Volunteer Programme Wildlife Orphan Rescue Experience hands on wildlife orphan care & rehabilitation What does volunteering at Free to be Wild entail ? Join the day to day work at Zimbabwe’s first animal sanctuary built to house and rehabilitate primates alongside a wide variety of other species of wildlife. Work alongside the projects founder, Baye Pigors, who was awarded the Unsung Conservation Hero’s Award by Africa Geographic in 2016. Enjoy hands-on experience with wildlife orphans Help raise baby monkeys and baboons from bottle-feeding to bush walks Work with a range of species from zebra to warthogs, birds to bush babies Assist with feeding, husbandry & enrichment Join the team when veterinary or rescue work is carried out Understand the rehabilitation process Be a part of releasing a rehabilitated animal Help monitor released animals Enjoy the stunning national parks, museums, markets and the wildlife of Zimbabwe in your free time. “Volunteer tourisim plays a key role in achieving our goals of raising awareness and contributing towards a solution to the human wildlife conflict.” www.FreetobeWildSanctuary.com About Free to be Wild Sanctuary The sanctuary began when Baye Pigors, a local Zimbabwean, was unable to find a rehabilitation facility for a baby baboon she had rescued and so she decided to start her own sanctuary, in her home town of Bulawayo, specialising in the rescue and care of primates. Since those humble beginnings the centre has grown into a recognised wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release centre with an open door policy to all wildlife species. The sanctuary cares not only for primates but also rare and endangered species such as pangolins and vultures, as well as the not to be forgotten smaller creatures like hedgehogs and owls. The sanctuary is not open to the public and relies soley on donations from the genereal public to operate. The aim of the Sanctuary is to save and release as many animals as funds allow. As a registered trust, volunteers play an important role in the generation of funds towards the running of the sanctuary. Every volunteer allows numerous animals to be saved. Volunteers fit right into the team and enjoy working and socialising with staff and colleagues. Many animals brought to the sanctuary are not suitable candidates even for a ‘soft release’ due to mental and physical issues relating to their past. Those that are suitable are all released onto the trust’s associated release sites when they are rehabilitated and ready for release back into the wild. Every Species. Every Life. Counts. www.FreetobeWildSanctuary.com What your days will look like… While volunteering at the sanctuary your key activities can be broken down as follows: Animal Feeding Behaviour Enrichment Participate in the regular bottle feeding of Bush walks with the orphans stimulating orphaned animals them to explore their natural habitat Nutritional planning for a variety of Build toys, platforms & playgrounds herbivores, omnivores & carnivores Become a part of the troop as you care for Daily food prep and feeding of all resident the young orphaned monkeys and baboons & rescued animals Don’t be fooled though, just when we think & Rescue Release we have seen it all, something new pops Help nurture & raise orphaned wildlife up! Undertake snare sweeps and boundary patrols of release site From scooping suffocating fish out of a Care for the permanent residents who can drying lake, to driving across the country to not be released pick up a traumatised monkey, the days Monitor released animals as they are are varied, busy and never dull. offered a second chance www.FreetobeWildSanctuary.com Life at the Sanctuary Where you will be staying Location Your accommodation will be on-site at the sanctuary in our Free to be Wild is situated in the second largest city of Zimbabwe; Bulawayo, also known as the “City of Kings”. Volunteer Village. The village consists of: • 2 x rooms each with two single beds Old colonial architecture nestles effortlessly amoungst the • 1 x room with a double bed (usually occupied by the new. Wide tree lined avenues of blooming lilac Jacaranda or volunteer co-ordinator when in residence.) flaming red Flamboyant drop thier blossom, carpeting the • 2 x separate bathrooms with toilets and shower run roads. From being the gateway to Matopos Hills National on solar geyers. Park to the friendly hospitality, Bulawayo is renowned and • 1 x kitchen area to prepare your daily meals draws travellers from far and wide. • 1 x lounge area to socialise and relax in Volunteers are encouraged to join the team socially for Being on-site allows you to remain close to the orphans and evening dinners, day trips and nights out. This is a chance on-hand for any night time bottle feeds. In some cases you to really intergrate with the local community and see the