Amazing project in a beautiful country.

If you are hoping to spend time working within a truly ethical project that lives up to it's principles then Twala is the perfect place.
At Twala you are just one of a small number of volunteers, which means that when there is a rescue mission, (which is frequently) or a release or a new admission to the sanctuary you will be always be in the thick of it.
There are such a range of animals at the sanctuary that you will arrive believing you will never get to know them all and leave feeling as though you have made a wealth of new friends.
The accommodation is great and the garden simply beautiful and you are incredibly well looked after. Everyone I met at Twala was lovely, warm and friendly and we spent a lot of time laughing.
There is lots of work to do, some of it, like chopping fruit and veg, quite routine. The working days start early but are very rewarding, filled with good company, both animal and human, and with decent breaks. There are also plenty of opportunities to head into the surrounding villages or into Harare on one mission or another, getting a real sense of Zimbabwe, its people and their way of life.
Zimbabwe is utterly beautiful and the people so welcoming. I fell in love with it and very much miss those dusty, bumpy journeys into Harare enjoying the sights and sounds as we went, and the return trips surrounded by boxes of veg and recovering dogs from the veterinary hospital!
There was also nothing more relaxing than rounding the day off by swimming in the lovely pool, surrounded by dogs, cats, duikers and wild bush babies. I'll gloss over the crazy puppy launching herself in to swim with me!
I spent a month at Twala and it is impossible to encapsulate the sheer amazingness of it all. The Twala animal sanctuary isn't just about the animals it rescues and cares for, it is about community and partnership and delivering a wealth of programmes that have been carefully designed to support the wider community when it comes to caring for the animals which are so integral to their lives. Twala's ongoing commitment to feed, treat and care for a huge number of domestic animals across a wide area has a profound impact on the lives of both these animals and their owners.
Doggy Tuesday, the weekly clinic where literally hundreds of dogs are seen each week, blew me away. It was a chaotic, joyous, at times sad, amazing opportunity to spend the day meeting hordes of dogs and lots of members of the local community, many of whom were children - shy, cheeky, fun and completely smile inducing. The impact of this and a number of similar initiatives is far reaching and provides long term benefit within the community.
So, if you love spending time with loads of animals in a rather beautiful place and are interested in being part of something that really is making a difference then this is the volunteer experience for you. *must like dogs!*