Volunteer Update - Weeks 28 to 31

Week 28 Volunteers.

Poppy Stanbury.
 

Week 29 Volunteers.

Week 30 Volunteers.

"What we liked most and caught our attention was the different ways to search for the big cats; VHF and GPS tracking, observation of tracks and scatology.  Although, despite all these efforts and the ways and the many tracks it is very difficult to spot the animals as they really melt into the surroundings!

The trip to the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre gave a close look at the way cheetahs respond to humans, moreover it is great to have a place that large for cheetah that cannot be released back into the wild."

Robert Vanden Eede and Christel Pissoort.

Ellie Cole.

Canyon hike in search of leopard caves (no luck this time but still a great view!)

Week 31 volunteers.

"Volunteering at Neuras was a very special experience. Researchers, staff and coordinators were so knowledgeable, friendly and engaging. Merlot the Kudu crept into my heart and I wish him a long happy life in the wild soon. Thanks Matt for performing "Superman" jumps numerous times at Sossusvlei. Neuras is a magical adventure and definitely worth a second visit!"

Lesley Ings.

Volunteer Update - Week 26

Week 26 Volunteers

"Staying at Neuras has been such an exceptional experience; seeing Sossusvlei, the infamous dunes and Dead Vlei was absolutely amazing. It was such a unique landscape and so amazing to see. 

Going to the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre (NCCC) and seeing the cheetahs was also incredible, never before would I have thought that I would be so close to cheetahs. Getting to observe their behaviour allowed me to understand them so much more; it was so beneficial to me personally considering I want to work in this field later on in life. It was such an amazing stay I hope I get to come back soon."

Madi Schuller-Chan.

"Traveling to the NCCC for the day was amazing. Being able to track via radio collaring, 6 unreleasable cheetahs in a 500ha enclosure was cool. We were also able to feed all of them which was unreal, and the photography opportunities were so good as my friend took a "National Geographic" shot:

See, so cool! Feeding and tracking a definite highlight, but tracking I thought was the most interesting. The whole time with research has been great!"

Sarah Cheney.

"We had been tracking Lightning the Leopard and were worried about the fact she had not been moving for three days. It was suspected that she could have been injured or hurt. We went to her location and everything seemed fine and her radio signal was moving; we then considered that she could be with cubs. We returned the next morning to place a camera trap close to her location but then we found a large Warthog Kill, which then explained her lack of movement for the last three days. It was incredible to see her patterns. 

Another incredible thing was how we got to track down the 6 cheetahs at the NCCC and getting to throw the food to them when they are so close. The enrichment item we gave to Teddy and Ayla was great; watching them struggle with the boxes to earn their food was classic!"

Stephanie Harvey.

Volunteer Update - Week 25

Week 25 volunteers: Teagan, Bree, Emily, Madeline, Lisa, Grushenka, Aswini, Kelly, Rita and Georgina.  And introducing staff member Karl Fester.

"When I came to this place I wasn't expecting something as good as what I found. I loved this and the people involved with the programme were very helpful. I initially came for one week but I will now spend another two weeks here - that is how much i like it!

From the first day I felt good vibes. The landscape is beautiful, and I really enjoy the car rides to our activities as the view is different every day. I thank all the team here for the experience."

Grushenka Vucetich

"My experience at Neuras thus far surpassed my expectations. It has been a privilege to assist such knowledgeable researchers and to gain experience in the field that will be valuable to my future research endeavors. Neuras is such a unique desert oasis, full of beautiful scenery, delicious food and wine and the friendliest staff you can find.....not to mention it's a birders paradise; it will be hard to leave!"

Aswini Cherukin.

"The highlight of the week has to be the six and a half hour "leisurely stroll" up and down the seemingly endless mountains of Neuras with Matt. This was to make note of any gaps in the perimeter fence. With the job complete and as complete exhaustion hit walking back to Neuras along the main road a friendly passer by helped ensure neither of us would have to carry back/drag/abandon the other. Nevertheless the trip was worth it for the wonderful views and massive sense of satisfaction at the end. The lovely lasagne for dinner that night could not have come at a better time, nor had I ever appreciated the amazingly comfortable beds at Neuras quite so much!"

Georgina Jones.

Volunteer Update - Week 24

Week 24 volunteers: Keith Marshall, Julia Minter, Ayla Tatti, Sarah Mitchell, Georgina Jones and Lisa Paterson.

"I really enjoyed being at Neuras. We do something different everyday. My Favourite thing we did was go to the Namib Carnivore Conservation Fund to feed the cheetahs, It was actually my favourite day of entire trip. We got to be so close to the cheetahs and take incredible pictures. We were only5 feet away from some of the cheetahs which was awesome as you can really appreciate how beautiful they are.

