As we near the end of our honeymoon, it's time to take a closer look at African wildlife and restore some hope to abused or injured wild animals. We are talking about the Harnas Wildlife Foundation, also known from television as the orphanage for wild animals. This organization, which has been around for more than 34 years, has become a major player in conservation and wildlife campaigns. It offers enclosures, accommodation for volunteers, exclusive accommodation for tourists, safari tours of the farm area, the actual guest farm and a huge nature reserve around the main building.
Unusual guests for dinner
As a tourist on Harnas you can choose between tents and nice cabins as accommodation. We have opted for the tent site. This offers both cottages with showers, toilets and a kitchen as well as an outdoor shower per tent site and fireplace for barbecuing. Since the orphanage for wild animals allows all its non-dangerous animals complete freedom of movement on the farm, one should always be prepared for visitors on the campground. We had the pleasure of sharing our dinner with two sociable donkeys. Next, cats wanted to warm up by our fire. Rounding out the illustrious visits was a warthog in need of love.
Safari on Harnas
The orphanage for wild animals is dependend on volunteers, guests and day tourists. The organization offers safaris over the farm area. Here one can experience the recovered and in the best case reintroduced animals in their natural environment. If a reintroduction is successful, visitor can even go searching cheetahs equipped with GPS collars. Experienced wildlife keepers will guide such expeditions. On standard tours you can see lions, wild dogs, leopards, serval cats, hyenas, baboons as well as other monkeys and many other African animals. One of the easiest ways to see the large predators of the country. The safaris are conducted by an experienced guide who knows the background and interesting facts about each animal. Where possible guests are allowed to feed the animals themselves. It is an indescribable feeling to experience how a big wild cat asks for its meat!
Volunteers on Harnas
As a non-profit organization, Harnas relies on the support of volunteers. They actively help with the daily work on the farm around the animals. There is a so-called volunteer village on the farm, where the hard-working helpers live during their time on the farm. As a volunteer at the wild animal orphanage, your day starts after breakfast by preparing food for the different animals. Once done it is time for feeding and cleaning the enclosures. Furthermore, walks or general interaction with the animals are a constant part. These serve to enable the animals to learn, live out and intensify their natural habits. An elementary must on the way to reintroduction.
The volunteers do not have to worry about their own care. There is a great team of staff for this. On the farm live real bushmen, who actively support with all the work that needs to be done.
After the wedding traditionally follows a honeymoon. The destination was clear - Namibia! But how to plan a honeymoon as a self-drive camping safari in the current time? How do family and friends react to such a plan? How unproblematic is a trip to Namibia in times of COVID-19?
Curious?...
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Major thanks for the blogMuch thanks again Will read on…