If you’re planning a volunteering trip to the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary for three weeks or more, you’ve probably heard whispers about the sanctuary’s four epic add-on weeks. For our long-term supporters and returning volunteers, you may remember two of them as Kanaan Research Retreat and Neuras Adventure Week. And while the classics live on, we wanted to introduce you to two newer experiences!
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Think of these add-on weeks as your “choose-your-own-adventure” upgrade: from desert solitude to adrenaline-fuelled exploits, each week shows you a completely different side of Namibia.
For just £85, you can swap a week at the sanctuary for one of these add-on experiences, each built for a specific type of adventurer. This isn’t about cramming more into your trip; it’s about picking the week that fits how you want to feel while volunteering in Namibia. Let’s find your perfect match.
TimBila Nature Reserve
For people who want to see a real conservation impact
The land of second chances.
If you want to leave footprints that matter, TimBila is calling. This 33,500-hectare reserve gives wildlife a second chance; lions, elephants, rhinos, and wild dogs didn’t stumble here by accident; they were carefully relocated after successful, expert rehabilitation.
Here, you won’t just observe conservation, you’ll be in the trenches. Think game counts, habitat sampling, camera-trap analysis, and observing how an anti-poaching unit operates. But don’t worry, it’s not all work, and no play: sundowners with hippos nearby, open views on mountain hikes, and lodge downtime make sure your adventure is equal parts purpose and pleasure.
TimBila is for you if you:
- Want your time to feel genuinely useful.
- Care deeply about wildlife outcomes, not just sightings.
- Like structure, purpose, and knowing why you’re doing the work.
People choose the TimBila Nature Reserve when they want to leave, knowing they made a difference.
Kanaan Research Retreat
For people who are drawn to quiet, scale, and understanding
Kanaan doesn’t shout for attention, and that’s exactly its power.
If noise isn’t your friend, Kanaan might be your soulmate. Nestled in one of the oldest deserts on Earth, this 35,000-hectare research site is all about space, perspective, and the slow magic of ecosystem recovery. Fences are gone, structures dismantled, and the land given back to itself.
Your role? Quiet but essential: habitat monitoring, game counts, camera-trap work, and restoration. The land sets the pace, not the clock. Hikes across open sandscapes, star-strewn nights, and a coastal jaunt to Lüderitz for colour and ocean air round out a week of perspective you didn’t know you needed.
Kanaan is for you if you:
- Think best when it’s quiet.
- Are curious about research, ecology, and restoration.
- Feel most alive in wide, open landscapes.
The Kanaan Desert Retreat is the week people choose when they want clarity, not chaos.
Neuras Adventure Week
For people who want to be challenged mind, body, and soul
This week doesn’t pretend to be gentle; as the old adage goes, fortune favours the bold.
This is the most physically demanding Namibia adventure week, designed for people who don’t want to just see Namibia; they want to move through it. Every day involves hiking, often across rugged, exposed terrain, through some of the country’s most iconic landscapes.
You’ll climb the legendary Big Daddy dune, cross the ghostly white pan of Deadvlei, and take on the Olive Trail in the Naukluft Mountains. And in between, you’ll care for rescued cheetahs and cool off in natural freshwater springs, all of the moments of calm are earned through effort. You may also sample wine from the world’s second-driest vineyard, with the proceeds directly supporting conservation work, bond around the campfire under a star-lit sky, or show off your chef skills on pizza-making night.
Neuras is for you if you:
- Crave physical challenge and visible achievement.
- Want stories you earned the right to tell.
- Believe life’s better when it makes you sweat.
The Neuras Adventure Week is where people take on the land, feel alive in every step, and never forget a single view.
Coastal Conservation Week
For people who want freedom, variety, and energy
The coast is where structure loosens, by design.
If you’re allergic to schedules, the Coastal Conservation Week is built around meaningful beach clean-ups along Namibia’s rugged Atlantic shoreline, while finding your flow. You can push yourself hard or take it slow. Adrenaline or calm. Social or solo.
One day might involve collecting and documenting marine waste; the next, you might quad bike across dunes, kayak with seals, skydive, or simply sit with a coffee watching the ocean roll in. Nights bring beach camping, pizza evenings, braais, and sundowners.
This week is about fun with a side of impact.
Coastal is for you if you:
- Like options over instructions.
- Want conservation with a splash of fun.
- Feed off variety and shared experiences.
The Coastal Conservation Week is the one people choose when they want their trip to feel lighter, without losing purpose.
Add-On Weeks Comparison
Legend: ✔✔✔ = core experience | ✔✔ = strong feature | ✔ = present | ◐ = occasional | ✖ = not the focus
| If you want… | TIMBILA | KANAAN | NEURAS | COASTAL |
| Big wildlife conservation | Yes | Limited | Focused | Indirect |
| Research & ecology | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | ◐ | ✖ |
| Physical challenge | ◐ | ◐ | ✔✔✔ | ◐ |
| Iconic landscapes | ✔ | ✔✔✔ | ✔✔✔ | ✔✔ |
| Luxury/comfort moments | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | ◐ | ✔ |
| Social energy | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ |
| Freedom & flexibility | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔✔ |
| “I earned this” feeling | ✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔✔ | ◐ |
| Best for first-time volunteers | ✔✔✔ | ✔ | ◐ | ✔✔ |
Which Week Should You Choose?
Ask yourself:
- Do I want impact or intensity?
- Do I want quiet or energy?
- Do I want to contribute, explore, push myself, or reset?
Maybe you want to explore a few of them, or even all of them, and if you have the time, we absolutely recommend it. It’s the best way to experience Namibia from every angle, make memories that echo, and leave knowing you truly chose your own adventure.
However, we know that for some of you short on time, one or two options will have to take priority. If you’re still stuck, use our handy flowchart to guide your decision!
About the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
At the heart of these Namibian adventures is the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary, the place that brings it all together. This is where conservation meets action, and where volunteers don’t just pass through, but become part of something meaningful.
The sanctuary is home to rescued and rehabilitated wildlife, long-term conservation projects, and the people working daily to protect Namibia’s ecosystems. It’s your base, your reset button, and the thread that connects all the add-on weeks. Head over to the project page now and start planning your Namibia adventure.
If you're already booked on and interested in the add-on weeks, get in touch with our fabulous travel team to find out more!
