Volunteer at a Rhino Orphanage in UNESCO World Heritage Site

I knew the situation was bad for white rhinos but I didn't know how bad! My week at Golola Rhino Orphanage And Rehabilitation Centre taught me so much and I feel like I am leaving South Africa with so much knowledge to share. My daughter Manuela had been at Golola for a week before I joined her. After I arrived, we watched two documentaries and had several talks about the realities of rhino poaching. I cried - I was so emotional and I really love animals so it was hard to watch but I knew it was important to learn more. Each day we got up early and it was hard work. The staff at Golola work tirelessly every day, but always with a smile. The amount of love they have for the animals is unbelievable and I admire them. I made sure to tell the staff that I find it really important what they are doing. I even told them if I was younger and I didn't have kids or a husband, I would come and help for a year! Seeing the baby rhinos with their mum in the wild and then seeing the orphans alone hurt me as a mother. But seeing the orphans being loved and cared for by the staff was heartwarming. That is why I believe in the work Golola does. I want to go home and tell everyone about the work happening there, tell them to help and to come volunteer. You can see how much work it takes to take care of these animals and every person volunteering knew they were appreciated. The team always made sure we were okay and checked up on us. We had so many laughs - I made friends here and was so sad to leave! Golola is a real project - it isn't fake. It isn't a pet and pay place. Real work is happening. I am very connected to this project. As a mother, I have watched my daughter grow up to do incredible things. On this trip I got to work alongside her. We cleaned out the enclosures and dug mud baths. We prepared the milk and fed the baby rhinos. These are our special memories. My daughter grew up asking friends and family to donate money to worthy charities instead of buying her gifts. She works so hard to help injured animals at the animal clinic back home and now I got to do this with her. I was proud to be there with her. I was very nervous about travelling to South Africa. I was worried about small things like having time to eat before we travelled or where to meet the African Conservation Experience (ACE) person at the airport. But we got regular emails and updates from ACE and easy instructions on where to meet. Even at the end of our trip, we were met at the airport, taken for something to eat and talked about our experience. We then got help checking in for the flight home. The trip was well-planned and ACE was very helpful. I want to go back. I want to do another project with Golola next time. I want my family and friends to experience what we have experienced.

I was feeling disconnected and unmotivated… but after a quick online search and phone call I found myself spending a week at Golola Rhino Orphanage And Rehabilitation Centre. It was a life changing experience! It was also my first solo trip and impacted me in ways I was not expecting. The moment we arrived I saw a family of warthogs and that’s when it hit me - I really am in Africa! Throughout my stay, the staff's attention to small details meant so much. I was expecting a very simple, basic but functional room with the bare minimum… when in reality my room was beautiful. I found myself in accommodation that could rival a really nice hotel! The room had small thoughtful touches like flowers - it was such a warm welcome after such a long trip. I was worried that I would be a bit tired from the physical labour but the staff were incredible. Throughout the day they check in on you to make sure that you are okay and if you need anything. The staff were always, always, always, very adamant about me not overworking myself. They were super vocal about anything that you don't feel comfortable with, you just have to communicate with them. So never did I ever feel pressured. They made it so much fun. They work so hard without complaint - it inspires you. I woke up every morning with excitement, not wanting to miss a single second of the day! The work also helps you feel grounded. You can see just how much they appreciate you being there. Each day your efforts are making a difference. From the feeding and cleaning - all of it. You can see it, feel it. I never felt anything outside of just awe and wonder and happiness. I was hoping I would have a chance to really be in the moment and enjoy the fact that I was in this beautiful place surrounded by wildlife. I have always wanted to experience wildlife in its natural environment, being able to display natural behavior. And I could. For me, the memory that really pulls at my soul is feeding little Binti (an orphaned critically endangered black rhino). If you had said to me that I would have been able to make this memory, I wouldn't have believed you. When I read the project description and services African Conservation Experience (ACE) advertised on the website I was skeptical. All of this? Really? You made me eat my words. You ticked every box. From helping me choose the right project, to the logistics and just supporting me… the quality of the ACE service was beyond what I expected. You answered all my emails promptly. I was met at the airport and made sure I had everything I needed. ACE kept in touch with me whilst I was at the project. I was never alone. I knew I was safe. This trip was incredible. So not only was I able to see so many animals, but to see all the natural landscape and the beauty of everything and rocks that are older than anything that you know, is just such a mind blowing experience. And it really has just ignited a new passion. Who knows what the future holds… I am inspired and excited about my future! I am in just a different place and mindset going home - and there is no price tag on this feeling.

Spending 11 days at Golola Rhino Orphanage And Rehabilitation Centre was an experience of a lifetime. Whilst I was there, I did and saw things that I never thought I would and I learnt so much about myself! The work at the orphanage was physically tough at times but the team prepared you very well for this. Some of the jobs I was involved in included helping to roll and lift bales of hay, and carrying large buckets of grass pellets and water. Although it can be demanding, it is also extremely rewarding. For me, it really helped to have a clear vision and understanding of what I was doing this for. One of my main motivations for this trip was to gain an accurate view of what the poaching crisis is really like. I feel like back home, in the United States, the media doesn’t portray the issue correctly so I wanted to visit South Africa to not only learn more but also help make a difference. I feel like I got exactly what I came for. The staff at Golola took the education side of the volunteer work very seriously, and we had some extraordinary talks with them about the issues of poaching and conservation. The team that runs this centre is a force to be reckoned with. They have such a drive for what they do. They are all so knowledgeable and they would answer any question I had. It was also incredible to work with rhinos. It was wonderful to observe them close up in the centre and also to see them in their natural habitat on the reserve. The bond that you build with the animals is amazing and the staff are absolutely extraordinary. I have never seen anyone more dedicated to a cause. They’re incredible! We had a daily routine but there were always things popping up that we needed to help with - working with wildlife is unpredictable. The staff at Golola did a great job of helping us adjust when something new came up and I really appreciated that. I feel like I could see the difference I was making by being there. I put my heart and soul into this work and gave back as much as I could and I felt so rewarded for this. One of the many highlights of my trip was getting to see the rhinos interact with one another - they are all so unique and express such different personalities. Another highlight of mine was the daily drives into the reserve. We would be out for a few hours each day, providing supplementary food for the older rhinos who had been released from the centre. It was amazing to see these animals interacting with one another in their natural habitats. I think if you are on the fence about volunteering, read some more testimonials. They give you a real insight into people's experiences. I also felt very reassured by African Conservation Experience (ACE) as the first step in the process was to have a phone call with one of their consultants. They asked me so many questions about what I wanted to do, why I wanted to do it and what I wanted to gain from the experience. ACE immediately provided me with so much information and they were always so quick to respond to any questions I had! I was so pleased with the ACE team in South Africa, too. Every single detail was worked out for you - they meet you at the airport, make sure you’re safely on your way to the project, and check in with you whilst you are at the project to make sure you are doing well. I appreciated this level of care and consideration so much! Volunteering is a life-changing experience and the more that you give to it, the more interest and awareness you have and willingness to get stuck in, the more you will get out of it.