Jennifer S
Kirtleigh was very easy to talk to, was very patient with our thousands of questions. Planning April 2022 to volunteer with the elephants on the West Coast of Africa!!
15 others looking at this too. Next opening is Feb 2024, with limited spots.
Namibia – an arid country in south western Africa – is a land of extremes.
The coastal desert hugging the coastline is the oldest in the world, littered with shipwrecks, abandoned diamond mines, and rugged animals that have adapted to the harsh climate. The sand dunes here are the highest in the world, giving adrenaline junkies the chance to swap out your snowboard for a sandboard as you send it down the dunes in this novel extreme sport.
On this trip, you’ll be helping wild, roaming herds of elephants and local farmers set up the necessary infrastructure so that farmers and elephants can live in peace together.
Break out of your day-to-day routine and embark on an adventure that will make the world a better place and help you grow as a person.
On this all-inclusive volunteer trip, not only do you get to live and volunteer with a trusted partner organisation in Namibia. When you go with Global, you get:
Can you picture it? You’ve spent the last few days roaming the Namibian bush, patrolling for elusive elephants in the process. You now understand how camouflage in nature works. You’ve seen a fully grown bull elephant melt into the bush and disappear mere metres away.
You’re camping wild, sleeping under the stars. Namibia’s remote location and minimal light pollution means the stargazing is the best you’ve ever seen. You fall asleep every night under the soft glow of the Milky Way, with an endless stream of shooting stars putting on a bed time show.
For most people, being this immersed in the African bush is a bucket-list experience.
Although most people don’t get the chance to experience something like this. Helping the local community live peacefully with herds of wild elephants is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
And when you book with Global, you book with the best. You get the full experience for a fraction of the hassle. Your volunteer placement and accommodation is sorted before you leave, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
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To qualify for this trip you must meet the following requirements:
Chat with us online now, or we can call you back for free, 24 hours Mon-Fri.
Our Elephant Conservation & Helping Local Farmers in Africa trip is designed to get you volunteering overseas in a safe and fun environment and with a genuine and rewarding purpose.
Our expert team and local partners take care of everything you need to start making a positive impact, from volunteer placement, accommodation, meals and ongoing support throughout your entire journey.
Whether you’re doing gap year volunteering or taking a volunteering holiday from work, you’ll arrive in Africa with the confidence that absolutely everything has been pre-arranged for you.
You’ll be able to jump straight into your volunteer duties and start making new friends with all the logistical details sorted, from airport transfers to project site accommodation.
Channel all your energy into immersing yourself in your volunteer placement, as well as taking time to get to know the local area on your days off. Experience desert living, sandboard through the million-year-old sand dunes and get the chance to see Africa's unique wildlife in their natural habitat instead of sweating the logistical stuff - that’s exactly why we’re here.
Feel confident and proud you are contributing much-needed help to a meaningful cause and save yourself the time, money and even the risk of being stranded in a foreign country by having us on your side.
Make your time count on this life-changing opportunity to volunteer in Africa and arrive home knowing you've made a lasting and positive impact on the lives of desert elephants and local farmers.
To qualify for this trip, you must be able to undertake laborious duties.
Flights, travel insurance, airport transfer, initial & last night accommodation, visa, vaccinations, criminal background check, souvenirs & spending money.
Elephants are a so-called ‘keystone’ species. Basically, this means they are a critical component to the health of all other plants and animals – and the ecosystem as a whole – in the area they live.
They’re also big and destructive. Something local farmers in Namibia know all too well.
The good news is that the farmers in Namibia are determined to find a compromise. Where they can farm in peace while the elephants roam without destroying crops and farm infrastructure.
This can be a delicate balance, which is why they need your help.
Your first week is construction week. You could find yourself building new water points for elephants, building protective walls around farm windmills, or repairing schools or tourist camps.
This helps the elephants find water without having to go through farm fences or farmhouse walls.
Your second week is generally spent on elephant patrol. You’ll head out in a 4WD in search of elusive elephants. You may have to follow them on foot or sit quietly and observe while they laze about.
This data collection is vital in monitoring the movement of the elephants and preventing any problems well before they occur.
Once you touch down at Walvis Bay or Hosea Kutako International Airport, you’ll be taken straight to your initial accommodation at a hostel in Swakopmund.
Your first week is construction week. During this week you’ll stay in a shared tent at a mobile base camp.
