PAWS Volunteer Programme
People And Wildlife Solutions
Environmental & Cheetah Rehabilitation Volunteer Project
A Unique and Exciting Conservation Volunteer Project based in the heart of the Namibian Bush
Located on Okonjima Lodge’s 22,000 hectare reserve and working alongside the world famous AfriCat Foundation, P.A.W.S. Volunteer Project launched in August 2008 by Clive & Roma Muccio-Johnson in partnership with Okonjima’s owner Wayne Hanssen and has continued to grow from strength to strength ever since.
P.A.W.S. is part of Okonjima and AfriCat’s vision to restore the land back to its original state and once again witness the magnificent cheetah stalking and hunting its prey in it’s natural environment. Africa’s fragile ecosystem and wildlife are inseparably linked, co-existing successfully since time began. Unfortunately due to man’s influence this delicate balance is rapidly changing and the need to reverse this damage and protect our environment has become paramount.
Large sections of Okonjima’s reserve still harbour the scars of over-grazing from the old commercial cattle farming days. It is this land that P.A.W.S. aims to restore and return back into a game reserve with the ultimate goal of introducing an amazing variety of Namibian game back into the area, since lost over time.
By choosing our project volunteers are given a truly unique bush experience, living and working in the heart of the Namibian bush. Their days consist of working mornings and exciting and informative game drives each afternoon.
The mornings are varied and may involve the following essential reserve maintenance tasks including : dismantling and clearing old cattle fence lines, bush clearing tasks, dismantling and repairing windmills, repairing waterholes, dam maintenance and much more….
Volunteers will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation itself including jobs such as : bone collecting and grass cutting within the cheetah camps, erecting and repairing fences as required and participating in their unique “behind the scenes” feeding run to witness first-hand the feeding of all these beautiful animals, part of AfriCat’s welfare programme.
On occasions cheetahs & leopards are rescued by AfriCat from neighbouring farms and re-released back into the wild and our lucky volunteers may be given an amazing and very exciting opportunity of accompanying one of the AfriCat team to do just this! A rare privilege to witness first hand this highly delicate and organised operation.
Each afternoon our volunteers take part in a multitude of game drives including : leopard tracking, visiting AfriCat and learning about the Foundation, cheetah and hyena tracking on foot, bushman walks, birding & game drives, sleep-outs under the stars and more….
P.A.W.S. profits go towards employing and training local Namibians who work alongside our volunteers each day enabling differing cultures to gain a better understanding of one another.
PAWS for thought...
To become a conservation team member with P.A.W.S. previous knowledge or experience is not required, just a willingness to work hard and enjoy every moment! The vision behind our project is for those with a passion for conservation, a lust for life and a desire to be at one with nature! You will be given the opportunity of having a life changing experience with the knowledge that through your hard work and dedication we are one step closer to giving Africa back to nature.
PAWS 2012:
By choosing this project, volunteers will now be under taking essential
- research projects within the Okonjima 50 000 acre Nature Reserve,
- help with reserve maintenance tasks which could include: dismantling old water troughs, clearing fence lines, bush clearing tasks, repairing waterholes to name but a few.
- They will also be assisting with various projects at the AfriCat Environmental Education Centre and the Perivoli Okonjima Country School.
- The PAWS volunteers may also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly with the AfriCat Foundation (when projects are available) such as bone collecting within the cheetah camps, erecting, repairing and maintaining fences.
- During their stay, they will take part in a multitude of exciting activities including visits to the AfriCat Carnivore Care and Information Centre, learn about AfriCat’s conservation & rehabilitation programme, leopard tracking, large carnivore tracking on foot, join the guided bushman trail, birding & game drives, and much more . . .
- To become a conservation team member with P.A.W.S, previous knowledge or experience is not required, just a willingness to work hard and enjoy every moment!
The vision behind our project is for those with a passion for conservation, a lust for life and a desire to be at one with nature! - Please note there is no ‘HUMAN-CARNIVORE’ contact allowed as this jeopardises their chances of rehabilitation in the wild.
For further information about P.A.W.S. and to find out how to become a volunteer, please contact Roma & Clive at the following :
Email : paws@iway.na
Website : www.pawsnamibia.org
Facebook : PAWSNAMIBIA
