Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Victoria Falls with IVHQ

Name: Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Victoria Falls with IVHQ
Brand: International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ
SKU: 44539
Rating: 9.91 (47 reviews)

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Wildlife Conservation in Victoria Falls with IVHQ

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About

Trusted by 113,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the most popular volunteer programs in Victoria Falls and 50+ other destinations around the world.

You can participate in the Wildlife Conservation project in Victoria Falls and give back for periods ranging from 2 weeks to 12 weeks. Your Program Fee includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support. You’ll be accommodated in a volunteer house, with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world.

IVHQ is trusted to support the meaningful adventures of thousands of volunteers every year, so before you even depart for Victoria Falls, you’ll receive outstanding personalized service from your expert Volunteer Program Manager and exclusive access to superior pre-departure volunteer training.

With IVHQ, you can expect to establish real connections within the local community while supporting projects that make a genuine difference.

Highlights

IVHQ’s Victoria Falls program is available year-round, starting on the first and third Monday of every month
Highly affordable program fees starting from $1020 for 2 weeks - IVHQ provides the most affordable and top-rated programs
You’ll be joining between 5 and 15 other IVHQ volunteers who start in Victoria Falls each month
You’ll be traveling with IVHQ, the volunteer travel experts, and joining a network of 113,000+ volunteers. Our outstanding safety systems and track record set us apart, we are the world’s safest organization
Your efforts will have a positive impact because our programs are community-driven with a focus on supporting long-term local needs

Book With Confidence: Added Flexibility & Free Changes

IVHQ makes it easy to change your travel plans should you need to – or if you simply change your mind. As long as you cancel or reschedule at least 15 days before your program start date this year, it's free to change your dates, volunteer program or destination.

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Popular Programs

Wildlife Conservation Volunteering: Victoria Falls

Located within a private game reserve, playing home to the African 'Big 5' (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo), IVHQ volunteers in Victoria Falls have the opportunity to get involved in conservation management practices, all of which are vital for the successful operation of the game reserve and the ecosystems of surrounding areas.

Questions & Answers

what requirements does a person need to join?

To join specific programs at IVHQ you might need certain things (e.g. if you are going to do medical stuff, you're probably going to need training for that), but for the Nakavango program I went on, you don't need much more than you would for regular travel such as a passport, your flights and tell them your itinerary. They also required you get a business visa for Zimbabwe (check the gov website...

By Alexis Johnson on May 15, 2020

What is the age limit?

Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate on an IVHQ program alone. However, if they are volunteering as part of a group with adult minders, or with a parent, guardian or family member who is 18 years or over, they are eligible to participate. When a volunteer under the age of 18 applies to volunteer with IVHQ, it is important that the name of their minder is noted on their application...

By Kelvin Yip on January 29, 2018

Reviews

9.91 Rating

based on 47 reviews

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Volunteer

Impact 9.3
Support 9.8
Fun 9.5
Value 9.7
Safety 9.8

Good for Solo Travelers, Photographers, Adventure travelers

Showing 1 - 8 of 47

Volunteering at the Nakavango Conservation Programme in Victoria Falls was one of the best experiences of my life. The project leaders on the ground were great; supportive throughout and very open to discussing the issues they face and some unexpected solutions to environmental and conservation issues that are applicable across the world. I learnt a huge amount about reading the story that any environment presents and had a great time doing it. There is a good mix of activities and rest time and the accommodation was great. We had individual rooms and the staff couldn’t have been more friendly or helpful. I felt valued and looked after.

IVHQ was great in the run-up, from the perspectives of both pre-planning generally to the specific needs of the programme (particularly having the correct paperwork for visas and travel).

I recommend both the Nakavango Conservation Programme and IVHQ to anyone considering a volunteer program. You will be in very good hands.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would take advantage of opportunity to track animals on foot. Unfortunately we had a few days of heavy rain which stopped us going out. A couple of those would have involved tracking animals on foot.

