Newsletter - June 2026

In this edition, we introduce new ethical wildlife volunteering opportunities, share updates on our first conservation journey to Zimbabwe, present an elephant research expedition in Namibia, explore the potential of Angola as a future conservation destination, and highlight organisations making a tangible difference for both wildlife and local communities.

We hope you enjoy this month's edition and perhaps discover an organisation, a project, or a journey that inspires you to become involved.

Happy reading.

Zimbabwe Conservation Journey Begins in July

In just a few weeks, our first Zimbabwe Rhino Conservation and Safari expedition will begin.

Launching a new journey always comes with uncertainty. This departure has attracted fewer participants than the minimum number required for Caroline to accompany the group personally. Rather than cancelling the experience, we chose to honour our commitment to the family who decided to join us and experience Zimbabwe in a different way.

This expedition will therefore be escorted by Gift, one of our trusted local guides.

Born and raised near Bulawayo, Gift has spent many years guiding throughout Zimbabwe. His experience ranges from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, working alongside organisations including Imvelo and leading wildlife, conservation and cultural journeys across the country. His knowledge of Zimbabwe's wildlife, conservation programmes and local communities, together with his warm and engaging personality, make him the ideal person to lead this departure.

Throughout the journey, Gift will introduce participants to the people and projects making a difference around Hwange National Park.

Guests will spend time visiting local schools, community gardens and villages, learning how conservation and community development are closely connected. They will meet the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection scouts, discover the work of the Conservation and Research for Community Initiative (CRCI), visit the rhino sanctuary, train working conservation dogs, and gain a better understanding of the challenges and successes of wildlife conservation in this part of Zimbabwe.

The expedition also includes time in Hwange National Park, with game drives and activities that place wildlife conservation into a broader ecological context before continuing to the remote wilderness of Jozibanini.

Although this departure is already confirmed, a small number of places remain available. To make this inaugural journey accessible to more participants, we are offering a $1,000 discount on the remaining places for anyone wishing to join us at short notice.

If you have been thinking about experiencing Zimbabwe beyond a traditional safari, there is still time to become part of this journey.

→ Discover the expedition and enquire about the remaining places.

July 2026: https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/429380ae-d6b5-4c16-bdd9-abdafa28e888​

If July is too soon, the same conservation and safari journey will return in October 2027, during the height of the dry season, when large concentrations of elephants gather around Hwange's waterholes, creating some of the most rewarding wildlife viewing of the year.

​https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/7bf6f2e3-c140-4050-9e24-38ce03321edb​

Whether you choose to join us this July or next October, the journey offers the opportunity to experience conservation from within, working alongside local communities, meeting the people protecting Zimbabwe's wildlife, and exploring one of Africa's most remarkable landscapes.

Discover Ethical Wildlife Volunteering at Ashia Cheetah Conservation

One of the organisations we are pleased to feature is Ashia Cheetah Conservation in South Africa.

Founded in 2016 by Chantal Rischard and Stephen Illenberger, Ashia works across several areas of cheetah conservation, including the rescue and release of cheetahs, scientific research, population management, wildlife volunteering, and the care of unreleasable resident cheetahs and leopards, as well as animals requiring rehabilitation or temporary accommodation.

What particularly attracted us to Ashia is its approach to volunteering. The programme is built around genuine conservation rather than close wildlife encounters. Volunteers contribute to the daily operations of the centre through animal husbandry, enclosure maintenance, food preparation, enrichment activities, behavioural observations, and educational sessions, whilst gaining first-hand insight into modern cheetah conservation.

A defining characteristic of the programme is its strict no-touch philosophy. There are no cub-petting activities, no walking with predators, and no interactions designed purely for entertainment. Every aspect of the programme places animal welfare and conservation objectives first.

Our latest article explores Ashia's work in greater detail, from its volunteer programme to its contributions to cheetah rescue and release, the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Cheetah Metapopulation Project, scientific research, and the care of resident animals.

If you are looking for an ethical wildlife volunteering experience in South Africa, or would simply like to learn more about the organisation's work, we invite you to read the article.

Ethical Elephant Volunteering with EHRA

Another organisation we are proud to feature is Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) in Namibia.

Founded in 2003, EHRA works to reduce human-elephant conflict and promote peaceful coexistence between people and Namibia's desert-adapted elephants. Operating across north-west Namibia, the organisation combines practical conflict-mitigation measures, elephant monitoring, community-based initiatives, education programmes, and volunteer participation to address one of conservation's most complex challenges: enabling people and elephants to share the same landscape.

What particularly attracted us to EHRA is its approach to volunteering. Rather than focusing on close wildlife encounters, the programme gives participants the opportunity to contribute to practical conservation.

During Build Week, volunteers help protect community water infrastructure and maintain alternative water sources for elephants.

During Patrol Week, they participate in elephant monitoring, data collection, and conflict-prevention activities, gaining first-hand insight into the realities of human-elephant coexistence.

Our latest article explores EHRA's work in greater detail, from its volunteer programme to its long-term elephant monitoring, community education initiatives, and practical solutions that help reduce conflict across north-west Namibia.

If you are looking for an ethical wildlife volunteering experience or would like to learn more about one of Africa's most innovative human-elephant coexistence programmes, we invite you to read the article.

Join an Elephant Research Expedition in Namibia

If you would like to go beyond wildlife watching and actively contribute to elephant conservation, EHRA is offering a unique seven-day Elephant Research Expedition in the remote landscapes of north-west Namibia.

Led by EHRA's Director of Field Operations, Chris Pitot, participants join the organisation's elephant patrol team to learn how desert-adapted elephants are monitored and how field research contributes to their conservation.

