Read some of our recent volunteer testimonials

Claes Kilander 21/06/10 - 30/07/10

I love Africa! I love Namibia! And I loved my 6 weeks with EHRA. It was without a doubt the single best experience I have ever had. It is such a different environment and after only two weeks back in Sweden I already want to go back. The project itself, the places you visit and work at and the people you meet and spend your days with are all amazing. Volunteer work like this attracts normal people and not just treehuggers. I've made lots of new friends and done many things that I would never get a chance to do back home.

I'm sure you'll enjoy watching and tracking elephants as well as building a wall to help a farmer but you've probably already realized that. From my experience however, you'll enjoy the rest of your experience just as much, if not more. Go! You won't regret it.

Rajesh Sadanandan 10/5/10 - 21/5/10

The volunteer project was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life....living in the desert, under the african skies, in the company of scorpions, hyenas, flies and the majestic desert elephants..far away from the complicated rules and expectations of the modern day civilization, i was at peace...a lot of ... See Morethanks to the EHRA team and a lot of respect to the matriachs that rule the namibian deserts...last but not the least, a big thanks to the whole group of volunteers who made my life so exciting in the last 3 weeks in Namibia ...i owe them a lot!...would love to come back some day...hope it will happen!

Maria Hannis 29/3/10 - 21/5/10

My name is Maria and i have just completed the best 8 weeks of my life. I live in England and work as a Beauty Therapist and this was the most life changing experience i have ever had.
I felt at home the whole time i was there and loved base camp. Building week was hard work but alot of fun and it was very satisfying when you actually finished a wall.
Patrol week was amazing and it was lovely to observe the elephants up close in their own enviroment. I met the most interesting people from all over the world and some i consider to be friends for life. This opportunity has broadened my horizons and i intend to do further projects in the future. I would just like to say a big thank you to all the staff of EHRA for making my stay with them so enjoyable.

Robin Wild 01/02/10 - 23/04/10

I first came out to EHRA to figure out if conservation is what i wanted to do as a career. The project has fully confirmed that now. It is a project that brings people from around the world, young and old, together. The build week is physically tough but more rewarding than you think. That last stone being placed is a great feeling. Patrol is by far one of the best experiences of my life. Close encounters with elephants, cooking over a fire, sleeping  under the stars, all experinenced with good groups and good leaders. I cant wait until I have the chance to come back out again. Thanks

Joanne Davies 01/03/2010 - 26/03/2010

I was in search of a once in a lifetime experience, a lifelong ambition to see elephants in the wild.  I certainly found it.  It far exceeded all of my expectations and I did find it very difficult to leave.  I was expecting to really rough it, when I arrived at EHRA base camp it was so welcoming and not to mention Eco friendly.  I'm not going to go into detail about the base camp because I think it needs to experienced to be appreciated.  The heat was extreme, the work weeks were hard but well worth it and satisfying.  The guys on the project are friendly, passionate and knowledgable about what they do, and I have learnt so much from them all.  

There were so many highlights of my trip, including all the people on the trip who were all friendly and fun. Learning about people and the communities in the area, not to mention all the wildlife, including birds, bugs and plants. Sleeping under the stars, watching the most amazing sunrises and sunsets, living in such scenic surroundings.  Learning to start and cook on an open fire, and the food was so amazing, I can honestly say I have never eaten so well.  And as for seeing the elephants in the wild well, WOW, WOW and more WOW. 

Pete Van Leeuwen 1/03/10 - 12/03/10

I found EHRA while searching the web from my Brooklyn apartment. I was looking for quite some time for a project involving elephants that WAS NOT some silly vacation package disguised as a volunteer program.

It seemed legitimate from the beginning and turned out to be better than I could ever have imagined in a thousand different ways. The work we did was hands on, good old hard labor, but instantly gratifying in the sense that each day, you can see what you have accomplished and throughout the course of one short session (or however long you choose to stay on) you may immediately experience the change you have helped to create. Through fairly simple steps, and a great organization of very competent and caring leaders, we reduce conflict between elephants and farmers, one well at a time. Then the following week, we  went on "patrol" and track the herds and check up on them, which in the case of the week I was there, turned out to be of great importance, as the herd had been shot at that week and there were a couple of elephants that needed attending to. 

All the people on the trip were lovely folks, many of whom I will keep in contact with and am proud to know. The food cooked over the camp fire every night was excellent. Much better than I could possibly have imagined, coming from the greatest food town in the world. Certainly another great surprise. Being woken with coffee in bed every morning was a brilliant way to start every day. 

The country side is wildly beautiful. The afternoon light is incredibly perfect. The desert heat is even quite nice. 

 I only can think of great things to say about EHRA. They are doing what we all should want to do, and that is change the world for the better. They are cutting straight to the chase. "Well done!" 

Susan Whitcomb 15/02/10 - 26/02/10

"I found EHRA in Pamela Grout's book, One Hundred Volunteer Opportunities to Enrich Your Life, and it really did! The experience fed my love of adventure and helped me understand the connections between the land, the animals, the people, the economy and the politics of Namibia like nothing else could. The EHRA staff are so knowledgable and fun; they and the other wonderful volunteers have a special place in my heart."

Heidi Speerstra 01/02/10- 12/02/10

I have travelled a lot around the world but this time I was looking for something more. When travelling you normally try to see as much as possible of a country or region within a limited period of time, but to actually experience the local life you need to stay at a place for a longer time. I was looking for something in Namibia in combination with the environment, so when I saw the website of EHRA I knew I had to look no further.

