Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Victoria Falls with IVHQ

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!!

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.

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!

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.

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.