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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The African lion conservation projects at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe and Livingstone, Zambia are always popular – and have been made even more so this year by the TV programme covering this important work.

The result is that volunteer placements for July and August are practically full, and September has only a few places left. If working – and walking – with lions interests you at all, you really need to get int touch with us as soon as possible.

Although we always try to fit you in, if you have set holiday plans then as a general rule it is wise to book lion projects at least six months in advance. If your plans or more flexible, then a waiting list does exist, but it is very rare that people drop out.

There are places left for this year, and bookings are open for 2011, but they fill up fast. If you need more info, just drop us a line.

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!

Last night’s was fascinating and showed just how volunteers like you are involved in all aspects of this vital work – including carrying a big metal crate with a grumpy 18 month old lion inside!

I should explain, in case you missed it, that this was two lions arriving at Antelope Park from our other facility at Victoria Falls. They were transferred because they are at an age where the huge enclosure at the park gives them more opportunity to get used to big wide-open wild Africa!

Victoria Falls is just as involving and perhaps more “up-close and personal” in some ways, because the enclosures are smaller and a bit more intimate for the early rehabilitation, but Antelope Park is entirely fenced so offers greater freedom for near adult lions.

Of course a near adult lion is a considerable size and weight, and while you can be involved in lion walks over some distance, to get from Victoria Falls means temporarily crating up our two juveniles so that everyone – and particularly the lions – are safe during the transfer.

On arrival at Antelope Park the lion cages are swiftly man-handled to the initial enclosures by as many volunteers as are available. The aim is to be as quick as possible to reduce animal stress to a minimum. Sometimes one of the occupants can be a little grumpy though, so the main instruction is to keep your hands clear of any holes from which a claw might poke!

As usual, everything went smoothly and our two new guests were safely installed. If you want to now what happens next you can watch next week’s programme (Wednesday night, 7.00pm, ITV1) or better yet, come and help us!

Current lion conservation volunteering options are Antelope Park, Victoria Falls or Livingstone. The series is very popular and has brought lots of inquiries so we suggest you get in touch soon!

Mothers and cubs are doing well with just a slight complication. The first two were born to “Kenge” and everything is going smoothly there. The third was born to “Mafuta” and it seems she’s not so keen on her new charge and the little female was rejected.

It happens. Fortunately the cub is now being cared for by the lion manager and it would seem it’s fit, strong and noisy!

From around February time, when the cubs are big enough, they will start to be out on lion walks with volunteers, so they can get used to their environment. If you would like to be among them you’ll want to check out details of the Antelope Park Project here.

Other African lion conservation projects are also available:

Lion Conservation at Victoria Falls

Lion Conservation at Livingstone

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