About P.A.W.S

Posted on Feb 1st, 2012

The AfriCat Foundation’s Unique and Exciting Volunteer Conservation Project based in the heart of the Namibian Bush

Welcome to P.A.W.S. part of AfriCat’s and Okonjima’s vision to restore the land back to its original state and once again witness the magnificent cheetah stalking and hunting its prey in it’s natural environment.  Africa’s fragile ecosystem and wildlife are inseparably linked, co-existing successfully since time began.

Unfortunately due to man’s influence this delicate balance is rapidly changing and the need to reverse this damage and protect our environment has become paramount.

A Successful Fence Rolling Morning!

Combining the management and implementation of fundamental conservation principals we aim to restore this balance and in time recreate this sustainable eco-system once more.  Through your involvement & commitment we are creating valuable employment and training opportunities for the local community to aid us with our vision.

Located in the heart of the Okonjima Game Reserve, this exciting eco- tourism project works alongside the AfriCat Foundation, the world’s largest animal welfare programme committed to the long term conservation and release of Namibia’s large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards.

Okonjima’s total reserve encompasses 55,000 acres (22,000 hectares) of which large sections still harbour the scars and remains of old commercial cattle farming land.

PAWS Volunteers Assisting at AfriCat's Annual Health Checks

It is this land that PAWS aims to restore and return back into a Game Reserve with the ultimate goal of introducing an amazing new variety of Namibian game into the area.

By choosing this project you will be undertaking essential reserve maintenance tasks which may include : dismantling old cattle farming fencelines, bush clearing tasks, road and dam maintenance due to soil erosion, a bi-weekly visit to R.E.S.T. (Rare And Endangered Species Trust) located on a bordering farm to assist them for a morning.  You will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation itself and jobs may include : bone and poo collecting within the cheetah camps, erecting and repairing fences etc.  There may also be the fantastic opportunity of assisting AfriCat with some of their exciting and varied Research Projects!   During their stay, volunteers will take part in a multitude of exciting Game Drives including :

Flex those Muscles!!

Visiting and learning in much more detail about the AfriCat foundation and its goals,  leopard tracking, cheetah tracking by foot, wild dog and hyena tracking by foot, bushman walks,  birding & game drives, sleeping out under the stars etc.   All very exciting and varied!

There is also a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the AfriCat Foundation to witness first hand the feeding of all the beautiful creatures at this sanctuary.

———————————————————————————————————————-

PAWS Volunteers Assisting at the Perivoli Country School based on Okonjima's Reserve

HISTORY
Okonjima meaning ‘place of the baboon’ turned from cattle farming to tourism in 1993 and shortly after launched the animal welfare foundation, AfriCat. The AfriCat Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to the long term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards and is home to a 16,000 hectare (32,000 acre) Cheetah Rehabilitation Reserve giving previously non-releasable cats a second chance to be wild and free. Okonjima’s total expanse encompasses a 22,000 hectare (55,000 acre) operational private nature reserve.

Other game to be seen include : leopard, giraffe,  hyena, wild dogs, oryx, kudu, zebra, impala, eland, wildebeest, red hartebeest, steenbok, dik-dik, and warthog.

Also nocturnal animals such as porcupine, honey badger, brown & spotted  hyaena, spotted genet, duiker, aardvark and over 250 bird species may be seen.

About P.A.W.S

Posted on Feb 1st, 2012

The AfriCat Foundation’s Unique and Exciting Volunteer Conservation Project based in the heart of the Namibian Bush

Welcome to P.A.W.S. part of AfriCat’s and Okonjima’s vision to restore the land back to its original state and once again witness the magnificent cheetah stalking and hunting its prey in it’s natural environment.  Africa’s fragile ecosystem and wildlife are inseparably linked, co-existing successfully since time began.

Unfortunately due to man’s influence this delicate balance is rapidly changing and the need to reverse this damage and protect our environment has become paramount.

A Successful Fence Rolling Morning!

Combining the management and implementation of fundamental conservation principals we aim to restore this balance and in time recreate this sustainable eco-system once more.  Through your involvement & commitment we are creating valuable employment and training opportunities for the local community to aid us with our vision.

Located in the heart of the Okonjima Game Reserve, this exciting eco- tourism project works alongside the AfriCat Foundation, the world’s largest animal welfare programme committed to the long term conservation and release of Namibia’s large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards.