I participated in the Nakavango Conservation Program through IVHQ just this February and it was a wonderful experience. IVHQ has many programs to choose from and I basically flipped a coin to decide on Africa, which worked out well. If you are interested in volunteering, consider this program. There were people ranging from 18-65 and because it didn't require any special skills or training, it was a great intro to volunteering abroad. If you can prune a tree or pull weeds, you can be useful to this project. Working as a team, about 20 volunteers and two guides did things such as creating garden beds, alien plant removal, weeding, and general maintenance. It was all simple work and though it didn't always feel like we were doing much, the manager assured us that even the simple tasks meant other staff could focus on other work. Even simple tasks like pulling out datura saved rhinos and elephants from liver damage and improved grasslands while just weeding the gardens at the local school helped provide food to the community. With a scheduled week and relatively short shifts (we weren't expected to work during the heat of the day), the days passed way too quickly.
I always felt supported by the staff, safe and well taken care of. I would compare the accommodations to camping with a trailer or in a nice cabin. There was staff to clean our rooms (everyone had their own room) and excellent chefs made delicious meals, often with fresh veggies from our own garden. We had shared bathrooms, private rooms, laundry service on Weds, several common areas, and a pool. Overall, we had everything we needed plus some little perks. One of the highlights was how often we did game drives in the park. I should have brought a better camera!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Come with a positive attitude, humble expectations (you won't change the world overnight), the desire to learn and ability to work as a team. More practical advice is to wear lightweight pants every time you go out to work... fire ants are not a lesson you want to learn! Also invest in some good work gloves.

Read my full story

My volunteering experience was an amazing one that I will never forget. I would advise that anyone who is even giving this programme a little consideration should absolutely go for it, you won't regret it. The work hours aren't particularly long but if you go in as a team ready to work hard you'll quickly see the difference you and all the other volunteers who come through can make. The program is very well organised and follows a neat schedule. The staff are also incredible in their jobs of looking after the volunteers, so you will certainly be comfortable if you choose to stay here. The guides who take volunteers to worksites have so much knowledge to give about the environment which they give with great enthusiasm. Each drive had something interesting to be seen and something to be learned from the guides.
Be warned that probably not want to leave. You really can't overestimate how long you'll want to stay here and you may feel that you didn't stay long enough. Can't reccomend this enough.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

For those thinking of doing this but are unsure, absolutely do it. It's an intimidating undertaking, no doubt, but it is absolutely worth it. IVHQ help you every step of the way and make the process as easy as possible. If you can, bring supplies that can be used by the staff at Nakavango, even simple things like batteries/chargers, duct tape, carabiners, binoculars, that sort of thing, can be helpful. Don't overpack, I'm not sure myself or anyone I was with did, but it can be easy to think you need lots of stuff and overpack. Check the programme guide, and try to keep it minimal, you don't need lots and lots of clothes for example, just bring enough. Electrolyte additives for your water are probably a good idea as you can get sweaty and dehydrated quickly if you're doing hard work on a hot day. To add to that, make sure you have a large drink bottle so you can bring enough water with you when working. Mosquitos may or may not be a problem for you as they seem to prefer different people. Bring insect repellent, but even if you find they bother you try and see what happens if you don't use any repellent, they seem to have become attracted to it there. If you have a particularly novel kind of repellent, you may find that works. My final advice is also not to underestimate how much you'll want to stay. The time you pick may seem long before you get there but it's gone so quickly and you may regret not choosing to stay longer. That's ultimately at your discretion and only you can answer that for sure but I know I personally which I'd chosen to stay longer.

Amazing experience! I learned so much about Africa - the animals, the people, culture and history. Well organized program. I want to go back!
Highlights: The roar of the lions, watching leopards, seeing an African Wild Cat! Getting to know the other volunteers. White water rafting on the Zambezi - class 5 rapids! And the gorge swing. Great food and accommodation. Excellent value. Knowledgeable staff. Many opportunities to help and learn. Going into the village to see how locals live was an experience I will never forget.

I used IVHQ when I was searching for opportunities to volunteer abroad this past year. For starters, IVHQ offers more destinations and projects than any other organization I could find. Their website is very comprehensive and provides all the information you need to decide where you want to volunteer. There are also various Facebook groups for individual projects where you can discuss with people who have been on the project before or who are planning for the future. IVHQ is also great with communication. They assign different people to organize each project, so you can be confident that the person you are contacting is both very knowledgable about the destination and committed to helping you. For example, I was supposed to travel to Sri Lanka last year about a week after the horrible terrorist attacks occurred. I expressed to them my discomfort in traveling there at that time and within a day they were able to switch me to a different project that I had requested in Victoria Falls.

I really enjoyed my time at the Nakavango Conservation Program in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The staff is incredibly knowledgable and helpful. I am an avid wildlife photographer, and I was blown away by the opportunities I had to photograph the ample wildlife in Victoria Falls. The accommodation was far beyond what I expected. Each volunteer had their own room with a fan, closet, desk, side table, and bed. Bathrooms were shared between three or four other volunteers of the same gender. The common areas were a great place for the volunteers to hang out, relax, and enjoy the area (There is also a pool to cool off in!) The food was delicious and plentiful, and the chef emphasized that dietary restrictions could be accommodated. On weekdays, we would wake up early to go out on the reserve to repair roads, remove invasive plant species, and survey wildlife, among other tasks. A lot of the work would be difficult or impossible for somebody in poor physical condition, but most able-bodied people should be perfectly fine. We were given weekends to spend however we liked. There were so many options for the weekends, I wish I had more time to fit them all in. One of my favorite weekend excursions was bungee jumping over Vic Falls!

