Description

Projects Abroad runs a nature reserve in the wilderness of the Southern African Bushveld called Kwa Tuli. We are right on the frontier of South Africa and Botswana. Elephants visit the water holes by our remote but comfortable lodge next to the Limpopo River. From hippos to leopards, and kudu to ostriches, this is the heart of wild Africa.

Drought, deforestation, desertification, and land degradation are major environmental problems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reserves like Kwa Tuli are essential havens for wildlife. All over Southern Africa, animals still roam the plains, but the human population has pushed most of the elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards out to the frontiers.

Our reserve is near the southern end of a string of "frontier collaboration" reserves going right along the South African borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Recently they were all joined up, creating a continuous wildlife path. Kwa Tuli reserve is made up of 5000 hectares and has an abundance of wildlife. Since it has never been a hunting reserve the animals don't associate humans with danger so do not scatter when you approach them in a vehicle, making it excellent for sightings.

These "frontier collaboration" reserves are of global importance for conservation, and you can get involved with vital conservation work by volunteering with Projects Abroad. You do not need previous experience - expertise and experience are always welcome but not essential in much of our work. Volunteers are welcome on a gap year, a career break, for university research, or a volunteer vacation.

A visit to Kwa Tuli is an experience of a lifetime. The scenery is stunning, and our fully qualified staff ensure both safety and that all our volunteers are well informed about their surroundings.

Frontier collaboration projects are exciting new initiatives, combining conservation efforts across international boundaries, including game reserves, national parks, and conservation areas, all for the benefit of wildlife, local people, and future generations.

While volunteering abroad on the Conservation project you will become part of a much bigger conservation movement that aims to bring together the other reserves in the central Tuli area. You will get the chance to do varied and hands-on work, while living outdoors in the wild bush among elephant, kudu, impala, baboons, crocodile, hawks, and hyenas. Not to mention the dramatic high rock outcrops and enormous Baobab trees so characteristic of this stunning African landscape.

Kwa Tuli reserve is large and the conservation efforts are continuous. Volunteers will find themselves getting involved in a wide variety of different on-going projects. You may find yourself spending time removing alien plants, wrapping trees to help reduce elephant damage, clearing drive routes in the park, or planting new trees. In addition you will have the opportunity to learn about GPS techniques and animal tracking skills in order to keep our population census of key species in the reserve as up to date as possible. These key species include elephants, lions, wild dogs, spotted and brown hyenas, and leopards, as well as an analysis and population census of the ancient Baobab tree.

Highlights

The main activities you have the opportunity to get involved in include:

* Mammal, bird, and plant population census using observation and tracking techniques
* Wild dog tracking and collaring
* Soil erosion control
* Removal of old fencing wire
* Dam building
* Helping construct natural water holes for animals
* Tracking elephant paths
* Indentifying and recording elephants
* Building viewing hides
* Designing and marking new roads
* Sustainable agriculture
* Community education
* Patrolling for snares
* Veld rehabilitation
* Learning skills in animal and plant identification

Data collected across these projects is passed on to various co-operating groups and used to gain a greater understanding of the populations and their migration habits. By joining forces we can create one powerful voice with an aim of conserving a big enough land mass that will allow the original migratory routes of large mammals including elephants, zebras, and buffalo.

Volunteers on average work five or six hours a day - four hours of more strenuous work in the cooler morning and two in the late afternoon, with the middle of the day devoted to eating, sleeping, swimming, relaxing and keeping cool! In your spare time, volunteers can play darts and cards, relax under the shade of one of the many trees with a good book, watch a magnificent African sunset or sunrise, or find a quiet spot down by the river! Due to the absolute wildness of this reserve, volunteers are never to leave camp without a qualified member of staff, so the group makes weekly trips to town to call home and pick up of anything you've been craving since the last trip.

Volunteers live in shared accommodation with a large communal area with fire pit and kitchen facilities, where much of the food is cooked over a traditional open Braai - a kind of barbeque. There are hot water showers and electricity using both solar panels and generators.

This project is available for less than a month if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for shorter durations for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone participating for a longer period.

All volunteers taking part on any other project in South Africa now have the opportunity to add a 7-Day Conservation Project to the end of their main placement. Please note that one week volunteers should arrive in Polokwane on a Friday.

Qualifications

No experience or qualifications are required.

Languages

• Afrikaans
• English
• Xhosa

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The price of each placement includes all your food and accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, full travel and medical insurance plus support and 24 hour back-up from our staff based around the world.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Conservation
• Culture
• Eco-tourism
• Environment
• Volunteering
• Water

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-70

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Dormitory

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application
• Other

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992