Okonjima’s total reserve encompasses 55,000 acres (22,000 hectares) of which large sections still harbour the scars and remains of old commercial cattle farming land.

PAWS Volunteers Assisting at AfriCat's Annual Health Checks

It is this land that PAWS aims to restore and return back into a Game Reserve with the ultimate goal of introducing an amazing new variety of Namibian game into the area.

By choosing this project you will be undertaking essential reserve maintenance tasks which may include : dismantling old cattle farming fencelines, bush clearing tasks, road and dam maintenance due to soil erosion, a bi-weekly visit to R.E.S.T. (Rare And Endangered Species Trust) located on a bordering farm to assist them for a morning.  You will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation itself and jobs may include : bone and poo collecting within the cheetah camps, erecting and repairing fences etc.  There may also be the fantastic opportunity of assisting AfriCat with some of their exciting and varied Research Projects!   During their stay at P.A.W.S, volunteers will take part in a multitude of exciting Game Drives including :

Flex those Muscles!!

Visiting and learning in much more detail about the AfriCat foundation and its goals,  leopard tracking, cheetah tracking by foot, wild dog and hyena tracking by foot, bushman walks,  birding & game drives, sleeping out under the stars etc.   All very exciting and varied!

There is also a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the AfriCat Foundation to witness first hand the feeding of all the beautiful creatures at this sanctuary.

———————————————————————————————————————-

PAWS Volunteers Assisting at the Perivoli Country School based on Okonjima's Reserve

HISTORY
Okonjima meaning ‘place of the baboon’ turned from cattle farming to tourism in 1993 and shortly after launched the animal welfare foundation, AfriCat. The AfriCat Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to the long term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards and is home to a 16,000 hectare (32,000 acre) Cheetah Rehabilitation Reserve giving previously non-releasable cats a second chance to be wild and free. Okonjima’s total expanse encompasses a 22,000 hectare (55,000 acre) operational private nature reserve.

Other game to be seen include : leopard, giraffe,  hyena, wild dogs, oryx, kudu, zebra, impala, eland, wildebeest, red hartebeest, steenbok, dik-dik, and warthog.

Also nocturnal animals such as porcupine, honey badger, brown & spotted  hyaena, spotted genet, duiker, aardvark and over 250 bird species may be seen.

About P.A.W.S

Posted on Feb 1st, 2012

The AfriCat Foundation’s Unique and Exciting Volunteer Conservation Project based in the heart of the Namibian Bush

Welcome to P.A.W.S. part of AfriCat’s and Okonjima’s vision to restore the land back to its original state and once again witness the magnificent cheetah stalking and hunting its prey in it’s natural environment.  Africa’s fragile ecosystem and wildlife are inseparably linked, co-existing successfully since time began.

Unfortunately due to man’s influence this delicate balance is rapidly changing and the need to reverse this damage and protect our environment has become paramount.

A Successful Fence Rolling Morning!

Combining the management and implementation of fundamental conservation principals we aim to restore this balance and in time recreate this sustainable eco-system once more.  Through your involvement & commitment we are creating valuable employment and training opportunities for the local community to aid us with our vision.

Located in the heart of the Okonjima Game Reserve, this exciting eco- tourism project works alongside the AfriCat Foundation, the world’s largest animal welfare programme committed to the long term conservation and release of Namibia’s large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards.

Okonjima’s total reserve encompasses 55,000 acres (22,000 hectares) of which large sections still harbour the scars and remains of old commercial cattle farming land.

PAWS Volunteers Assisting at AfriCat's Annual Health Checks

It is this land that PAWS aims to restore and return back into a Game Reserve with the ultimate goal of introducing an amazing new variety of Namibian game into the area.

By choosing this project you will be undertaking essential reserve maintenance tasks which may include : dismantling old cattle farming fencelines, bush clearing tasks, road and dam maintenance due to soil erosion, a bi-weekly visit to R.E.S.T. (Rare And Endangered Species Trust) located on a bordering farm to assist them for a morning.  You will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation itself and jobs may include : bone and poo collecting within the cheetah camps, erecting and repairing fences etc.  There may also be the fantastic opportunity of assisting AfriCat with some of their exciting and varied Research Projects!   During their stay volunteers will take part in a multitude of exciting Game Drives including :

Flex those Muscles!!

