Anyone with a keen sense of adventure and a love of animals and the outdoors. Someone who is genuinely interested in the conservation of African wildlife, is interested in research and monitoring and wants to experience the African bush first-hand

Monitor Wildlife on a choice of Big Five Game Reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. Varied, fascinating work surrounded by zebra, giraffe, buck and, of course, the Big 5, Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Rhino and Buffalo.

You haven't lived until you've got up at dawn and driven through the early morning mist to a watering hole to watch a herd of elephants gather together to start the day with a wary drink. You feel honoured to be in their world. It's very special. There are numerous other species on the Reserves, from wild dogs, to warthogs, to reptiles and birds... This is an excellent project - a true African experience working with wild game animals.

-WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM THIS THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Africa.


• You'll learn a lot about genuine conservation of African Wildlife from experts in their field


• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.


• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market


• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

PROJECT OVERVIEW

If you want exciting and rewarding conservation work, you’ll love this placement. Your work will be varied and fascinating and a large part of it is devoted to collecting data.

Different Game Reserves have different conservation needs with different species. For example, you could be part of a team working with animals such as black and white Rhino, Elephants, Wild Dogs, Cheetahs, or maybe with big cats, i.e. Leopards.

Tembe Elephant Park: One example is our project in Tembe Game Reserve. Here your work will be with elephants and lions and could involve some or all of the following:

• Collecting information on the number and density of various species.


• Plant growth and phenology monitoring on a seasonal basis.


• Collecting dung of various species.


• Photographing elephants and identifying elephants from an existing identification kit. Photography is used to identify specific animals, which can then be monitored.


• Monitoring and recording the types of feeding done by elephants and/or lions.


• Generally assisting with elephant and lion monitoring.


• Rhino monitoring using motion sensor cameras.


• Butterfly monitoring involving setting and baiting the traps, collecting and photographing the butterflies, gps the locations and identification of the butterfly


• Entering the data collected during each week into a computer. The accurate and complete processing of data is often one of the MOST VALUABLE contributions you make to a placement.

A TYPICAL DAY:

A typical day would be getting up fairly early in the morning (around 5.00 a.m. to start about 6.00 a.m.) to go out into the field to do Lion monitoring. You will usually return from Lion monitoring at around 10h30 and refresh, pack lunch and head out elephant monitoring. The best times to see elephants are during the hot midday times, especially at pans and hides.

You’ll probably return to camp mid or late afternoon. After a siesta (or exercise) and afternoon tea/coffee, you’ll input data onto the computers or generally update notes and pictures on what you’ve been doing and the information collected during the morning. Later, you may go out again to do additional monitoring; however, this depends on the movements of animals or other factors. Dinner is usually a social affair where ideas are shared and plans are made.

ACCOMMODATION:

Your accommodation will vary, depending on which Game Reserve project you choose, but will usually be in the research camp in the reserve. The environments are, without exception, back-to-nature, beautiful and wonderfully tranquil, with the excitement of regularly seeing many African species of game. There is little access to town-type leisure activities, so please bear this in mind. These locations always have an exciting element, like having rhinos walking right up to the fence a few metres away from your door!

Food will be provided or you'll be given a food budget.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:

Add to your travel experience in Africa by doing some additional exciting activities, such as:

• (b)7-Day Safari from Cape Town up the renowned Garden Route: Taking in Dolphin and Whale Spotting, visits to many tourist attractions, such as a visit to a brewery(!), the Bloukrantz Bungy Jump (reportedly the highest in the world), and a guided tour of the Cango Caves.


• Surfing Courses: In the buzz city of Durban.


• Paragliding Course: Soar over the impressively beautiful Drakensburg Mountain. You'll get a licence at the end of the course which qualifies you to do solo paragliding around the world.


• 5-Day Bush Survival Course: This is a fantastic experience and opportunity to see lots of wild animals in their native habitats in Game Reserves. You'll learn a lot and you'll really enjoy learning some bush skills in the great outdoors!

This project can also be combined with any of our other projects in South Africa. That way you’ll get a good knowledge of two or more very different regions of the country.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Talk to us - We're there to help you. Call 0845 3 447 585. Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!

If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us! If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.

It’s as easy as that.

0845 344 7585

YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE! Help children, animals and conservation around the world. Gain valuable work experience and new skills. All ages & nationalities welcome. EXPLORE a new culture from the inside on worthwhile, well-structured projects. FLEXIBLE: From two weeks to one year - you choose your dates and duration.