N/A’AN KU SÊ’S CARNIVORE CONSERVATION RESEARCH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME - SOLITAIRE

Our aim is to provide you with the wonderful opportunity of experiencing African wilderness whilst contributing to big cat conservation. Our volunteers are key to the success of this special place. All the money raised through our volunteering programme goes directly back into the project which ensures the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured African wildlife and provides employment, healthcare, education and accommodation to the local Bushman community.

Namibia truly is a wonderful country to experience, the scenery is spectacular and you will work with our friendly and dedicated team. If you come prepared to learn and to give your best you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience and wonderful memories to take home.

We do hope you will come and join us!

DR RUDIE AND MARLICE VAN VUUREN OWNERS, N/A’AN KU SÊ FOUNDATION

CARNIVORE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER

This 10 day programme offers a unique opportunity to play a hands on part in the conservation of wild cheetah, enabling you to work up close with these incredible animals and contribute towards their welfare. N/a‘an ku sê plays a vital role in rescuing and releasing threatened cats in Namibia to help reduce human- wildlife conflict. The overriding aim of our study is to alleviate existing human-wildlife conflicts using new approaches and assess whether translocations of cheetah and leopard are a viable long-term option for dealing with so-called ‘problem animals’. Since our programme began in 2008 we have rescued and released 41 cheetahs, 20 leopards and 3 brown hyena.

We have 4 release sites: NamibRand Nature Reserve, Sandfontein Nature Reserve, Solitaire and our Windhoek study site. Our new research base in the stunning area of Solitaire hosts a 500 hectare soft release boma for cheetahs.

Only large carnivores who have been held in captivity for long periods of time, or who have been rehabilitated from ill health, undergo a soft release rather than a hard release back into the wild. Cheetahs stay in this soft release site in order to acclimatise to the area and learn how to fend for themselves once again. The duration of their stay depends on how successfully the cat adapts to their new environment but can be between 6- 12 months.

You can also combine your 10 day programme in Solitaire with an additional stay at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary and Windhoek Research Study Site, which you can do before or after your Solitaire trip.

SOLITAIRE RESEARCH BASE AND ACTIVITIES

Situated at the edge of the Namib Desert, Solitaire is a small settlement in the Khomas region of central Namibia near the Namib Naukluft National Park. The surrounding area is sparsely populated and is a common stop-over for tourists travelling between Soussevlei and NamibRand and Windhoek or Walvis Bay. The area consists of open grass plains, speckled with camel thorn trees and other mature trees, rough mountain ranges with stunning mountain features and dry riverbeds.

Here, the N/a’an ku sê Research team re-introduce previously captive-held cheetah into a soft-release camp and monitor their adaptation to the environment. In addition to the daily maintenance of the cheetahs (feeding and enclosure maintenance), we carry out research into the resident free-ranging large carnivores in the area to provide sound scientific data on the densities, home ranges and territories of cheetah in the Solitaire area.

Research on site may include:

• Enclosure patrol of 500 hectare boma • Camp maintenance • VHF tracking of cheetahs in soft release camp • Feeding and observations of carnivores in soft release camp • Game census • Research into resident free-ranging large carnivores • Capture and collaring of resident free-ranging wild cheetah • VHF and GPS tracking of wild cheetahs • Camera trap setting and collecting • Data entry and analysis

A TYPICAL DAY AT SOLITAIRE

On most days volunteers will get up at dawn for a quick breakfast; to increase the chance of observing the carnivores in the field it is crucial to get started as early as possible. Based on the carnivores’ movements, the specific monitoring needs and prevailing weather conditions, a decision will be made as to which cheetahs will be tracked during the day.

Volunteers will spend time at the soft release camp, ensuring the fencing is in tact and feeding the resident cheetahs. Lunch may be taken in the field (sandwiches) or depending on the day’s events the group may return to base around noon for cooking. Field work is resumed in the afternoons and then the group returns to the base in the late afternoon/early evening for cooking, resting and showering.

