Volunteer in South Africa

Why Go?

• Opportunity to make a difference
• Experience a new culture
• Conservation education
• Year Round departures
• On-site training
• Learn a new language

Overview

Do you have a passion for animals and are looking for a volunteering experience that will give you hands on experience that will make a positive difference? OWH has opportunities available to work in environmental and wildlife conservation, through our partner organisation in South Africa. As a volunteer, you will be involved in every aspect of managing and maintaining a wildlife sanctuary. Out on the reserve, nothing stands between you and the wildlife. Many species of plains game will gaze quietly as you go about your work. Maintaining a reserve in optimum condition requires constant vigilance.

In addition to ensuring a pristine habitat for the wildlife, you will be preserving a type of vegetation that is increasingly threatened by agriculture, forestry and urban development. The wildlife sanctuary is located on a rare veld (bush) type called bankenveld, recognised for its high biodiversity. Less than 1% of bankenveld is conserved under formal government programs, so this private conservation initiative is of critical importance. By joining our programme, you will be helping to preserve species and habitats in one of the most biologically diverse areas of the world.

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Program Location

The program is located in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng Province. Bronkhorstspruit is approximately 45 minutes from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Pretoria. The conservancy is approximately 5,000 hectares.

Within the conservancy is a 400 hectare area demarcated as the game reserve. The game reserve is home to a dozen or more species of native African wildlife and over 150 species of birds. The reserve was formed through a novel lease-back arrangement with conservancy landowners, earning it the NedBank Award for Best Emerging Conservancy in 2000. Tony Prince and Mary Lewis, the managers of the volunteer program, have been instrumental in the evolution of the reserve from its beginnings. Their goal is to see the game reserve expand to incorporate the maximum area within the conservancy.

Program Schedule

You can join the program for a minimum of 4 weeks. It is possible to volunteer in South Africa for more than six weeks; those who wish to extend their stay beyond six weeks will be considered on a case by case basis.

Your accommodation is the homestead on plot #30, owned by Tony Prince and Mary Lewis. The sleeping quarters house between 2-6 people each. Males and females are allocated separate rooms, unless traveling as a couple (in which case we ask for advanced notice).

Three meals are provided: breakfast and lunch are self-serve down in the "pool house" (a recreational out-house); dinner is served up at the homestead. The pool house is fitted with a television and stereo system, and backs onto a lovely grassed area surrounding an in-ground pool.

Although there are some seasonal variations, you will most likely be involved in the following activities:

• Reserve Maintenance: fencing work (construction, destruction, painting), fence inspections, veld evaluations, fire-break preparation, and alien invader (foreign plant) management, soil erosion control, water testing, and land reclamation projects.
• Wildlife conservation work: participation in game management, including game assessment and reporting, and anti-poaching practises, bird field studies, and collecting, transporting and distributing meat donations (for vulture community).
• Learning program: Aside from providing on-the-job training, we run three informal workshops which cover basic conservation principles, as well as veld and game management. We'll show you how to track game, and conduct a game count too.

For 2008 you can apply for a placement in October or November. For 2009, the available months are March, April, June, July, August, October, and November. Volunteers start the program on the 1st of the month - irrespective of the day of the week - and programs run for 28 days. Volunteers work five days a week (approximately 7 hours a day) and get the weekends off.

Program Requirements

As a volunteer you must be:

• in good physical condition, and be able to walk reasonable distances
• 18 years old or over
• available for a minimum of four weeks (longer stays are most welcome)
• able to speak English
• able to work with a minimum of supervision
• able to tolerate living closely with a large number of domestic pets (dogs and cats)

Volunteers require no qualifications or background in conservation, just a willingness to learn and a desire to contribute.

Program Cost

Prices
Duration	Program Price AUD
4 weeks	$ 2,201*
6 weeks	$ 2,790*
8 weeks	$ 3,378*

*Prices subject to change without notice. South Africa Reserve offers limited dates. For full program conditions please refer to the booking form. The other costs you will need to meet are flights, travel insurance, personal spending money, and any trips / tours you would like to take while you are in South Africa.

Inclusions

• Pre-arranged volunteer placement
• On the ground transport to placement
• Arrival transfers
• Food on the project
• Accommodation
• Supervision
• Materials to get job done
• Access to discounted airfares and travel
• Your In-Country Fee
• In-Country Support
• 24hr Emergency Line
• Membership To The Change Makers Club
• Letter Of Completion