Wildlife Conservation in South Africa

Join an international team of volunteers and travel to a private reserve in South Africa, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino, and live alongside an international research team assisting in critical wildlife conservation work.

On this program, you'll have the opportunity to witness nature unfiltered. From a lion taking down it's prey to cheetah cubs playing for for the first time. You may even see a stand off between two massive elephant bulls. Unlike a conventional safari trip, this program allows you to play an active and meaningful role in the research and long term conservation of South Africa’s natural resources.

No special skills or qualifications are required to join this program, as all training will be provided by our experienced team in the field. Learn how to track and identify  predators, like lions and cheetahs, and megaherbivores, like elephants and rhinos. This data is used by reserve authorities and conservation organisations to develop an accurate picture of predator impact on prey populations, determine the spatial movement, behaviour, social structure and genetics of specific species.

Highlights: 

• Go on a wildlife safari adventure in a private South African nature reserve while contributing directly to conservation efforts.

• Listen to the quiet hush of the wild open spaces, waking each morning to a chorus of savannah birds and drifting off to the nighttime hum of endemic frogs and crickets.

• Learn to identify predators, like lions, cheetahs, and leopards, as well as megaherbivores like elephants and rhinos.

• Master radio telemetry techniques and learning how to track and record animal movements.  

• In your free time, visit the famous Kruger National Park, only an hour away from where the GVI base is located or visit the nearby Drakensberg Mountains where awe-inspiring vistas are afforded over the Blyde River Canyon.

• Live and work alongside Field Guide Association of South Africa, FGASA, qualified guides, growing personally and professionally by learning from their experiences.

• Sleep under the star-filled Southern night sky, its beauty enhanced by the lack of light pollution, and wake to a golden African dawn.

Costs / Benefits

Since we opened our doors in 1998, we have spent over 65% of all funds directly on our projects. It is our mission to support field operations in the long term. Rather than abandon programs that recruit fewer volunteers we strategically invest from our fully staffed sites to help maintain our presence across the globe. The remaining 35% that is not directly invested in our programs covers the cost of volunteer recruitment, the operations of our head office.

Cost for the program by duration:
1 week - £2,445
2 weeks - £2,795
4 weeks - £3,545
6 weeks - £4,295
8 weeks - £4,995
10 weeks - £5,745
12 weeks - £6,495

Requirements

- 18+
- Basic to Intermediate English skills