I want to give special thanks to African Conservation Experience (ACE) for being amazing. My time with ACE has been truly life-changing. I was in a dark place, and my experience in Africa has brought a whole new light into my life. It has shown me how beautiful our world is and made me realise that we can save it, as long as enough people can see conservation's importance.
During my trip with ACE, I visited two extremely different projects: Okavango Wilderness Project and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
I really understood the importance of my daily work in the Okavango.
We spent our days tracking and collecting data on the wildlife. This was to ensure the research in this region had enough information to fully understand the movements of the Okavango's animal populations. The guides were perfect, they facilitated incredible wildlife encounters while teaching us valuable information about the species and ecosystem. The many elephants we encountered in this project were a particular highlight.
I don't know if I can even put into words how important my time at Moholoholo was. For those of us who are compassionate about conservation and wildlife, it's such a powerful and emotional project to be a part of.
Being a small part of an animal's rehabilitation and helping them survive and get back out into the wild, there are no words to describe it. The dedication the Moholoholo staff showed every day, through their diligence and hard work for the animals in their care, was inspiring.
A typical day at Moholoholo is quite diverse. We work six or seven days a week, starting at 6:30 in the morning. We begin by checking on the specific animals that have been assigned to you and your group, making sure they are healthy, eating well, and maintaining a good weight. We also clean their enclosures to ensure they have a clean place to rest. In the afternoon or late morning, we regroup and take care of any additional tasks that have come up during the day.
They were great at rotating tasks to give everyone a variety of experiences. If someone is particularly interested in working with a specific animal or in a certain area, they will usually get a chance to do so!
After our lunch and free time, we go out for afternoon rounds, where most of the larger animals like the big cats get fed. It's a fulfilling feeling, despite the hard work, to know that what we're doing means something.
One of the most memorable aspects of my experience was the connections and respect I formed with the animals. Whether that was in the wild in the Okavango or at the centre at Moholoholo.
My advice to prospective travellers is to read as much as you can about the project first and see if it piques your interest. If you like the sound of it, just do it. It'll change you, and I don't think you will ever regret it. I believe it's an experience of a lifetime.
I had an amazing experience volunteering with ACE and would do it again in a heartbeat. They were incredibly organised, and there was always someone available to assist me at every step.
I felt fully supported, whether it was through in-person assistance or easily reaching them by message or phone. They guided us through everything and answered all our questions - I never felt lost. Before volunteering, I did a lot of research into other companies and the ethics of volunteering. I can honestly say ACE truly exceeded my expectations.
Feeling inspired by Pamela Lopez's experience?
Learn more about Okavango Wilderness Project and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
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