On request we can also arrange a day trip to the incredible red sand dunes of Sossusvlei for just N$500. A stunning pan in the Namib Desert, this is one of the world’s most spectacular sights and an opportunity not to be missed.

OPTIONAL STAY AT N/A’AN KU SÊ WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND WINDHOEK STUDY SITE

The Windhoek study area comprises of a total of 17,700ha of free-hold farmland, including 14,500ha of commercial farmland as well as 3,200ha of private conservation land (N/a’an ku sê). The area is a natural savannah paradise with riverine vegetation, lush grass plains and magnificent mountain views. There is a large variety of wildlife freely roaming including leopard, cheetah, brown hyena, game (kudu, oryx, hartebeest), warthog, porcupine, jackal, wild baboon, vultures and various other bird species.

Here, the N/a’an ku sê research team aims to provide sound scientific data on the densities, home ranges and territories of cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. The programme works with the farmers to assess their problems and provides assistance with regard to livestock/carnivore management practices to mitigate human-wildlife and livestock-carnivore conflicts for the benefit of all.

The study site has a core area of about 250 km² where most research activities such as capture, mark and release, telemetry, spoor tracking and counting prey animals take place.

A TYPICAL DAY AT N/A’AN KU SÊ WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Volunteers head out at 8am to the study area for their morning activities led by the project coordinator. Regular activities include game counts, camera trap setting and collecting, footprint collecting, spoor counts, box trap checking, waterhole observations, radio-telemetry tracking of collared animals and search for cheetah marking trees. You may also join in with the Wildlife Volunteers, feeding the large carnivores and farmyard animals at the Sanctuary and enjoying walks with the baboons, caracals or spending time with our Wild Dogs.

After a 10.30 tea break, activities resume at 11am, continuing those listed above. You have free time during lunch, which is served between 1-2.30pm. The working day finishes around 5.30 with a hot cooked dinner and volunteers have their own free time in the evenings, as well as all day Sundays.

EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES ON BOTH SITES

CARNIVORE REHABILITATION & MONITORING: Volunteers will be introduced to the various techniques for VHF and GPS based carnivore tracking and the use of equipment like receivers, antennas, GPS devices etc. The aim is to collect data to assess the density, home ranges and movement patterns of large cats in the area, gain a better understanding of the animals’ ecology and to evaluate whether cheetah can be re-released successfully into conservation areas to which they were formerly indigenous.

Field monitoring can be a strenuous activity, including long hours of walking and climbing and observing, but it is extremely important to the success of this programme. Volunteers will experience magnificent vistas and a diverse array of unique landscapes as they track the cats across their local habitats.

GAME COUNT: The conservation research team carries out regular game censuses recording the numbers, age, sex and group compositions of local mammals. The information gathered from this data will help the research team understand on which prey base and in which carrying capacity the large carnivores subsist. Volunteers enjoy their role as spotters and recorders during these scientific game drives as they are exposed to the diversity of environments whilst collecting crucial information.

FEEDING AND OBSERVATIONS: Feeding time is an important part of the daily activities. Volunteers will use VHF telemetry tracking to locate the carnivores within the 500 hectare camp and throw prepared meat for the large cats (this will be in addition to small free-roaming game for them to hunt in their enclosure). During this time, the animals’ behaviour is observed and documented to help establish trends and patterns in their acclimatisation. Here, volunteers will play a crucial role in helping identify the cheetahs’ progress and suitability for full re-release.

ENCLOSURE PATROL: The large cheetah enclosure must be checked on a daily basis for holes and electricity levels. Volunteers and our research staff are responsible for the safety of the cheetahs and so must carry out any fixing of the fences required. During the patrol around the 500 hectare camp, volunteers will be looking out for identifiable footprints around the outside of the camp, particularly those of wild carnivores. Footprint identification will be recorded and documented in a database to confirm population estimates and dynamics. Very detailed cheetah tracks will be photographed and processed for use in the development of footprint ID software for the species.

SIGHTINGS DATABASE: During the daily activities, volunteers will encounter other species of flora and fauna which carry ecological importance. Detailed observations will mainly be made on rare and unknown species, raptors (birds of prey) and carnivores. However, records may include anything from mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, plants to footprints.

