Description:
A unique opportunity that allows you to contribute to important wildlife conservation research. You will be involved in collecting data which will be used to answer some very important questions which have the potential to change how game reserves are managed in the future.
You will be assisting field staff researching herbivore movement and behaviour, tracking and studying lions and assessing the effects of using contraceptives with elephants in order to control their population.
Furthermore, all this is in a Big 5 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard) area, which allows for unique encounters and photographic opportunities that the average tourist on safari can only dream of.
* A typical day:
Work usually starts between 6am and 7am. Morning activities are usually spent monitoring and collecting samples and collecting data for bird point counts. These activities are followed by lunch. Afternoon activities include developing rhino identikits, carrying out bird identifications, herbivore transect drives, dung counts of plains game, radio tracking lions and observing the behaviour of the contracepted elephants. Work usually finishes between 5pm and 6pm.
Please note that given the nature of the work, occasionally there may be unavoidable changes to activities and not all activities can be guaranteed during any one volunteer's stay.
* The location:
You'll be living on a 36,000 hectare, privately owned big game reserve which is located in the Limpopo Province, which is approximately 250km from Johannesburg. The reserve is characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass covered hills, grassy plains, bushveld shrubs and deep valleys. The reserve is located in a malaria free area.
The reserve is home to over 50 different mammals including the Big 5, as well as cheetah, migrating wild dogs and an amazing variety of bird life. It also boasts one of the largest populations of white rhino on a private reserve in Africa. The project accommodation is in a fenced area within the reserve.
Highlights:
How you can make a difference:
By volunteering with us, you will be contributing to the knowledge base within wildlife conservation research. Your hard work enables the project to study important questions. The results of this research have the potential to be extremely influential for private reserves in Africa, for example by better understanding lion prey selection and the effects of contraception on elephant behaviour. Answering these questions is vital for effective conservation management of the reserve, and since the volunteer project began, they are now able to look at these issues in detail.
Private game reserves now collectively represent more land under conservation than national parks. These reserves often don't benefit from national government funding and are reliant on self funded conservation research projects such as this to create essential data from which to develop best practice policies for private reserve managers.
Volunteers are also involved in other essential hand on activities that are critical to conserving the environment on the reserve.
A large part of your fee is used for your on site costs such as transport, accommodation, meals and research activities. The local host conservation organisation also has normal operating expenses such as salaries, telecoms, insurance etc which are defrayed from your fee. A percentage of your fee goes directly to the reserve conservation fund from which the ongoing research project is financed.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
There are no specific qualifications required for this role.
As this is a physical project, volunteers should have a good level of personal fitness. You do not have to be physically strong but you must have a good work ethic and be prepared to be flexible in your approach to daily activities.
You should be able to work well within a team and be adaptable to living and working in a group.
As the reserve is located in a rural area, there are limited social activities or attractions in the area. However you should remember that it is a privilege to be part of an active research team operating in a private game reserve with many different wildlife species and prolific game numbers - something which other tourists pay large amounts of money to enjoy so you should make the most of your settings.
Language:
English
Cost in US$: 1 month: GBP 1295, 2 months: GBP 2095, 3 months: GBP 2895
Cost Includes:
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training,
In-country staff support,
Pre-departure orientation/Training
and Written materials pre-departure
- A comprehensive information booklet
- Travel advice and assistance pre-departure
- Being met at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport
- Return airport transfers
- Daily on site transport inside the reserve
- Training manuals, text books, field identification guides and research equipment
- Accommodation (shared tents)
- Self-catering budget provided
- Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
animal welfare,
conservation,
environment,
research,
volunteering
and wildlife surveying
Age Range: 18 years +
This Program is open to
Worldwide
Participants.
This Program is also open to
Couples and Individuals.
Participants Travel to South Africa
Independently
Application Process Involves:
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
- Phone Interview
Post Services Include:
- Alumni Network
- Exit Debriefing Abroad
Personal Overseas Development (PoD)'s Mission Statement: PoD is a leading non-profit organization arranging ethical, inspiring and supported volunteering opportunities around the world. Established in 2001, our aim is to support ongoing projects with our partners in Belize, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam by providing passionate and committed volunteers. We work with long term projects that we know personally and where there is genuine benefit to local communities. A placement with PoD will not only develop volunteer's skills and confidence, get them out of their comfort zone and exploring incredible parts of the world but also the ability make a genuine difference. We currently offer gap year, career break, working holiday, volunteer projects and school expeditions from 1 week to 6 months with year round departures. We offer a personal and professional service drawing on years of experience from staff in the UK and overseas. Volunteers are needed to help work with disadvantaged children, communities, animals and conservation projects including: caring for elephants and wild animals; joining an Amazon jungle conservation project; scuba diving and marine conservation; community building projects; volunteering at orphanages and care homes; teaching English and running summer English camps. PoD believes in providing challenging, safe and fun experiences for individuals and groups to enjoy. We are passionate about giving volunteers of all ages the opportunity to use their energy, enthusiasm and personality where it counts.
Year Founded: 2001