In Namibia, Volunteers Focus on Water Issues
HILARY HOWARD, New York Times
December 3, 2006

Travelers inspired by Brangelina's postnatal charity work in Namibia take note: subsistence farmers there -- and the 600 desert elephants who drink their water -- need your help. In Damaraland, in the northwest area of the Namib Desert, a volunteer project is under way to build protective structures around water sources used by farmers and to create additional watering areas for the elephants.

The project, called Elephant Human Relations Aid, was founded three years ago by Johannes Haasbroek, a conservationist whose efforts have already secured water sources at 35 local farms. Abenteur Afrika Safaris (www.abenteuerafrika.com) recently teamed up with the project to offer a volunteer vacation experience, which is open to anyone able-bodied and interested, and can last anywhere between two weeks and three months.

''I knew that the project would be appealing to many people from all over the world, as the area we work in is incredibly beautiful, plus it gives many concerned tourists a chance to be involved in conservation work, live in nature and experience the desert elephants at close quarters,'' Mr. Haasbroek said.

''It's a privilege beyond description, spending time in the desert among people brimming with passion and dedication, and getting an insider's glimpse of these magnificent animals,'' Doreen Niggles, of East Hampton N.Y., said of the experience. She has been to Namibia twice and intends to return next year.

The work is not glamorous; participants are expected to set up mobile base camps, sleep in tents and bathe using buckets of water. Volunteer responsibilities -- besides protecting and creating water sources -- include teaching farmers new skills, and researching and tracking wild elephants (above). Rates for two-week slots start at $736.41, and include food, ground transportation and lodging.

Article at the following link: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9404E7D8103EF930A35751C1A9609C8B63

abenteuer afrika is e very reliable destination management company which deals with every kind of safaris within namibia!
i am very pleased to learn that hilmar tonnemacher, one of the owners, is involved in such a senseful project and supports it!
and the costs involved seem very favourable to me as i know from other organisations/projects which charge much much more for similar experiences/programs as e.g. cheetah conservation fund (cheetah.org)!

Pippa:

I think as more and more of the baby boomer generation retires, many of them will be looking for volunteer situations. I think it is great for these two organizations to have such programs, and I would hope that many more will follow -- not only wildlife organiza-
tions but schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc.