South Africa: Volunteer with endangered species during April 2012 and get 50% off

Country: South Africa
Location: KwaZulu Natal, South Africa wildlife reserves
Departures: Departures throughout the year, please enquire for details
Price: From €950 (GB £791) - €1,700 (GB £1,416) (14 days) excluding flights
Duration: 2 - 12 weeks

Get 50% off any time spent in the project during the month of April 2012!

click here to enquire or book >>

Price includes accommodation at the camp, all meals and training. Longer stays can be arranged from €750 (GB £625) per 2 weeks spent after the first 2 weeks.

Getting to the project is easy! You simply book an international flight through any airline you choose, arriving in Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International Airport), and then book a connecting domestic flight (takes just over an hour) from Johannesburg to Richards Bay (our closest airport) where you can get picked up from. Other options include a flight to Durban and then by bus to Richards Bay or straight from Johannesburg to Richards Bay by bus.

The Endangered Species Monitoring Programme:

• We personally initiate, implement and manage the Endangered Species Monitoring programmes on reserves that don’t have the means to do so themselves. Our projects are located across 4 different and unique Game Reserves in Zululand, South Africa.
• Joining our project means that you can actively help endangered and priority wildlife species conservation by contributing towards some of the most exciting monitoring projects in Southern Africa. The reserves on which we work mainly focus on research into African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Black Rhino and Vultures; however Elephant, Lion, Leopard and White Rhino are also monitored.

Why volunteers join our team:

• We are the only conservation volunteer organisation in South Africa who are supported by and working with high profile organisations including the WWF and Wildlands Conservation Trust.
• We are also the only volunteer supported organisation to work on National Game Reserves, allowing you to experience the real African bush (other volunteer organisations work only on private Game Reserves).
• Because we are the only volunteer supported organisation to work across 4 different game reserves, you have the opportunity to work on multiple Reserves, depending on the length of your stay. If you stay for only 2 weeks, you will work on 1 Reserve, but for every additional 2 weeks you stay, the better your chance of experiencing another Reserve.

We only accept a maximum of 5 volunteers at a time one each of the reserves on which we work. (Unlike other projects that allow up to 15 on one reserve). We find this keeps the team small and efficient providing you with insights into real conservation work, and keeps you involved in all day-to-day aspects of monitoring, including where necessary:

• Daily tracking and locating of priority species wildlife in the wild from an open 4x4 vehicle, via radio telemetry.
• Mapping the sightings using GPS equipment. You will be taught how to use the equipment.
• Observing animal behaviour (e.g. wild dog pack dynamics) for research purposes.
• Photographing and creating identity kits when necessary for reintroduced/relocated animals.
• Periodically setting up camera traps at watering holes and game trails.
• Assisting with ongoing game counts.

Depending on how long you join our team for and the time of year you visit, you could be fortunate enough to participate in one of the following activities, which occur strictly as and when the need arises:

• Radio collaring of animals.
• Notching (identity marking) of animals such as Rhino.
• Night tracking excursions – for example Hyaenas.
• Relocation or re-introduction of endangered species.
• Vulture counts and nest surveys.
• Bird ringing & alien plant control.

At least once a week you will have a day set aside for administrative work (data capture and analysis), which is a vital part of the monitoring process, as this valuable information, which Wildlife ACT and our volunteers gather, has numerous management applications, including the planning of successful introduction and removal strategies of priority wildlife species, as well as supplying information to the local conservation authorities.

We are looking for people who want their contribution to be directly and effectively utilised in genuine conservation efforts. If you wish to be a part of a professional conservation team, and experience some of the most exciting conservation work in Africa, then you are the kind of volunteer we are looking for!

click here to enquire or book >>