Any one looking for an exciting conservation experience in Africa. The programme allows volunteers the opportunity to assist in the development of this reserve and would be great experience for students studying Veterinary science and other related courses. It is, however, suitable for anyone, and especially those who love big cats as the majority of the work revolves around observing and studying the reserve's pride of lions.

Feel the heartbeat and rhythm of Africa at our Amakhala Game Reserve. Quickly becoming one of the finest tourist destinations in the Eastern Cape wilderness, it is a malaria free reserve boasting the Big Five of South Africa. As a conservation volunteer you are the veins and arteries behind the heart beat of Reserve conservation. All aspects of conservation are addressed on this programme, and the longer your stay the more in depth your experience will be.

The reserve is continuously monitoring and managing game throughout the year. As a conservation ‘Pride’ volunteer you will assist ‘behind the scenes’ on various ongoing conservation projects and reserve priorities. Our duty is to provide the correct and up to date scientific information on the reserve and its animals to the people who make the life changing decisions within the reserve. As a conservation ‘Pride’ volunteer at Amakhala your primary responsibility will be managing the lions.

You will also have the chance to assist with many ongoing short and long-term projects on the reserve. Reserve priorities at any one time may continuously change dependent on many external influences, so your involvement in certain projects thus may be affected. Therefore the longer your placement the more in depth your involvement across many facets of conservation and reserve maintenance.

As a conservation volunteer on Amakhala Game Reserve you may get involved in the following short and long term projects:

• Game counts/Animal Tracking using Telemetry


• Territorial Ranges and Feeding Ranges


• Lion Health and Breeding Monitoring


• Local Community Up-liftment and FOOD 4 THOUGHT projects


• Animal Welfare and Care


• Erosion Control/ Road Maintenance


• Wetland Rehabilitation


• Fence Patrol and Maintenance


• Vehicle Maintenance


• Alien Plant Control


• Bush Clean and Clear ups


• Boma Maintenance


• Birding List of Amakhala Reserve


• Game Capture, counts and monitoring


• Guided walks, tracking and trails through the Reserve


• Bush Survival


• Camping out under the stars and survival (Weather dependent)


• Navigation and Compass orientation


• Target Shooting


• Taxidermy - hunting discussion \"Conservation or Not\"


• Updating Project information onto the computer


• Report writing


• Kayaking

There are currently four community projects that are currently running or are in the initiation of doing so. During your time as a volunteer you may get involved in these ongoing projects which include:

• Children Aids Orphanage


• Animal Welfare and Animal Care


• Community School Education


• FOOD 4 THOUGHT Programme

This course provides an insight into the environmental issues and management of a game reserve. The main focus is having FUN while doing conservation and rehabilitating the land back to its natural environment.The volunteers are also acquainted with the techniques of collecting, analysing and disseminating information on ecological aspects. The course will also allow participants to interact with each other in a life changing environment whilst contributing towards conservation.

Sunlit grassy savannah plains, a mosaic of Valley Bushveld plants including the Aloe from which Amakhala derives its isiXhosa name, the gently dappled light of the sand forest, many watering holes and the wide spellbinding Bushman’s River. This is home to great African mammals, birds and insects, as a volunteer you will be humbled and amazed.

0845 344 7511

Worldwide Experience offers volunteers a unique conservation opportunity to work on some of Southern Africa's premier private game reserves or leading marine ocean research projects. A conservation placement is the ultimate life changing experience gives you the chance to give something back and make a difference to the natural environment.