Natucate

Volunteering at the Iberian Wolf Recovery Centre in Portugal was a truly eye-opening and humbling experience. Surrounded by the peaceful oak forests near Mafra, I joined a dedicated team working to protect one of Europe's most elusive and misunderstood predators — the Iberian wolf. Each day brought meaningful tasks: preparing food, maintaining enclosures, and ensuring the wolves lived in dignity and safety. Though there was no direct contact with the animals (to preserve their wild nature), just observing them from a distance was enough to feel connected to their world. The staff were incredibly passionate, always willing to share their knowledge about wolf behavior, threats to their survival, and the importance of preserving natural habitats. Living in simple accommodation close to nature, I learned not only about wolves but also about cooperation, patience, and the power of small efforts in conservation. The experience deepened my respect for wildlife and inspired me to continue supporting environmental causes long after I left. This journey wasn’t just about volunteering — it was about becoming part of a bigger mission to protect a species that deserves a future.

The trip to Zambia gave me an insight into a culture that I would not have been able to discover as a tourist. An insight into biodiversity, coexistence of humans and animals, political and social systems, hospitality, adventure, moving emotions and the most magical sunrises and sunsets. From the first call, to the debriefing of the trip and even on site, Natucate was by my side. Daniel made the entire process very pleasant and easy with a high level of competence and a lot of empathy. For me it felt like coming home. Meeting such inspiring people is not a given. I look forward to further adventures with you and can recommend Natucate with all my heart.

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Ich bin bereits das dritte Mal mit Natucate unterwegs und kann diesen Reiseanbieter von ganzem Herzen weiterempfehlen. Ich habe beide meiner Guidekurse in Südafrika über Natucate gebucht und würde es jedem ans Herz legen, dies auch zu tun. Man wird einfach optimal auf die Kursinhalte und die gesamte Reise vorbereitet. Durch seine jahrelange Erfahrung mit Ecotraining und der gesamten Industrie hat Daniel Insights, die mir vollstes Vertrauen in ihn und das ganze Natucate Team geben. Diesen Sommer bin ich mit Natucate auf die Private Wilderness Experience im Okavango Delta gefahren und es war großartig. Die Guides, die Umgebung und die Gruppe haben perfekt miteinander harmoniert. Ich komme definitiv wieder! Die Kommination vor, während und nach der Reise läuft jedes Mal schnell, unkompliziert und individuell ab. Kein Massentourismus. Natucate zeigt aufrichtiges Interesse an Ihren Kunden und deren individuellen Bedürfnissen. Ich fühle mich zu jederzeit verstanden und gesehen. Vielen Dank an Daniel und das gesamte Natucate Team für die unvergesslichen Momente auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent.

volunteering with Wolf is an amaizing experience especially for people who enjoy spending time outdoor. During the time of the program you get the chatce to meet amaizing people from different countries as well as interact with the workers, whose are increadibly nice and always there to help if you would need anything. I would highly recomend this program!!!!

I spent two weeks in this program and it was really challenging and satisfying. We had to build a wall to protect the water from elephant, and after to find them in the desert. Living in group with strangers who became friends, with the minimal comfort but safety, and learning so much about the country, the community and the nature was absolutely nice. I recommend this great expérience !

First of all a big compliment to Terry Gouws and the service she provides, I have definitely never experienced such excellent service before. Thank you Terry!!! (I hope you get to see this). Thembe: The monitors were great and did their best to explain a lot to us, However, the bush was too thick to see much. We ended up triangulating lions for two weeks and only got one visual. The most exciting was the optional drives with Leo, the person responsible for the elephant monitoring in Tembe, he only showed us elephants and explained a lot about nature and Tembe. Manyoni: Open bush lots of game, just great and intresting,We got to see the wild dogs being released from the boma, afterwards we had the job of finding them in the morning and in the afternoon to see if they were ok. It was intresting to see them explore the area.However after another 7 days i was getting a little bored. Jabulani,the monitor did his best to show us other game and preditors on the wayto and from the dogs.