As for the staff, Matt and Kate, as well as the workers and cooks are amazing. Everyone is super friendly and knowledgeable. Coming to Neuras is a great chance to see the conservation part of N/a'an ku se; like tracking carnivore tracks, checking camera traps and seeing if anything was caught in the trap cages. All in all this is a wonderful place to volunteer."

Julia Minter

"I really enjoyed Neuras. I had a really good time. The staff are really nice and there is a good atmosphere. I loved the cheetahs and the trip to Sossusvlei and I am sad to leave. Thank you for the really really good time! "

Ayla Tatti

"I spent one week here and really enjoyed it. My favourite activity was going to the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre and feeding the cheetahs up close. The weather is great in this area. There is a lot of hiking but its not too much and it is worth it when the camera traps reveal something good. Also, the pizza during pizza night was delicious!"

Keith Marshall.

Namibia's most beautiful landscape.

Exhilarating hikes up breathtaking sand dunes.

Unbelievable scenery.

Relaxing atmosphere surrounded by friendly people.

Amazing up close encounters with Cheetahs.

Sad, so incredibly sad to leave!

Sarah Mitchell.

Volunteer Update - Week 23

Week 23 volunteers: Georgina Jones, Lucinda Abberley, James Orr, Lyndsay Walsh, Courtney, Lea Kemmer, Karen Baylioo and David Newell.

So the volunteer updates have been a bit thin on the ground recently, my apologies for that. Kate and I first had a break in the States for her little sisters wedding and then I became really sick with what was eventually diagnosed as a kidney stone. The stone thankfully has passed thanks to a doctor prescribed three day beer drinking session and normal service can now be resumed!  - Matt

"The week at Neuras was unbelievable. I never felt down for a nano second. Hot showers, warm beds, great food and great people. I felt like I didn't deserve to be treated so well! Every day is an adventure in the vast open environment at Neuras. 

The work Matt and Kate do is phenomenal. My top moments were the crazy trip to Sossusvlei; tracking Lightning and every single meal. An underrated feature is the thee amazing dogs who provide endless entertainment and the epic movie nights; especially STARCRASH!!!!!" 

Note from Matt - Starcrash is an amazingly awful Italian Star Wars rip off with David Hasselhoff from 1978 (no seriously, it does exist) for which I have created the world's best drinking game! For rules please feel free to drop me a line! 

David Newell.

"My favourite moment was pizza night; because it was so nice to all sit around together with Matt and Kate, and the pizza was sooooo good! Matt made me a Marmite dough ball which was AMAZING, and played some great music too. Even better was that there was enough pizza left over that we could have cold pizza the next day! Such a nice evening."

Lucinda Abberley.

"Best moments - The sundowner, being able to sit in the middle of no where and watch the sun set is magical and tracking Lightning was scary but special. I enjoyed learning about the camera traps, setting them up, finding them with the GPS and checking the pictures. The Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre and Sossusvlei were both amazing places to visit and pizza night was great. Thanks Matt and Kate for a fun and educational time. "

Karen Baylioo.

"I have fallen in love with Neuras and can't face leaving so I have extended my stay! Highlights so far include the stunning scenery, comfortable accommodation, dune climbs and scrambling up a mountain. We've all had an amazing time and if you want to see the true beauty of Namibia you should not hesitate on jumping on that bus to come down south."  

Georgina Jones

"Really glad I came to Neuras, it was a brilliant first hand experience to see how the tracking of cheetahs and leopards work. We got to help set up trap cages, check the camera traps and use radio-telemetry gear to actually track a leopard - we got so close to Lightning but she was too well disguised amongst thick reeds for us to see her.  Hiking  up the dunes and running (falling) back down was also unforgettable. Overall an amazing week, especially helpful as I hope to study Zoology and this gave me a chance to see what conservationists do day to day."

Lyndsay Walsh.

Volunteer Update - Week 15

Week 15 volunteers: Amanda Keyte, Kirsten Rowlingson, Anne Schattenberg, Tanja Greter, Louise Mercer, Joel Schroeder, Vivien Mangin, Femke Spoor, Stephen Harvey, Sandi Simmons, Yvonne Wemmenhove and Sarita Vyas. 

"As far as a commute to work goes it doesn't get much better than this; standing in the back of the ute, you speed past mountain ranges shaped over centuries by wind and water with the Naukluft mountains standing high in the distance. Its impossible to not feel that surge of hope as you approach the trap cage, maybe this time the bait has worked. The road soon turns to red rocks as we cut across country to the cage, we hit the riverbed and start the slower walk through its sandy bottom; the chatter has now stopped, the anticipation bringing a breathless silence to the group. Batting back the flies we reach the first vantage point some fifty metres away from the cage to see if maybe this time we've succeeded. Alas, during our time here, the doors were always up, nothing had been trapped for collaring. But here you quickly learn that conservation is a game of patience. Mother nature has her own timetable.

While animal sightings maybe few and far between, when you see the evidence of wild animals it makes it that much more rewarding. The thrill of tracking Lightning the Leopard, realising that she's circling you, just out of sight is payment enough for the long hikes and the heat. 

