Wildlife Conservation in the Greater Kruger National Park

Volunteering at the Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience was easily one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I arrived, the team made me feel welcome and supported, and I was well looked after throughout the entire program. Everything ran smoothly, from airport transfers to daily activities, which made it easy to settle in and fully enjoy the conservation experience. The project is extremely well organised, and it’s clear that volunteer safety and wellbeing are a genuine priority for the team. The experience itself offered far more than just wildlife encounters, although those were certainly incredible. It provided meaningful, hands-on involvement in conservation work, opportunities to learn from knowledgeable and passionate staff, and exposure to experiences that are difficult to find elsewhere. Every day offered something different and unique. Some of the activities can be physically demanding at times, for example we helped the project with some bush clearing, and the days often begin early in the morning. However, the environment is highly supportive and the experience is immensely rewarding. If you come with an open mind and a willingness to get involved, you’ll get so much out of the experience. My only regret is that I only stayed for one week, I could easily have stayed longer. I left with a deeper appreciation for wildlife conservation, as well as memories and friendships to last a lifetime. I would highly recommend the Vikela Kruger project to anyone looking for a unique, meaningful, and genuinely worthwhile volunteer experience.

The drive to Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience set the tone for everything that followed. Winding through the mountains, taking in that landscape, it was stunning! It was the kind of arrival that tells you straight away you're somewhere special. At the project, the tracking was something I'll never forget. Our guide at the project was a master tracker and expert in bushcraft. They were so patient and generous with their knowledge. They really were a brilliant teacher! Having the opportunity to follow fresh rhino footprints through the bush was stunning. At times, I genuinely couldn't see what they were seeing at first. It was incredible to see how they worked. They could tell you that a rhino has passed through just by pointing out the broken twigs on the tree! The moment the tracker got excited about something, everyone around them got excited too. That passion is contagious. By the end, I was starting to understand the landscape in a completely different way, not just looking at it, but reading it. When at the project, we also got to enjoy the excursions. Visiting Moholoholo, a fantastic Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, and then also the Blyde River Canyon, where we got to see hippos and crocodiles. The landscape there is so special, no photograph does it justice. One of the most valuable things I took away from the experience was a conversation about ethics in wildlife tourism with the African Conservation Experience (ACE) team when I arrived at the airport. It was refreshing and honest, the kind of conversation you don't often have. It really gave me a great perspective right before joining the project, as it was so fascinating to hear about the scale of unethical volunteering across Southern Africa. It made me very grateful to have chosen ACE, as from everything I witnessed, it was clear to see their ethical approach towards conservation volunteering. Just learning about how many people think they're helping when, in reality, they are in fact causing harm is eye-opening. I had never really considered how so many wildlife areas are artificially managed for tourist purposes, created so that sightings of iconic species can be pretty much guaranteed. Whereas ACE only works in large intact ecosystems and reserves that still have a conservation value due to their size, as they can maintain healthy wildlife populations! This made me appreciate the real value of volunteering within large, open ecosystems where nature has the space to act naturally. For some people, sightings are very important, but one idea that stuck with me was that not seeing an animal is never a failure; the tracks in the ground are real, the animal was there. That is enough. Being in that environment, present and aware of everything around you, is extraordinary in itself. If you get to see that animal, that is a wonderful bonus! Looking back, before the trip, I was a little nervous about travelling alone and whether I'd find my people. That worry didn't last long. The booking process was seamless, and from the moment I arrived, everything felt taken care of. Thank you very much to the ACE team for making this trip possible!

