Cheetah Conservation in Namibia

On the first day, volunteers received an in-depth orientation, toured CCF's Research and Education Centre, met the staff, and became familiar with programs under way at the center.

On subsequent days, they helped with CCF's research, conservation, and education program. They got a good look at many of the local animals on game counts conducted from vehicles and during a 12-hour stay in a hide at a water hole. They assisted CCF keepers in feeding cheetahs and cleaning their pens.

Participants helped care for dogs, sheep, and goats. CCF's livestock-guarding dogs are raised among domestic livestock and consider the herd their family. CCF provides these dogs to Namibian farmers who use them to guard their livestock from cheetahs, thus making it easier for cheetahs and livestock to coexist. Volunteers went on "scat walks" with dogs that were been trained to find cheetah feces by smell. CCF's clinic staff took body measurements and biological samples from anesthetized cheetahs.

Some volunteers assisted in CCF’s education program, which is designed to familiarize people of all ages with the cheetah, the long-term survival challenges it faces, and some solutions to these problems. Participants also assisted with entering research data and scanning documents.

On recreational days, participants took an optional overnight trip to Etosha National Park where they had a chance to see a wide range of the spectacular African fauna at water holes and on game drives.