Overall, my volunteering experience was incredible. The time I spent there and the experiences I had are something I will never forget. I would highly recommend both IVHQ and the Nakavango Conservation Project to anybody considering volunteering abroad.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

I had a wrap with crocodile in it at a restaurant down town! It was delicious!

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!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Crocodile, Kudu, Eland, Warthog, Ostrich....the list is endless

The Victoria Falls program was my first time volunteering abroad. IVHQ did a great job of providing me with a checklist to help me prepare for my time in Victoria Falls. The accommodations and food were amazing at Victoria Falls were amazing you are provided with your own private room and food was available 24/7. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The orientation at the beginning of the program helped to explain how we were making an impact. Each day is structured with different jobs these jobs include going on game drives where you will observe the animals on the reserve, you will also help clear roads and invasive plants such as lantana with picks, axes and hoes. We also helped water trees at a local school and helped composting. On the weekends Victoria Falls offers many activities such as bungee jumping, gorge swing, white water rafting, crocodile diving, and dinner cruises. I had a great two weeks in Victoria Falls and would highly recommend this program to someone who is looking to learn about the animals of Victoria Falls and have fun exploring all the activities on the weekends.

It was one of the best decisions of my life choosing to go to Victoria Falls and volunteer at NCP. The people there are some of the most positive and genuine people that you will ever meet and the culture is next to nothing else in this world. I have learned so much about conservations and the different ways of thinking about conservation. different ideas which some people may not have thought of before. Being able to absorb all the knowledge that our local team was giving us is a joy I will never forget and that will stay with me forever.

The local team ensures that your stay here is one of the best you will ever have on a volunteering program and they take pride in making sure that everyone can be catered for in the best way they possibly can. So if you are a vegan, vegetarian or just a straight-up carnivore the local team at NCP are able to make your life a living heaven.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

I was able to see a leopard which in turn allowed me to see the big five. It has been a dream of mine to see the big five in one trip for a very long time and I was finally able to do it.

This is a picture a our group watching a heard of zebra checking if they were ok or had been attacked recently

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I travel as much as my pay and vacation time will allow me, but I am single and usually travel alone. One day a coworker was asking advice on travel and asked if I ever joined groups (I did) and he asked if I'd ever volunteered while traveling (I hadn't). The question stuck in my mind as did the sudden realization that not only did I sincerely need a break from the drama of work and family, but I needed something in my life to feel I was connecting to something bigger, something important, something I could feel passionate and proud about.

Environmental protection had always inspired me. Was there a program that combined my two interests and the sudden need to express the part of me that longed to save the world? Yes! Of course; I knew I wouldn't save the planet, but everything about this program and company proved I could do something unique, something helpful, and that I could do so without paying a million dollars, having a special skill or going to extremes.

International Volunteer Headquarters (IVHQ) also had so many options that I really just had to toss a coin to figure out where to go. Africa/Nakavango seemed like such a rare opportunity that I couldn't pass up the chance.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

IVHQ provided a list of things to complete before I left & checked them off as I went. They also connected me to travel insurance providers, a community of people who could answer those little questions we have when going somewhere unfamiliar, indicated which vaccinations I might need, and directed me to the host country's visa website.

Most importantly, IVHQ hooked me up with their flight center.

Their very helpful staff ensured booking flights from Vancouver to Zimbabwe went smoothly and was cheaper than I expected. One other volunteer claimed to have found her own flights cheaper, but I was more than happy to leave the stress of finding the cheapest & most convenient flights up to someone else. They also gave a very general packing list, which I followed as best I could.

Doing the actual legwork for most other things was my responsibility. I had to ensure I got vaccinated and obtained malaria pills, got a criminal record check (good indicator this is a reputable program), and obtained travel documents & items for visas for volunteering in Zimbabwe.

The program manager in Zimbabwe helped with almost everything while there, including booking a taxi back to the airport and booking weekend activities. She even gave me cream for fire ant bites. I loved that woman.

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I have two pieces of advice, one for travel in general (which I've known for a long time) and one specific to this program.

