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GYC2016 - Tuli Conservation Project Country: Botswana Cost: £3910.00 Please note: Travel Insurance is compulsory. Also a small amount of spending money. Cost Includes: The price includes flight, accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include insurance, kit or visas      Duration: 8 weeks Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7518 or

 

	This placement would suit... Those wishing to gain valuable experience in field research and get close to large African mammals, and also wanting an adventure in the African bush! The Tuli Conservation Project gives volunteers the opportunity to closely study two of Africa's famous 'Big Five' species; the majestic, awe-inspiring African elephant (herds of 100+) and the secretive leopard. The student camp is nestled on the bank of the vast Limpopo River and the mystical harshness of the terrain, the extreme beauty and the sheer size of the area has left humans knowing very little about the wildlife. This is where you, the volunteer, fit into this raw African conservancy. The project is named after the Tuli Block, an area which straddles the borders of South Africa and Zimbabwe allowing for natural migration of elephant herds and other animal species. In 1890 the Tuli was depleted of elephants through poaching and habitat loss. For the next 50 years no elephants were observed from the Motloutse River to the Shashe River and historically never west of the Motloutse. In 1940 the giants of Tuli started to return. In the late 1960s an estimated population of 300 elephants lived between the Motloutse and the Shashe, and today it is estimated that over 600 elephants permanently live west of the Motloutse! "The long-term survival of these elephants outside the reserve is doubtful while their continued existence within the sanctuary will depend on the support and cooperation of all concerned. Without the knowledge that makes ecological management possible the Tuli area could become a derelict landscape inhabited by the pathetic remnants of these giants" - Clive Walker, internationally renowned conservationist, author and wildlife artist. Elephants are therefore the key research and monitoring species of the Tuli Conservation Project. The research will involve: - Identification and sex and aging of the herds. - Monitoring behaviour - Monitoring range utilisation of the elephants as well as habitat use - Monitoring vegetation damage assessment. Musth activity and bull interaction also form an integral part of the research and monitoring. In addition, the other main research study ongoing at Tuli, involves: - Leopard monitoring - The data collected is used to establish their territory size along with the interaction between members of the same and other species. Other activities on the project involve the restoration and maintenance of the land in order to maximise the suitability of the area for animal species to flourish. This work may include: - Removal of old fence wire to prevent harm to animals. - Erosion control of the gullying effects of the Limpopo river. - Eradication of alien vegetation species. - Ongoing habitat rehabilitation initiatives. - Construction of rock gabions and brush-packing. - Identification of other problem areas and formulate planning strategies for their rehabilitation. Besides all of the exciting and rewarding projects, volunteers at Tuli will get to learn bush craft such as tracking, do creative projects like elephant dung paper making, go to towns and areas of cultural, social and conservation interest. Tuli offers volunteers the opportunity to become part of a new approach to game management. This 'open' system of Trans Frontier Areas creates as large an area as possible for wildlife to move freely and migrate naturally across national borders. If you are interested in this placement, fill in the form below. Our users say... "The first two weeks at the Tuli project have been completely insane. We have completed game counts, gone on night drives, sleep outs, watched elephants next to our camp and next to our game viewer, been invaded by baboons and much much more. On our last night drive we were able to spot a leopard, hyena, African wild cat, genet and elephants. We have been very very lucky!" - Nikki La Niece. "After a long journey from Johannesburg airport we arrived at Tuli around 6pm in total darkness! As there isn’t any electricity we had to find our way around camp with lanterns and torches. I didn’t expect the tents to be as nice as they were, with two beds, sets of drawers and plenty of room to walk around. The first night, sleeping was difficult: there were so many noises around the tent! On waking the following morning the view was amazing, as the camp is set along the banks of the Limpopo River. The noises from the previous night turned out to be baboons that roam freely through the camp and surrounding areas. No two days are the same: you can be up as early as 3am! It’s amazing to be so close to wild animals and worth getting up to see them. The best sighting was the leopards as we were so close to such beautiful animals. A scary moment was when a huge bull elephant came from nowhere and charged towards our vehicle - we made a very hasty retreat! Stuart, our leader, had seemingly endless knowledge of all the surroundings and animals and taught us such a lot. I had an absolutely fantastic time at Tuli and was really sad to leave as I met so many new people and was really welcomed into the camp. Once I got home I had my photos developed straight away and they were amazing. They are a constant reminder of the best experience I have ever had and I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone" - Steph Taylor. 0845 344 7518 African Conservation Experience: We arrange for young people to work on Game and Nature Reserves throughout Southern Africa, playing an active role in Conservation and the maintenance of the Environment - working in intimate association with Game Rangers and Conservationists in the Wild