After the ongoing stress of BA air strikes and volcanic ash clouds we left from Heathrow to Joburg without any problems or delays. The flight was brilliant and I fell asleep after our meal, only to awake to my husband telling me we’d arrived.

We collected our cases at Joberg and re-booked them in (we were told to do this because luggage can go astray otherwise). On arrival at Vic Falls, Zimbabwe, we queued for our visas. I would get a multi-entry visa if I go again because if you cross the border to Zambia or Botswana it is 55 US dollars to re-enter and it makes trips very expensive.

We were picked up by 3 chaps from lion encounter who were very friendly and helpful, and taken to out lodge. The accommodation is basic but clean and it suited the type of holiday it was.

Vic Falls was very small but at no time did we ever feel threatened even if we were out walking at night. People do approach you in the street to buy curios but they are harmless and there is no need for concern.

Sundays are days off and usually volunteers group together to do activities (there is something for everyone). My husband and I did a flying fox and a zip wire across Victoria Falls gorge. This was enough for us but there are much more daredevil type things for those who are inclined.

If you do want an afternoon off at any time to go on a sunset cruise down the mighty Zambezi or go for high tea at Victoria Falls hotel the staff on the project will usually be happy to oblige.

The lion encounter itself was truly amazing. We spend hours each day with the lions cubs, walking with them, playing with them, feeding them and going out on client walks (these are ‘Joe Public’ who pay 115 US dollars for a 45 minute walk with the lions). We take photos of them and make sure they don’t do anything silly or put themselves at risk.

You do have lion training, learning how to read their body language, how to approach the lions and all the other do’s and dont’s. We built a platform for one of the lion enclosures. We also learnt a great deal about the African bush including tracking skills, survival skills and medicines from the bush.

As a volunteer the project aims to please and throw in a lot of extras for you at no extra cost. We spent a morning with elephants, mucking out, filling in holes etc but then we had a wonderful elephant ride through the bush back to Masuwe where the lion project is based. These elephants are wonderful and to get up close was just fantastic. We hand fed them and spent some time stroking and fussing them.

We were taken on a night game drive in the bush where we set up a camp fire and had a BBQ. It was very cold by the end of the night and those who took blankets were very wise! The day game drive was also fantastic and all these extras were free! There were other free activities but the problem was fitting them all into a very busy working holiday.

We ate out most evenings although there were 3 meals a day included in the price. The food was plain and I just felt the need to try the local delights. Lots of curios and things to buy but we started off paying a lot more for them and ended up getting them for next to nothing – you must learn to barter!

It was a holiday to be reckoned with and jolly hard to beat. It was excellent value for money. The people were kind, courteous and friendly. I am saving up for our next trip.

Mrs M, UK

If you would like to make the same trip as these satisfied volunteers you can check full details here.

For reasons of privacy we have not published the names of these African volunteers. However, we do have the original letter at our office if anyone wants to check its authenticity.

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Following the success of David Youlden’s ITV series about our lions conservation and rehabilitation at Antelope Park (Wednesday nights, 7.00pm, ITV1), our wildlife volunteers in Africa are in the news again!

This time it’s 18 year old volunteer Ivan Troev writing about his experiences in an upcoming edition of the popular travel magazine RealTravel.

Our people on the ground in Africa are already calling 2010 a “roaring success” (sorry about the pun) and such positive exposure for such an important venture can only add to the benefits for the most important characters in this story – the African lions themselves!

Obviously we can’t give you a lot of the content of the magazine, but one of Ivan’s quotes was “I came to realize that, like us, lions are intelligent, sentient creatures, capable of feeling, caring and loving others… for me, actually seeing and interacting with these amazing creatures is more than simply a volunteering experience… a world without lions simply wouldn’t be worth living in…”

We couldn’t agree more!

Current lion conservation volunteering options are Antelope Park, Victoria Falls or Livingstone. As you can imagine, recent publicity has made these exciting volunteering opportunities very popular so we suggest you get in touch soon!

Well what if it could be you? What if you found out that all you needed was the enthusiasm?

Well, not quite all. You’ll need a digital SLR camera of course with an 18-55 lens, and as much memory as you can afford. Well you wouldn’t want to miss anything. More lenses might be helpful to you but that will depend on you, it’s not a requirement. Nor is any experience. You would be going to Africa to learn.

There’s a catch, of course, but it’s one you will probably be more than happy with. You will need to work with our volunteer wildlife conservation organization, and as a volunteer you have to pay your way. But then what would you pay to have a photography expert give you tuition while taking pictures in the African bush? This isn’t instructions from a book, this is actually being there.

Here are the kind of things involved:

1. You will have the highly qualified, intensive help of  a professional photographer in one of Africa’s spectacular national parks. You will have the opportunity to photograph the stunning scenery, like Victoria Falls or those strange Baobab trees, and the magnificent animals.

2. Your photographs will help build a valuable and important library of wildlife which will raise awareness of conservation issues.

3. You will be able to share your knowledge and enthusiasm, using your photography to help educate local children so that generations to come can preserve and manage these areas.

4. While part of the time you are an African wildlife photographer, at other times you can help in the actual regeneration and preservation of the bush itself.

5. With the help of expert guides you can become an expert on the local flora and fauna. A photogropher who knows their subject intimately is always a better photographer.

6. You can increase the scope and diversity of your portfolio. If professional photography is your aim, how much better will your chances be with this kind of spectacular imagery in your arsenal?

7. Experience the adventure that is Africa and make friendships that will last a lifetime.

So yes, you could be that African wildlife photographer. Alternatively I suppose you could visit your local zoo, but you know that’s never going to be the same. For more details about volunteer African wildlife photography in the amazing iSimangaliso Wetland Park in St Lucia, South Africa, click here.

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