Tofo is a charming village and the inshore area has a particularly high density of whale sharks. The tropical beaches here are beautiful and the area has some pristine coral reefs making it an excellent location for the investigation of whale sharks and marine ecology.

Volunteer Role

The aim of the project is to monitor whale shark numbers and behaviour, as well as monitoring manta rays, loggerhead turtle nesting activity and the condition of the coral reef, in order to make recommendations for improving the conservation of marine biodiversity.

Volunteers will be involved in conducting research on whale sharks. The whale shark is the world’s largest fish and is a threatened species. Even though they are sharks, they are harmless to humans as they feed on plankton and are relatively easy to monitor. Most of the research that you carry out will involve taking underwater photographs to help identify individual whale sharks. You will assist with the investigation of their numbers, distribution and ecology in an attempt to help understand and conserve these magnificent fish.

Your role as a volunteer will involve collecting data during beach walks, boat surveys, swims and dives along Mozambique’s coastline in and around the Tofo area. Duties will also include monitoring indicator fish species, manta rays and coral condition to help in the overall research that is imperative in the conservation of this marine area. During the turtle-breeding season you will also be involved in the monitoring of nesting activity.

Location

This project is located at the beach village of Tofo, on the Inhambane peninsula in southern Mozambique.

Accommodation and Meals

Throughout the programme you will be accommodated in a beach hut at a lodge situated at the edge of Tofo village. You will be sharing a room with a maximum of 4 people per hut.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your programme price.

0845 344 7636

Real Gap Experience offers hundreds of exciting gap year and career breaks from two weeks to two years in over 40 countries. Real Gap and their partners have developed a wide variety of programmes to suit everyone, including adventure travel, sports training and coaching, conservation work, volunteering, paid work, teaching English and expeditions. A team of experienced travel advisors, all of whom have taken their own gap years, can help you plan your life-changing trip. They can offer you lots of advice and support through the planning stages and get you off to the destination of your dreams.