It was my first time volunteering for an organisation, and it was so great! People are lovely in the sanctuary, animals are well taking care of, and participating to this is really benefiting! It is only the beginning for this sanctuary, and I can't wait to go back soon to see all the changes and improvement of the place, and helping again these amazing people.

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While I stayed in the project for 5 weeks I not only learned a lot about nature and conservation, I also had the opportunity to get to know the Peruvian culture including the very tasty local meals. There were lots of Biology researchers at the camp, whom I could assist on their daily research activities. If I had a question, they would always take their time to explain and show me the gems of the rainforest like birds, trees, frogs, monkeys and many more things. What I loved most about my time at the project was the variety of activities and how many new skills I gained. We had to learn how to orientate ourselves in the Amazon and which animals are dangerous, also how to work with a machete has been taught. Every day became an adventure! In the evening we would play cards or watch a movie together. It was a truly amazing time and I made many new friends. I recommend this project to every person who is wild at heart and wants to get to know the rainforest alongside young and enthusiastic experts

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I have only good things to say about Natucate and their team. I have been in contact with Terry for over a year and it has been, hands down, the most pleasant interaction I have had with an ‘agency’ (for the lack of a better term) in my life. Apart from having the qualities you’d expect from a travel/volunteer agency like efficiency, being organised, responsive etc, Natucate has heart and soul. From the point of enquiring about courses, spending several months to patiently help with choosing the right one, assisting with logistics and visas, going out the way to store my vehicle in Botswana for a month, to the feedback sessions after the course, everything has been absolutely wonderful. And smooth. I’m grateful to be guided by such conscious and ethically oriented people to realise one of my most sought-after dreams - to be a safari guide. Thank you, you’ve been amazing.

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That is what you get while living and working at the cat shelter! After duties like cleaning the property (2 floors), food and water bowls, doing litter boxes, providing medical care and re-filling bowls, the cats would be so happy to share their love with you. Some of them will immediately snuggle, some are shy and need some time, some will also hide. No matter what, it feels so good to hang around cats all day. You will share your room with them, they will be happy to share their lifestyle: being active at night, playing, hunting and come back to bed innocently at 5 in the morning :D I enjoyed my time there so much. The house, staff and other volunteers: it has been easy to feel like home quickly. Like a big commune. The area is nice as well, surrounded by hills you will have a good view from the rooftop. Within a 30 minute walk you can spend freetime in a small town while having a coffee. But make sure to be back at the shelter soon - your furry friends will miss you!

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My time in Botswana with Natucate was an absoultely fascinating and indescribable time. I am very happy that I booked this adventure through Natucate and that it really came true. I got a lot of support before and was perfectly prepared. Being then out in the wilderness of Okavango-Delta has something which roots you and brings you in touch with nature - much closer than you can ever expect. My favourite moments were with the elephans. Some pictures you can find below. But the best part about nature guiding is that not only the big five are the animlas of interest, everything ist connected and builds one contiguos ecosystem: plants, birds, funghi, geology, climate, invertebrates, reptiles, ... but of course also the mammals. There is enough time to be out in the field but also having fun with the other cours members. I absolutely recommend this!

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Ich habe den Field Guide Level 1 Kurs in Südafrika über Natucate gebucht. Daniel und sein Team waren von Anfang an äusserst hilfsbereit und professionell. Durch die tolle Unterstützung wurde ich sehr gut auf meine Zeit in Südafrika vorbereitet. Auch während dem Kurs war Natucate immer zur Stelle, um alle meine Fragen zu beantworten. Daniel ist uns sogar während dem Kurs in Südafrika besuchen gekommen, Es war richtig toll ihn persönlich kennenzulernen. Insgesamt war die Zeit im Busch einfach fantastisch! Zwei Monate lang umgeben zu sein von wunderschöner Natur, atemberaubender Tierwelt und liebenswürdigen Menschen aus der ganzen Welt war unbeschreiblich schön, Es war super spannend jeden Tag viele neue Dinge über Tiere, Pflanzen, Geologie, Astronomie etc. zu lernen. Dank Natucate hatte ich ein einzigartiges und unvergessliches Abenteuer. Ich kann Natucate von ganzem Herzen weiterempfehlen.