I must confess I had no idea that volunteering with wildlife in Africa existed before this! African Conservation Experience (ACE) took care of me by advising and placing me in the program that best suited my needs. That’s how I arrived at the Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience. If I could describe this experience in one word, it would be inspiring! I spent 14 days at Vikela, and I feel it completely changed the way I see conservation. I used to think I knew something about wildlife and conservation. All of my prior knowledge was derived from reading wildlife books or watching documentaries, but being at the project opened my eyes and gave me a new perspective. I now feel like I have a better understanding of what conservation really means. Conservation isn't just about actions; it’s about changing and impacting mindsets, and if I can assure you of one thing, it’s that absolutely everyone at Vikela dedicates their lives to this, and being able to see and feel it is absolutely wonderful. All activities were amazing, from tracking footprints to anti-poaching activities, as well as hiking, sleeping out in the bush, spending the night listening to lions and hyenas, and sharing this experience with people from different cultures and different parts of the planet! We all bonded over our shared passion for wildlife conservation. Every day, we got up at around 6:30am to be ready to leave shortly after. To be honest, this part of the day was my favourite! It was so beautiful because all still felt quiet, with the river flowing nearby and the first animals slowly waking up in the distance. Another highlight for me was the tracking - it was so interesting! Walking through the bushes following tracks and then finally finding the animal we were looking for, and seeing many others along the way, was simply amazing! Can you imagine doing this every day and also constantly encountering many animals? It was mind-blowing. We usually returned to camp around 11:30am for lunch and a short rest, then we were ready to go out again. Sometimes we would cut down the tree branches that the elephants knocked down onto the road, sometimes we would be learning about poaching, and sometimes we would go out tracking again, but every activity had the same objective - to monitor the balance and equilibrium in the ecosystem to help with conservation. I am so grateful to ACE and the people of Vikela because they opened my eyes and gave me an experience that I will never forget. Throughout this entire process, the ACE team was always there for me, answering my questions and guiding me along the way. I never felt alone on this adventure! If I could give one piece of advice to people interested in volunteering in wildlife conservation, it would be to have zero expectations and give it your all because every day, everywhere, there will be many things that make it so worthwhile. Believe me, it’s something you will never forget!

The Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience was fantastic. The experiences there were amazing, but I feel like the project staff really made it the best experience it possibly could be. The staff on the project were so personal and took the time to connect with each one of us. We had such meaningful conversations on our off day on Sundays. We sat together over coffee, discussing the ethics of hunting, the role of game lodges in conservation, and the wider implications their presence has on wildlife and local ecosystems. It was great to sit down and talk with the project staff about all of the things we didn’t know about because they were just so interesting to listen to. Hearing from someone who's on the ground, and their thoughts about all of these complex issues, really changed my perspective on how I view these things. The team’s sense of humour and sarcasm just added to how much fun we had, too. We all got along, we teased each other, we became part of a family, and the staff there really helped to encourage that. Talking with people about other previous experiences, they didn't always have that sense of family. Whereas we had sit-down meals together twice a day, and we'd be free throughout the day to talk about the plan for what we’d be doing. It just made it a really immersive experience. Our project lead was happy with everybody asking questions, which was lucky because he had such a wealth of knowledge! I had talked with an African Conservation Experience (ACE) consultant about what the project was, and how this project was described to me was spot on for what I experienced. If anything, the ACE consultant I spoke with downplayed what I was going to expect. I knew I was coming for volunteer work, so I thought, "There's no guarantee that I'm going to see any kind of animal. You just don't know". I didn’t want my expectations to be too high, but this experience wildly surpassed what I was expecting. We were able to do a lot of game drives and a lot of bushwalks. The project staff taught us about different tracks and how to spot them. By the second week, we had the opportunity, with all of the skills that we had learned for tracking, to try to track for ourselves! It was cool to be at the front of the line and look for the signs myself. We were able to track white rhinos, elephants, leopards and lions too! I really liked the structure of the morning drive and the afternoon drive. And it was nice how the afternoon drive always extended into the evening, so we got to see the landscapes as the sun set. Hearing the project staff explain how the costs of this experience help to fund the project itself, really highlighted the true conservation aspect that ACE advertises. Even something as simple as when we were going to check the water pumps, there were solar panels next to them. While I was kneeling on the ground, I asked what all the names were around the solar panels. Our guide said that those are the names of the volunteers who were here to help install them. It was cool because he said this project only started in 2002, but you could see from the reserve management work that had been done by past volunteers, that you can make a lasting impact on this project. You can actually see the impact past volunteers have made, it's not just talk. It was mentioned to me in the initial chat with the ACE consultant that there was a possibility of sleeping out in the bush. Luckily, everybody in my group was on board, so we actually did it two weeks in a row! There was nothing better. I could hear leopards, lions, hyenas, and wild dogs all calling out in the night! It was incredible to be sitting on a log late at night and looking up at the stars. We saw the Milky Way, Mars, Saturn, and shooting stars. It was insanity for me! I’d never seen any of that before, and it was just incredible. I didn't know what the makeup of the group was going to be. If it was going to be for retirees or kids, and I think we had a great mix. I was so pleasantly surprised that in my first week, I had two girls my age who were also solo travelling, so the three of us got really close. I’m incredibly grateful I chose Vikela and to travel with ACE, it exceeded my expectations and gave me an experience I’ll never forget!

