African Conservation Experience

Given that I’ve never written a review before, this really means something! If you’re scrolling through the testimonials from travellers of African Conservation Experience (ACE), wondering whether they are trustworthy and whether your time and effort will truly make a difference, I was in the exact same position just a few months ago. Like you, I researched various organisations and volunteering projects, hoping to make the right decision. And now, having experienced it first-hand, I can confidently say you don’t need to look any further! If you’re passionate about wildlife conservation in southern Africa and want to be part of a project that has a genuine, lasting impact, reach out to ACE. The ACE team is incredibly helpful in guiding you to the right project based on your interests and expectations. Through a personal consultation with ACE, I chose to join the Phinda Wildlife Research Project, where I spent two incredible weeks. Phinda focusses on the protection of a variety of animals (including lions, elephants and rhinos) within their large private reserve. The physical and financial support volunteers provide helps the research team to continue to manage the wildlife so successfully. Coming from a job where I sit in an office all day in Switzerland, the contrast in environment and work was nothing short of breathtaking. Seeing first-hand how dedicated and passionate the qualified conservationists on the ground are, and how much their work truly matters, was an experience I will never forget. Rather than saying more, I’ll leave you with a few pictures, because some experiences speak for themselves!

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!

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.