Okavango Wilderness Project

Discover the stunning Okavango Delta, home to many of Africa’s most charismatic species.

A vast maze of waterways, bushlands, dry pans and Kalahari desert vegetation, Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s last true wildernesses. Home to the largest population of elephants on Earth, this awe-inspiring landscape is also one of the last strongholds of the endangered African wild dog.

As a volunteer on our Okavango Wilderness Project, you’ll join an intrepid team of conservationists in these spectacular surroundings. You’ll assist directly in monitoring priority species according to guidelines set out by the Botswana government. 

With 900,000 acres (360,000ha) to explore, you’ll also find yourself covering some serious distances in the wild and picking up a variety of bushcraft skills.

Find out more in the video below - you can click 'CC' for subtitles and find chapters in the progress bar!

A pack of African wild dogs in the middle of a track in the Okavango Delta

Rhino Rating Tells you how physical the experience is. Click to find out more.

This project has a "Rhino Rating" of 3

Species

  • Lion
  • Leopard
  • Hyena
  • African Wild Dog
  • Sable Antelope
  • Antelope
  • Buffalo
  • Giraffe
  • and many more.

Conservation Impact

  • Wildlife research

Country

🇧🇼 Botswana

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Highlights

A real wilderness experience

With nearly a million acres to monitor, you’ll regularly move from camp to camp. The accommodation is basic and pretty raw, just as you’d expect in such a remote part of the world.

Work with Africa’s most iconic species

The Okavango Delta is an area of incredible biodiversity. As a volunteer, you’ll get to observe elephants, wild dogs, lions, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles and many other species in their natural environment.

Explore the infamous Moremi Game Reserve

During your experience, you’ll get to participate in a game drive through one of Africa’s most biodiverse wildlife reserves.

Pick up bushcraft skills

The experience of living in such a remote a basic bush camp wouldn’t be complete without learning a few bush survival skills. You may even learn how to make and bake bread on a fire.

Preserve the vast KAZA TFCA

Our project site is situated within the expansive Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), a remarkable expanse that spans across five neighbouring countries and covers an impressive 519,912 km² (200,739 sq mi), a size larger than Spain.

Government approved

This project’s work feeds directly into the objectives of the Government of Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and complies with the South African Regional Environmental Program (SAREP) standardised wildlife monitoring protocols. It was created in partnership with well-known bodies like the Okavango Research Institute (ORI) and longtime Okavango Delta expert Christiaan Winterbach.

Do

As a conservation traveller on our Okavango Wilderness Project, you’ll be part of a small and close-knit team of conservationists. You’ll get involved with every aspect of project life and make a real contribution to Botswana’s wildlife conservation:

Wildlife monitoring

The project’s main goal is to monitor the movement and populations of various species.

  • Monitor wildlife including predators and antelope
  • Use ‘line transects’ to collect data on wildlife in the area
  • Use GPS equipment to record transects and wildlife sightings
  • Set up camera traps to monitor elusive species
  • Survey wildlife dynamics at waterholes
  • Used fixed point photography to monitor seasonal changes in plants
  • Survey plants and animals to gain a better understanding of the Okavango Delta ecosystem as a whole

Practical conservation

There aren’t many home comforts in the Okavango Delta so you’ll have to lend a hand wherever it’s needed.

  • Help to maintain the camps
  • Learn basic skills to maintain your monitoring vehicle in the field

Learn

As well as gaining hands-on experience (which you can read about under the ‘do’ tab), you’ll also learn about the conservation, ecology, biology and behaviour of the region’s wildlife.

Conservation

  • Human-wildlife conflict, a growing issue in Botswana as wildlife populations continue to increase
  • Wildlife poaching, anti-poaching methods in the field and relocation programmes
  • How and why the hunting ban was introduced in Botswana and the challenges of keeping it in place
  • Employment issues for local communities in former hunting areas

Ecology

  • The natural environment of African species including elephant, African wild dog, lion, leopard and spotted hyena
  • The unique ecosystems of the Okavango Delta and how they’re created
  • The role of different species in the different ecosystems
  • The impact of wildlife population growth on the ecosystem in the wake of the hunting ban
  • Seasonal changes and how this affects plants and wildlife movement

Biology

  • The physiology and natural diets of African species including lion, leopard, African wild dog and elephant.
  • Native African plants, reptiles, amphibians and birds in the Okavango Delta

Behaviour

  • Natural animal behaviour in a region that is unfenced, unmanaged and has little human intervention
  • The mass migration of large herds of animals
  • The relationship between predator and prey species
  • Behaviour of animal groups, such as the hierarchy systems in prides of lions, troops of primates and herds of antelope
  • Predator hunting behaviour and the differences between social predators such as lions, hyena and African wild dogs, compared with solitary predators such as leopards and cheetah
  • Predator territorial behaviour
  • Breeding behaviour of African species including lion, African wild dog, leopard and elephant

Costs

Can I volunteer at more than one project and how much will it cost?

Most of our travellers like to combine multiple projects to create a tailor-made trip. The combined price of projects is cheaper than the individual projects added up online. 

We offer combinations of conservation projects, transport between them, accommodation and travel insurance as you require. We are a travel operator, not an agent, which means we take full responsibility for your trip which will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL.

We will discuss your options and tailor your experiences so you can realise your dreams.

How do I book?

Your journey to Africa starts with our online application form. This is your chance to tell us about yourself and what you want from your African experience. Following our communication, we’ll send you a bespoke itinerary and quote. Then, you only need to pay a deposit amount of GBP 295 / USD 400 / CAD 500 / AUD 500 / EUR 350 to book your entire trip.

The cost below for this experience includes:

  • Accommodation

  • Internal Flights

  • Airport Meet & Greet

  • Transfers

  • 24/7 Support

  • Personal Guidance

  • Meals

Cost Calculator

Total Cost: GBP 0000