Endangered Species Project

BETA VERSION CODE VGS127

The Endangered Species Project allows you to participate in hands on monitoring of some of Africa’s most endangered species such as Rhino, Cheetah and Southern Ground Hornbill. This project is ideal if you want to truly experience the “wild” side of Africa. Our bush camp is based in a Limpopo game reserve which is home to the ‘Big 5’. This means you will get to encounter, and live among, elephants, lions, rhino, leopards and buffalo while working with us. We will teach you basic bush survival skills and how to navigate your way through the African bush!

During your stay, your days will be spent mostly on foot walking through the reserve, learning how to track the animals. You will be approaching endangered species on foot and recording their behaviour, location and condition. The collected information is then used by the reserve management and anti-poaching teams, as well as national conservation efforts to help save these endangered species. Furthermore, you will take part in vehicle based monitoring to see the amazing Big 5, as well as habitat work to help with the monitoring process.

Project Highlights

Learning about South African wildlife conservation
Helping out in saving endangered species
Going on game drives and seeing wild animals up close
Experiencing what it is like to live in the bush

Volunteer Requirements

CV/Resumé
Medium level of fitness
Basic level of competency in English
18 years of age or older

This is a unique experience for people who want to get more out of visiting a game reserve in South Africa. Everyone who joins us on this exciting program will get to experience the African bush in its extremes, from elephants strolling through camp to the tropical heat or the surprisingly cold winter nights.

If you have a love of nature and want to participate in helping to save Africa’s endangered species, this is the project for you.

Volunteer Tasks

Volunteer tasks are focused on monitoring, which forms the basis for the majority of our research assistance on the reserve. We conduct monitoring drives in the mornings and afternoons. The monitoring coincides with times of increased activity of the specific animals we are observing. We also spend time on foot tracking the more elusive animals, which is an amazing way to experience the bush. During the drier winter months, we have several hides based at waterholes which allow you to observe the various animals and their interactions at close quarters. The volunteers will also spend time attending to habitat management requirements on the properties and the greater reserve.

Included

Return Transfer from Johannesburg Airport
All meals
Certificate of completion
Accommodation
24 hour support and supervisor
Donation to the project
2 day Johannesburg orientation

Accommodation
We have a bush camp that has been set up especially for the volunteers on this project. Here, you will be staying in comfortable twin shared tents set up on raised platforms. There are bush showers, flushing toilets and a kitchen available at the camp.