One of my criteria was a reliable organization and a cause I could really believe in. Improving the relationship between humans and elephants in Damaraland is that cause. You know that the local farmers area depending on the area to feed their cattle and also the elephants have a right to be there. How to make it possible that they can live together is something worth working for.

And literally work for, the first week you need all your muscles, but at the end of the day you get rewarded with a nice meal. The second week you will be on patrol, looking for the different herds and check if they and their babies are OK.

My lesson I took away from the whole experience is that some problems are not easy to solve, but can only be made possible through persistence of the EHRA team.

Rob Chilton: 12/10/2009 to 04/12/2009

It is 2am. I am sleeping outdoors in the desert wilderness of Namibia under a brilliant full moon. It is a warm night, but suddenly I wake up, stone cold. I hear heavy breathing. The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. I get goosebumps. I slowly sit up in my sleeping bag and turn around. Standing 10 feet away and looking right at me is an elephant. A big elephant. I freeze. I am terrified and feel utterly powerless. The elephant, whose name I later find out is Matilda, looks at me for another 10 seconds and then gently scuffs her foot in my direction as if to walk towards me. She pauses. Then, with a little swish of her trunk, she turns and strolls on past our campsite. I turn to my fellow EHRA volunteers, some of whom are also sitting up and have just witnessed my close encounter, and some of whom are quietly snoring, oblivious to our nightime visitor. As Matilda silently pads away, we point, wave and giggle to each other. Our guide, Dave, walks over to me, grins, and whispers, "That was pretty cool, hey?" I lie back down and try to go back to sleep, rather difficult with three gallons of adrenaline surging through my veins.

Lynne Thorne: 12/10/2009 to 23/10/2009

Two treks and several volunteer projects later I still rave about EHRA and my time in Namibia in 2008 and 2009. It's hard to put into words what is so exhilarating about volunteering with EHRA. Perhaps it is the simplistic and basic way of living, only having to worry about carrying and being reliant on a small amount of possessions, sleeping under the stars under the amazing southern African sky, the beautiful sunsets, the stunning and dramatic scenery and of course the elephants.

After what can only be described as an often exhausting but rewarding building week the hard work pays off on patrol and sometimes before then. My very first afternoon in base camp Long Shanks, a wonderful bull, wandered through base camp with his back brushing the branches as we sat motionless on the platforms feet away from him.

And it's difficult to describe the emotion when privileged enough to have a herd of elephants relaxed enough to sleep surrounding you and to spend your days observing the elephants in their world. With an open mind and a sense of anything can happen (because believe me it does) this experience will not fail to make you want to return to EHRA, the desert elephants and Namibia

Tony Pateman: 12/10/2009 to 23/10/2009

I spent three wonderful weeks with EHRA. Namibia could not be a more magical place and I couldn't have chosen a better company to experience it with. No words can describe the beauty of the changing desert landscapes of the trek from vast golden plains to narrow rocky gorges. 
 
The experience of observing desert elephants at such close quarters was truly magical. The whole adventure was a life changing experience and I would absolutely recommend EHRA to anyone who wants a trip full of wonderful experiences and memories. 

Hamid Hashemi: 31/08/2009 to 11/09/2009

Volunteering with EHRA in Namibia was a completely new experience for me, however it was one of the most incredible things I have ever done. It was strange to wake up and find yourself in the middle of the African bush staring up at a clear morning sky. While the building week was very hard work and involved a lot of sweating and muscle-aching, it was so much fun. I would often stop and think where I was and exactly what I was doing, and it blew my mind.

The patrol week was awesome, getting so much contact with the desert elephants and getting to see them behave in their natural environmet was fascinating. They really are some of the most beautiful creatures on this planet. I remember one night, we were sleeping in a dried up river bed and during the night, we heard the low but loud grumble of a bull elephant. Having been woken up I looked up at the sky, and was amazed to see the dust of the milky way streaking across the sky.

This opportunity to work with EHRA is something I would recommend to anyone hard-working and passionate about helping others. Although I would advise you to take lots of wet-wipes, they're so useful.

Siggi Hosenfeld: 31/08/2009 to 25/09/2009

If you’re looking for the most rewarding experience in conservation efforts, EHRA is the place to be!! If you, on top of that, are fascinated with elephants and want to see a bit of Namibia, than there couldn’t be a better project to volunteer for! Many thanks for an
amazing time & I will be back!!

Peter Owen: 31/08/2009 to 11/09/2009

The trip was everything I was hoping for and in some instances more! The scenery and wildlife were very special, to get that close to a herd of elephants was something I will remember for a long time to come.
 
Food was great and I loved base camp, Dave, Hendrik and Rob made the weeks thoroughly enjoyable.

Sam Tilly: 31/08/2009 to 11/09/2009

My time spent with EHRA was incredible. With beautiful scenery, wonderful people and amazing wildlife it was a life changing experience. It was unreal watching the sun rise in the morning and fall every evening - revealing the beautiful nights sky. Building was hard work but satisfying, we worked as a team and had a laugh..with little help from all the goats and cattle! I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants a fantastic experience and wants to help a well deserving cause.

Rocks were heavy, rides were bumpy and the mopane were very irritating, but all this made the trip what it was...brilliant.

Gloria Percy 17/08/2009 to 23/08/2009

The first night at Base Camp will always stay with me as a family of Elephants came through the camp eating as they went. I could hear one munching away even though I couldn't see it from my place on the platform in the tree. I have done quite a bit of camping in Africa but this wild camping was fantastic as no tents and lying looking up at the stars was magic. It really is a completely unique way to help the locals and ele's a great trip.