Volunteering at Antelope Park
Make a difference with community and wildlife at Antelope Park, Zimbabwe
Why Volunteer at Antelope Park
Antelope Park, Zimbabwe ́s leading private game park is located in the heart of the country, close to the town of Gweru, set in over 3000 acres of open savannah grassland; with an abundance of stunning Wildlife including Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Impala, Kudu and Waterbuck; alongside over 200 bird species!
This paradise for Wildlife doesn’t stop there, Antelope Park is also home to three of the big five, Rhino, Elephant and Lion!
Here, getting up close and personal with these majestic creatures is not just guaranteed but also a daily occurrence!
Antelope Park Volunteer Projects
Horse Volunteering
1 – 12 Weeks
Antelope Park
From $1405 USD
Discover incredible wildlife and scenery from the saddle, while taking part in vital stable mgt, with incredible horse activities on offer.
Wildlife Conservation
2 – 12 Weeks
Antelope Park
From $1575 USD
Volunteer with wildlife in Zimbabwe for the ultimate opportunity to get fully involved with all aspects of conservation and animal management, as well as encountering African Big 5 species daily, including lion, rhino, and elephant!
Community Teaching
1 – 12 Weeks
Antelope Park
From $1150 USD
Be part of our goal to improve education, by providing essential individualised classroom support to kids eager to learn and prosper.
Why Volunteering At Antelope Park Is For You!
Wildlife, Horses, Making a Difference – does it get any better?
Antelope Park is a home away from home, our participants on project here say they have felt instantly welcome and relaxed from the moment they arrive but don’t just take it from us:
‘I arrived at Antelope Park 6 weeks ago and can truly say it has changed my life forever! I have not only learnt so much from Ted the stables manager but I have also made friendships to last a lifetime with people from all over the world! I have been riding for over 15 years but I was really surprised by how much my riding has improved since being here. All the different activities and horses kept everyday exciting and gave everyone, no matter their experience the opportunity to learn something new each day.
Whilst I love the riding activities (particularly polocrosse, which was so fun to learn) the evening activities may actually be my favourite part…
Spending time with friends after a day on project going on game drives through the park to watch the sunset, playing nigh games out in the bush under the brightest stars, Quiz Nights on the deck on a Sunday, parties on a weekend, overnight horse safaris, boat cruises with a beer in hand, campfires by the dam – ever activity we did was just so much fun, I don’t think I ever stopped laughing!
Antelope Park has a magic that can’t be replicated anywhere else!‘ – Eliza Fletcher, UK / March 2024
Antelope Park Highlights & Excursions
Antelope Park is situated in a reachable distance of some of Zimbabwe’s most iconic destinations, not forgetting some incredible horse opportunities right here at the park.
VICTORIA FALLS - 4 DAY TRIP
They don’t call this adrenaline-filled town the adventure capital of the world for nothing! Choose the type of experience that is right for you, or several of them ranging from white water rafting down the Zambezi river to bungee jumping over it! Enjoy a group dinner at an African themed restaurant where you will have the chance to try everything from crocodile to warthog!
OVERNIGHT HORSE SAFARI
Experience Africa’s wildlife on horseback, ride through the dam to cool down and have a swim with your horses. Then settle down at our bush camp for a special 3-course dinner around the campfire with your new friends. Sleep under the stars and wake up to the wonderful sounds of nature and a delicious cooked breakfast.
STABLES ACTIVITIES
Antelope Park has stunning stables with different activities ranging from safaris to polocrosse games.
GREAT ZIMBABWE RUINS - DAY TRIP
These are Africa’s 2nd oldest ruins behind the pyramids and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the day trekking around these ancient ruins and learn about ancient kings of the past and ancient Zimbabwean culture.
MATOPOS - DAY TRIP
Spend the day in Matopos National Park tracking rhinos on foot! This is a unique chance to get up close and personal with these endangered animals and take in the natural beauty of Matopos.
Volunteer Accommodation
You will spend your days and nights in an authentic African thatched lodge, surrounded by nature and wildlife. You will share either a twin or quad room with your fellow volunteers, with access to clean toilet and shower blocks within the volunteer village.
The volunteer village consists of a social volunteer lounge & firepit. You will have access to the laundry facility and WIFI is available to purchase at the park. You will enjoy the taste of African home cooking, with three tasty meals provided for you each day.
You will be immersed into the true African bush. Wake up to the sounds of lions roaring at the crack of dawn each morning. At the end of the day, you can cool off by the pool or relax with a cold drink at our raised deck bar overlooking the river. There you can watch birds and horses interacting in their natural environment or hear the wonderful sound of bush babies in the distance as the sun goes down.
Accommodation upgrades at the park’s authentic lodge are available to those who wish to have a more ‘exclusive’ volunteer experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like at Antelope Park?
Seasons:
December- March: Rainy Season (Expect plenty of rain so come prepared!)
May/ June-August: Winter (It can get VERY cold at Antelope Park during the winter.)
September- November: a Very hot season, especially in October.
April-May: Transition from summer to winter; still very warm, but with some colder spells)
The climate in Gweru and at Antelope Park is considerably cooler than the rest of Zimbabwe. Don’t be fooled into thinking that African heat does not apply here, it certainly does! We advise you to pack accordingly to the season that you plan on joining us in.
The weather and climate in Southern Africa are reversed to the Northern Hemisphere. The weather is generally warm reaching hot most days, with evening cool to warm evenings.
However, during the winter months, May-September the climate drops significantly, with the evenings and early mornings dropping to very low temperatures, although the days will warm up by mid-morning. Warm jackets and shoes are essential for this time.
The summer months, October- April can get very hot; with October reaching peak temperatures.
