Description

This exciting course offers volunteers an experience of a lifetime with a packed 28-day program that will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the African wilderness.

A typical day on the course will see you rising early, usually before sunrise, enjoying hot coffee and biscuits while you listen to the bush waking up and then leaving the camp for an outing into the wilderness. The outings are extremely flexible and are determined by the unpredictability of what is found during the outing in combination with the subjects that have to be covered.

You could find yourself on a game drive following up on the roar of a lion heard during the night, or on a walk following fresh elephant tracks, learning how to track the animal and finding it, or it could be a game drive to a waterhole where animals come to drink.

Students return to camp in the late morning for a hearty brunch, which is followed by a lecture on the subject of the day. Study and rest time is then followed by afternoon tea and another outing into the wilderness until sunset, if walking, or until well after dark if on a game drive.

Afternoon outings could include night drives looking for nocturnal animals such as owls, bush babies and leopards, or it could be a walk looking for and learning how to identify interesting birds. It could be time spent studying the night skies or even time for students to test their 4x4 driving skills.

It is then back to camp for dinner, stories around the campfire, discussing the day's experiences and wondering about tomorrow's adventures.

During your course you will cover a wide range of subjects including Animal behavior, Mammals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Insects, Plants, Animal tracks & tracking, Approaching Dangerous Game, Setting up a Bush Camp, Bush Skills & Survival, Radio procedures, Weather & Climate, Geology, Astronomy, Basic Ecology and Conservation Management.

You will also enjoy additional activities including Basic 4x4 Driving, Sleep-outs in the bush and Basic Rifle Handling. The course also covers Eco-Tourism related subjects which include Field Guiding as a Profession, Ecotourism & Guiding, Attributes, Skills & Duties of a Field Guide, Planning of Game Drives & Walks, Creating Photographic Opportunities for Guests, Presentation Skills and Working in the Industry.

The course is designed to build empathy with, and an understanding of, one of the planets last great natural resources. Students gain a greater appreciation of the deeper meaning of conservation in our lives and knowledge of what it really takes to become a game ranger.

The course philosophy maintains that nobody can truly experience Africa's wild places without actually spending time in the wild. That is why each course is conducted from our simple bush camps in the middle of a stunning wilderness landscape, with elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and a vast array of other wildlife as neighbors. Our students eat, sleep and breathe the wild African bush!

Students that have attended the course have returned to the 'real world' with a different outlook on life. Some have taken this new outlook into their day-to-day lives and others, inspired by their time with us, have completely changed their lives and careers.

Qualifications

No previous experience is required as all training is provided.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 3,960 for 4 weeks

Program Fees Include:

Your Wildlife Ranger Course includes:

* Johannesburg Airport collection and drop-off.
* Overnight accommodation in Johannesburg before your Course.
* Return transfers between Johannesburg and the camp.
* A welcome brief and introduction with a member of the on-site team.
* Accommodation for the duration of your stay.
* All your meals during your course.
* All bedding and course related materials.
* All course lectures, practicals, game drives, bush walks etc.
* A certificate of attendance. (A pass certificate will be issued to students who pass their exams).

If you are adding the optional Cape Town Week, the following will also be included:

* Return flights between Cape Town and Johannesburg to join your course.
* Cape Town Airport collection and drop-off.
* 7 nights accommodation at AVIVA House in Cape Town with self-service breakfasts.
* A full-day Peninsula Tour which includes lunch, visits to Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point, Simon's Town, Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and much more. An incredible day rich with history and some of the worlds most beautiful scenery.
* A half-day Cultural Tour, a fascinating introduction to South Africa's recent political history before and after Apartheid, includes highlights of Khayelitsha, South Africa's second largest township after Soweto.
* A full-day tour to the beautiful mountains of the Cape Winelands including the Paarl, Franschoek and Stellenbosch regions. Chocolate, Cheese & Wine tastings and lunch are included.
* Our booking service for all attractions and events.
* Advice and support from our experienced team during your stay.

If required, extra nights can be added to your stay to meet your flight dates for only R130 per night. This may help you to take advantage of any cheaper flights that arrive in Johannesburg before your planned arrival date.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Conservation
• Eco-tourism
• Education
• Environment
• Wildlife Surveying

Typical Volunteer

Volunteering is for everyone - Although more than 70% of our volunteers are females aged between 16-25 years old, we have hosted volunteers of all ages (16 - 72 years), backgrounds and nationalities. These include students, career gappers, retirees, doctors, nurses, policewomen, teachers, social workers, vets, pilots, lawyers and just about any career or profession you can imagine.

Age Range

17+

This Program is open to

American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 10-14

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 working day

AVIVA - Volunteering in South Africa's Mission Statement

AVIVA offers international volunteers the chance to make a vital contribution to underprivileged children and endangered wildlife while having a hands-on, life changing experience in South Africa.

Year Founded

2002