If I had to sum up my experience on the Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience in one word, it would be “Adventure”. The work was varied and full of surprises: Once, the guide suddenly said, "In five minutes, I have to leave the camp for a brief but quite physical tracking task. It involves walking barefoot in the sand. Who wants to come?" Everyone, of course! In that case, as in others, we were explained the meaning of every action or movement: the guide's maneuvers, our contribution as volunteers, and of course, the animals themselves. The Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience was all about learning from experience: a game between when the guide answered our questions about what we saw, and when he asked us questions that allowed us to reflect. A reflection to begin seeing how everything in the bush is truly connected: not only plants and animals (down to the smallest of insects), but also and especially the soil. Our guide was extremely experienced both as a bush guide and in managing volunteers: through clarity, patience, and a sense of humor, he enabled us to begin to understand even complex aspects of conservation. Especially from a long-term perspective. All this without getting into right-wrong thinking, but showing the positive and potentially problematic sides of different human interventions for animal and nature protection. This experience reminded us that we humans are originally part of this nature, even if we tend to forget it.

The phone call I had with one of the African Conservation Experience (ACE) consultants before booking was so helpful in painting a picture of the project and what to expect, and ACE delivered exactly what was promised and more! I love that ACE meets you at the airport. Meeting the team and other volunteers before heading off to the Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience really put me at ease. As soon as we met the guide we would be working with at Vikela, I immediately knew this was going to be a great experience. The vibe within the group was high, and only increased as we listened to old school pop music on our drive into camp! At Vikela, every day was different. We were involved in everything from clearing roads, moving rocks to protect solar water pumps from elephants, and going on incredible bushwalks! What I loved most was that we worked as a team. Everyone mucking in together, not splitting off to do separate tasks. And, you could actually see the impact of your work right in front of you as you were doing it, which made it so rewarding. Aside from the work, the wildlife encounters were unforgettable. On one game drive, we got incredibly near to an elephant - I would estimate around 5 metres away! We also had a close encounter with a small pride of lions after one of our bush braais. We could hear them roaring in the distance, so we jumped into the vehicle and drove out to get a closer look. We got within about 15 to 20 feet of a lion just walking along, completely unbothered by us. Seeing a lion that close in the wild ignites something in you - it was really cool. I learned so much more than I expected and this trip changed my understanding of conservation. I’m currently studying environmental sciences, so I thought I knew what to expect, but this was completely different to learning in a classroom. Our guides would stop during our bush walks to explain everything - even pointing out details as small as a black rhino midden and explaining how they could tell it was from a black rhino by the 25-degree bite angle on the vegetation! I’d think to myself, How do you even know that?! Their wealth of knowledge was incredible! And they approached every question you asked with enthusiasm and clarity. They never made you feel silly for asking anything. The accommodation was also something that exceeded my expectations. I was expecting tents and no hot water (the last volunteer project I joined had no hot water at all), but the team at Vikela has really put effort into making it comfortable. It's not fancy with unnecessary frills, but it's really good quality and has everything you need. The food was excellent too! I'm a vegetarian, and they had something delicious for me every single meal. The social aspect of this project wasn’t something I went into it for, but it was another highlight for me. I have so many inside jokes with my fellow volunteers. It's crazy how fast you get to know people when you spend every day with them. I had to remind myself I'd only been there for three days because Johannesburg already felt like a lifetime ago. Everyone who was there genuinely wanted to be there, and you could tell. There was no one who wasn't pulling their weight or didn't care. This week was one of the most memorable of my life so far. I would definitely do it again - I'm already thinking about coming back in a couple of years with friends!