Between the raining season December-February, you can expect a lot of rain. Boots and waterproofs are essential for this time.
It is worthy to note that the climate in different areas of Zimbabwe can differ hugely.
Check out our packing list for more guidelines on what to pack, depending on the time of year you choose to join us!
Is Antelope Park safe?
Despite how Zimbabwe is often portrayed in the Western media, Zimbabwe remains a very safe country to visit and considerably safer than our neighbour, South Africa.
Antelope Park is a very safe and secure game park, nestled in the African bush. The safety is our volunteers is our utmost priority. While you are in camp, you are free to wander around and enjoy all our facilities on offer. We have free-roaming wildlife out in the park and our resident lions are safely homed there as well. It is important that you do not exist camp or open any gates out of camp or into the game park, without a manager with you.
Our closest town is Gweru, were we offer volunteer trips on a weekly basis. Check out our safety tips for more information about keeping safe at Antelope Park, out in the town or on our community; project as you explore all the incredible opportunities Zimbabwe has to offer.
What is the currency in Zimbabwe?
International tourists in Zimbabwe are able to use the US dollar ($), at tourist resorts. Antelope Park accepts US dollars and in most tourist places, US dollars are widely accepted.
However, you will not be able to spend US Dollars in the local town. We have measures in place to enable volunteers to buy and spend in the local town.
We ask you to bring plenty of USD cash with you, as you will not be able to withdraw cash in Zimbabwe, due to the national shortage of currency.
Which Electrical Plugs are found at Antelope Park?
The power sockets at Antelope Park are ‘Type G’ the square three-pin style, found in the UK & Ireland.
Is there Malaria at Antelope Park?
There is very low-risk malaria at Antelope Park or in the immediate surrounding areas. We do not advise that you need malaria medication while at Antelope Park. However, if you decide to take part in one of our incredible excursions while you are here (which we fully recommend you do) you may require medication.
There is a high risk of malaria in Victoria Falls, so we recommend you bring the correct malaria medication, while you are visiting one of the seven natural wonders of the world! Find out more about Victoria Falls here.
How do I get to Antelope Park?
Antelope Park is located in Gweru, in the midlands of Zimbabwe. Gweru is about 4 hours away from Harare and 2 hours from Bulawayo. We ask all our volunteers to fly into either Harare or Bulawayo airport, however, we encourage our volunteers to fly into Bulawayo as we will provide a free transfer to the park.
If you are arriving at either Harare/Bulawayo airport, we ask you to arrive on a Monday before 1pm. We can also organize a private transfer to both, at an additional cost, if you cannot arrange your flights for these days/locations.
Getting to Bulawayo: There is a daily flight from Johannesburg (O.R Tambo Intl,) with South African Airlink. We ask you to arrive before 1 pm, in time to use our transport, back to the park.
Getting to Harare: There are multiple international flights arriving into Harare airport, daily. We ask you to arrive before 1 pm, in time to use our transport, back to the park, which will be an additional cost of $250 per person per way.
What is the language in Zimbabwe/ Antelope Park?
The official language is English, alongside the two main local languages Shona and Ndebele. We ask that English is spoken amongst our volunteers. We have a large number of volunteers from different nationalities.
In order to create an inclusive environment, we ask English is spoken in social situations.
What is there to do at Antelope Park?
Your opportunities are endless at Antelope Park. From lion & elephant opportunities, to get involved with our stable activities, or simply enjoy the swimming pool, or enjoying a drink at our raised deck bar.
Here are just a few things you can get involved with, while you are here. Please note, depending on which project you choose to get involved with, extra activities will come at an additional cost.
- Elephant Walk
- Horse Safari
- Horse Swim
- Overnight Horse Safari
- Sunrise Ride
For those looking to relax in their spare time, you can explore our guest facilities, open to our volunteers as well:
- Swimming Pool
- Coffee Shop
Volunteering Safety Tips
- Do not enter any enclosure or fenced off areas without the supervision of animal handlers or managers on the ground.
- Do not wander outside of campgrounds on your own or without informing a member of staff.
- Follow all instructions given to you by your project manager, in particular when you are around our resident lions and walking cubs.
- Avoid travelling alone, especially at night.
- Ensure that excessive amounts of cash are left in safe boxes, not lying around in plain sight.
- Do not carry excessive amounts of cash on you
- If you are taking a taxi anywhere, make sure you book it in advance through a trusted and reliable driver.
- Avoid wandering down dark streets, even in large groups.
- Be aware and alert at bars. Do not leave your drink unattended at any time. If you drink has been left out of your sight, discard it.
- Do not enter township areas without being accompanied by one of our local staff members.
- Be wary of people who seem too friendly too fast.
- Avoid leaving your personal items like bags or mobile phones unattended.
- Do not share personal information with anyone under any circumstances.
- Save your project manager’s number on your phone and make sure to provide us with a copy of your emergency contact person at home.
Zimbabwe Vaccinations
Please consult with your private physician or doctor in regards to what immunizations or vaccinations are needed.
Our recommendations:
- Tetanus: Recommended.
- Hepatitis A&B: Recommended.
- Typhoid: Recommended.
- Polio: Recommended.
- Cholera: Given the history of the country, we recommend being immunized against cholera if coming to Zimbabwe.
- Malaria: We advise you to bring an ample supply of anti-malaria tablets to last the duration of your stay in Victoria Falls. Ask your doctor to prescribe the best ones available. We do NOT recommend Larium (sometimes can cause hallucinations) nor Doxycycline (man people have bad reactions to the sun using it)
- Yellow Fever: Zimbabwe and Zambia are not at risk to yellow fever. You only require a yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area.
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