WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE - A WORKING GAME RESERVE EXPERIENCE

Through this initiative in the conservation of wildlife Volunteer Africa 32° South provide volunteers with the opportunity to go behind the scenes of a working game reserve. The private reserve is nestled into the rolling hills of the southern Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, 3km inland and overlooking the Indian Ocean. This diverse landscape allows for a range of African game including rhino, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, Eastern Cape kudu, African lions and elephants, to reside on the land. Due to the coastal setting of the reserve and the sub sequential high rainfall on the Wild Coast, the reserve has a larger carrying capacity of game in comparison to reserves in lower rain fall areas. The reserve is therefore bursting with wildlife and in need of various programs to monitor and assess the game and conservation in the reserve.

This particular project has built itself on three key elements for success …it is a fun, physical and informed experience where your input furthers the ecological needs of a commercial reserve.

Supporting our Indigenous Environment
One of the main issues that effects South Africa’s eco-system is the presence of alien vegetation, this vegetation often damages the indigenous and organic system where it grows and actively prevents the growth and development of South African vegetation. Volunteers on he project will put time into helping to reverse reverse damage done by these plants, controlling the alien vegetation and cultivating the indigenous, through helping to maintain an indigenous plant nursery. These plants are then used in rehabilitating areas of land that are damaged by soil erosion and previous poor land utilization practices. Alongside this work there will be informative lectures on environmental issues and the sharing of wildlife management skills from project staff.

The tour of ecology doesn’t end in the reserve; surrounded by white sandy beaches and rocky shores, time will be spent learning about coastal systems and marine ecology as well as supporting the local systems with beach cleanups.

The initiative immerses volunteers in nature. During your time on the project you will live in a bush camp with the opportunity to spend nights star gazing under the spectacularly clear night sky. (For more information on accommodation please refer to FAQ’s).

Supporting the Local Wildlife
Thriving with local wildlife, it is a huge task to monitor the game, mammal and bird life over such an expanse of land, in a game reserve. Volunteers will spend time on game drives and bush walks identifying species and monitoring the present game and other wildlife in the reserve. They get stuck in with general reserve maintenance tasks including fence patrols, field management and game capture, release and relocation. The hands-on nature of this part of the project is a real high point: from learning about elephants in the elephant sanctuary and assisting with the rearing of lion cubs to identifying the hundreds of bird species in the reserve, wildlife lovers are given the opportunity to develop real skills and a knowledge of the South African eco-system.

Additional to the everyday activities on the reserve, volunteers may have the opportunity to:
Explore our rivers in canoes
Quad bike in the reserve
Horse grooming
Bush sleep out

Volunteer Profile
All VA32 placements are subject to a minimum age of 18 years. A maximum age of 40 years is applicable to this initiative due to the physicality and living conditions at the reserve. The minimum placement time for the Wildlife Project is 2 weeks, with no maximum. A keen interest in conservation and wildlife and a willingness to get stuck in to a wide range of tasks and projects.

2010 Rates
4 Weeks: 21,266 ZAR (additional weeks at 4,873 ZAR)