South Africa wildlife volunteering holiday
Weekend trip options are offered with food at your own expense.
Stays of 2 weeks or more highly recommended.
Additional weeks cost £390 per week.
Description of South Africa wildlife volunteering holiday
Experience Thrilling Wildlife Conservation at a South African Big 5 Reserve!
Embark on a unique safari adventure while making a difference in wildlife conservation at this incredible Big 5 reserve in South Africa. Located just an hour from Port Elizabeth, the gateway to the stunning Garden Route, this reserve offers you the chance to actively participate in preserving native flora and fauna for future generations.
Each day, dive into exciting conservation projects that include building fences, preventing erosion, and planting trees—all while surrounded by majestic wildlife like giraffes and elephants. This is not just a safari; it’s a chance to live and breathe bush life! Interact with animals in the rehabilitation area, track their behavior, and participate in thrilling day and night safaris, all while connecting with fellow wildlife enthusiasts from around the globe.
Your Daily Adventure Awaits!
Your daily schedule will be dynamic, changing with the seasons and wildlife movements, ensuring that no two days are alike. You'll engage in various hands-on tasks, from monitoring animal behavior to assisting with care and feeding, providing you with a truly immersive experience in wildlife conservation.
Weekend Excursions and Relaxation
The excitement continues on weekends, where you can explore the vibrant city life of Port Elizabeth or relax at the reserve. Enjoy amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, and inviting common areas to unwind after a day of adventure.
Comfortable Accommodation and Delicious Meals
Stay in newly built, dormitory-style accommodations that reflect the vibrant spirit of Africa, featuring cozy lounges and outdoor relaxation spaces. You’ll share your living space with fellow volunteers, fostering a sense of community.
Three hearty meals are served daily, featuring a delightful mix of African and Asian flavors, ensuring you have the energy for your adventures—no cooking required!
Join us for an unforgettable journey of conservation and adventure in the heart of South Africa!
Itinerary
| Monday | Arrival in Port Elizabeth and transportation to the reserve |
| Week days | Helping out around the reserve takes place on each day of the week. Days start around 7am and finish around 16.30, with plenty of time to enjoy the area and facilities |
| Weekends | At the weekends you can either relax in the beautiful reserve or head out on one of our trips to explore the countryside around you |
| Departure | Transfer back to Port Elizabeth in time for a flight after midday on a Saturday or any time on a Sunday |
Price information
Weekend trip options are offered with food at your own expense.
Stays of 2 weeks or more highly recommended.
Additional weeks cost £390 per week.
Departure information
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Holiday information
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Reviews
3 Reviews of South Africa wildlife volunteering holiday
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2018 by Caroline Mancioppi
The highlight was being able to see so many different animals during the multiple game drives: elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, hippos, zebras, buffalos. It was truly amazing! Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Mar 2016 by Kirstin Runcie
5 I couldn't of had a better time. I truly had the time of my life, I felt at home, happy and really didn't want to go home. It seems crazy now to think its all over but this whole experience couldn't have been much better. Best decision of my life. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Nov 2015 by Mark Milligan
A fabulous experience and I would be keen to return. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
WildlifeThe reserve places conservation at the top of its agenda. Through the help of the volunteers, the reserve is made a good place to be for the wildlife within it. Volunteers are taught to care for the animals, to treat them with respect and to make sure that they act appropriately around them at all times.
The project
Throughout their time on the Big 5 project, participants will be helping to conserve the beautiful environment in which they are in. This ranges from removing alien vegetation (which can be poisonous for the wildlife and destroy habitats) to planting seedlings and digging water holes for the animals. The reserve aims to plant 10,000 native tree species each year.
The reserve
We are aiming to become single-use plastic free on this project. Steps have already been made to replace plastic drinks bottle with glass bottles, providing drinking water from reuseable water drums and initiate a recycling programme for any unavoidable single use plastic.
The reserve is becoming very advanced on water harvesting and recycling, using more solar energy (the aim is to become fully reliant on solar energy) and composting kitchen waste.
Protecting the world
We are passionate about encouraging our travellers to be kind to the environment as they travel. Each participant receives advice about how to care for the environment whilst they are away. This includes water usage, how to avoid single use plastic, and electricity usage.
We insist that all participants bring their own water bottles when they travel with us, and clean free water is always available. We have even created a water bottle that can be purchased before departure and encourage people to use it at all stages of their journey including at the airport, on flights and whilst on their project. We are striving for all of our projects to be free of single use plastic.
People
Meeting local needsThe reserve also plays an important role in protecting the local economy. The ‘big five’ wild animals are a key source of tourist income for South Africa and protection of these species is vital for some rural areas, who rely on responsible tourism to sustain them. Through volunteering at the reserve, you will be helping to meet an important local need. You will also contribute directly to the area’s economy, creating jobs for domestic staff at the reserve and by eating locally-sourced food provided by local cooks.You will not be taking jobs away from local people.
Helping local communities
Within the grounds of the reserve is a small community, with a school and several other facilities. Participants can buy souvenirs from their hand crafted goods. These local workers receive fair prices for their goods and are helped financially by the reserve.
Travelling with respect
Before joining the project you are briefed fully on the reserve, the customs there and how you can respect the locals here. Volunteers are encouraged to find out more about the history of the location so that they can travel aware.
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