Visiting and learning in much more detail about the AfriCat foundation and its goals,  leopard tracking, cheetah tracking by foot, wild dog and hyena tracking by foot, bushman walks,  birding & game drives, sleeping out under the stars etc.   All very exciting and varied!

There is also a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the AfriCat Foundation to witness first hand the feeding of all the beautiful creatures at this sanctuary.

———————————————————————————————————————-

PAWS Volunteers Assisting at the Perivoli Country School based on Okonjima's Reserve

HISTORY
Okonjima meaning ‘place of the baboon’ turned from cattle farming to tourism in 1993 and shortly after launched the animal welfare foundation, AfriCat. The AfriCat Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to the long term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards and is home to a 16,000 hectare (32,000 acre) Cheetah Rehabilitation Reserve giving previously non-releasable cats a second chance to be wild and free. Okonjima’s total expanse encompasses a 22,000 hectare (55,000 acre) operational private nature reserve.

Other game to be seen include : leopard, giraffe,  hyena, wild dogs, oryx, kudu, zebra, impala, eland, wildebeest, red hartebeest, steenbok, dik-dik, and warthog.

Also nocturnal animals such as porcupine, honey badger, brown & spotted  hyaena, spotted genet, duiker, aardvark and over 250 bird species may be seen.

The Project

Posted on Feb 1st, 2012

The problem

Much of Okonjima’s reserve still harbour the scars and remains of old commercial cattle farming land. It is this land that PAWS aims to restore and return back into a Game Reserve with the ultimate goal of introducing an amazing new variety of Namibian game into the area. Cattle farming has left its scar. Bush encroachment is destroying Namibian flora and fauna and with your help we aim to reverse mans influence. Over-grazing has led to topsoil erosion decreasing the survival of natural plants and grasses and therefore the game dependent on them. Sickle bush (Dichrostachys Cinerea) previously limited to mountain fringes has over the years encroached onto the plains and taken over. Believe us you will be getting up close and personal to this menace!

Your Mission

By choosing this project you will be undertaking essential reserve maintenance tasks which may include : dismantling old cattle farm fencelines, bush clearing tasks, road and dam maintenance, a bi-weekly visit to R.E.S.T. (Rare And Endangered Species Trust) located on a bordering farm to assist them for a morning.  You will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation which may include : bone and poo collecting within the cheetah camps, erecting and repairing fences etc.  There may also be the fantastic opportunity to assist AfriCat with some of their exciting and varied Research Projects!  Your task may be challenging at times but believe us it will be highly rewarding and satisfying to know that you’ve been part of the team helping to restore the local ecology back to its natural and original state.

Your Role

Your normal working day will start as the sun rises over the horizon, coffee and breakfast prepared and then off to our work site avoiding the main heat of the day. Your working tasks will be varied and may range from dismantling old cattle farm fencelines to bush-chopping tasks to collecting bones and poo within one of the AfriCat cheetah enclosures. We will work with breaks until approx 12noon then we stop for a well-earned lunch and rest. You will then head off back to work or for an exciting afternoon game drive to witness first hand the amazing animals living within our reserve.

Your Day Off

Saturdays will be your well deserved day off where you are free to relax, enjoy one of our walking trails, or perhaps visit the local swimming pool to catch some rays! This is your day, enjoy it!


Paws Pad

Accommodation, which is comfortable but simplistic, plus three meals a day is included in the cost of the programme. The camp is situated in the heart of the Namibian bush, and consists of thatched/tented accommodation, surrounding a central eating and socialising area. Each tent contains two single beds with camping mattresses and a pillow on each.  Lockable trunks are provided in each tent plus the use of a central safe for smaller valuables. Our ’showers with a view’ provide hot and cold running water and our ‘toilets with a view’ are western style.  Electricity is limited to the main eating area called the Lapa. The aim is that volunteers get back to their roots during their stay in the wild and feel part of the natural world they are aiming to help. There is a real community feel to our programme, with daily rotas in place to ensure that everyone gets involved in the day-to-day running of the camp including wake-up calls and the preparation of all meals!