1: Travel is like many aspects of life: it goes better if you use common sense to stay safe and keep an open mind and easygoing nature to stay happy. Sometimes unexpected things happen. That's life. Use common sense to survive it and be ready to shrug delays or mishaps right off your shoulders. I was bitten by fire ants. It wasn't an experience I'd like to repeat, but I treated the bites with creams, learned to wear long pants, and in no way did I allow it to dampen my spirits or my desire to experience what I could.

2: Don't be afraid. There are people to take care of you, systems to support you, and there's always a solution to a problem. What I learned in this program was that sometimes people surprise you with their kindness. Don't be afraid to believe in people (but always remember common sense!). The volunteers I was with and the program operators astonished me with their good hearts. It made me regret not holding a fundraiser at work for this program, a choice I made because I forgot that sometimes people are good.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I was only in Nakavango, Victoria Falls for two weeks and things will be different depending on how long you're there, time of year, and what is required (e.g. during the rainy season you might have to fix roads or clear debris from bridges).

Shifts for when I was there were about 1.5 hours each. Weekdays start at 6 AM. That means you have had your breakfast and are ready to go at 6 AM.

Monday we did game drives, getting oriented in the park or else doing an animal count. Tuesday we pulled datura in the morning. Datura was ridiculously satisfying to pull out and I could have done that nearly all day. In the afternoon, you might go to Victoria Falls or else do some chore around the compound.

Weds is the primary school where you'll garden or clear the field of rocks and the afternoon is enjoying the sunset with a beer after a drive around the park. Thurs we worked in the garden, digging garden beds and in the afternoon we packed camping gear and went camping. Friday morning half went pack to the compound and unpacked while the other half went tracking on foot. Friday afternoon we dug up lantana, which was the hardest work I had to do since the bush has to be taken out at the roots. All days we had about 5hrs between getting back to the compound for lunch and the 2nd shift of work or whatever afternoon activity was planned.

Weekends were usually spent in town doing tourist things.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear of going to Zimbabwe was simply getting a visa. I was terrified I would forget some little piece of paperwork and would be denied a visa. I got triplicates of every document and passport photos. Didn't get asked for any of it! This, however, doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared. It just means you shouldn't stress about things so long as you are organized.

The second biggest fear I had was that I wouldn't be able to contribute anything useful. I honestly had no idea what I'd be doing on a regular day. Thankfully, this program didn't require particular skills and we had people from 18-65 yrs participating. If you can prune a bush, you can do something in Nakavango. That IVHQ asked questions such as what skills I had encouraged me that I wouldn't be sent off to do something I wasn't qualified for.

What kind of travel style is this?

I compare the accommodations and services to a mix of camping and hotel or camping with a trailer/cabin with surprisingly comfortable beds. We had laundry services every Weds and, even though the washing machine was broken, the laundry was back by Thurs. Just note that apparently the guy who washes things likes to iron EVERYTHING.

While I was prepared for pretty much what we got, one girl was expecting to be out in the bushes without toilet paper. Seriously. She packed 9 packages of baby wipes, which she ended up donating (so, not a bad ending). We did have running water, electricity (carry a flashlight EVERYWHERE as power failures happen randomly), private rooms with a fan, wifi (not always working), a pool, absolutely excellent chefs (lots of pasta, rice, chicken, fresh veggies thanks to the garden, and fresh breads), cleaners, and the ability to choose our level of participation. If you really didn't want to do something, you might get teased or razed, but you weren't punching in a time card for work. One girl chose to do almost no work. As much as we disliked her for this lack of team spirit, it was her choice.

A little bit of advice is to bring more USA cash than you expect to use. There is an art market in town with plenty to offer (be prepared to be attacked on all sides by salesmen) and you will want to leave a bigger tip than you think for the staff at Nakavango. The cleaner not only had a nice little corner set up with trinkets that I wish I'd bought more from but he fixed my hiking boots. What did he do? He sewed through rubber so I could have my boots for another week. Apparently they will last another 20 years. I hate those stupid boots, but I wish I'd brought more cash to tip him, buy more of his artwork, and tip the chefs who were so committed to their job that I couldn't break it to them that I'd eaten in town and didn't need the dinner they'd set aside for me.

Maureen Rooney

2018 Alum

About International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

IVHQ is the world’s most trusted and affordable volunteer abroad organization, offering the largest range of safe and impactful volunteer programs in 50+ destinations.

Over 113,000 travelers have volunteered abroad with IVHQ over the past 13 years, making IVHQ the world’s most experienced volunteer travel organization with the best safety...