Volunteer Africa 32° South are proud to launch the NEW UPGRADED volunteer Conservation Project with immediate effect. Experience a living and learning conservation initiative headed up by one of the region’s top conservationists and guide trainers. Work over 10 000 hectares of conservation area and enjoy wildlife from the largest to the smallest, our diverse floral kingdom and insight into our marine and coastal environments. Delivered over three primary sites of diverse and dynamic natural environments & game reserves we guarantee the ultimate wildlife and conservation project experience: Pure Conservation.

Project Highlights
- Diversity in learning and doing through an expanded operations base of 10 000 hectares over three seperate conservation project sites
- From Big 5 to marine and coastal: formal learning and working conservation project modules
- Improved Accommodation: primary base is a thatched lodge with en-suite room, camp out in our remote permanent tented camp stations for field work & even try out mobile bush camps on some field work!
- Three Rural School environmental interactions per month
- Get an insight into traditional medicines as well as strong community & cultural interactions

Why Volunteer Africa 32°South? Our motivations at VA32 are: 1. To become recognised as the leading volunteer organisation in education, conservation and social transformation projects in South Africa.

2. To provide the best possible experience to all participating volunteers.

3. To constantly strive for improved projects - taking 5 years of feedback has helped us shape this upgraded project.

4. To maximise the ethos of responsible travel.


By being a part of our Conservation Project you not only take the opportunity to learn and experience our diverse eco-system through total immursion, you will also be taking part in one of the highest quality conservation volunteer projects on offer in South Africa.

Want to know more about VA32? Join us!

Conservation Project Location
Conservation volunteers work over 3 primary sites which are under conservation management plans and which make up a
10 000 hectare area of focus.

7000 hectares of this are both wilderness and game reserve areas and are situated just inland of Chintsa and run into the Great Kei River canyon.The third site is a big four reserve approximately 40 km from the 7 000 hectare site. This is where the elephant tracking is based and there are hippos!

Learn while you volunteer
Volunteer Africa is offering our conservation volunteers the opportunity to learn whilst doing, gain understanding and promote outstanding conservation practices.
Learning – the theory based work for conservation volunteers runs parallel to courses delivered to professional FGASA students: conservation volunteers will participate in relevant aspects of the most highly regarded guiding course as part of their structured learning experience.
Practical – conservation volunteers will compliment theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical work in over 10 000 hectares of wilderness. Practical aspects as they relate to data collation and dissemination are in partnership with the Animal Demographic Unit & directly benefit their research and monitoring function in SA.

Tasks and Aims
Conservation volunteers will take part in the following aspects of conservation whilst on project:
- Animal rehabilitation programme
- Botanical studies
- Data for external conservation units including the Animal Demographic Unit (Reptile, Avian & Butterfly Working Groups)
- Endangered Wildlife Trust
- Community training and schools awareness programme
- Expanded topics for experience
- Vulture and raptor studies (formal learning)

Additional opportunities for conservation volunteers include:
- Animal rehabilitation centre for all animals and birds
- Horse work and riding for those who desire

Conservation Project Animal Interaction
Conservation volunteers will have the opportunity to work closely with animals in two key areas:
- Game Capture and Release: this currently involves the capture and relocation of zebras and spring hares. The course is structured so that conservation volunteers are afforded hands on involvement as well as observation experience in this aspect of the programme. Due to the nature of capture and release we have a number of agreements as part of our management plan (for learning purposes) that include our conservation volunteers working in a number of projects that may, at times, be on reserves not within the 10 000 hectares which make up the conservation projects defined working zone.

- Wildlife & Conservation Project Development: The existing facilities at our camps are under equipped for the growing demand for animals we are dealing with and are in temporary states. Conservation volunteers will, in 2011, be working towards upgrading the animal facilities and building (from scratch!) the new raptor and bird sector. Into the future, our link to the Animal Demographic Unit puts the project into a range of necessary animal interventions, research and data related projects into the future.

Conservation Project - Rolling Schedule
The Conservation Project runs on a four week rolling schedule. The following tables are there to give you an idea of this schedule & what tasks you can look forward to taking part in. Please approach this schedule with flexibility! Due to the nature of the Conservation Project there will be changes to the program; weather, alterations in conservation & rehabilitation priorities and specific requests from the Animal Demographic Unit to name a few variables, could all alter the schedule at short notice.

Project Certification & Registration
The Conservation Project is founded on a conservation management plan and certification & registration for all aspects of this project in the following way, are a priority:
a. Animal Demographic Unit (in place)
b. Base camp is a registered FGASA Training Camp (in place)
c. Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (work in progress)
d. Major NGO’s including Wildlife and Environment Society SA (WESSA), Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) (work in progress since 2009)
e. Registered Working Group Support to EWT
f. Animal Rehabilitation Unit for the area (current working volunteer project)
g. Avian Rehabilitation Unit (current working volunteer project)
These strategic objectives are carried out in three identified conservation sites that collectively make over 10 000 hectares for attention.

If you're Interested in the training side of this project read more on our Field Guide Training Course page.

For more information on the conservation project or any of the tasks involved click here to e-mail us!

top