Guiding Volunteers to Zambia with Game Rangers International

Each year, I guide and support volunteers from France and Italy through their placement process with Game Rangers International (GRI). Recently, one French participant’s journey particularly stayed with me. Michelle first wrote to me in January about a volunteer placement she hoped to join in October 2025.

Michelle with Lusaka school kids at the Wildlife Discovery Centre

She had applied through Game Rangers International and, being based in France, was referred to me as the local contact and facilitator.

Having already volunteered at Lola ya Bonobo in the DRC and on other conservation projects, she wanted something ethical, serious, and genuinely useful.

So we talked, a lot. I shared photos, explained daily life in camp, connected her with a previous French volunteer, and helped with all the logistics: choosing flights, planning timings, organising bookings before and after the programme, and staying in touch throughout.

With my background in international tourism, supporting these details is second nature. My role is to make the journey smooth and reassuring, so volunteers can focus on the experience itself.

What I value about GRI is its integrity. This is not wildlife tourism - it’s real conservation work, and what makes this programme different.

Volunteers are placed in very small teams (maximum four people) in Lusaka National Park and/or Kafue National Park.

They contribute to: - care and rehabilitation of rescued elephant calves at the Elephant Nursery and rescued primates at the Zambia Primate Project   - wildlife behaviour monitoring & data collection at the Elephant Release Facility  - habitat and camp maintenance - daily field operations  - community development & conservation education.

Elephant orphan at the Elephant Nursery

There is a strict hands-off policy: no touching wildlife, no selfies — because animals must remain wild and releasable.

Programmes typically run 1–4+ weeks, depending on availability.

Fees include accommodation in safari-style tents, meals, in-country transfers, training and supervision, park access, daily participation in conservation activities.

After Michelle completed her placement, I organised a few extra days for her in Livingstone to discover Victoria Falls.

When she came home, she told me:

“Cette expérience a dépassé toutes mes attentes…” (“This experience exceeded all my expectations...")

Over time, most volunteers I accompany have been women — young professionals seeking more meaningful travel, mid-life nature lovers reconnecting with wildlife - but also couples and students passionate about contributing to a worthy cause.

Michelle preparing the milk for the elephant orphans

Supporting this and other field projects that work for conservation through sustainable tourism, remains one of the most meaningful parts of my work building Partnerships for Nature.

If you are based in France or Italy and considering an ethical conservation placement, I’m happy to guide you from first enquiry to return home: you can fill this form

... Sometimes it simply starts with a conversation.