the base camp, everything was unloaded, and all the boxes and food were cleaned and organized, so everything was ready for the next trip.

2) What was the biggest challenge for you during the project?

The work during the entire day in the Building Week was quite exhausting. After lunch, it was particularly hard to stay motivated. But since everyone else was also working, it made it easier to push through. Plus, when we went on trips to collect stones, we enjoyed the fresh breeze from driving, listened to music, and sang along.

For me, it was also unusual to always be in a group since I usually live alone. However, the group was very diverse, and there was always the opportunity to find a quiet spot during breaks to read or reflect by yourself.

I was most afraid of snakes and scorpions. They could be hiding under any stone we turned over, but we used our shoes to flip them, and I never found anything. One person in our group even had UV light to search for scorpions at night, and twice they found small yellow scorpions near the camp, which they carried away. We learned through conversations that scorpions don't deliberately come near us, so I was able to sleep peacefully.

Sleeping on mattresses outdoors was also a unique experience. The bright full moon during the first week was surprisingly challenging, but that was easily solved with a sleep mask. Surprisingly, my usually sensitive back didn't cause any problems either.

3) Was there something you liked most? Or something you remember particularly negatively?

I absolutely loved driving in the open vehicle—it was a bit bumpy at times, but I could have driven forever through the barren yet so diverse landscape. When we drove through the desert to Eagle Rock in the evening light, with all the rocks glowing—it was simply breathtaking.

Of course, the first encounter with the elephant herd was also a highlight. Being so close to them, even though we stayed in the car and kept our distance, you could observe so many details with binoculars and a camera, especially in their movements and communication with each other.

During the camp in Building Week, on the last evening, some children from the village came by and sang for us, and we all danced together. That was a truly beautiful experience under the starry sky.

The only negative part was at the beginning when I missed my flight in Zurich because my train was delayed. However, since I had planned a "buffer day" before the trip, it turned out fine in the end and had nothing to do with the project itself. Natucate also rebooked all the transfers in Namibia, which made things much easier.

4) Did you have certain expectations before travelling to the project?

I wanted to experience elephants in their natural habitat and finally see Africa. Both of these expectations were fully met and even exceeded with some truly special moments. I was aware that our contribution would only be a small part of improving the situation on the ground. However, it became even more apparent to me just how significant the differences are between our lives and life in the small villages in Namibia. I also realized how incredibly powerful natural conditions, such as drought, can be in shaping daily life there.

5) Have you done anything in your free time that you can recommend to future participants?

After the project week, I rented a car and drove to Etosha National Park. That was another great experience, and the park is truly unique. I highly recommend staying overnight in one of the camps inside the park.

6) What tips/recommendations would you give to other participants?

A lot of patience and openness. You should fully embrace the people and the nature around you. The pace is different, and the distances are vast, so it's important to just go with the flow. Pack compactly, and don't worry about appearances—what matters is that what you're wearing and carrying is comfortable.

For me, small pouches were helpful to keep things organized with all the repacking and to protect them from sand. Also, go to the doctor early—I had some stress trying to refresh all my vaccinations and finish any necessary treatments in time.

7) Can you estimate how many additional costs you had on site?

During the two weeks, there were opportunities to buy snacks, drinks, or souvenirs in village shops, but for me, that amounted to less than 100 euros. However, the hotels, the rental car, plus fuel, which I used alone, as well as the safari and accommodation in the national park, cost over 1,000 euros. I wanted to see as much as possible within a few days.

7) Here is space for any other questions/suggestions/ideas/stories or reports from you.

The food was really good, and we were all pleasantly surprised. Some people even took photos of the recipe book. I didn’t because I doubt I can recreate what we cooked over the fire in a large copper pot at home. The spice mixes would probably also be hard to find here, but the meals were delicious, and they put in a lot of effort to accommodate special dietary needs. Every morning, there was porridge—something that never tastes the same at home—and there was even a gluten-free option and always a vegetarian option for all meals. Some dishes were for everyone, though there were often meat options as well.

It gets dark very early, and I’ve never seen so many sunsets and sunrises in my life. You adjust your rhythm to the sun, which is grounding.

I was eager to step out of my daily routine, but of course, I had some fear as well—however, it was worth the risk and was an incredible experience. Thanks to the amazing people at EHRA and a fantastic group, I never felt afraid once I was there. Right from the first meeting, I had a good feeling and trusted that we would handle everything together successfully.