Your second week is all about patrol. So you’ll be camping wild under the impressive Namibian night sky during the portion of your trip.
With your accommodation in Namibia sorted and your volunteer placement organised, what will you do about food?
You’ll be given 3 regular meals every day. The food is cooked over an open fire and will be prepared on a rotation basis.
When you travel with the best we take care of pretty much everything so you don’t have to. You’ll arrive in Costa Rica totally prepared with a plan of action and trusted people helping you along the way.
Our volunteer trips are designed to help you make a real change in critical causes around the world. All while experiencing off-the-beaten-path locations with passionate locals. Our goal is to save you time, money, and stress while eliminating the risk of returning home early. Here’s how we do it:
We’re on your side from the moment you get started.
You’ll be assigned a dedicated Trip Coordinator. They’ll guide you through the next steps and answer all your questions. They’ll also help you with the pesky visa. No guesswork – only the right paperwork, approved the first time, in your hands before you leave.
Your Personal Travel Concierge will help with flights, insurance, and any add-ons you’d like for your trip. These are real humans too – no robots here.
We maintain relationships with a huge network of screened and vetted partner organisations all over the world. We know they’re trustworthy and that you’re in good hands because of all the successful trips Global Travellers keep having with our partners.
Our team is well travelled so you can rely on our experience. We’re with you every step of the way.
Join 75,000+ travellers – giving us 10,000+ 4 & 5 star reviews – by choosing Global to make your travel dreams come true.
Most travellers book their trip 6-12 months in advance. Dates are flexible, but spaces are limited. So if you’re serious about volunteering in Costa Rica, don’t delay.
With our Book Now, Decide Later feature, you can get started with a small deposit today, and take a full year to choose your dates.
We’ll take over from there, helping you with visas, flights, accommodation, and setting you up with our partner in Costa Rica.
This is the trip for you if you’re after the ultimate volunteering experience in Costa Rica, complete with everything you need and 24/7 support.
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As the world’s leading gap-year and "work & travel" company, we provide a premium service for Global Travellers. Choose from a variety of awesome experiences worldwide. We assist with visas, pre-departure, flights, insurance, and tours. Our cool tech features support you throughout the journey. As a Global Traveller, access gWorld, our personalized app. Keep important documents and trip details handy. Enjoy exclusive Marketplace deals, a social network, language learning, side trips, meet-ups, and more. It's like all your favorite apps merged into one, but better! Our support doesn't stop there. With a 24/7 emergency team, 90+ staff, and ongoing assistance, we ensure you feel like a local. Join the 80,000+ Global Travellers who have turned their travel dreams into reality with us. We proudly boast the most & best reviews in the biz!
While we would love to include flights and insurance in our trip packages, it is not feasible to have a fixed price due to the diverse destinations, trip durations, and individual coverage needs of our travellers from around the globe. However, once you register for the trip, we will assign you a dedicated Travel Concierge. They will work closely with you to arrange the ideal flights and insurance tailored to your specific adventure. Rest assured, our team is here to ensure you have a smooth and hassle-free travel experience from start to finish!
The trip fee covers all the essential trip inclusions that ensure you have a meaningful and safe volunteering experience. It includes comprehensive pre-departure support to assist you throughout your journey. Once you arrive at your destination, the fee covers transportation, accommodation, and in most cases meals and some amazing excursions you'll do alongside other international volunteers. This comprehensive support is essential to provide you with a positive and secure volunteering experience, which is of utmost importance to us. Your trip fee allows us to ensure your well-being while making a meaningful impact, and it contributes to the sustainability and effectiveness of the volunteer projects we support.
Absolutely! Before starting your volunteer placement, you will receive comprehensive pre-departure support, which includes project-specific information, cultural orientation, and advice on preparing for your journey. Additionally, most trips include on-site training and an orientation to ensure you are well-prepared and confident in your volunteer role.
With so many incredible options, we understand that selecting the perfect volunteer trip can be tricky. That's why we recommend booking your favourite one, and your dedicated Trip Coordinator will guide you through the project details. They will consider your interests, skills, desired location, and the impact you want to make. If we find another trip that better suits your preferences, we can easily swap you over to ensure you have the ideal volunteer experience. Rest assured, we're here to help you find the right fit!