I really had a very special time in South Africa. It exceeded even the highest expectations. I came there and felt so welcomed and home really quickly. Our group was so amazing and we all had so much fun together. Seeing all these wild animals for the first time was just breathtaking. I was not able to sleep during my first week, because I was so excited all the time. We had so many special moments with the animals and we were even able to join darting a lion, which was an incredible experience. My personal favourite was definitely seeing hyenas in the morning just walking towards our car. In general I felt very safe all the time and I always had the chance to contact Natucate via WhatsApp and got a response very quickly.

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In 2021 I started my one year Professional Field Guide Course in South Africa. Beforehand Natucate helped me with my travel preparation, visa organisation and provided me with information about the study matter. Therefore I could begin to study before the course already, which proved to be a big advantage. During the course I stayed in contact with Natucate and received helpful answers whenever I had a question. The service and support of this travel agency is truly remarkable! While attending the course I've not only learnt a lot about nature, wildlife and gained many cool skills, I've also met interesting people and made some good friends. It was an adventure I'll never forget

During my time in New Zealand I stayed for 9 weeks in the volunteer project in New Zealand, of which I spent 7 weeks in Wellington. After my time in the project I travelled on my own for two weeks and the joined the conservation project in Auckland again for two more weeks. Three exciting months full of new experiences. After an exhausting 24 hour-flight I spent a couple of days in Wellington to rest and get adapted to my new environment. On my first day of the project I arrived at 11 AM at the volunteer house which is called „Truby King House”. At first, they showed me the accommodation and explained me more about the project. Then me and the other new volunteers went out for lunch together and at around 2 PM the other volunteers returned from work. I became a full member of the team right from the beginning. On my first weekend, we went for a bike ride together and they gave me a city tour. On my first day of work I expected to work for 7 hours, no matter what the weather would be like. But it turned out a usual work day starts at 8:30 and ends – depending on the weather – between 13:30 and 16:00 (working hours per day vary between 1 and 5 hours). During this time, different types of work can be done. Cutting trees, weeding, collecting invasive plants, constructing drainages, taking care of hiking trails to name a few. Not to forget: A tea break in the morning and for lunch. On the way home, Dave, our team leader, showed us different sightseeing attractions and other beautiful spots around Wellington. He also told us stories about the places or gave us a tour at the national museum “Te Papa” in Wellington. Most of the work for the volunteers took place at parks in the city. Once a week we drove to Zealandia, a park where local animals and plants are breed and once a week we were located at Mt. Victoria. The rest of the days we were helping the locals with different types of work in the parks in the area. After work, we had free time and could choose what to do during the rest of the day. I often went to the city or to Mt. Alberg, watched a movie with the others or played table tennis at the house. After I travelled for two weeks on my own around New Zealand’s North Island (my highlight: Tongariro Alpine Crossing) I joined the conservation team in Auckland. We met at 11 AM at the office and after a short introduction we were split up into teams of 5 to 10 volunteers. My team stayed for a week in a suburb of Auckland, so I had the possibility to explore the city on the weekend. The house in Titirangi is a lot smaller than the volunteer house in Wellington, but as we were only a team of 5 volunteers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland that did not matter. At Titirangi we started working on Monday at 8 AM. On Wednesday, we helped a local ranger at a nearby park and made repairs along the trails in the park. On Thursday and Friday, we worked with Simon, another park ranger, to reconstruct a hiking trail which was damaged and not walkable anymore. In the afternoon, it was weeding time and we were collecting invasive plants. Our working day ended at 3 PM and on the way back we had time to do some sightseeing. On Friday, we drove back to the office in Auckland and our groups were mixed again. With my new group I was going to Atiu Creek. After showing us our accommodation, we had the rest of the weekend off. The house is in the middle of the park and basically in the middle of nowhere. We used our free time on Saturday and went for a long hike to discover the area. On Monday, we started working and collected tree seeds, helped to construct bridges over fences and did some repair work on hiking trails. We spent the evenings cooking together, watched a movie, or played card games. Our time in the park flew by and suddenly the week was over, and I had to say goodbye! In the end I must say, even though the project was not exactly what I had expected, it was a great opportunity to get to know something new. I was able to improve my English, became more independent and learned to get along in a new environment and made new friends from all over the world. In the end I had an amazing time with many amazing experiences (wonderful nature, local animals, an earthquake with 7.9….) in New Zealand. A bit sad, but also excited about the new adventure to come we went out for a last dinner in Auckland. I also would like to mention that NATUCATE was a good support during my preparation and my time in New Zealand and that the team took their time to help me and answer all my questions. At any time I could call them or send them a WhatsApp message. The local staff was super friendly as well and helped me out whenever needed. It was always great to get some insider information about what to do and where to go, when in New Zealand. (Simon, 20 years, 9 weeks)