It’s pitch black. You’re zipped into your sleeping bag, safe but alert. Out there, in the silence, something stirs. You don’t know what it is—or what’s curious enough to wander past a small pack of humans daring to camp in the wild. That thrill, that raw vulnerability, is something I’ll never forget at the Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience. Truly, a trip of a lifetime! For me, tracking has always been an interest, so having the opportunity to track wildlife in the bush through this project was amazing! With my military background, I understood the basics—I’d practised it. But with my veterinary career now underway, I wanted to learn how to track wildlife. And I wasn’t disappointed. Watching a true professional at work was humbling. In tracking, time is everything. A delay can mean injury—or worse. That pressure, that precision—it was extraordinary to witness and invaluable to learn from. When people ask me what my favourite sighting was, I hesitate. Was it the slow, silent grace of an elephant herd moving through the bush? The hyena sneaking a drink between a lazy lion and a defiant bull elephant? Or the leopard that melted so perfectly into the landscape, it was as if it had never existed at all? Each moment was unforgettable in its own way. But this experience wasn’t just about the thrill of sightings or the theory of conservation. It was about the reality—the complexity of people, agendas, and challenges on the ground. Not everyone is in it for the right reasons. Not everyone shares the same vision. You’re constantly navigating a system that’s messy, political, and demanding. But seeing this project in action—seeing the dedication of the team—I knew it was worth supporting. They care deeply about their impact, about the volunteers, about what we take away. They want us to truly understand, to see the value in every moment! The African Conservation Experience team made the entire journey seamless. From the first call to the travel logistics, they handled it all. I boarded that plane feeling unprepared, unsure—but from the second I landed, everything was taken care of. So here’s my advice: don’t let fear stop you. Book the ticket. Get on the plane. Let it change your life!

Vikela, is ideal if you want to see animals in the wild and feel the adrenaline of tracking and observing them in their natural habitat. Both places offer unique and unforgettable experiences. If you’re thinking about it, don’t hesitate, it’s worth it! I visited the Vikela project first and everything about that place was incredible! Some people might imagine that coming to South Africa is all about going on a safari, however, the Vikela project offers you something so much deeper than that. We were driving around a national park whilst being actively involved in conservation. We tracked animals, monitored key species like rhinos, lions, elephants, and wild dogs, and recorded important details about their behaviour! One of the highlights of this project for me was seeing lions feeding on my birthday - what an unforgettable experience! We also saw baboons, wild dogs, rhinos grazing, and even lions on a hunt. It was incredible! Our days started early, at around 5:30am, with some breakfast and a meeting to discuss the day's tasks. Most mornings would begin with a game drive, to track and monitor rhinos and other wildlife. We would note down important details about them, such as whether they were male or female, adults or juveniles, their distance from us, and their behaviour. After returning to camp for some lunch, we would get involved in some more physical activities such as clearing invasive plants, fixing water points, or assisting other sections of the reserve. In the evenings we would often go on night drives to see nocturnal species. Another unforgettable experience was our bush sleepout! The project staff guided us to our location and I was expecting to feel a little uneasy as we were camping in the wild, but I didn’t feel this at all. They have so much knowledge and made the camp so safe. And all night long we listened to the sounds of lions, hyenas, and buffalo in the bush!

