Desert Elephant Conservation - Family Volunteer Reviews

Linda and Luca (mother and son) 

“We went into this not fully understanding what was required of us however the support of POD and consequent support of local staff, in particular Christine and Hendrick was superb. It was professional, informative and fun! A truly phenomenal experience! 

What did you find most rewarding?
The work we did in the school and the children’s faces and seeing the good work the project do. 

What did you find most challenging?
Being organised!

What advice would you give to others who are considering this placement?
Lots of layers, a good head torch and water bottle

Why did you choose Pod Volunteer?
Felt a professional organisation

Would you recommend Pod Volunteer? Yes”

Billy - 13 years old 

“Even without the great feeling you get from helping others, this project was fun anyway. I’m not going to deny it is hard work - lugging heavy stuff around under a hot sun is never going to be easy, and if your work gloves are rubbish, blisters aren’t enjoyable either. However, there’s enough easy jobs, like shovelling goat poop (not my favourite) job and raking out the vegetable patches. But the after work bit was probably the best.

Sleeping in the tree house under the stars, Chris’s star gazing thing, playing football with the random guy in the green shirt, trying to teach baby Gami how to throw a ball, climbing the neighbouring hill, sitting around the camp fire wrapped in a blanket, chatting and roasting marsh mallows. All this is ten times better as there are no mopani bees in the evening. Nevertheless, the rest day was still very welcome, even if Hendrick’s idea of a lie in is seven o’clock. Also, he decided to take us on a walk, to tell us about the local trees and the wildlife, as well as how to find your way if you are lost, which was interesting, if slightly worrying as we were about to start patrol week . 

Elephant patrol week is not just following elephants around in a truck, you also see jackals, oryx, giraffes, baboons, meercats, ostrich, rock hyrax and loads of antelopes. We had lunch in the nice cool shade of a tree everyday, and most tried to have a siesta, which was frequently disrupted by our friends the mopani bees. Unlike at camp, where there are lovely showers and toilets with a beautiful view of the riverbed, sadly neither of these are available during patrol week. You just get a packet of wet wipes, a shovel and an amazing view of the stars. On the last day of patrol, we went to a lodge with a swimming pool and a toilet. This was a lovely surprise, but surprise it was, so none of us had swimming costumes, so everyone just went in in their normal shorts. Our other visits were to the White Lady rock paintings and to the school, where the team had just built a wall to protect their vegetable garden. All the kids were really friendly to us, and most wanted to touch our hair or see a picture of themselves. Most were very confused by my braces and didn’t understand my explanations - their English was good, but not good enough to understand “they’re for straightening my teeth”. 

On patrol, we also slept out under the stars. This was amazing, if a little scary, but the fire was kept burning all night and we had Matais and Hendrick to protect us. Usually we pitched camp by a kopje, which is just a big pile of boulders. One night we decided to climb one, and the views from the top were amazing, especially the sunset. We then decided to climb it at dawn as well - not the greatest idea in the world as I consequently had to get up at quarter past five next morning.

When we finally left, it was really sad saying all our goodbyes to everyone, including the huge number of dogs. We parted ways with Rachel and the other families after our final dinner (just a hint - get the oryx steak!) back in Swakopmund. It was an amazing experience and I’d like to thank everyone involved, especially Hendrick and Rachel.

If you’ve actually bothered reading this whole review and I’ve managed to do this experience justice, which I almost definitely haven’t, and you are thinking of volunteering, I have two final words for you - do it.”

William – Father 

“Hard to believe that a little over a week ago, we were huddled up in our sleeping bags at the base camp watching the incredible star show that is the Namibian sky during the night!

Enjoying this view while trying to digest the previous 9 days of our time spent building a "hopefully" Elephant proof garden fence, sharing work, meals and kitchen duties with new friends and families from far away homes, going on patrol in search of the desert elephants, hearing and seeing new sights and sounds along with the lessons learned from our intrepid, soulful and knowledgeable guide Hendrick was a bit "heady" to say the least!
Back at home now and gradually or not so gradually re entering our daily lives and routines, it all seems like a wonderful dream from which you hope never to wake in fear of forgetting it all. Such are the thoughts and feelings that won't leave me alone.
As we move forward in the days and years ahead, I will hold on to the belief and hope that journeys of the type we shared with the team leave marks within and upon us as humans that are transformative in nature and which help us to better appreciate this planet we call home and for the people and creatures that have and will cross our path in our ongoing travels. To have this experience with my family is a gift that I will hold dear for the remainder of my life.

The team along with the desert elephant, the children at the primary school and the rugged and awesome natural beauty of Namibia and its people along with your collective passion and commitment to maintain a sense of balance between it all..... is a part of us now, and we are infinitely richer in mind, body and spirit for it.
With gratitude, admiration and respect, thank you!”

Ingela and family 

“You enter the basecamp and your daily life changes completely and you definitely  challege your comfort zones.  You explore emotions and touch feelings you might never felt before. You share daily life far away from standards you are used to with people from different parts of the world who have values and backgrounds that are different from yours. BUT, you unify under the same mission to build rockwalls in a primitive way with your bare hands and simple tools as well as processes, in order to crearte a win-win sitution between the locals and the desert elephants.  To suddenly see and experience the desert-elephants, those you vision, became a mighty humble feeling as well as a unique memory for life. Counting shooting stars while you sense the smoke from the fireplace and hear the calm breath from some of your peers who are sleeping after a heavy workingday.

This is a microscopic extract of what we as a family experienced during two fantastic weeks.

Our contribution to the important mission of the project, and the great employees who make your voluntary weeks a genuine experience, feels small and we hope many more volunteer will support the great work and mission.”