Amandine and Laurent’s workshop with Namibian animals

Laurent and Amandine went on a training course with animals in Namibia, and tell us about their experience!

This was my first experience as a volunteer, and it lived up to my expectations.

A mixture of extraordinary human encounters, living in the refuge in contact with the animals and experiencing refuge life on a daily basis was an unforgettable experience. The team of coordinators is caring and attentive to the animals. Sharing our daily lives surrounded by animals, from the youngest to the oldest, has filled my head with wonderful memories.

Disconnection was the order of the day, and magic was present on a daily basis.

My only regret is that I didn't stay away longer!

Any special memories?

I can't tell you what I liked best, because every day was a new discovery, both about the past life of each animal and about how to care for it.

I think my favorite part was living with the animals around us, and being able to say good morning to them every morning, and good night to them every night.

A big heart for the meerkatsso much so that I adopted two of them: big up to my babies Alex and Julie!

If I had to evaluate my project...

- Pre-departure information : 5/5 everything was clear about the dates and the pick-up from the airport

- Registration process : 5/5 super easy and secure. I have same changed the dates 3 times and the team adapted

- Management / project coordinators : 4/5 the coordinators are great, attentive to everyone's well-being, the only downside is theorganization in terms of the various spots adjoining Naankuse. It was possible to organize different stays: Timbila, Neuras or a camping in the bush with the rhino rangers, but it was not possible, can be that it would have been easier to do so if we'd planned ahead. It's a pity.

- Volunteer schedule : 5/5 Very well organized, we get up early but have a break that allows us to rest and enjoy meeting the other volunteers, there are even sports sessions and the chance to play soccer with the locals. An extraordinary time.

- Food and lodging : 5/5 very comfortable accommodation, we were lucky enough to be in a house with an en-suite bathroom. All quiet (apart from the roar of the lions of course) and we discovered that there is the possibility of be in the bush, further from the farm but with a view of a waterhole and the chance to see animals like giraffes or rhinos as soon as you wake up.

Hot water almost every day, comfortable bed, laundry service... What more could you ask for :)

The food is decent, with respect for vegetarian dishes vegetarian disheswe eat our fill!

We even even even had a birthday cake for my boyfriend's birthday! A lovely team!

Of course, I'd recommend this course with animals, and I already do: simply because it was magic in the eyes and memories in the head.

I'd also recommend Freepackers for its ease of program management and, above all, its complete support. Initially I had to go it alone, and you never know how to tackle this kind of project and feel safe. Freepackers answers all our questions, and we set off with our eyes closed.