Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation | Volunteer in Zimbabwe

Community School Children Imire Game Reserve

Volunteer in Zimbabwe for an adventure like no other

Come and experience the magic that is Imire. Only 90 minutes from Harare, our safari lodge allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy world-class food and hospitality.

Or check in for a longer stay as a wildlife conservation volunteer and work shoulder to shoulder with conservation experts. As a rhino volunteer, you will gain hands-on knowledge and experience iconic African wildlife including rhinos, elephants and cheetah.

However long you spend with us, Imire is a once-in-a-lifetime escape that offers something for everyone.

VISIT IMIRE

VOLUNTEER AT IMIRE

SUPPORT IMIRE

Our Values

Our mission is to protect endangered wildlife in Africa and support the conservation of all wildlife. We believe that rural communities and conservation programmes can thrive side by side, working together to ensure the protection of our natural heritage. At Imire, our aim is to enhance the relationship between tourism, conservation projects and communities. We do this through long-term sustainable environmental management and community projects that have a positive and lasting impact for all.

Wildlife Conservation in Zimbabwe

Our focus at Imire is endangered wildlife conservation, ensuring the safety of our wildlife through the creation of a positive relationship between conservation, communities and tourism. From small beginnings back in the 1950s, we are now custodians of nine black and four white rhino, a home for three orphaned elephants and a release site for a ground-breaking cheetah rewilding programme.

We strive to remain at the forefront of conservation in Zimbabwe, taking part in ground-breaking breeding programmes, endangered species rewilding, wildlife research, innovative game capture and movement, and advanced anti-poaching solutions.

Behind the scenes

Keep up to date with all the latest Imire news, from our ongoing community initiatives to our conservation efforts and find out how you can help. What does it take to run a wildlife conservancy in Africa? Find out below…

OUR COMMUNITY

Our conservation efforts are supported by our work to empower local communities, through livelihood opportunities and sustainable development.

BLOG

Want to stay up to date with all the latest news and events at Imire? Check out our blog for a slice of daily life.

OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Imire is at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s wildlife conservation efforts, leading the way with ground-breaking breeding programmes, pioneering wildlife research, innovative game capture and movement, and highly advanced anti-poaching solutions.

SUPPORT IMIRE

Our work couldn’t continue without the generous contributions we receive from communities, businesses and private individuals around the world, all of whom help to fund the security and wellbeing of our wildlife and local community. If you share our passion for conservation, please consider joining them in offering your support.

Testimonials

If you want to see rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras walking 10-15 meters from you, eat delicious meals prepared by master class chefs and sleep in astounding surrounding, don't look for other location. THIS IS THE PLACE !!! I'm in love with this place from the very first minutes.

Jake

The most amazing place on the planet! The staff are so dedicated. The animals are just the most beautiful creatures! The surroundings are just to die for and Castle kopji is just the most awesome rock sculpture and petrifying to climb!

Helena

Our trip to Imire was wonderful. It is a remote oasis for the mind and soul. Everything was immaculate from the physical plant to the wonderful guides (Endmore and Anyway you are THE BEST). The animals are well cared for and happy. The food was out of this world delicious.

Courts

Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation FAQs

How can I help with wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe?

We invite wildlife conservation volunteers from around the world to join our volunteer programme and work with rhinos and elephants in Zimbabwe. Our volunteers play a critical role in supporting the conservation work we do and are vital to the ongoing success of the Imire conservancy. You will get involved with rhino conservation, elephant monitoring and cheetah observations, and learn about the importance of anti-poaching from our dedicated K9 unit. Volunteers work alongside community members on income generation projects and work with community children and young adults in our onsite Learning Centre and Library.

Can I volunteer in Zimbabwe?

No experience is necessary to be a wildlife conservation volunteer, just a passion for wildlife, an enthusiastic can-do attitude and a willingness to get stuck in! You will have a life-changing experience and make memories and friends that will last a lifetime. Get in touch to book your place!

How does Imire support wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe?

Our focus has always been to support endangered species and to build and retain vital gene pools, in order to repopulate areas most severely affected by poaching. In 1987 we were given custodianship of the Magnificent 7, seven orphaned baby black rhinos that were unable to survive alone in the wild. Our rhino breeding programme had begun. Over the next three decades, 21 rhinos were born at Imire, with 12 released to start new lives in Zimbabwe’s national parks. In 2021 we partnered with The Aspinall Foundation and were honoured to receive two captive-bred cheetah in order to begin the process of increasing Zimbabwe’s dwindling cheetah population.

What is the weather like in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe has more than 300 days of sunshine a year and Imire is located at a pleasant altitude away from the stifling heat of the low veld areas. The rainy summer season runs from November - March when the days can be blisteringly hot broken up with much-needed rain showers, and the winters are characterised by warm sunny days and cold nights.

Where in Zimbabwe will I be volunteering with wildlife?

Imire is located in the Hwedza district of eastern Zimbabwe, around 120km from the capital, Harare. Our conservancy is around 10,000 acres and is a mixture of beautiful miombo woodland, open plains, waterways and huge granite outcrops. We are bordered by small rural settlements and many of our staff are from the villages that surround Imire.