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African Conservation Experience

9.9 (157)Verified8 Programs

Why choose African Conservation Experience?

African Conservation Experience are working to create a brighter future for Africa’s wildlife. By bringing together people from around the world to work on real conservation projects, they’re turning a local challenge into an international movement. What makes them different to other companies? As southern Africa’s original conservation travel specialist, they have an unrivalled level of knowle...

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African Conservation Experience Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.9

Total Reviews

157
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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. The adventure was nothing but perfect!

by: Patrick Brandon - United StatesProgram: Wildlife Conservation in the Greater Kruger National Park
10

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!

The team!Mom and babyTime for a drink

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!

by: Amanda Thompson - United StatesProgram: Volunteer at a Rhino Orphanage in UNESCO World Heritage Site
10

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.

person filling up bottlesone liter bottles with pink fluid and rubber at the tipperson weighing out powder milk

There's something for everyone at Phinda - whether you love birds, mammals, plants or ecosystems, you won’t be disappointed.

by: Jenna Page - CanadaProgram: Go Behind the Scenes at a Big 5 Wildlife Reserve
9

My two weeks at Phinda Wildlife Research Project were amazing. The project staff and other volunteers were incredible and I loved seeing so many animals out in the field. It was fantastic! A typical day started quite early which can be an adjustment if you are a night owl like me, but it was so worth it. Most days we were carrying out game counts, checking the collars and tags of any animals that Phinda tracks in the reserve, like their Pangolins, and also using telemetry to track animals through the bush. One of the most exciting tracking experiences I had whilst at the project was with a male lion. He had recently been relocated to Phinda and they wanted to keep a close eye on him to see how he was adjusting to his new environment. We were also involved in some management work during my stay. One of the first things we did on day one was a rhino horn trimming! It was so interesting to learn about the process and being so close to the rhino whilst it was happening was incredible. We also helped with the relocation of one rhino which was another extraordinary experience. I saw such a variety of animals and ecosystems on the reserve. I was fortunate enough to see rhinos, elephants, lions, and cheetahs, and explore areas like the sand forest (a habitat that is only found in a few places around the world!) There's something for everyone at Phinda - whether you love birds, mammals, plants or ecosystems, you won’t be disappointed. I have participated in a few different conservation projects but this experience gave me a whole new level of education and involvement. I saw and learnt so much which I will be able to use in my future career. For example, telemetry was something I had never done before so it was great to learn about it - I think it’ll be something that I can use in my future field of study or work! I felt so involved in the research that was going on. I also met some incredible people on this experience. During our downtime we would be playing card games, and cooking meals together - we even had a few traditional South African braai’s with some of the researchers on the project. It was amazing to chat with them and learn more about South African culture!

volunteers in a safari jeepMother and baby elephantLion cubs

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Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

William Davies

Participated in 2006

Alumni

To gain experience in the field, whilst being aboard to expose myself to a different culture, techniques and methods.

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Rob Harris

Interviewed in 2014

Staff

What inspired you to travel abroad?

A lot of parents are reluctant to send off their children on programs abroad despite the benefits of experiential education. What made you grant your son Mark's desire to gain work experience on a game reserve in South Africa before starting university?

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Lauren Locke

Interviewed in 2014

Staff

What inspired you to travel abroad?

ACE offers experience oriented placements on wildlife conservation projects in Southern Africa for two to12 weeks. We currently have partners in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mauritius. Our programs offer opportunities for students from all backgrounds to work in a variety of areas including research, wildlife rehabilitation, marine conservation, game capture, and field veterinary work.

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Awards

Check out awards and recognitions African Conservation Experience has received

Innovative Volunteer Abroad Program 2023 FinalistGoAbroad Innovative Volunteer Abroad Program, 2023 FinalistTop Rated Notable Mentions 2022ATOL: African Conservation ExperienceABTA: African Conservation Experience