We offer flexibility in our volunteer trips, allowing you to choose the duration that best suits your schedule and desired experience. While most volunteers join us for 3 or 4 weeks, our trips accommodate durations as short as two weeks or as long as 12 weeks, and even extended stays. The choice is yours!
The ages of our volunteers can vary depending on the project, but we have a wide age range. Our volunteers typically range from 18 years old to 85 years old! Our Trip Coordinators ensure that all volunteers are vetted before embarking on their journey. While age may differ, what unites our volunteers is their shared passion for travel and their dedication to making a positive impact in the community or wildlife conservation efforts they are involved in. Regardless of age, anyone with a passion to contribute and explore is welcome to join our volunteer trips.
Safety is our utmost priority, and it drives our thorough trip planning process and comprehensive inclusions. With a successful track record of safely sending tens of thousands of travellers overseas since 2008, we prioritise your well-being throughout the journey. Before you depart, we provide full support, ensuring a smooth and secure experience. Upon arrival, we take care of every detail, including secure airport transfers, comfortable accommodations, usually meals, and dedicated project supervision. Additionally, our 24/7 emergency line ensures immediate assistance whenever needed, providing peace of mind throughout your entire volunteer experience.
Covid-19 threw us a curve ball and pretty much halted all travel. This means that we have a backlog of travellers, just like you, who are desperate to get out and explore the world! Global Work & Travel works on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Booking earlier ensures that you don’t miss out on the best intake, season, placements and more! We recommend our travellers take 6-12 months to plan their trip for a reason - to make sure you’ve got everything organised perfectly, stress-free. As a Global Traveller you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace Deals, a unique social network to connect you with other like-minded Global Travellers, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages, and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better? Why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking that trip!
Yes you can! Simply tell your Trip Coordinator after booking that your friend is also going and they can link your profiles. For most of our trips we should be able to have you and your friends placed together or nearby. Meaning that you can live, work, play & travel together! But wait there's more! Not only can you travel the world with your besties at your side, you can also earn some extra cash towards your own trip just by referring your friends to Global Work & Travel. You can learn more about the great referral rewards program inside your gWorld account once you join. And for those who decide to go-it-solo, we’ve made it easier to meet other Global Travellers in the same region as you. Just like any other social platform, you’ll be able to interact, share, chat and meet with some really cool people who are doing trips just like you!
At Global Work & Travel, we share a deep love for animals and fully understand the special bond you have with your pet. We recognise the challenges of embarking on a trip without them. Due to travel restrictions, requirements, and limited pet-friendly accommodations among our host organisations, we regretfully cannot facilitate their inclusion in the journey. However, many of our customers choose to entrust their pets to a family member or friend, embark on their adventure, and return home to wagging tails and furry cuddles.
We know that life can get in the way of travel, so all our trips come with a great deal of flexibility. In most cases, if you cannot travel on your selected date, you can place your trip on hold to deal with whatever is holding you back, and continue in the future without incurring any penalty. You may also have the option of transferring to an entirely different trip and destination as well, or even transferring your trip to a friend or family member. In the event that you need to outright cancel your trip, if you give us 84* days notice you can do so with only a 50% cancellation fee. Your refund of the balance will come in the form of a Store Credit which you can put toward any other trip that we offer, including tours through third-party providers, as well as holidays through DealsAway.com, and is valid for 2 years from date of issue. As international travel can be complex, your options are based on the progress of your trip organisation and our support team can assist you in finding the best solution for your needs.
Find your dream experience & destination, then secure your spot with a flexible & low deposit. Activate your gWorld to unlock some cool perks. Well done! The hardest part’s over!
Book a time to meet your dedicated Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs of your trip. They’ll be by your side and working behind-the-scenes to pull everything together.
We’ll get your tickets, accommodation & transfers ready. Our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared & waiting for your arrival. Get on the plane with no worries!
Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support and check-ins. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24/7.
Find your dream experience & destination, then secure your spot with a flexible & low deposit. Activate your gWorld to unlock some cool perks. Well done! The hardest part’s over!
Book a time to meet your dedicated Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs of your trip. They’ll be by your side and working behind-the-scenes to pull everything together.
We’ll get your tickets, accommodation & transfers ready. Our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared & waiting for your arrival. Get on the plane with no worries!
Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support and check-ins. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24/7.
The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.
Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/7.
With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 90 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.
We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.
The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.
Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/7.
With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 90 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.
We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.