Naankuse Foundation: Human-wildlife conflict mitigation research, expert captive animal care and uplifting the San of Namibia

At the Naankuse Foundation in Namibia, Africa, we focus on responsible voluntourism. Our main area of conservation research is that of human-wildlife conflict mitigation, assisting local landowners in forging a peaceful co-existence with the wild, in particular Namibia's magnificent carnivores.

We strive to release as many animals as possible back into the wild, our mantra being "returning the wild to the wild when possible". Only those animals too habituated for release remain at the Naankuse Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary, our team providing them with a life that mimics that of their wild counterparts as closely as possible. Their natural instincts are encouraged and nurtured, with our animal enrichment program and staff experienced in animal husbandry a vital asset to the welfare of our animals.

Volunteers are actively involved in animal care, conservation research and also have the opportunity to visit our research sites across Namibia. These include our desert reserve focusing on spotted hyena research, our wine and wildlife estate where black-backed jackals and the Hartmann's mountain zebra form an area of study, and our Mangetti elephant and African wild dog research site in Namibia's north-east.

And for those whose interests lie in the field of healthcare and cultural upliftment, the Naankuse Lifeline Clinic in Namibia's east provides free healthcare to some 4,500 San Bushman patients each year.