At the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre you are guarantied to see cheetahs. At the 500ha enclosure six cats are kept, unreleasable due to either being problem cats or too tame. These six ambassador cheetahs live a life as close to  the wild as can be provided. Pepper, a hand reared orphan, is the first to come for the meal we've prepared; stalking along the side of the car waiting for her side of horse. 

As she eats Kate fills us in on her history but she doesn't get to finish the story as Spartacus, the biggest of the six creeps up behind her, impatient for his meal.  After feeding the cats its time to feed ourselves and the famous apple pie lives up to its reputation, as does the Neuras Shiraz - chocolate, subtle spice and dark cherry flavours are perfectly complemented by the blue cheese and figs ordered back at the camp that night.

In all the food and wines are as much a highlight as the stunning scenery of the area. Rose tastes that much better when accompanied by a pink streaked sky during sundownwers on our final night."

Kirsten Rowlingson.

Stephen Harvey.

Volunteer Updates

Week 11 volunteers: Nicola Austin, Paula Amis, Christiane Lehmann, Penny Goff, Paul Foley, Sarita Vyas, Kerry Foley, Laura Noll, Quentin Fetiveau and Kira Voss. 

"My time at Neuras was fantastic! I love the fact that the work done by Matt and Kate with us volunteers actually makes a difference. The best activity was going out into the bush to track Lightning (a GPS collared leopard) and her cub "Storm". With the help of daily GPS coordinates  and a radio receiver, we followed her signal to locate her. This normally ended up with the signal indicating we were right on top of her and yet we never saw her as she would always stealthily move away. Not seeing her is not the end of the world as we were able to find her recent kills to establish what she has been hunting (usually springbok). On one occasion after recent rains we were able to find some amazingly clear tracks from both Lightning and Storm confirming that they are still together. 

                                                    A track or 'spoor' belonging to Lightning.

However, the best tracking experience came when we were investigating another springbok kill site where we actually saw the cub, sitting only 100m away from us! The cub noticed us notice him/her and with a small growl ran over the hill before anyone could get their cameras out. We followed and picked up Lightning's signal down in the valley. We could not see the cub and within minutes the signal vanished. It was amazing and the one year old cub looked in excellent condition. 

I also learned about trapping and collaring carnivores for monitoring of their movements. I loved the fact that Matt and Kate encouraged us all to suggest suitable places for new cage and camera trap  locations with the final decision normally being  a joint effort from everyone. It added to the excitement of doing the daily trap checks as you never knew what would be in there when you arrived.  

I loved every minute of it - Thank you Matt and Kate!!"

 

Paula Amis - volunteer for a record breaking 5 weeks!


Week 12 volunteers: Millie Tupper, Paula Finnuala Chiobhain, Quentin Fetiveau, Maria Tabacco, Douglass Badder, Igor Rosetti, Arthur Fernandes, Tezz Colombini and Poala Bogoinelli.

 


 Week 13 volunteers: Paula Amis, Sarita Vyas, Rochelle Vyas and Janet Burton.

"Really great stay! This is my first time visiting Namibia and I can definitely say that i will be returning to Neuras very very soon!  Everyone here made me feel extremely welcome and taught me so much in the week that I was here for. Really don't want to leave but I'll be planning my trip back again soon. Thanks so much to everyone at Neuras, you all do a fantastic job."

Rochelle Vyas

"My experience at Neuras was fantastic! I loved the variety of activities arranged for us. I was especially encouraged to test my endurance in climbing the dunes, walking long distances and setting trap cages which have made me realise I have more potential than I realised! Kate and Matt were a huge reason for making my time here so enjoyable....they were so kind and always willing to go the extra mile to help. THANK YOU! I will return for sure."

Sarita Vyas.

Week 14 volunteers: Alistair White, Claire Pearce, Tim Taylor, Joanne Johnson, John Parnell, Susan Parnell, Harry Andrews, Lisa Greber and Georgina Foley-Brickley.

"Big cats, sand dunes, wine and pizza! What more could you ask for, a great week away in a beautiful oasis. Awesome staff making sure all volunteers and guests have an amazing trip. With sundowners and swimming in a natural pool. Don't miss the opportunity to come and see this amazing landscape and meet great people."

Tim Taylor.

"Wine, wildlife and wonderful company  - what better way to sum up one week at Neuras? The setting is nothing short of idyllic; an oasis in the desert providing stunning views, cool fountains and an incredible array of bird life. The research is endlessly fascinating, from tracking large carnivores to setting and checking camera traps and trap cages. It all feels consistently necessary and engaging. Special mention must be made of of the staff, who are not only expertly knowledgable of the local flora and fauna but are also tirelessly helpful, ensuring a constant stream of information, conversation and excellent food. 

All in all, an excellent concept wonderfully executed." 

Harry Andrews.