Project Summary
Your Role
Dates and Duration
Overview
Location
Accommodation
Volunteers are busy from Monday to Friday, the average working day being 8 hours.
Weekends are free for volunteers to either relax at their house or to go sightseeing.
Exciting and interesting things frequently happen on the game reserve and these dynamics will as far as possible be included in the programme.
Volunteers are allocated a qualified game ranger as facilitator and Land Rover game viewer for their sole use for the duration of the programme.
The programme is therefore flexible but an average day might include the following:
Breakfast at 07h00
Leave Volunteer house for duties on the reserve 07h30
Tracking of Lions with telemetry and monitor activities
Move through to the game reserve identifying antelope and to area allocated for vegetation survey
Lunch on the reserve around 13H00 til 14h00
Canoe on the river until 15h00 to survey bird behaviour
16h00 Fence patrol on way back to volunteer house
Weekends are free for volunteers to either relax at their house or to go sightseeing.
Exciting and interesting things frequently happen on the game reserve and these dynamics will as far as possible be included in the programme.
Volunteers are allocated a qualified game ranger as facilitator and Land Rover game viewer for their sole use for the duration of the programme.
The programme is therefore flexible but an average day might include the following:
Breakfast at 07h00
Leave Volunteer house for duties on the reserve 07h30
Tracking of Lions with telemetry and monitor activities
Move through to the game reserve identifying antelope and to area allocated for vegetation survey
Lunch on the reserve around 13H00 til 14h00
Canoe on the river until 15h00 to survey bird behaviour
16h00 Fence patrol on way back to volunteer house
Your role:
The Volunteer Programme are the veins behind the heartbeat of the reserve .
For those volunteers seeking an experience to explore a corner of Africa and all its inhabitants, the reserve will not disappoint.
All aspects of conservation are addressed in your experience, no matter how short your time with us.
The Game Reserve is continuously monitoring and managing game throughout the year. As a volunteer, you will assist behind the scenes of the reserve on various ongoing conservation and community projects.
The main focus for community work is the Isipho Centre for vulnerable children and those affected by HIV AIDS.
For those volunteers seeking an experience to explore a corner of Africa and all its inhabitants, the reserve will not disappoint.
All aspects of conservation are addressed in your experience, no matter how short your time with us.
The Game Reserve is continuously monitoring and managing game throughout the year. As a volunteer, you will assist behind the scenes of the reserve on various ongoing conservation and community projects.
The main focus for community work is the Isipho Centre for vulnerable children and those affected by HIV AIDS.
Is the work dangerous?
Yes
Is there a potential risk?
Living and working in and around wild and potentially dangerous animals can be very dangerous. We advise that all protocols, rules and regulations are adhered to and followed. A MOD (Manager On Duty) will be available at all times should there be a need for any assistance or advice.
There is an extremely high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa thus is the volunteers personal responsibility to take the utmost care in regards sexual relationships and health and safety at all times.
There is an extremely high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa thus is the volunteers personal responsibility to take the utmost care in regards sexual relationships and health and safety at all times.
Dates:
Arrivals and departures every Monday into Port Elizabeth Airport
Duration:
2 weeks minimum
Additional per week:
Highlights:
The programme could include:
Game drives (animal identification and tracking)
Lectures on conservation, reserve management and maintenance
General reserve maintenance
Game capture
Birding orientation and classification
Canoeing, boating
Xhosa culture
Sustainable Food production
Social Development (at Aids Orphanage and our conservation centre)
Assisting Veterinary work
Game management (culling, re-introducing, counts, bomas)
Land management (burning, grazing patterns, roads, water, and fencing)
Veterinary work with our resident vet (darting and post-mortems)
Guided walks
Medicinal use of plants
Vegetation biomes
Bush camping and Night Drives
Five Star lodge experience
Vehicle repairs
Target shooting
Anti-poaching control
Craft Centre Development
Beach clean-ups
Born Free Foundation visits
Giraffe identification and habitat monitoring
Predator Monitoring
Waterhole Surveys
Fishing in the Bushmans' River
Geology and paleontology
Stargazing and basic astronomy
Entomology collection
Alien vegetation management
Community up-liftment
Community Safe house
Game drives (animal identification and tracking)
Lectures on conservation, reserve management and maintenance
General reserve maintenance
Game capture
Birding orientation and classification
Canoeing, boating
Xhosa culture
Sustainable Food production
Social Development (at Aids Orphanage and our conservation centre)
Assisting Veterinary work
Game management (culling, re-introducing, counts, bomas)
Land management (burning, grazing patterns, roads, water, and fencing)
