Just as important as donations are volunteers, without whom the work at Chimfunshi could not be done!
Whether it is wildlife conservation, children's education or sustainable agriculture - volunteering makes a real difference. Volunteering at Chimfunshi is also a great way to experience Zambian culture, breathtaking nature and life in the African bush.
We want volunteers who have a desire to connect with the community and support our wildlife and conservation efforts and children's education through hands-on help.
Areas of work
Chimfunshi offers a diverse range of volunteer opportunities. Practical assistance is welcome in almost all areas of the sanctuary:
Animal Welfare & Care: Help our keepers care for the chimpanzees, observe their behaviour and help design enrichment programmes.
Education: Organise recreational and environmental education programmes for children and help raise awareness of conservation issues.
Sustainable agriculture: Help out on the farm, planting vegetables or working on sustainable agriculture projects.
Handicrafts & Infrastructure: Whether it's building, repairing or upgrading the station, we need your manual skills! (Major construction projects will require appropriate qualifications).
Health & Hygiene: People with medical training can work in the health centre and support hygiene initiatives in the community.
Do you have special skills such as electrical, carpentry, veterinary or education? Your knowledge is valuable! Talk to our team about individual employment opportunities.
Experience life the African way! Live in a rustic setting in a very rural, beautiful environment. Play soccer with the local kids on the flat plains.
Fact check
Living at Chimfunshi: Volunteers live on the grounds of the conservation centre, in the middle of Zambia's wilderness. Accommodation is simple but comfortable and offers the opportunity to interact with other volunteers and the local community. After a full day's work, you can enjoy the sunset, relax under the African starry sky or play football with the children.
Duration & costs: To really get to know life on Chimfunshi, we recommend a stay of at least two weeks so that volunteers can see the whole reserve and experience a bit of life on Chimfunshi.
The cost of accommodation and meals is USD 275 per week. As Chimfunshi is a non-profit organisation, the project does not make a profit and relies on donations, grants and volunteer work. For this reason we have to ask each volunteer for a contribution. This contribution covers the costs of accommodation, transport, training, materials, support staff and maintenance of the buildings.
Volunteers have access to a communal kitchen where they can prepare their meals and laundry facilities. Volunteers who wish to work at Chimfunshi for more than 2 months can also apply for a longer stay at a reduced flat rate.
If you are interested in supporting Chimfunshi as a volunteer, please send an email to enquiries@chimfunshiwildlife.org (in English).
NEW: Junior Research Assistant Program
In recent years, Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage has become an important primate research site.
The sanctuary offers scientists and students a unique opportunity to observe the complex social behavior of chimpanzees in their groups and in a near-natural habitat.
A new junior research program is designed to support scientists and is aimed at young people interested in primates and their study. The goal is to bring young people from around the world together with already engaged youth from Zambia to empower local youth, build professionals for the future, and improve educational opportunities in Zambia.
For more information, download here.