The three meals a day include a cereal breakfast, prepared at the campsite before work commences; sandwiches and fruit for lunch and a hot nutritious meal prepared each evening back at the base campsite on the open fire. Refreshments such as tea, coffee and squash are available at meal times only and fresh clean water is provided 24/7. All vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be catered for if advised in advance on the booking form. Other refreshments such as soft drinks, beers and snacks (biscuits, crisps, nuts etc.) can be purchased from the camp tuck shop.

Due to the location of the camp there is no laundry service and hand washing powder can be purchased from the camp tuck shop.

There is a signal for mobile phones however this signal can sometimes be a little temperamental.

Internet access is available each evening by using the camp lap top at a small charge.

Evenings are based around the campfire listening to the sounds of the wild and reliving our day. Live the wild side for a time…get back to your roots…feel like a bushman in our own little community.

Equipment

PAWS Volunteers will be using a wide range of hand tools including : axes, picks, saws, rakes etc plus some machine operated tools. Everyone will have instruction on how to use these and safety talks will be given. Heavy duty work gloves must be provided by the volunteers and safety goggles will be provided by PAWS. Machinery is in the form of a ‘bundu basher’. This is a circular saw blade powered by a lawn mower engine on a wheeled base. This will be strictly monitored and will be based away from the general work area. In order to eradicate the growth of the sickle bushes effectively a strong weed killer will be applied to the bush roots by the team members. We will reserve the right to remove any person who does not adhere to safety procedures and is deemed dangerous to those around them. We want people to have fun but safety is paramount!

The Project

Posted on Feb 1st, 2012

The problem

Much of Okonjima’s reserve still harbour the scars and remains of old commercial cattle farming land. It is this land that PAWS aims to restore and return back into a Game Reserve with the ultimate goal of introducing an amazing new variety of Namibian game into the area. Cattle farming has left its scar. Bush encroachment is destroying Namibian flora and fauna and with your help we aim to reverse mans influence. Over-grazing has led to topsoil erosion decreasing the survival of natural plants and grasses and therefore the game dependent on them. Sickle bush (Dichrostachys Cinerea) previously limited to mountain fringes has over the years encroached onto the plains and taken over. Believe us you will be getting up close and personal to this menace!

Your Mission

By choosing this project you will be undertaking essential reserve maintenance tasks which may include : dismantling old cattle farm fencelines, bush clearing tasks, road and dam maintenance, a bi-weekly visit to R.E.S.T. (Rare And Endangered Species Trust) located on a bordering farm to assist them for a morning.  You will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation which may include : bone and poo collecting within the cheetah camps, erecting and repairing fences etc.  There may also be the fantastic opportunity to assist AfriCat with some of their exciting and varied Research Projects!  Your task may be challenging at times but believe us it will be highly rewarding and satisfying to know that you’ve been part of the team helping to restore the local ecology back to its natural and original state.

Your Role

Your normal working day will start as the sun rises over the horizon, coffee and breakfast prepared and then off to our work site avoiding the main heat of the day. Your working tasks will be varied and may range from dismantling old cattle farm fencelines to bush-chopping tasks to collecting bones and poo within one of the AfriCat cheetah enclosures. We will work with breaks until approx 12noon then we stop for a well-earned lunch and rest. We then head off for your exciting afternoon game drive to witness first hand the amazing animals living within our reserve.

Your Day Off

Saturdays will be your well deserved day off where you are free to relax, enjoy one of our walking trails, or perhaps visit the local swimming pool to catch some rays! This is your day, enjoy it!


Paws Pad

Accommodation, which is comfortable but simplistic, plus three meals a day is included in the cost of the programme. The camp is situated in the heart of the Namibian bush, and consists of thatched/tented accommodation, surrounding a central eating and socialising area. Each tent contains two single beds with camping mattresses and a pillow on each.  Lockable trunks are provided in each tent plus the use of a central safe for smaller valuables. Our ’showers with a view’ provide hot and cold running water and our ‘toilets with a view’ are western style.  Electricity is limited to the main eating area called the Lapa. The aim is that volunteers get back to their roots during their stay in the wild and feel part of the natural world they are aiming to help. There is a real community feel to our programme, with daily rotas in place to ensure that everyone gets involved in the day-to-day running of the camp including wake-up calls and the preparation of all meals!

