I had an absolutely brilliant experience volunteering at the Nakavango Conservation Project in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Everything was beautifully presented and organised by the team at IVHQ, from my airport pickup to the program itself. I found the resources provided by IVHQ prior to the trip to be really on-point and valuable, and the program itself was one of the best things I've done in my life. The food and accommodation provided were fantastic and the Nakavango staff were wonderful. I definitely hope to volunteer with IVHQ again and would 100% recommend them to anyone!

This was one of the best experiences of my life! IVHQ helped me all the way through, providing me with all the information I needed before I left and ensuring everything was going well while I was there. All the staff were super kind and accommodating from the moment I got there. The work was really rewarding and the local community was also wonderful. I felt super safe and taken care of all the way through my stay, not once did I feel unsafe. Anyone who has the opportunity to do this should do it and I would recommend this experience with IVHQ to anyone!

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!