Volunteers will record data in the field as well as entering them into a database at the research base. These data are of high importance; they will be used to document, report and monitor rare and/or endangered species. We may also record species previously unknown to these environments or confirm first sightings made by others.

CARNIVORE SCAT COLLECTION: In early 2009, a carnivore scat analysis project began with the main objective of assessing whether Namibia’s carnivores show genetic evidence of their geographical origin from their scats. N/a’an ku sê supports the organisation leading this project, with the collection of carnivore faeces from various study sites in Namibia.

FOOTPRINT IDENTIFICATION: We are developing the first footprint identification software for cheetah which will be used for population monitoring of wild cheetahs. The software will help in identifying and counting wild cheetahs from their footprints alone and will be used by multiple research and conservation organisations. Volunteers will work with our Researchers to gather footprints from our resident cheetahs at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary and photograph them for our records.

CAMERA TRAPS: We use camera traps as a non-invasive monitoring tool for free-ranging and collared cheetahs, leopards and brown hyenas. We place them at known locations of carnivores such as marking trees, waterholes and riverbeds and as soon as there is movement a picture is taken. We regularly monitor these traps, changing batteries, re-mounting and positioning and checking the images captured.

Please be flexible as activities can change due to the needs of the animals and project. Volunteers need to be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them, and to get dirty in the process! There are no special requirements in terms of background or qualifications for this project but participants should be fit to walk between 10-15 km on a daily basis across rough terrain and during high temperatures.

ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES

In Solitaire, volunteers will stay in luxury tents with bedding provided but we recommend you bring your own sleeping bag especially during the winter. Showers are communal with hot water and electricity is available at a nearby lodge for charging phones and cameras. You will prepare your food together with the Research Co-coordinators which usually consists of cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and a dinner of meat, pasta, rice and vegetables. You can buy snacks and drinks (soft and alcoholic) either from the Sanctuary, on route to Solitaire or from a nearby shop to the Research Base.

At N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary we have two options of accommodation; volunteer rooms with up to three people (same gender) sharing each room, or large tents with a living and bedroom area to be shared by two volunteers (same gender or a couple). Showers and toilet facilities are communal and hot water is supplied by solar energy therefore sometimes restricted. Electricity is freely available, however please be aware that sometimes it has been known to cut off during storms. Power sockets for electrical items are available in communal areas.

Three meals are provided on a help yourself basis - Breakfast includes toast and cereal; Lunch includes pasta, wraps, burgers or stirfry; and Evening Dinners include meat, fish, vegetables, rice, potatoes and pasta. On weekends we often have a braai (barbecue). Tea and coffee are freely available throughout the day and other drinks and snacks can be purchased at the Sanctuary.

Please advise any special dietary requirements on arrival at the project. A vegetarian option is always available.

FUN ACTIVITIES & FREE TIME

During your 10 day stay at Solitaire the evenings are a time to unwind and relax after a long day in the veld. The small group of volunteers and the Research Co-ordinator will cook together and you can choose to spend the evenings as you wish with your fellow volunteers, stargazing or enjoying a drink at the nearby Guest Lodge.

If you choose to spend time at the Wildlife Sanctuary, you will have the evenings to relax with your fellow volunteers and all day Sunday free to yourself (although the farm animals still need to be fed!) On weekends you may enjoy activities such as a nature walk across the farm, swimming in our pool, playing football against the Bushman, abseiling, or an eco challenge competing in groups against your fellow volunteers, followed by a braai (barbeque) in the evening.

We offer a transfer into Windhoek every Sunday for N$150pp where you can visit the mall to pick up supplies, visit the internet cafe and enjoy a leisurely lunch at Windhoek’s most famous game restaurant. You can also choose to stay at our Luxury Guest Lodge – enjoy an evening meal or Sunday lunch, or stay overnight for a bit of luxury! All our Volunteers receive a special discounted rate. BOOK NOW!

To make a booking or enquiry please email [email protected] .

We do hope you will join us to make a difference to African conservation and have the trip of a lifetime!