IVHQ Victoria Falls

I was in Vic Falls through IVHQ for 4 weeks and it was the best 4 weeks of my life, hands down. I don't often write reviews but this experience was just unbelievable. Within moments of being welcomed to the Nakavango Conservation Programme (NCP), I immediately felt like I was where I was supposed to be. I’ve had a passion for wildlife from a young age and to finally be able to share the incredible experiences I’ve had so far is nothing short of a privilege. I was, in all honesty, apprehensive about visiting Zimbabwe. With news channels on the build-up to my visit reporting the worst drought in decades, elephant and giraffe dropping where they stand, the falls practically coming to a halt. Was I going to see anything out here at all?... Day 1 – I was greeted at the door to the reserve along with 7 other newbies by one of our two main guides, Hope. Hope gave us a brief introduction and shows us around the accommodation; comfy beds, desk, bedside table, plenty of hanging space, big ceiling fan and a lockable door, but it was when he lead us out to the dining area which overlooks a stunning section of the park, I see two giant Cape Buffalo calmly strolling past as the sun was setting (one of the big 5 down already!). Seconds later, Zebra. Moments after that, a friendly hornbill comes and sits right in front of me, I could hardly take in what Hope was telling me, all my apprehensions were put to rest, and I completely fell in love with this place. This is my first time doing any voluntourism, first time doing a safari-like conservation programme, and it’s certainly the first time I’ve seen animals of this magnitude looking so healthy and content in the wild, and all on the doorstep!