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GYC1063 - Sanbona White Lion Project Country: South Africa Cost: £1099.00 Please note: All our rates include your return transfer and pick up from airport, all accommodation for the duration of your placement, all meals and placement activities. We are a fully bonded agent through IATA; in conjunction with South Africa Airways we can offer some fantastic rates on international airfare. Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food, kit and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance or visas      Duration: 2 weeks (Durations of 4, 6 and 8 weeks available) Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7511 or

 

	This placement would suit... Anyone who is enthusiastic about hands-on conservation work. This would also be ideal for those looking to study biology or veterinary science. Placements are however open to all. Up to 40% off selected reserves with Worldwide Experience, for placements in December and January. A great chance for returning volunteers or new adventurers, to experience world class conservation placements at a extremely reduced rate. this unique offer.’ Sanbona Wildlife Reserve situated in the heart of the Little Karoo offers you a conservation experience second to none. Join the experienced conservation team in their vision of releasing the legendary white lion back into the wild. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is 54 000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock art and incredible rock formations situated at the foot of the Warmwaterberg mountains. The reserve has been set up a little over 4 years and is still in the developmental stages of a game reserve. Africa volunteer work at Sanbona gives you the ultimate conservation experience allowing you a direct insight into the maintenance and development of a game reserve. Although only a relatively new game reserve Sanbona still boasts the Big Five free roaming on its plains and rocky escarpments. The name Sanbona, a combination of the "San" people who occupied the area 250 years ago and "bona" which represents their vision has been combined to position this beautiful wildlife reserve. Gap year projects on Sanbona are very much a personal experience and allows you to become part of the family and conservation team that strive so hard to bringing nature back to its original environment. Game counts, monitoring and transect analysis Game Introduction - when available Animal research projects Alien vegetation control and rehabilitation of indigenous vegetation Medicinal use of plants and vegetation biomes Plant studies and identification Animal habituation Nocturnal studies Camp outs in the bush Bird monitoring - bird counts on the dam, species list, raptors, etc Game fence management plan and removing old fences Soil erosion control and grass planting Construction and maintenance of bomas General reserve maintenance, road building etc Maintenance of nursery of indigenous plants Introduction to firearms Photography The White Lion Project Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is the only place in the world to have successfully reintroduced white lions back into the wild. As a conservation volunteer on the reserve you will assist with ongoing research and monitoring projects. It has been ‘a long walk to freedom for Sanbona’s White Lion’s’. Jabulani and Queen were introduced onto the reserve in 2003. During their sty here they have been living in a large boma and as proof of their comfort there they gave birth to three beautiful cubs on 18 May 2004. The family has been flourishing under the careful supervision of the Sanbona Wild Life Department. They have been fed only wild game and have not been subjected to any interference from the human race. It seems that the female is more adventurous than the male and it was Queen who took the first steps to freedom, to be followed by two of the cubs. Jabu was wary for quite a long time and one of the cubs preferred to stay with him. After about an hour, Jabu walked out of the gate of the boma, head held high to see what the rest of his family were up to. The reluctant cub took another half an hour before it followed. In this magnificent Pride of White Lions there are 3 male cubs. They have been released into a 3500 hectare fenced of area which is freedom for them at these stages. The area has been well stocked with a large variety of game and has an abundant water hole. It remains to be seen whether they will take naturally to hunting. The wildlife staff will be monitoring the lions for a time, to ensure that they are catching food and that all is well with them.This proves they have made great strides in their journey away from captivity and exploitation. Please note that the White Lion project is ongoing and volunteers may not necessarily have involvement during their experience. CO2 Emission offset for Every Sanbona Placement The average flight from London-PE to Cape Town Centre produces a whopping 2.13 tons of CO2 emissions per person! Upon arrival at Shamwari or Sanbona the guests will have opportunity planttrees to offset the gases created on their journey. The current figure used for offsetting this is 0.5 tons per tree planted, soeach student would need to plant 5 trees at Shamwari/Sanbona, which would be part of their conservation work. A brief example of a typical day from a past volunteer Tuesday 17/07/2007 We went to track white lions in white lion reserve. Off-loaded young ostriches into the White Lion Reserve. In the afternoon went to track and monitor the elephants in the northern part of the reserve. Friday 13/07/2007 Went out early to look for buffalo and rhino and found rhino. Had a bush breakfast out on the reserve. In the afternoon we go tstuck into some road rehabilitation and alien clearing at Dipgat. Planted succulent plants in pots at Khanni as part of the plant rehabilitation project. 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.