Description

A real treat for wildlife lovers! Stay on a 30,000 hectare reserve, assisting with research with lions, rhinos and elephants. While concentrating on lions and actively tracking a pride you will have the opportunity to get close to these amazing creatures. The research is also starting to include rhino and elephants so you will also be able to get involved with this. Not only will you be experiencing the ultimate in wildlife conservation, you will be contributing to extremely worthwhile research and the long lasting success of the project.

Highlights

Program Details:

The focus of the program is around monitoring the lions that have been recently introduced to the reserve. This enables the staff to learn about their behavior and a detailed annual report is produced to enable the reserve managers to determine the capacity and sustainability of large predators on the reserve. The aim is to have the reserve operating in the most natural way possible which means having a suitable food chain structure. This means that occasionally it is necessary to manage the animals in the park to ensure there are the right number of certain animals.

The research has also recently been expanded and now also includes rhino and elephant studies. This helps to make for a richer experience and creates a more detailed understanding of the interaction between the different species. In the future, the reserve hopes to incorporate leopard studies as well as helping the reserve to monitor its vegetation communities.

The volunteer work will be between five and seven days a week, eight or nine hours a day. Each day will be an early start of around 4-5am with a drive around the reserve spotting lions and tracking a pride.

Volunteers will generally be out on game drives twice a day once they are fully trained. This will include tracking and spotting the lions initially, followed by observing and recording the behavior of the lions. Working hours will depend on the lion activity and location so hours can involve early mornings and late evenings. During the middle of the day, the sun is too hot to be out in and so this time will be used to enter data collected on the drives or getting involved in other projects around the reserve.

You can expect to generally take part in two research drives each day; one in the morning and another in the evening. When you are not out on drives or inputting data there will be plenty of other jobs to fill your time including basic maintenance around the park.

Travel Types

• Safari
• Tours
• Vacation Packages
• Volunteering

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

from USD 1,599.00

Cost Includes:

• Housing
• Food
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support

Program Fees Include:

What's Included in the Program:

* Met on arrival at the airport by a representative
* Transfer from airport to volunteer accommodation on site
* Accommodation - Shared dormitory room in volunteer house on reserve
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure help desk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
* Food - self catering, food provided
* Bus ticket to Pretoria at end of stay (but not transfer to airport from Pretoria)

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Volunteering
• Wildlife Surveying

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Guest House

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement

We offer over 250 projects and travel options in over 35 countries. So whether you are interested in volunteering, community work, conservation, paid work overseas, teaching English, learning a new skill, adventure travel or sports and expeditions, you will find what you are looking for with Real Gap. Not only about we passionate about responsible travel, we also want to make sure you have a good time too! Our travel advisers have traversed the globe and taken their own gap years, so they can give you all the advice you need to plan yours. You will also get support from both our on-site and office staff who understand the needs and expectations of Real Gap travelers.

Year Founded

2005