Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary

From start to finish, the experience I had at Twala was fantastic. Sarah’s communication with me before arrival was organised and friendly. The sanctuary is amazing with every type of animal and the volunteer house had everything you need and we were so well fed! Everybody we met from staff to volunteers were friendly and passionate about animal care. Our days were busy and varied with taking care of the animals, helping community projects, collecting and releasing injured animals. Etc.
Overall this is an amazing experience in Zimbabwe and I can’t wait to go back!

I've been volunteering twice at Twala and it feels just like home ❤️
It is a very ethical place where you will learn a lot about animals, rehabilitation process but also veterinarian procedures and community outreach.
You will definitely enjoy your time here because you will feel useful to the project, especially on Doggy Tuesday where you get to help taking care of so many dogs and interact with the community.
I love every aspect of this volunteering. These animals healed me in a way and I missed them the minute I left Twala.
Sarah also makes sure that you get to experience the culture of Zimbabwe and discover other places. Also, you are taken care of from the moment you book your volunteering to the moment you leave, I didn't feel unsafe at any time.
Go for it ! I'm already planning my third visit ❤️

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!*

As a vet student, I was eager to gain experience with both domestic and wild animals, so I decided to volunteer at Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary. My experience there was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. The communication with the owner, Sarah, was excellent as she was always quick to answer any questions I had. I got a great feeling about the place from the start. When I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by the staff, other volunteers, and of course, the animals. Seeing all the dogs, cats, and birds living together in harmony was something I had never seen before.

I immediately got on well Nkazie, the animal caretaker who mostly feeds and checks on the animals, and I followed her around everywhere. It was wonderful to see the great life the animals had at Twala. The dogs went on daily off-leash walks, and all the animals received fresh fruits and veggies every day. The dogs and cats even got cooked chicken every day for dinner. When I met Sarah in person, I felt even better about everything. It was clear how much she cared about every animal at the sanctuary. She knew every animal by name and would immediately notice if anything was wrong with them. She would ask the vet nurses to check up on them or ask us to give them more food when necessary.

As a vet student, I was able to assist the vet nurses with wound cleaning and watched them as they put in IVs and injections. They would also teach me about some diseases that we don't see much of in Belgium. Some days I could also go to the animal hospital in the city and watch some surgeries there, which was so interesting to see! I was always so happy to help in any way I could. On Tuesdays, the sanctuary hosted Doggy Tuesday where members of the community could bring their dogs for free food and medical care. Seeing the impact that Twala had on so many animals in need was heartwarming.

Every day at Twala was filled with new and exciting experiences, from feeding and bathing the animals to watching surgeries at the animal hospital in the city, I loved every moment of it. I am forever grateful for this experience and to the staff and volunteers at Twala for doing such an incredible job changing the lives of so many animals. I really hope I will be able to come back soon because my journey at Twala is definitely not finished!

There are many animal sanctuaries out there, but there is only one Twala! This place really is a home away from home and the whole team treat you like you are their family.

When you arrive, you are immediately welcomed by the gorgeous doggies and friendly cats who give you unlimited love throughout your stay. All the animals live in harmony here. There’s so much love to go around.

It can be tough to find a genuine animal sanctuary that does not exploit their animals for monetary purposes, but Twala is a truly trustworthy organisation, who use their donations to rescue, feed and nurture their animals with an end goal of releasing them to the wild.

The owners, Sarah and Vin are the nicest people on the planet, who ensure that you get what you need out of your time at the Trust. Whether you are looking for veterinary experience in the clinic, getting your hands dirty in the enclosures, or taking it easy with dog walks and lion feeding, there’s something different to do each day!

There’s a wide variety of animals and birds at the sanctuary. From friendly Cockatoos to roaring lions and baby tortoises. All animals have been rescued or saved from captivity.

If you’re looking for an authentic experience that will fill your heart with love and joy each day, then look no further than Twala. Just be careful, as you won’t want to leave.