Throughout the expedition, participants learn to identify and age elephants, understand their behaviour and social structure, track free-roaming herds, interpret footprints and other field signs, and safely observe elephants in their natural environment. They also discover how GPS collar technology, satellite tracking, and long-term monitoring are helping improve our understanding of elephant movements and human-elephant coexistence.

The expedition also contributes directly to EHRA's current research into recent calf mortality. Participants assist with behavioural observations, elephant identification, dung and water sample collection, and the recording of field data that supports ongoing scientific research into the factors affecting calf survival.

Based from remote wilderness camps in Damaraland, the expedition provides an immersive field experience where participants gain practical research skills whilst contributing to one of Namibia's longest-running elephant monitoring programmes.

The expedition costs £2,000 for seven days, including transfers from Swakopmund, camping equipment, and meals. Remaining departures are available on:

• 13–20 September 2026
• 14–21 February 2027
• 8–15 May 2027
• 8–15 August 2027
• 14–21 November 2027

Social media posts from EHRA promoting the expedition

For anyone interested in elephant conservation, this expedition offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of Namibia's leading elephant conservation organisations whilst making a genuine contribution to ongoing field research.

Contact us via email info@indigoearthfoundation.com to learn more.

Saveurs d'Espoir, a Charity Gala Supporting Vocational Training in Madagascar

Earlier this month, one of our partner, L'Île aux Enfants, the Fondation École de Félix, and the Grand Café de la Gare organised Saveurs d'Espoir, a charity gala bringing together embassies, foundations, businesses, charities, and supporters from across Madagascar. The evening was created with a single purpose, raising funds to support the educational and vocational training programmes delivered by the two organisations.

What made the evening particularly meaningful was that the students themselves were at the heart of the event. Young apprentices from the culinary training programmes imagined, prepared, and served the dinner, demonstrating the professional skills they have developed through their education.

Throughout the evening, guests discovered the wider work carried out by both organisations. From providing access to education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to vocational training that prepares young adults for employment, these initiatives are helping create lasting opportunities for hundreds of families across Madagascar.

Saveurs d'Espoir is much more than a fundraising dinner. It highlights the work taking place every day within L'Île aux Enfants and the Fondation École de Félix, where children receive an education and young adults develop practical skills that prepare them for employment and greater independence.

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Video presenting the charity gala

In Cape Town on 16 August? Help Feed Thousands of Schoolchildren

If you are visiting Cape Town this August, there is an opportunity to take part in one of the city's longest-running charity events while directly supporting children in need.

The Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk returns on Sunday, 16 August for its 58th edition, bringing together thousands of participants to raise funds for the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA). Unlike many fundraising events, 100% of every entry fee is allocated directly to the organisation's school feeding programme.

If you happen to be in Cape Town, we encourage you to take part. Whether you choose the five-kilometre or ten-kilometre walk, your participation will help provide meals for children who rely on the programme every school day.

If you are unable to join the event, you can still make a difference. A donation of R1,026, approximately US $63, provides nutritious school meals for one child for an entire year.

Every contribution, whether through participation or a donation, helps ensure that more children arrive at school ready to learn rather than worrying about their next meal.

Exploring New Conservation Opportunities in Angola

This month, we travelled to Angola to better understand the country's emerging conservation initiatives and explore how they could become part of a future Indigo Earth Foundation journey.

Angola remains one of Southern Africa's least-visited destinations, offering spectacular landscapes, remarkable cultural diversity, and extensive wilderness that is only beginning to re-establish itself after decades of conflict.

A particular focus of our visit was Cuatir Nature Reserve, a two hundred square kilometre private conservation area in south-east Angola established by Stefan van Wyk. The reserve is helping pioneer private conservation in the country.

Working alongside the Mt Etjo team from Namibia, Cuatir Nature Reserve successfully translocated twenty-six elephants during 2024, helping restore wildlife to landscapes where populations had previously declined.

Photos: Cuatir National Reserve

Beyond conservation, we are also exploring how a future journey could introduce travellers to Angola's rich cultural heritage through respectful visits with local communities, while discovering some of the country's remarkable landscapes and wildlife.

Designing this type of expedition requires careful planning. Our objective is to create an itinerary that balances meaningful conservation experiences, cultural immersion, and time exploring the country, while keeping travel distances practical and ensuring the journey remains enjoyable.

Nothing has been finalised at this stage, but the potential is encouraging.

While this project continues to develop, we invite you to discover some of Angola's spectacular landscapes, wildlife, and rich cultural traditions through the photographs below.

Photos taken during the trip in Angola

Celebrating World Giraffe Day

World Giraffe Day gave us an opportunity to shine a light on one of Africa's iconic animals.

Many safari travellers are surprised to learn that giraffes are not part of the Big Five. Despite being the tallest land animals on Earth, the term "Big Five" refers to the elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion, and leopard, a classification originally used by hunters to describe the five most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

Giraffes face challenges of their own. Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching have contributed to significant population declines across parts of Africa, making conservation increasingly important.

If you would like to observe giraffes in the wild whilst learning about their ecology and the conservation challenges they face, our conservation journeys in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and South Africa provide opportunities to encounter different giraffe populations alongside the conservationists working to protect Africa's wildlife.

We hope to welcome you on one of these journeys and share a deeper understanding of one of Africa's most remarkable animals.

→ Explore our upcoming conservation journeys​

If one of the projects featured in this newsletter has inspired you, we encourage you to take the next step. Read more about our partners, join a conservation journey, volunteer, support one of the organisations, or simply share their work with others.

Together, we can help ensure these initiatives continue to make a lasting difference.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more updates next month.

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Indigo Earth Foundation