Veterinary work with our resident vet (darting and post-mortems)
Guided walks
Medicinal use of plants
Vegetation biomes
Bush camping and Night Drives
Five Star lodge experience
Vehicle repairs
Target shooting
Anti-poaching control
Craft Centre Development
Beach clean-ups
Born Free Foundation visits
Giraffe identification and habitat monitoring
Predator Monitoring
Waterhole Surveys
Fishing in the Bushmans' River
Geology and paleontology
Stargazing and basic astronomy
Entomology collection
Alien vegetation management
Community up-liftment
Community Safe house
Minimum age:
18 years
Police clearance:
No
Special skills required:
Language requirement:
Basic level of English and a good positive attitude
What's included:
Accommodation
3 meals a day
Airport transfers on a Monday arrival/ departure
Items provided at the house:
Bath towel – not to be taken from the house
Clothes washing service
Lunch boxes
Thermos flasks
Bush camping kitchen equipment
3 meals a day
Airport transfers on a Monday arrival/ departure
Items provided at the house:
Bath towel – not to be taken from the house
Clothes washing service
Lunch boxes
Thermos flasks
Bush camping kitchen equipment
What's excluded:
Other items to bring:
Binoculars
Travel adapters to South African 3-pron round pin
Torch (additional batteries can be purchased in Paterson)
Sleeping bag + mat
Small pocket knife
Travel pillow/Camping pillow
Money belt
Personal toiletries – including soap, insect repellent and suntan lotion (although a certain amount of basic toiletries can be bought in Paterson)
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Peaked cap/sunhat
Beach Towel
Binoculars
Travel adapters to South African 3-pron round pin
Torch (additional batteries can be purchased in Paterson)
Sleeping bag + mat
Small pocket knife
Travel pillow/Camping pillow
Money belt
Personal toiletries – including soap, insect repellent and suntan lotion (although a certain amount of basic toiletries can be bought in Paterson)
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Peaked cap/sunhat
Beach Towel
Closest town:
Port Elizabeth
Surrounding area:
Paterson
Transport:
Monday arrivals/ departures from Port Elizabeth airport included.
Transport to and from the project and on the project in 4x4 game vehicle
Transport to and from the project and on the project in 4x4 game vehicle
The Railway House
Volunteers are accommodated in a one-storey 7-bedroom renovated Old Railway house in Paterson which overlooks a large garden and within walking distance of the local bar and basic shops.
Most of the rooms are doubles, with shared bathrooms. Each bathroom has a hot water shower.
A communal dining and sitting room with digital satellite TV is central to the house, with well equipped kitchen and office space adjoining. A sun room provides additional seating room where the internet and telephone is available. Wi-Fi connection is available.
The house also has an outside seating area with braai (BBQ) and fire pit for chilly nights and social gatherings as well as a swimming pool.
The electrical sockets in the house are 2 and 3 round- prong and will require international adapters which should be purchase before arrival.
The house offers comfortable living with DSTV, Internet and outdoor braai area.
Laundry service is offered at the house, with rooms serviced daily.
A sociable pub is located next door, providing a popular place for local game rangers and volunteers.
Most of the rooms are doubles, with shared bathrooms. Each bathroom has a hot water shower.
A communal dining and sitting room with digital satellite TV is central to the house, with well equipped kitchen and office space adjoining. A sun room provides additional seating room where the internet and telephone is available. Wi-Fi connection is available.
The house also has an outside seating area with braai (BBQ) and fire pit for chilly nights and social gatherings as well as a swimming pool.
The electrical sockets in the house are 2 and 3 round- prong and will require international adapters which should be purchase before arrival.
The house offers comfortable living with DSTV, Internet and outdoor braai area.
Laundry service is offered at the house, with rooms serviced daily.
A sociable pub is located next door, providing a popular place for local game rangers and volunteers.
Meals:
3 meals a day
All meat, fruit and vegetables are provided for the volunteers at the house. Volunteers are responsible for cooking evening meals in the communal surrounding.
Breakfast and lunch are to be prepared individually due to the nature of the week varying. Always take enough food and drinks out with you in the vehicle to last the day.
Sweet treats and snack food can be purchased at your own expense in Paterson on the way into the Reserve.
Vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notification when booking your stay.
All meat, fruit and vegetables are provided for the volunteers at the house. Volunteers are responsible for cooking evening meals in the communal surrounding.
Breakfast and lunch are to be prepared individually due to the nature of the week varying. Always take enough food and drinks out with you in the vehicle to last the day.
Sweet treats and snack food can be purchased at your own expense in Paterson on the way into the Reserve.
Vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notification when booking your stay.
Get the latest news
