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African Wildlife Conservation Experience

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Price South Africa 2 weeks+
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African Wildlife Conservation Experience

South Africa

The African Wildlife Conservation Experience offers volunteers the unique and exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience in the conservation efforts of an African game reserve. Work alongside a team of passionate conservationists working tirelessly to save our endangered and threatened wild and marine life from extinction. Volunteers will take part in short and long-term projects which are intended to create sustainability for generations to come. Tasks may vary from physical work to interesting and interactive lecture-based content. Optional add-on RAID skipper course (applicable to 3+ week sessions – ask us for more details!). *This is primarily a conservation program- vet work is not planned or guaranteed but may be part of some sessions if veterinary care is needed*


Cost

2-week session: $1700 USD

Additional weeks: $850 USD/week

  • Destination
  • Departure
    Every Sunday - Year Round
  • Departure Time
    Wildlife
  • Return Time
    Animal Lovers | Pre-Vet Students | Vet Students | Vet Techs & Nurses | Vets
  • Dress Code
    Training is provided for all activities. The program fee helps to support conservation efforts (National Park entrance fees and conservation levies) as well as volunteer activities, transportation, meals & accommodation, conservation module booklets, conservation certificates, and free t-shirt. Max 10 volunteers per field guide/game vehicle.
  • Included
    Accommodation
    Airport Transfers
    Laundry Facilities
    Meals
    On-Site Support
    Pre-Departure Support
    Wi-fi
  • Not Included
    Flights
    Free-time Activities
    Travel Insurance
    Visa Fees (if applicable)
1
DAY 1 SUNDAY
Arrival Volunteers settle into their accommodation
2
DAY 2 MONDAY
Welcome presentation! Elephant conservation-
Spend the day learning about African elephants and their role in the ecosystem as well as the challenges they face on earth.  Set out to correctly identify each elephant on the game reserve as well as monitor their individual personality.
3
DAY 3 TUESDAY
Rhino conservation -
Spend the day learning about White Rhino and their role in the ecosystem as well as the challenges they face on earth.  Set out to correctly identify each rhino on the game reserve as well as monitor their individual personality.
 
4
DAY 4 WEDNESDAY
Fence management Intensive flora clearing
5
DAY 5 THURSDAY
Orinthology-  PowerPoint presentation covering the unique biodiversity of local birdlife sets a great platform for being able to correctly identify and differentiate between oceanic, estuarine, arboreal, and terrestrial birds. Volunteers will take part in our bird species count.
6
DAY 6 FRIDAY
Community outreach Trip to town
7
DAY 7+8 SATURDAY/SUNDAY
Leisure time, optional tours and activities
8
DAY 9 MONDAY
Lion conservation presentation and monitoring. Lion monitoring Wild lion populations throughout Africa are on a rapid decline while canned lion populations are on the rise. Volunteers will take part in open discussion troubleshooting the loss of prey species, loss of habitat, lion bone trade, and human encroachment all contributing to the possible extinction of Africa’s apex predator.
9
DAY 10 TUESDAY
Beach Hike Explore the coastal dune forest and rocky shores
10
DAY 11 WEDNESDAY
Kayaking expedition 10km
11
DAY 12 THURSDAY
Volunteers will go on a boat cruise and partake in the oceanographic research institute's cooperative fish tagging project. Each participant will be briefed on how to safely catch, tag, record information, and release estuarine fish species.  Findings will be loaded onto the ORI international data base.
12
DAY 13 FRIDAY
Volunteers will spend a day visiting the Eastern Capes flagship game reserve – Addo Elephant National Park. Addo houses the densest population of African elephants per square kilometer and holds a mammoth section of conservation history for our area.
13
DAY 14 SATURDAY
Free Time
14
DAY 15 SUNDAY
Team breakfast Departure
This itinerary is an example of a 2-week session. Activities are planned according to the needs of the reserve and some optional activities are planned as a group.

Tour Location

Expansive grounds to explore and a large swimming pool with BBQ area or in the lounge by the fireplace make perfect spots to relax and unwind from the adventures of the day. Volunteers will share comfortable twin-bedded rooms (2 per room) with en-suite bathrooms, including full board. Staff stay on site and bedding (pillows, sheets, and blankets), electricity, hot water, wifi, and laundry are included.

Meals include 2 course dinners 5 nights per week, 2 hot breakfasts served per week.  Food is readily available in the fully stocked kitchen for breakfast and packed lunches.  Two nights per week volunteers can dine at a local restaurant, order out, or cook on site.

Single private rooms are available on request at an additional cost.

     

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Activities:

Wildlife Tracking & Monitoring: Spend your time immersed in Nature, on the trails of Africa’s Big Five. Regular monitoring and observation enable us to identify individuals, compile information about the family/ herd structure, evaluate body condition and determine feeding habits. Activity includes: Game Drives, Game Counts, Game Captures, setting up camera traps and track stations, learning Bush Skills.
Rhino-Watch/ Anti-Poaching Support: Play an active role in the protection of our Rhino by performing Anti-Poaching night-patrols and learn more about their importance and protocol through night drives and sleep-outs on the Reserve that assist in Sibuya’s Anti-Poaching Unit efforts.
Reserve Sustainability Project: Volunteers will assist in the development of a grey-water filtration wetland to further minimise our ecological footprint and will learn hands-on about the benefits of Permaculture and help manage our indigenous tree nursery.
Alien Plant Control & Botanical Surveys: Alien plants were introduced to the land by the farmers of old for different reasons and uses. Today these invasive plants need to be removed to increase the natural biodiversity and to decrease fire risk. Volunteers take part in Vegetation transects and data collection for monitoring and calculation of Game carrying capacity.
Marine Explorations, Research & Surveys: The nearby Rivers are being monitored on a regular basis to provide research with much needed information about species population densities, occurrence of critically endangered species, salinity levels and water temperatures. Regular trips to the beach for exploration and learning about the coastal Eco-system and how it works will open eyes to the diversity of life that is so close, yet often unnoticed.
Community Engagement: Conservation does not stop at conserving Nature alone, but also includes a responsibility to uplift local and impoverished Communities. This responsibility includes environmental education of the Community as to the role and benefit of conserving biodiversity and further stresses the importance of conserving our natural resources. Regular trips are made into the local Community to raise awareness and assist in various Community Projects.
Addo Elephant National Park:  Volunteers will spend a day visiting the Eastern Capes flagship game reserve – Addo Elephant National Park. Addo houses the densest population of African elephants per square kilometer and holds a mammoth section of conservation history for our area.
Starry Nights: The South African night sky leaves much to be desired as so many constellations are made visible by our minimal light pollution.
Volunteers take part in the star gazing presentation as well as group projects on selected constellations.
International Skipper License:  Conservation volunteers have the option of attaining their inshore skipper's license from world-renowned dive master Keryn van der Walt who operates Raid Southern Africa. (applicable to programs 3+ weeks)
Free Time: There are several adventure and leisure-based activities in and around the area that can be arranged on weekends – at an additional cost – includinghorse-back beach rides, whale watching in Algoa Bay, deep-sea-fishing at Port Alfred or surf and river fishing, skydiving and paragliding in Grahamstown.  Full day Garden Route Tour - Tsitsikamma National Park, ocean boat ride, forest walk, Storms River Bridge, Jeffery's Bay, canopy tour, bungee jump at the world-famous Bloukrans Bridge.
 

   

Please submit an application for this program below. Our team will contact you with more information within 72 hours- if you don’t hear from us, please check your spam folder!

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