The following blog was written by volunteer Puneet Dhillion, who volunteered at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary for two weeks in November 2025.
Volunteering in Africa has been a lifelong dream of mine and a checkbox I always wanted to tick off my bucket list. In fact, it was the first place I put on my list at the grand old age of 12.
When choosing where to fulfil this dream with The Great Projects, I knew it had to be somewhere that truly made a difference. I was looking for a place that offered a unique, hands-on insight into conservation efforts in highly poached areas, while also connecting both the environment and the local community. I needed the whole package, and I found it at a wildlife sanctuary in Namibia, offering all the above on a platter. The Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary began as a single project and has grown into a vast organisation, making a meaningful and lasting impact on both Namibian wildlife and the people who share their land.
Volunteering at the sanctuary will see you waking up early and sometimes going to bed late, but you'll carry every unforgettable second with you for the rest of your life. Whether conducting research in the reserve, feeding the carnivores (big and small), going on long enrichment walks with baboons and cheetahs, working with the Anti-Poaching Unit and K9 unit, or the occasional spout of digging in the African sun, your days will never be shy of memorable.
Volunteering here will not only teach you about the animals, their stories and their path to recovery, but it will also teach you about second chances, patience and determination. Some days will push you, especially in the heat of the afternoon, some will have you craving a cold shower, or on rainy days, craving a hot one. Some days will be of a slower pace, watching for the animals to exhibit natural behaviours, and observing the slightest nuances in their body condition, social structures, and their amalgamation into the reserve. Other days will see you buzzing from place to place, racing around the sanctuary on the back of the truck, wind through your hair and a rush of adrenaline rushing you forward. Each and every day is different. And writes a story!
It’s through these experiences, or rather, through sharing these truly special moments with people from all around the world, that lifelong friendships are formed. These are the kinds of friendships you’ll find yourself telling your children about 20 years from now. They grow from conversations under sunsets, a well-earned cold drink in hand, and the all-too-important sharing of photos and stories from the day just lived.
These kinds of friendships touch your soul, leave a lasting impact, and give you a cheeky excuse to book another flight for the necessary catch-up after the volunteering trip ends. These friendships are formed not only with other volunteers, but with the wonderful community that lives there, too!
From the staff to the coordinators to the charming children who blow you away with their Friday morning assembly dances, you will walk away from Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary having met a group of people, animals and a landscape that will unavoidably shift something instinctual within you. A shift that will have you counting down the days until you can come back and do it all over again!