It has been my dream to visit Africa for the last 50 years (so this trip has been a long time in the making) and African Conservation Experience (ACE) helped this dream come true! ACE surpassed our expectations with the support they provided. The UK team worked with me countless times, preparing and planning for this trip, which turned out to be the best experience I could have dreamed of! From the first time I got in contact with them, to the time our party arrived in Johannesburg, ACE went above and beyond to support us. We were met at the airport by the in-country team on our arrival and they escorted us to our transfer to the project. We spent two weeks at the Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience. This experience was everything I wanted to do with conservation and more! From wildlife monitoring to invasive species removal, all the work we were doing was having a positive impact on the ecosystem. I am a retired wildlife biologist so the tasks we carried out at this project were very familiar to me, just in a brand new location with different animals! It was very rewarding to be working in the African bush. Our group ranged in age from 65 to 86 so we had some concerns that we wouldn’t fit in, but those concerns soon faded away. Our age didn’t matter as we were all given jobs that we were comfortable doing. The project staff were outstanding hosts. They took the time to teach us about what we were seeing and doing and happily shared their knowledge on subjects like wildlife tracking, animal behaviour, monitoring species and recording data. We did and saw so much that it’s hard to choose one stand-out moment. If I had to choose one thing it would be the fact that we were able to track and find a mother and baby rhino. With the guide's knowledge and instruction, I was able to do the tracking predominantly myself, so that was definitely a highlight. However, the day we spotted a leopard, a pride of lions, and even a black rhino (very rare nowadays!) was an incredible experience. Then again... the highlight may have been the time we were all sat in the research vehicle sounded by a herd of buffalo! It's tough to pick just one! The adventure was nothing but perfect. Besides the great memories, I’m also taking back the new friendships I gained with other volunteers from around the world. On our return to Johannesburg, we were again met by the in-country team who wanted to hear all about our experience. They even organised a shuttle for us to our hotel! To sum it up, ACE are an outstanding organisation to volunteer with. They care about the projects and their clients equally. I can’t recommend them enough!

Travelling with African Conservation Experience (ACE) was an amazing opportunity where I got to experience lots of new and different things every day! We went on game drives to see amazing wildlife in its natural habitat and we got involved in a variety of reserve maintenance activities, like helping to clear roads from trees that elephants might have knocked over! I found that observing the animals in their natural habitat is the best way to learn about them and their behaviour. Being able to develop research skills such as how to tell them apart and recognise males and females at the same time really drove home the learning experience, too. Being out in the field was a real highlight for me and this experience will stick with me for years to come. Some of the most memorable experiences I had were while we were tracking animals on foot. We were fortunate enough to track a pack of wild dogs to their den site and six of their pups ran right by us! Our guide was fantastic. We learnt how to track rhinos on foot and put these skills into practice over several days. The pinnacle of this work was tracking a female with her calf through the bush. We managed to get so close we heard them communicating with each other, it was such a unique experience. Getting to see animals in the wild is incredible, but observing them while on foot and being face-to-face with them is just a completely different experience to being in a vehicle. As well as the rhinos we also got to see a huge herd of over 20 giraffes and a pride of six lions with a fresh buffalo kill. We were so close I could literally smell it! Every day offered something unique, whether it be an elephant moving past our camp in the evening or happening upon a pair of hyena by the side of the road. I made great friends with every single volunteer. Sitting around the fire with everyone laughing and talking together in the evenings was lovely. We were all just friends - the energy and vibes of everyone being together and getting along was really fun. I am going to keep in touch with my fellow volunteers through social media so that we can hopefully organise to travel again together in the future. Travelling with ACE was the smoothest travel experience I’ve ever had. They planned everything and there were never any bumps, from arriving at the airport to getting to the project and back again. There was always someone there to guide me which was super helpful, as even though I had travelled before, I was in an unfamiliar place. Once I arrived at the project too, all the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Around the Kruger itself there's a great variety of things to do. We went on several day trips to see more of the area surrounding the project base in addition to the volunteer work. We had a perfect amount of downtime. Eating lunch while watching the animals around the watering hole is the best way to relax. Overall, there is a good balance of getting your hands dirty, having the opportunity to learn, while also getting to relax and make lifelong friends!

