Programme Details
The focus of the programme is around monitoring the lions that have been recently introduced to the reserve. This enables the staff to learn about their behaviour and a detailed annual report is produced to enable the reserve managers to determine the capacity and sustainability of large predators on the reserve. The aim is to have the reserve operating in the most natural way possible which means having a suitable food chain structure. This means that occassionally it is necessary to manage the animals in the park to ensure there are the right number of certain animals.
The research has also recently been expanded and now also includes rhino and elephant studies. This helps to make for a richer experience and creates a more detailed understanding of the interaction between the different species. In the future, the reserve hopes to incorporate leopard studies as well as helping the reserve to monitor its vegetation communities.
The volunteer work will be between five and seven days a week, eight or nine hours a day. Each day will be an early start of around 4-5am with a drive around the reserve spotting lions and tracking a pride.
Volunteers will generally be out on game drives twice a day once they are fully trained. This will include tracking and spotting the lions initially, followed by observing and recording the behaviour of the lions. Working hours will depend on the lion activity and location so hours can involve early mornings and late evenings. During the middle of the day, the sun is too hot to be out in and so this time will be used to enter data collected on the drives or getting involved in other projects around the reserve.
You can expect to generally take part in two research drives each day; one in the morning and another in the evening. When you are not out on drives or inputting data there will be plenty of other jobs to fill your time including basic maintenance around the park.
What's Included in the Programme
- Met on arrival at the airport by a representative
- Transfer from airport to volunteer accommodation on site
- Accommodation - Shared dormitory room in volunteer house on reserve
- Training: In-country orientation
- Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
- Food - self catering, food provided
- Bus ticket to Pretoria at end of stay (but not transfer to airport from Pretoria)
What's Not Included in the Programme
- Flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Return airport transfer from Pretoria
- Local Transport
Prices and Durations
South Africa Rhino, Lion and Elephant Research - 2 weeks $2,199
South Africa Rhino, Lion and Elephant Research - 3 weeks $2,949
South Africa Rhino, Lion and Elephant Research - 4 weeks $3,699
South Africa Rhino, Lion and Elephant Research - 5 weeks $4,449
South Africa Rhino, Lion and Elephant Research - 6 weeks $5,199
