Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Volunteer Programs | Most Affordable & Trusted

My experience was amazing! This journey is nothing like traveling as a tourist, it forces you to fully emerge yourself into another culture and get out of your comfort zone. You are able to meet so many cool people, feel productive and helpful, and mostly grow as a person. The team is so great and supportive, I constantly felt safe and able to reach out for help, although there were moments of fright, it added to my experience of experiences another culture. It is for sure one of the harder things I have done and I was not fully prepared for the emotional toll it took on be during my first week. 10/10 would recommend a volunteer experience through IVHQ. Afterwords, I feel that nobody can truly understand how much else there is happening across the globe until you go live in those different conditions.

I volunteered with the Nakavango Conservation Project near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe for 10 weeks. I cannot say enough how wonderful an experience it was. All the staff were truly welcoming and made you feel as if you were part of the family—whether you were young or old, male or female, no matter which country you came from. They were also willing to share their knowledge and experience, and you certainly learnt about the ecology and felt as if you were making a contribution towards the conservation of the nature reserve. There are also opportunities for ‘adrenalin activities’ such as white water rafting and socialising. And, of course, the wildlife was wonderful!

There are a couple of areas for improvement:
• The documentation needs to state that volunteers need to be somewhat fit as there is a certain amount of physical labour.
• The staff could put together tour packages for volunteers to see other parts of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Matopos National Park, and the Great Zimbabwe are within reasonabl travelling distance of Victoria Falls).

Volunteering at the Victoria Falls program was the best experience of my life! I was so hesitant to go but as soon as I arrived I immediately felt at ease and continued to have an amazing 4 weeks in Zimbabwe! It is a once in a life time experience I was grateful to have and I'll never forget it!
The local people are all so friendly and interesting to talk to about their culture which is so different from mine. And seeing the Big 5 up close was such a unique experience. If you are considering this program, do it and you'll never look back!

I have been volunteering with IVHQ since 2017 in 6 different countries. The program is extremely organized and allows you to have true cultural experience. The decision to return to IVHQ is based on trust and affordablity. The program is affordable and I felt safe after the orientation session which provides the need to know information. You will also have lots of time to explore. I highly recommend IVHQ program for individuals and family. Looking forward to another experience with this program.

Life changing experience! IVHQ was there from start to finish making sure I knew what to expect and what was needed. They followed up with me throughout my entire stay. The local placement also exceeded expectations with accommodation and knowledge. My only regret is not having stayed longer in Victoria Falls. The food, adventures, volunteer work and scenery make this a trip of a lifetime. This was my first overseas trip as a solo traveler, and I always felt safe and in good hands. I'm already planning my next volunteer program abroad!

My time in Nakavango changed me as a person, and it was for the better. The people were unparalleled in their openness and friendliness towards us. Whether that be the locals or the staff working on the conservation programme. The place is stunning as well with sights of animals and sunsets that I will carry with me always. The mixture of new friendly faces and places is always a special one but when you can go from shovelling sand to build roads, to meeting wonderful children at a local school and playing volleyball with them, to dancing around a fire in the bush at night, to singing karaoke with newfound friends it’s a different level of special. I have made friends for life and many future travel plans in the hopes of finding another experience like this one!

I volunteered at Nakavango in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as part of the IVHQ Wildlife Conservation Project. It truly was one of the highlights of my life. And I’ve had some pretty remarkable experiences so that says a lot. The staff a Nakavango was incredible and extremely knowledgeable. They create the perfect balance of hard work and joyous moments playing with the children at Masuwe School, observing wildlife in the bush, and taking in the sights of one of the seven wonders of the world. We each had our own room, were provided three yummy meals a day with great care to accommodate those who have special diets. Highlights of my stay included morning and evening game drives, sitting around the fire pit under the stars, camping out in the bush, and completing a work task feeling that we had made progress on a project. Yet, the most outstanding aspect of this experience for me, was bonding with my fellow volunteers. Prior to arriving at Nakavango, I thought I’d be the senior member of the crew so I was a bit apprehensive even though I had worked for weeks to get in shape physically so I could contribute equally. Well, I wasn’t the most senior. In fact, we had a wonderful range of ages, nationalities, and personalities. We became a family, caring for and respectful of all. That truly blew me away. And now, we continue to stay in touch. I am so grateful for the IVHQ program at Nakavango. It changed my life!

Absolutely loved it! Amazing food and people and made a real impact on the community. The chefs cooked amazing food on the premise and used vegetables and fruits handpicked from the garden on site. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and always kept us safe while out on the game drives. We had weekends off as to explore the surrounding area and do thrill seeking adventures in town! The work was arduous yet rewarding, as we removed invasive tree species and worked at the local school. 10/10!!