ACE has been incredible from the start, from booking to travelling between projects. The phone call before booking is really important as it allows the team to figure out which projects are the perfect fit for you, and they explain what you will be doing for each project. You feel supported every step of the way. I was particularly impressed with our guided tour through Johannesburg airport. Like any new airport, it's a little worrying trying to navigate through it. However, with ACE, you are picked up at the gate, taken to a restaurant where you have a lovely chat with the team, and then taken to your next transfer. All concerns are removed! During my time at Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience, I had a wonderful trip filled with various activities such as wildlife research, bush clearing, and wildfire protection. It was hard work, but also very educational. We had the chance to see many animals, but the most memorable day was the second Wednesday of our trip. We were headed out for a morning of habitat restoration when a neighbour radioed to inform us that a cheetah had killed an impala. We were able to witness the cheetah eating the impala, which was a very cool experience! I came to understand the value of my role as a volunteer in Kruger because I spent every day in the bush collecting valuable conservation data. This could include basic information such as the number and species of animals seen, as well as their gender. We also gathered environmental data, such as visibility, and behavioural data, including whether the animals seemed startled by our presence or were behaving normally. All of this information was logged into a database, which in turn helped management understand the location and well-being of the wildlife. Our data played a crucial role in making decisions, such as determining whether additional water holes were needed due to a drought, or if more camera traps were necessary to cover blind spots. Afterwards, we headed back to camp, where we saw many elephants. It was so peaceful just sitting there and watching them for a few minutes. Just as we were about to enter the camp, we saw a buffalo that had been hurt by lions walking very slowly towards the riverbed. Then, out of nowhere, eight lions came out of the bush, following its tracks. My guide and I jumped into the car and went to the riverbed, where we saw the buffalo being killed. It was such an amazing experience, one I won't forget. We were very close, less than 100 metres away when we saw it. It was like watching National Geographic in front of us. Two days after the lion had killed the buffalo, we decided to go down to the riverbed to see if there were any more lions around. Suddenly, a big male lion roared at us from about 30 metres away. It was the first time a lion had roared at me. It was very surreal and a little scary! If you're considering volunteering at Viklea, it's a fantastic project to be a part of. You'll have the opportunity to take part in physical conservation work, such as habitat restoration, and also go out on game drives where you get to see a wide variety of wildlife. The bush walks allow you to explore the area amongst the wildlife. The night drives are particularly remarkable; going out at night with a flashlight to catch the reflection of animals' eyes is a beautiful experience. You’ll encounter different animals, as many species are nocturnal.

