Protect hyenas in Tanzania. Get involved with a team helping to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the Ngorongoro. All programs in Africa here
Studying and protecting Hyenas in Tanzania
Get involved in a project to protect Hyenas while helping to reduce human-wildlife conflict in Tanzania's magnificent Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Nestled on the eastern shore of Lake Eyasi, our partner United Tansania's hyena research camp has a front-row seat to some of the most dynamic wildlife on the planet! The camp lies on a migration corridor between the Ngorongoro Crater and Manyara National Park. Its location is therefore unique for observing emblematic species such as buffalo, elephant, eland, zebra and impala. The area also provides an ecosystem conducive to the striped hyena, classified as near-threatened by the IUCN, as well as the more commonly observed spotted hyena. If you're ready to get involved in a hands-on conservation project, and aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty, this is the project for you!
Camera trapping, den identification, scat collection...
As an ecovolunteer, you'll work alongside our partner's team. You'll conduct field research and take part in exciting activities such as track surveys, camera trapping, den identification, scat collection for analysis, trap detection and clan monitoring. You'll play a key role in gathering data essential to understanding and protecting these wild animals.
Ecovolunteers take part in various missions including :
- Raising awareness among the local population, in particular through interviews with boma (households), which helps to strengthen the relationship between inhabitants and wildlife.
- Participation in our hyena habituation program, allowing you to get closer to the animals while contributing to their long-term protection.
- Photographic identification and individual profiling of hyenas, to gain experience of tools such as GIS and R-Statistics.
- Teaching at a local secondary school.
- Throughout the year, special initiatives such as rabies eradication and sterilization programs for local communities offer a rare chance to contribute to both animal health and community well-being.
Depending on your skills and interests, volunteers can also help with photographic documentation, social media outreach, fundraising campaigns or even grant proposal writing.
The activities you'll take part in are as dynamic as the environment itself, and the program will vary according to the season and the ever-changing needs of research.
Dates
- From 2 to 12 weeks, all year round
Rates
The rate is degressive in proportion to the length of stay
- 2 weeks: €1,400
- 4 weeks: €2400
- 6 weeks: €3,300
- 8 weeks: €4,100
- 10 weeks: €4800
- 12 weeks: €5,400
Included in price
- Hosting
- 3 meals a day
- Cleaning and laundry service
- Partner T-shirt
- Project training
Not included in price
- Airline tickets
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Visa on arrival
- From age 18
- Families welcome
- Language: German or English (intermediate level)
- A real interest in wildlife conservation
- Be in good physical shape: you'll be required to take long walks in the bush.
- Flexible, adaptable, dynamic
- To be able to live in an isolated environment, far from the conveniences of the city, surrounded by bush.
- Resist extreme heat.
- Unleash your full potential!
- You are taking part in research on Hyenas in Tanzania
- You're helping to ease the conflict between humans and wild animals.
- You'll enjoy an unforgettable experience on the shores of Tanzania's third-largest lake, ideally located near the astonishing Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Housing
The camp offers basic but comfortable accommodation, with shared safari tents, mosquito nets and communal bathrooms. Enjoy outdoor showers and relax by the campfire, listening to the cries of hyenas under the starry African sky. Local materials are used to the maximum and energy is solar-powered. The kitchen is in the open air.
Meals
Three meals a day are provided, and drinking water is unlimited. Food includes vegetables, meat, rice, spaghetti and local products such as Makande or Ugali, as well as seasonal fruit. Most dishes are locally sourced. The camp also boasts beehives and a vegetable garden with cucumbers, green peppers, salads, carrots and more.
Arrival
United Tanzania can arrange pick-up from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Domestic Airport. United Tanzania can also organize your arrival and departure by public transport. Tanzania is a tourist country where it's relatively easy to get around. But don't forget that Tanzania is a developing country and patience is required. There are no bus timetables, and getting around by public transport takes time. Count USD 50 for the visa at the airport (in cash).
Takeaway
- A sleeping bag if possible (it can sometimes be cold at night)
- A flashlight
- Medications you may need
- Laptop, tablet, cell phone
- Books and films (download before arrival)
- Clothing (long sleeves, fleece and 2* bush boots)
- Swimsuits (we can use the swimming pool at one of the lodges)
- Waterproof
- Flip-flops
- Hat
- Rucksack
- Gourd
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Mosquito repellent cream
- Travel adapters
- During your free time at the weekend, you can enjoy a number of activities and visits
- Lake Eyasi is close to all the major national parks in the north of the country. Our partner offers weekend excursions with our project car, a four-wheel-drive Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, which is the ideal vehicle for a safari.
- The surrounding national parks are
- Serengeti National Park ,
- the Ngorongoro Crater,
- Tarangire National Park,
- Manyara National Park, and
- Lake Natron.
- Activities will be organized (not included in the price) such as cultural excursions to meet the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, an excursion on one of the fishing boats, a visit to hot springs, night walks, mountain hikes, a picnic by the lake, or enjoy our Friday parties and much more.
About the partner
United Tansania e.V. was founded in 2020 (originally as the Endangered Species Conservation Foundation). It is an international NGO based in Berlin, Germany. The founder and director is a veterinarian by profession. She works with a field research assistant from the UK, who holds a master's degree in endangered species conservation. There are 6 permanent employees on site. The project's base camp is located at Lake Eyasi in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, northern Tanzania.