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On each day of the course we did two activities in the bush, a game walk or game drive – and learned a lot about Botswana’s wildlife and nature. Apart from these practical lectures we also had theory lessons regularly. We also took short tests from time to time. My biggest challenge? I would say the biggest challenge was, to process the many impressions and new knowledge. That’s why I would recommend other participants to occasionally get some rest and process all the impressions. What I liked the most? What I experienced as particularly positive, was that there were no fences around the camp and we had some “visitors” from time to time, especially the elephants. My advice for future participants? Bring along as little as possible and don’t mind the dirt and dust – and simply enjoy the experience! Another little tip: A Savanna was a nice treat for the end of the day to enjoy the sunset :) My goal was to simply be in nature and to see a variety of animals – as one would say: “back to the roots”. In the end my expectations were more than exceeded. I want to thank Natucate again for the great support before and during my course! Everything worked out well and I could completely enjoy this amazing experience! Well done! Lisa, 29 years old

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While I was sitting in the middle of a breeding herd of elephants, I looked back on the past two incredible months. As an 18-year-old, I wanted to get to know a new country and learn more about the bush – that was the plan for my gap year! I was nervous at the arrival, but our group had the night at the guest house in Johannesburg and the drive to the camp the next day to get to know one another. By then I would never have guessed how close we became during the course; the nationalities, ages and life experiences were all so different, but we are all like-minded people on a course we chose, as I suppose many people would be. Greeted by Andreas, our first instructor, followed closely by our first camp coordinator, Yosta, everything began to fall into place and I started feeling comfortable. Our experience Our daily schedule of walks, drives, lectures and duty become the daily routine. The lectures became more detailed while the tests on the calendar kept coming closer. The theory was tough, but incredibly interesting and during the drives and walks we had some incredibly unique experiences. Some of the highlights include walking around lion, driving with elephant, several close leopards and the general beauty of the landscape. While the elephants have passed I realize the large scale of the amount we had seen, experienced and learnt. Alan, our last instructor, summed it all up: “You cannot describe that experience in words, so let’s not”. That's why I say I cannot effectively summarise these incredible two months, but I can urge you to take a chance at a life-changing experience. (Antonia, 19 years, 55 Days)