The choice to join The Vikela Kruger Experience was an easy one. ACE’s website provided a clear overview of the available projects, and I knew I wanted something adventurous. After my first conversation with a member of the ACE team, who guided me through the options, I was recommended some that would suit my interests. They were spot on, and it was the perfect fit for me. It gave me that adventurous feel with bushwalks and a chance to be out and about in the wild. My journey has been full of incredible highlights. I've been lucky enough to see rhinos and even a caracal in daylight. Seeing a caracal out in the daytime was even a first for our ranger. The Blyde River Canyon stands out as it is such a beautiful place, and it is the biggest green canyon in the world. The people I've met during this experience have been amazing, and we all had similar interests making it very easy to connect. Sitting around the campfire after a day of work was a great way to form new friendships. This journey has been a really big personal achievement, as it is my first solo travel outside of Europe. I also have felt I have made a significant contribution to conservation efforts. I learnt all about how my physical help is going into conservation initiatives, and also the rangers explained the simple way we protect as our presence in an area deters poachers. I've been involved in various tasks that helped preserve the environment as well, like taking fences out and clearing roads. It's a truly unforgettable experience that not many people my age back home have had. To future volunteers considering ACE, I would say, definitely go for it! Don’t be hesitant if you are worried about things like travelling solo, it is not a problem at all. You will meet lots of people out here, and they are all in the same position. ACE also makes sure you feel supported. I have gained a huge amount of knowledge about tracking, wildlife, and the bush, thanks to the amazing guides I've had. They are incredible, I have never met anyone like it! They know everything, they can see a bird 100 metres away or even just hear its faint call and will be like “That's the American Green Wood Pigeon” and then two seconds later it flies past. Working with them and being out in the bush has made me a lot more passionate about conservation, and possibly my future plans.

I have always wanted to visit Africa, and South Africa specifically for quite a few years. This is mainly due to the wildlife, food, and culture over there that I find really interesting. I looked at some different conservation projects and companies before looking into African Conservation Experience (ACE). However, ACE was the one that had the most recognition, affiliations, and understanding of what needed to be done in conservation. From my research, it was clear that the money that was being spent was going to the right places, so it gave me the confidence that the experience would be something that I was looking for. From the initial application process to arriving in South Africa, it was not long at all. I booked it within two weeks before getting on my flight, so it was an efficient turnaround from the ACE team. I had an hour-long call with a member of the team, and they gave me great insight and guided me toward the most suitable project for me. They really did an amazing job, and were so patient as I needed some time to look over all of the information before booking. In terms of travelling in a new country, with ACE you know that you're very well looked after. From the beginning through to the end, you are met at all of the transit points. The only travelling that took a long time was the international flight; after that, you are supported every second! I always knew exactly where I was going, and I never felt like I was on my own. The Kruger Project really fulfilled my expectations! You can tell that there's so much to be done, and I think I saw pretty much everything that I'd hoped to and more. The experiences surpassed my expectations for sure. At Kruger, I worked with a very experienced ranger and their awesome dog Letta, who was a Belgian Malinois. Letta was extremely professional just like her owner. I really got to see the intricacies and requirements of doing conservation out in the field. We had a few rare sightings, including two Honey Badgers, which one of the staff who have worked there hadn't seen for over 20 years in the wild! Honestly, there was a highlight each day in the sense that you're experiencing new things and learning in far greater detail than you could imagine.

We found this project absolutely amazing. We chose it for the range of activities and conservation work but it exceeded all expectations. We have done things we never expected to do in our lifetime! This project has a great breadth of conservation knowledge rather than just focussing on a specific animal. There were lots of different experiences, from tracking and bush-walking to game driving. One of the highlights of the project was definitely being able to see the elephants. They’re one of our favourite animals and it was fascinating to watch them in their natural habitat, seeing the intricacies of them feeding and bonding with each other. It was great that we also did this without causing stress to them – they can walk off when they want to (and they do!) and we leave them be. Just having that bit of time with them was really nice, and very special. The elephants were often alongside different animals, and it was lovely to see them interacting with one another. There was also a male eating a thorn bush in front of us – watching him strip the thorns with his trunk was really, really interesting. It was something we had never seen before, even though we have studied them! We’ve also read about it, but it was incredible to see it in person and it’s an experience we will cherish forever. So many times we would see something happen and we would think: ‘this is like a painting’, ‘this is something I’ve read about’ or ‘this is like a picture you see in a magazine’ – but it was happening every day! Multiple times! The feeling is simply indescribable as you exist alongside the animals in such a beautiful way. You have to pinch yourself to remind yourself it’s real. We just felt like the luckiest people in the whole world. Another highlight of ours was having the opportunity to be on the ground, feet on the ground, tracking the animals and the routes they would take in their everyday, normal life, with them perhaps not having any knowledge of us. We came across rhinos feeding and interacting with their environment, and being there physically, just across from them with no barriers, no other people, was incredible. They would do their thing and move off, and we’d perhaps never see them again… and that made it so incredible, knowing they were free. The camp was in a beautiful setting with picturesque views all the way around. Our room was nice and secluded and the people on site were amazing, so caring and so friendly. It was lovely to see how excited they were as well; it really was a nice atmosphere. Overall, it’s definitely given us a new perspective. Yes, we got excited about the animals, but also at the smaller things – noticing a bit of grass that was pushed down, wondering what had caused that… the different insects, why are there more in one place than the other… and what’s this new plant I’ve never seen before? Our interest for the smaller things in the world grew. We weren’t just interested in the big elephants but also the insects living in their footprints. We also had no interest in birds before we came here, but suddenly we wanted to know why they were interacting with each other in a certain way. The knowledge that was shared with us was incredible and it made everything more understandable, relatable, and engaging. The expertise delivered to us gave us an appreciation for the whole natural journey. It was wonderful.

