South Africa - Reserve Management and Endangered Species Research

The project allows volunteers to gain and improve theoretical reserve and wildlife management skills, gain practical conservation experience, as well as being part of numerous on-going research projects.

This is achieved through training sessions and hands on practical experience in reserve management techniques and research.  Through these activities the project aims to enhance their and the volunteers’ understanding of all aspects of life on the reserve.

For the past thirteen years, management policy has been to utilize all the reserve’s natural resources on a sustainable basis and to maintain and, if possible, increase the wide diversity of fauna and flora which occur naturally.  Currently sufficient funds must be generated to ensure the survival of the reserve and its biodiversity. Volunteers will be involved in the majority of management aspects.

Your Role


As a volunteer you can expect to be involved with:

Veld Management

• Controlled burning
• Veld monitoring / Vegetation surveys
• Prevention of bush encroachment
• Prevention of and combating soil erosion
• Removal of alien vegetation
• Research projects

Mammal Population Management

• Population monitoring on foot and in vehicles
• Annual helicopter game count
• Age and sex surveys on foot and in vehicle
• Provision of water supplies
• Population reduction mainly through live capture (when appropriate)
• Research projects

Reserve Maintenance

• The main tasks include the maintenance of;
• Camps
• Water supplies
• Fences
• Roads
• Firebreaks
• Vehicle and equipment
• Anti-poaching patrols
• Fire control
• Repair of flood damage

Research Projects

• South Africa’s Scavenger Species such as brown hyaena and jackal
• Nocturnal Predators Survey
• Monitoring of White Rhino
• Vulture Research

Volunteers have opportunities to become involved in all activities.  The actual involvement will depend on seasonal factors and the priorities of management during the period of the volunteers stay.  Every effort will be made to give volunteers as much hands on experience as possible.

Typical day

07:30am - Start work 
08:00am - Foot patrol to monitor wildlife and check for poaching activity
12:30 - 14:30pm -  Lunch break
14:30pm -  Management activity i.e. camera trapping, maintenance on reserve
16:30pm -  Fence patrol
19;30pm - Dinner

Volunteers are required to work 5 days a week, the 6th day will enable you to catch up on personal chores i.e. washing, internet etc. and on the 7th day an excursion to a place of interest will be arranged. Please note volunteers will not be working from Monday - Friday as this is a working reserve but we will ensure that there will be 2 days off sometime during the week.

Other activities may include:

• Game drives
• Visit to Pilanesberg National Park
• Camp outs
• Fishing
• Walking trails
• Traditional cooking lessons
• Learning local languages

Accommodation

The bush camp is unfenced & situated in the heart of the reserve where animals are free to roam.  The accommodation comprises of 6 two sleeper log cabins placed amongst riverine woodland.  A communal log cabin on stilts forms the hub of volunteer life. 


This encompasses a kitchen, living area with an outside verandah overlooking the surrounding bushveld.  Stairs lead down to a shaded terrace with braai facilities, seating and fire pit.  The camp runs off gas and generator operated lighting.  Hot and cold mains water is available on site, along with showers and flush toilets. 

The camp is run on a communal basis where you will be expected to take responsibility for cooking and general camp maintenance. 2 persons sharing per bush cabin.

Requirements

• Volunteers must be 18 years of age
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age
• Have a reasonable level of fitness
• English being the first or second language.
• Passion for learning and team work
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• If hiring a car in South Africa you must be 21 or over, have a full driver’s license and credit card with you
• Credit card facility for at least GBP3000 to cover hospital admission in the case of medical emergency

Additional Information

Includes:

• Transfers to and from Johannesburg Airport
• Accommodation in Bush Camp
• 3 Meals per day
• Guides and Trackers
• Onsite transportation
• Ecological Research Projects
• Visits to local places of interest

Excludes:

• International and domestic flights
• Visas
• Travel insurance
• Personal items
• Alcoholic beverages

Arrivals and Travel Information: Volunteers must fly to Tambo OR International airport Johannesburg, South Africa, where they will be met by on the team. At the end of the stay, volunteers will be dropped off at the same airport.