During your trip, you will carry out the following
activities. Our trip is always subject to slight change, and alterations
in the plan may alter a little depending on which animals are most in
need of care and attention.
Deworming elephants with drinkable medicine
Vaccinating lions
Bandaging and treating horses
Lameness assessment in horses
Pregnancy diagnosing and dipping cows
Supporting the local dog shelter
Visiting different veterinary clinics
Visiting the local vet school
Supporting conservation and animal welfare in Zimbabwe
The trip either starts in Harare and crosses west to
finish in Bulawayo, or starts in Bulawayo and crosses East to finish in
Harare. Regardless of which way to take the trip, our visits will be to
the same places and the work, teaching, and activities will always be
relevant, fun and support the local community and conservation. Below is
an example of the Harare to Bulawayo directional trip.
DAY 1 - arrive at the airport together. Head to our
lively social hotel and enjoy some time getting to know your team, swim
in the pool and head out to our first dinner together.
DAY 2 - Visit a local charity vet clinic and learn how
animals are prepared for surgery, how medicines are administered and
spend time with the rescued dogs treating them for ticks and deworming
them.
DAY 3 - Visit the University of Zimbabwe to see how students in Africa undertake their education.
DAY 4 - Visit a local animal shelter in the morning to
learn how dogs and cats are rescued and develop an understanding of
shelter medicine. In the afternoon we visit a wildlife rescue centre to
meet the elephants, giraffes, zebra, monkeys and more and take notes on
how rehabilitation in action is saving animals in Africa.
DAY 5 - Drive west to a wildlife rescue center. Lunch on
arrival. Take the endangered pangolin for a walk and a conservation
talk. Help clean cages and feed the young animals, before "bedding them
down" for the night.
DAY 6 - Assist in sanctuary morning work. After lunch
set off to a large wildlife reserve, and enjoy a sunset drink on the
deck overlooking the river and a night round the fire under the stars.
DAY 7 - Morning spent at the local SPCA dog shelter.
Meet the residing vet and observe castrations and other vet work. Return
to the reserve for lunch and in the afternoon meet the rehabilitated
elephants, walking beside them in the wild.
DAY 8 - Early morning bush walk before breakfast to
spot zebra, giraffe, and impala. Revisit the elephants to deworm them
with oral medication. After breakfast visit the horse stables to help
with care including bandaging, lameness and lunging practice, and
nutrition talk. Afternoon to participate in extra activities like horse
ride or game drives.
DAY 9 - Visit the resident captive lions who are well
cared for and not used for breeding or exploitation. Help spray parasite
prevention on them through the cage and feed them meat with deworming
tablets. Afternoon off to relax.
DAY 10 - Morning travel to our next farm based in a
wildlife reserve. Deworming horses, talk on parasites and equine
breeding. 3pm prepare and set up camera traps. Late afternoon game drive
and on the way back we search for hyenas and leopards. Dinner followed
by a bonfire.
DAY 11 - Morning spent injecting, deworming, and
treating cattle. Learn about the cattle breeding program. An afternoon
spent on the chicken farm with lessons on avian care and medicine. Early
afternoon bush walk and learning how to track wildlife then collect
cameras from the night before and look for the presence of carnivores.
DAY 12 - Move on to a new animal rescue centre that
specialises in primates. Meet the monkeys, learn about their nutrition,
then prepare food and behavioral enrichment.
DAY 13 - Take the rehabilitating baboons for a walk in
their natural environment, learn about the best ways to rehabilitate
different species, and the role of biologists and vets.
DAY 14 - A fond farewell as you head to the airport for your departure.
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