real may even find yourself with a little orphan sleeping with you Zimbabwe. through the night. www.FreetobeWildSanctuary.com Start Dates The project starts every Monday throughout the year, though alternative start dates can be accommodated, as can tailored periods of stay or multi-project trips. Just get in touch to find out more. What is included? What you pay It’s pretty much everything! • Flights to and from project • Induction and training on the project • Visas • Accommodation onsite at the Sanctuary • Travel costs during your stay • 3 x meals a day - produce supplied, • Any excurions not related to the volunteers cook their meals together. project including trips to town. • Transfer to and from airport / bus stop • All teaching and education • Transport relating to the project The projects mission is for there to be • 24 hour project co-ordinator available no primates in captivity in Zimbabwe. Arrival You need to arrive at Bulawayo Airport or bus station, on the day your project starts. A member of the team or a driver will meet you and transport you to your accommodation. Upon arrival you will be shown your room and given an induction by the volunteer co-ordinator. www.FreetobeWildSanctuary.com General information Food Volunteers are provided with food to make their own meals. We tailor to Visas your dietary needs as much as possible, just let us know what you like It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa for the and what you can’t eat! The team generally goes out for dinner once a entire length of your stay. Please ensure you request a business visa week. on your application form when you arrive in Zimbabwe. The business visa is valid for one month. Please be sure to give the correct Finance depature dates and that this is correctly dated on the visa that Local Currency: US Dollar authorities put in your passport. Should you wish to stay at the Volunteers typically spend around $75 -$100 per week for personal Sanctuary for longer than one month you will have to contact us items such as dinner, snacks, drinks and souveniers. We recommend directly as you will be required to apply for a Temporary Employment that you travel with cash as your main source of funds as there is no Permit (TEP) which costs US$500. access to ATMS and many smaller shops do not accept debit or credit Some nationalities are required to arrange your visa in advance so check with the Zimbabwe embassy in your country of residence to Travel Insurance establish your visa requirements well in advance. Passport holders of Travel insurance is compulsory and must include cover for emergency the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand and most EU countries evacuation and repatriation as well as lost or delayed luggage. Please can obtain their tourist visa upon arrival into Zimbabwe. Please check ensure you are covered for the entire duration of your trip, from the day this before you travel. you leave you country until the day you return. Ensure that you are covered for all activities you plan on participating in within your *These are simply a guideline and may be subject to change without notice: programme and travelling elsewhere (e.g. bungee jumping / rafting in Victoria Falls). Visa required countries British and Irish Single Entry - US$ 30 Single Entry - US$ 55 If possible we recommend your insurance covers you for having to leave the programme early. No refunds will be issued in all but exceptional Double Entry - US$ 45 Double Entry - US$ 70 circumstances should you have to leave prior to your scheduled Canada departure date. Single Entry - US$ 75 www.FreetobeWildSanctuary.com General information continued… Health and Saftey Electricity A change in environment, climate, food and lifestyle can result in minor The village and sanctuary is run entirely off solar electricty only, therefore illness. Please inform staff if you feel unwell at any time. We applicances like hairdryers etc are of no use and the charging of electrical recommend you obtain professional advice on immunisations before items can be slow. Electricity in Zimbabwe is limited and there are you travel. The project is not in a high risk Malaria region, but we would frequent long power outages. We recommend bringing solar chargers for advise that anti-malaria medication is taken as directed by your doctor, your devices and a head tourch will come in handy. Socets are three pin, especially if you plan to visit the Victoria Falls area. UK style. A rabies vaccination is recommended but not required. All animals at the sanctuary are vaccinated against rabies. Laundry Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world and we There is a housekeeper at the volunteer village and should you have kindly request that no sexual activities are carried out while on laundry that needs to be done this can be arranged with them.