Join GCF as a
Conservation Supporter
Has it always been your dream to join a hands-on conservation experience in Africa? This might just be the ideal opportunity for you!
Join the GCF team for a 2-week conservation adventure in stunning Namibia as a GCF Conservation Supporter. You will get a chance to work with our team on surveying and identifying individual giraffe and other key wildlife species, and participate in many other daily conservation tasks in the field.
This unique hands-on wildlife conservation field experience is set on the incredible Etosha Heights Private Reserve, which has rewilded over 60,000 hectares of degraded farmland to a haven for wildlife adjacent to the iconic Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.
This programme is not for the faint-hearted as joining GCF as a Conservation Supporter means long days in the field, helping with kitchen duties and enduring potential close-up encounters with big game, while at the same time contributing to long-term giraffe and wildlife conservation research that informs our programmes throughout Africa.
2025 Field Dates
What to expect?
Each experience will be different, and the number of days spent in the field may vary slightly, however, after spending 2-3 days in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, you will head north for a 10-night stay on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve for a real working-holiday. We normally only host two Conservation Supporters at the same time, so spaces are limited. On your way home, you will have to spend another night in Windhoek before your departure.
FAQ
Things to consider before you apply:
When could I join?
For 2025 we have 7 date options scheduled throughout the year – see above. We generally only host one or two Conservation Supporters at a time, so spaces are limited. Contact us, for groups of three as we can sometimes make exceptions.
Where will I stay?
You will stay at the Etosha Heights Conservation Centre on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve. Accommodation is in simple, rustic shared twin-room with basic ensuite bathrooms. The evenings will be spent in a common area or sitting around an open fire, possibly shared with others (students, researchers or GCF staff) who are conducting fieldwork at the same time. You should plan to arrive and depart from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and plan for a couple of nights in town at either end of your trip. We can help you with accommodation recommendations. Your transfer to the Etosha Heights Conservation Centre will be arranged by us and is included in your conservation fee.
How much does it cost?
Your conservation contribution for this 2-week once-in-a-lifetime experience in Namibia is US$2,200. This conservation fee covers all your field costs during your stay at the Etosha Heights Conservation Centre for 10 nights, including accommodation, food, transport to and from as well as on the reserve.
In Windhoek you will stay at your own cost, but we can help with accommodation suggestions.
How physically/ mentally fit must I be?
Conservation Supporters need to be in good physical and mental health. While the work is not often physically demanding, the environmental conditions during the experience can be extremely harsh. Certain conditions can be exacerbated in areas like this as they take place in a very remote environment and a long way from medical treatment facilities. Exposure to sun and long days with rough and dusty off-road driving will likely be part of your daily conservation research activities.
NOTE: Due to the remote location and communal cooking, we are limited in accommodating special dietary requirements. Please make sure to check in with us about this before you apply!
Please remember, this is not a safari holiday but a hands-on conservation experience!
Contact us for more information or if you are keen to join, complete the application form.
