Endangered Species Conservation in South Africa

I spent two fantastic weeks here as a volunteer. The lodge was spacious and beautifully furnished. Everything was extremely well organized. The guides, Christian and Fabio, are extremely knowledgeable about animals, their behavior, and nature. I always felt safe with them. Picking us up at the airport went well. Even when we had to change lodges due to heavy rain, they organized everything perfectly, and we were in safe hands. The chef, Tomy, was fantastic and always treated us to delicious food. The atmosphere was always great and very friendly. I recommend volunteering with Fabio and Christian to everyone. They are planning to open a new lodge. I'm sure it will be great. So You'll have a fantastic experience.

My time at Ngala Wilderness was one I won’t forget. I had the pleasure of being shown an authentic side of Southern African conservation, in a breathtaking place with kind and genuine people, Christian and Fabio, to guide and teach us along the way. During my time here I made strong connections and memories with every single person who was involved in this experience - from the Chef, Tommy, who catered to my every need as a vegetarian and provided amazing meals, to Billy and Lily the farm dogs who kept us all company. Ngala Wilderness gave me the opportunity to experience a different way of life, an opportunity to learn and went above and beyond to show clients all South Africa had to offer - the unique wildlife, the food, the scenery, and the wonderful people.

Hi, my name is Huda. I'm 18 years old and at the moment I'm taking a gap year between school and university. Africa has always been one of my dream destinations and I am very grateful to Ngala Wilderness for making this trip a perfect experience. For me volunteering was absolutely the right decision, because as a volunteer you are a part of the every day life and can experience life as a local. Every day was very different, teached us something new and of course Fabio and Christian did their best so that we could experience South Africa to the fullest. The Program was just incredible and was the perfect mix between helping on the farm, going on adventures, learning something about nature and wildlife but also relaxing and just having fun. The opportunities for activities on the farm and in the surrounding area are huge and with Ngala Wilderness' help we were able to do everything we wanted to do. For example, we were on a horse safari and saw giraffes and zebras just a few meters away from us. It was really one of the most amazing moments of my life. We were also allowed to accompany a veterinarian on a rhino treatment and not only watch from up close, but even assist a little. These were just two of many incredible moments that made our time there so unforgettable. But not only the activities but also the time on the farm made our stay very special. We all grew together and always had a very fun time: long car rides with good music, great evenings together with freshly cooked food, playing community games together, long walks on the farm with the 2 lovely dogs, sitting around the fire and much more. We also got to know other locals and they were all so kind and interested in our adventure so that we had very interesting and educational conversations. I absolutely loved the cultural exchange and learning about peoples way of living and thinking in South Africa. Christian and Fabio have always tried to bring us closer to the culture and traditions and allowed us to participate in it. This included tasting delicious national dishes, practicing typical customs, but also many explanations about history, people, nature and animals. Overall it was a very educational time. Another think I definitely have to mention ist the beautiful accommodation on the farm we stayed in. Every single lodge is decorated and designed with so much love to the detail that you directly feel at home. Not only did we live in the middle of nature, but we also learned to live with nature and that is something very special. We stayed in two different accommodations and both were unique in their way. Despite the minimalistic lifestyle, we had everything we needed and as a highlight we even had a small pool. All in all I’m very grateful for the time we spent there and it was definitely a once in a life time experience that will remain in my memory forever. A big thank you to Christian and Fabio, who made this experience possible and made the trip so special. I would fully recommend such an adventure to everyone because with Ngala wilderness you are definitely in good and safe hands.