Rhino poaching in Southern Africa has reached crisis levels. SAVE Foundation’s Namibia Rhino Conservation Internship places you alongside the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) on the 7,600-hectare Zannier Reserve, located 35km from Windhoek International Airport in the Khomas region of Namibia. You live, patrol, and operate with the professional rangers who have dedicated their careers to protecting this reserve and its rhino population.
This is not an observation placement. You will participate in active patrols, track rhino on foot at dawn and dusk, build and maintain observation positions in the bush, and sleep in the field. Groups are capped at four participants per camp, led by two APU staff members at all times.
As an intern, your role will involve a mix of educational support and active engagement through sport and mentorship:
Morning and evening rhino patrol on foot alongside APU rangers
Anti-poaching, navigation, and bush skills training delivered at the operations control centre
Tracking lecture and practical tracking sessions
Building and maintaining bush observation posts
Sleep-outs in bush observation positions
Interaction with the anti-poaching K9 unit
About this internship
A medium to good level of physical fitness is required. Patrols cover significant distances on foot in sometimes challenging terrain.
The programme is led by professional, experienced APU rangers. Groups of four are accompanied by two rangers at all times. Emergency radio communication is always available.
From April 2025, Namibia requires an online visa-on-arrival application for most nationalities. A fee of N$1,600 applies. Full visa guidance is provided on confirmation of your placement.
Yes — many interns combine the Namibia Rhino programme with the Botswana Wildlife Conservation Internship for a two-country conservation experience. Contact us to discuss a combined itinerary.