The ACE experience has been one of the most interesting and interactive activities I’ve ever taken part in. I went with a school group for two weeks in order to seen what it was like to work as a conservationist in the greater Kruger national park. There were many great moments of tension and surprise in the bush when we would see something new or learn how to track an animal based on their paw prints. Overall it was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is planning a trip to South Africa as it is not only beneficial for you, but most of the earnings are also put towards conservation and making sure that wild animals such as elephants and lions don’t go extinct.

My brother and I are both U.S. Marine Corps veterans, and since we left the military, we have sought ways we can continue to serve. Helping animals is the most meaningful work we have done together, so with that in mind we wanted to find a real deal conservation effort that we could be a part of. After a bit of internet research we came across ACE and the Kruger project and knew it would be the perfect opportunity to get our hands dirty while connecting with nature and witnessing some amazing animals in their natural habitats. At the Vikela Kruger experience we spent our days tracking game through a variety of methods (including smell!), reporting our findings to help chart animal movement and support anti-poaching efforts, participating in activities to preserve the animals natural environment like removing non-native invasive plants, and learning all kinds of amazing facts about the plants, animals, and insects on the reserve from a ranger with over a decade of experience. During our experience we were lucky enough to track down white rhinos more than once, including a face-to-face encounter mere yards away on foot. Being able to track them in the wild was an absolute thrill. Along for the ride was a tracking/detection dog that helped in the efforts and kept us entertained at all times. We got to see her use her sniffer in a training exercise to find hidden rhino horn and ammunition. The list of other animals we saw was endless, including elephants, giraffes, buffalo, baboons, zebras, hyenas, and warthogs just to name a few. The camp we stayed at was beautifully understated, with an amazing hilltop view where you could see for miles. During our time there we also made a short trip to Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre to learn about the work they do and see a variety of animals in their care. And we took a boat ride in the beautiful Blyde canyon where we saw hippos and crocodiles while learning about the history of its formation. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to experience a slice of life for a ranger sprinkled with lots of learning opportunities and seeing animals in their natural habitats!

I had a trip organized with ACE since 2020 and finally got to go April 2022! I can’t explain how much of an amazing time and a once in a lifetime experience I had. From the get go ACE was nothing but caring and helpful. I can’t recommend this company and the experiences they offer anymore- hopefully in the future I can visit again

I had such an unforgettable experience with ACE. The experience opened my eyes to the beauty of South African wildlife and the urgent need to conserve it, and I was really moved by both the dedication and passion of our guides throughout the trip. Every activity gave me a deeper understanding of the Greater Kruger and national park, each one really unique and special, from the wild bush walks to the night drives. It was truly a once in a life time experience and I have taken so much away from only two weeks. I highly recommend it to everyone!