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After my graduation from High School in 2016, I participated in a volunteer project in Nambia for one month in August. Till now my time in the project has been the best time I have ever had and I recommend it to everyone! The project is divided into two blocks, which are organized the same way every time, but still you will get a different experience each time. First you meet up in Swakopmund and get to know the rest of the volunteers. When I was there for my first block, our group had 15 volunteers and for the second block we were 12 participants. 12 to 15 people in one group is the largest it gets. The groups are mixed regarding age and also very international, which means it ranges from 15 to 60 years, but as a team of like-minded people the group members connect pretty quickly. On the following day the volunteers leave for a night at the basecamp which is a well-built camp next to a riverbed. If you are lucky you will see elephants which come around for a visit. Even though the camp is very basic, you feel comfortable straight away. After settling in the group starts straight away, by taking a 4x4 vehicle to Damaraland wherever our help is needed. In my case we started working close to a school by constructing walls around a water tank for the local farmers, which were not able to use this tank, because the pipe was destroyed regularly by elephants passing by. The work was tough but with a motivated group and a goal in mind the four working days go by very fast. We started working at 7 o'clock in the morning and stopped at 5 o'clock in the evening, with two breaks in between during the hot day times at noon. In the evening, the group spends time together. At the self-constructed camp, everyone sleeps next to each other on a canvas cover. Every day two people of the group are responsible for all tasks during the day, including cooking over the fire. This way, everyone gets his/her turn within the two weeks, which means that the rest of the time you get a fresh hot beverage every morning – with a Namibian sunrise, it simply does not get any better! For the weekend, the group heads back to the basecamp and next to some daily routines at the camp you have free time. I can promise you It will never get boring with so many nice people and such wonderful nature around you! The second week is the reward for the hard work of the week before: Tracking elephant herds to collect data for research! This means you and the group are driving around the different landscapes Namibia has to offer, whilst spotting giraffes, zebras, lion and hyena tracks and – of course – elephants. Observing these amazing animals in the wild is just incredible, this moment will take your breath away every time! To set up camp at a different location every day and to sleep on the ground gives you the most unique and authentic experience and impression of Namibia you can get, that’s what I think at least. After the last night the group returns to Swakopmund. First, I thought that repeating the whole procedure would be boring, but I proved to be wrong! With a new group and unpredictable nature it will never get boring and you will always experience new things. Our guide Chris and Old Matthias have an incredible knowledge about Namibia and elephants, so that you will learn a lot about and feel safe. For many people, this is probably the biggest challenge, as you are sleeping outdoors in Namibia, where there are snakes, scorpions, spiders and predators - and elephants, whose strength is beyond imagination. Where I am from, we are not used to these circumstances, but in Namibia you will learn and understand quickly how to live in harmony with nature. During my time at the project I did not meet one person who did not feel safe or to whom anything had happened. I want to thank NATUCATE for recommending this project to me. It was the start to my gap year and I had no experience regarding going abroad and did do a lot of research on projects which are only making profit, without thinking of conservation. In my opinion, you can be certain that with NATUCATE you will support a good cause and a sustainable project. Not to forget the support they gave me, which was unbelievable. During several phone calls they explained the project to me very clearly and I received answers to all my questions regarding flights, packing, vaccination and the whole preparation for my trip. Even while I was already in Namibia Daniel did check on me from time to time to see if everything was okay. It also made me feel comfortable to be able to get in touch with him quickly if I had a question and to receive a detailed response from him straight away. Overall, I can only recommend this project to everyone. I will never forget my time in Namibia and I hope that I will be able to come back. (Tobias, 18 years, 4 weeks)