The three meals a day include a cereal breakfast, prepared at the campsite before work commences; sandwiches and fruit for lunch and a hot nutritious meal prepared each evening back at the base campsite on the open fire. Refreshments such as tea, coffee and squash are available at meal times only and fresh clean water is provided 24/7. All vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be catered for if advised in advance on the booking form. Other refreshments such as soft drinks, beers and snacks (biscuits, crisps, nuts etc.) can be purchased from the camp tuck shop.

Due to the location of the camp there is no laundry service and hand washing powder can be purchased from the camp tuck shop.

There is a signal for mobile phones however this signal can sometimes be a little temperamental.

Internet access is available each evening by using the camp lap top at a small charge.

Evenings are based around the campfire listening to the sounds of the wild and reliving our day. Live the wild side for a time…get back to your roots…feel like a bushman in our own little community.

Equipment

PAWS Volunteers will be using a wide range of hand tools including : axes, picks, saws, rakes etc plus some machine operated tools. Everyone will have instruction on how to use these and safety talks will be given. Heavy duty work gloves must be provided by the volunteers and safety goggles will be provided by PAWS. Machinery is in the form of a ‘bundu basher’. This is a circular saw blade powered by a lawn mower engine on a wheeled base. This will be strictly monitored and will be based away from the general work area. In order to eradicate the growth of the sickle bushes effectively a strong weed killer will be applied to the bush roots by the team members. We will reserve the right to remove any person who does not adhere to safety procedures and is deemed dangerous to those around them. We want people to have fun but safety is paramount!

Contact Us

Posted on Jan 25th, 2012

For further information please contact :

P.A.W.S.          Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 222 4684
AJ Rousseau    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 128 4951
Louis Heyns    Cell Phone :      +264 (0)81 349 2295
Beth Osmond  Cell Phone :      +264 (0)81 625 0065

PAWS Office                      :    +264 (0)67 307933

Email : paws@iway.na /         Facebook : PAWSNAMIBIA

Contact us by email (all fields required)
  1. Captcha
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

P.A.W.S. c/o Okonjima Lodge,
PO Box 793,
Otjiwarongo,
Namibia.

Tel : +264 (0)67 687032 / 33
Fax : +264 (0)67 687051

Contact Us

Posted on Jan 25th, 2012

For further information please contact :

P.A.W.S.          Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 222 4684
AJ Rousseau    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 128 4951
Louis Heyns    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 349 2295
Beth Osmond  Cell Phone :    +264 (0)81 625 0065

PAWS Office                      :    +264 (0)67 307933

Email : paws@iway.na /         Facebook : PAWSNAMIBIA

Contact us by email (all fields required)
  1. Captcha
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

P.A.W.S. c/o Okonjima Lodge,
PO Box 793,
Otjiwarongo,
Namibia.

Tel : +264 (0)67 687032 / 33
Fax : +264 (0)67 687051

Contact Us

Posted on Jan 25th, 2012

For further information please contact :

P.A.W.S.          Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 222 4684
AJ Rousseau    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 128 4951
Louis Heyns    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 349 2295
Beth Osmond  Cell Phone :    +264 (0)81 625 0065

PAWS Office                      :    +264 (0)67 307933

Email : paws@iway.na /         Facebook : PAWSNAMIBIA

Contact us by email (all fields required)
  1. Captcha
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

P.A.W.S. c/o Okonjima Lodge,
PO Box 793,
Otjiwarongo,
Namibia.

Tel : +264 (0)67 687032 / 33
Fax : +264 (0)67 687051

Contact Us

Posted on Jan 25th, 2012

For further information please contact :

P.A.W.S.          Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 222 4684
AJ Rousseau    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 128 4951
Louis Heyns    Cell Phone :     +264 (0)81 349 2295
Beth Osmond  Cell Phone :    +264 (0)81 625 0065

PAWS Office                     : +264 (067) 307933

Email : paws@iway.na /         Facebook : PAWSNAMIBIA

Contact us by email (all fields required)
  1. Captcha
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

P.A.W.S. c/o Okonjima Lodge,
PO Box 793,
Otjiwarongo,
Namibia.

Tel : +264 (0)67 687032 / 33
Fax : +264 (0)67 687051

bardo-tanya

Posted on Jan 22nd, 2012

« Newer Entries - Older Entries »