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Our six-week adventure on the Seychelles started on 27th March 2017: We took part at a species conservation project on North Island. We could get a first glimpse of the island from the boat and it just looked beautiful! Our group leaders and the other volunteers gave us a warm welcome when we arrived. After our luggage was checked in the “ratroom” we had a look at our accommodation. It was very basic, but offered everything we needed. Afterwards one of our team leaders gave us a short introduction on the different tasks we would do within the following weeks. Marking the location of turtle nests during our daily beach patrols was one, so we were showen how to mark the nests correctly. Our team leader explained to us how we could tell the difference between an actual turtle nest, or if the turtle just dug a hole without laying any eggs. This was quite tricky in the beginning. This became one of our daily activities right from the start. There was a weekly timetable with different activities which had to be done including: Snorkeling, taking photos of different fish and shark species, rays etc., entering the collected data into a database. Relocating the original vegetation on the island, planting new seedling (we planted over 500 ones during our time in the project!) Insect control (allows to find out which nutritional value the ground can offer to the animals) Aldabra Turtle GPS: markin their location, sex and behaviour. Night patrols are another part of the weekly schedule. Night patrols involve looking for turtles on the beach. The green sea turtle only lays its eggs at night on the beach. We were lucky and could watch it a couple of times. When a turtle visits the beach at night to lay its eggs, the data of the turtle is collected. It is measured, and we had to check if the turtle already had an ID. The ID is a number for registration purposes to check where the individual turtle has been seen and if it had been to this beach before to lay its eggs. We always had a lot of fun while working and learned a lot about the island and nature conservation in general. During our free time we had the chance to explore the island. A hike to the top of Spa Hill and Bernica - unforgettable. The view was amazing! Another highlight was a BBQ and pizza on the beach at sunset. We can say that the time we spent in the project was the best time we ever had. We learned so much about North Island and nature conservation, met so many wonderful people and experienced warmth and kindness, which led to many new friendships. We do not want to miss the time in the Seychelles! (Katja and Andreas, 32 and 34 years, 6 weeks)

Hi there! My name is Judith, 19 years old and from Germany. After graduating from High School in 2015, I had the strong feeling to go abroad, to leave my comfort zone and make new experiences. It was clear to me, that I wanted to do voluntary work in the field of nature conservation. After I picked South Africa as my preferred destination, I started to search for the right project and agency who would support me. Amongst all agencies I found there was only NATUCATE that entirely fulfilled my expectations: Volunteering which is not only focused on my own amusement but also committed to meaningful projects. From the first contact on I felt well supported and Daniel helped me with all my questions. In August I took the plane to Richards Bay in South Africa. After arrival, me and some other new volunteers were picked up by an employee of the host organization. At a stopover on our way to the project site I met the other team members and my mentor. The next stop was at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park, which was actually my first adventure experience on this journey: We were sitting in the loading area of a pickup truck that made his bumpy way all through the wild savanna. And then something happened which I would have never expected on my first day: A dream became true and I saw wild elephants! On the first day in the camp I was introduced to the main tasks and duties, which included animal-tracking by radar and the collection and processing of collected data. Early in the morning and in the afternoon, we went out into the reserve by truck and tried to localize animals like for example lions and wild dogs. We had to look after our camera traps which we set up to observe animals in their natural habitat, without any human impact. Besides that, we also noted down further information like number, location and behavior. Usually the day started at 4 o’clock in the morning. I know it sounds hard, but the star-spattered sky and the breathtaking sunrise are worth it! Right after lunch in our camp, we went back to the reserve. Despite our daily routine, no day was like the other, because every time you see different animals, with a different behaviour. Sometimes we could observe them for hours, other times just for a few seconds. Our mentor who had a broad knowledge about South Africa’s wild taught us a lot about typical animals and their traits, plants and ecosystems. I have never been bored, neither in the camp and nor in the field. In the camp we cooked together, played games, sports and we observed elephants from a special viewpoint. The team-spirit was amazing as we were all curious about deepen our knowledge about South Africa’s wildlife and shared a same sense of humor. The camp itself was very special to me. The facilities were quite simple but convenient. The surrounding area – just incredibly beautiful! The fact that there was no water supply in the camp and that we had to cover many kilometers to buy drinking water and food, made me appreciate these precious resources more. All in all, I had two amazing weeks, during which I learned a lot about South Africa’s beautiful nature and an ecosystem which was totally unknown to me before. Living in the nature, amongst wild animals and working in a meaningful project made my time abroad better than I would have ever expected it to be.

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