Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of a South African safari, complete with the Big 5, camping in the bush and relaxing with a cold beer in some of the most stunning landscapes in the world? Plus you help out wildlife and the local community, very rewarding!

 

 

 

Xtreme Wildlife Experience

Highlights:

  • Assisting in live animal captures and tracking the big five
  • Genuinely contributing to a very worthwhile animal conservation program
  • Monitoring the impact of elephant populations
  • Living in the heart of the African Bush, surrounded by amazing landscapes and incredible wildlife
  • Meeting people from all over the world, and having some incredible travel experiences
  • Amazing extra activities, from surfing to bungee jumping and everything in between
  • From 2 to 12 weeks all food and accommodation included

Photos

Wildlife Volunteering in South Africa

Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of a South African safari, complete with the Big 5, camping in the bush and relaxing with a cold beer in some of the most stunning landscapes in the world? Or perhaps you have a passion for wildlife, and want to help a major conservation project carry out its essential work with the local flora and fauna? Well, with this trip, you can have both, thanks to the wonderful scenery, vital conservation projects and bountiful wildlife at one of the most stunning game reserves in South Africa.
Found in the Eastern Cape, The Xtreme Gap Year game reserve offers a programme to all interested volunteers, combining various once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. If you want to see the real South African bush – and not simply get carted around in a tour coach – you should read on, as we know you’ll love everything about this amazing trip!

So what will you be doing?

The working week is from Monday to Friday. Working hours depend on the season and may vary from 7 – 9 hours per day. The evenings are at your own leisure. Hang out with the other volunteers have a Brai (bbq) or fall in love with the African stars!

Saturdays are reserved for a town trip (either to Kenton- On-Sea, Port Alfred or Grahamstown) where you can do your  shopping, eat out and visit all the sites of the local towns. Sundays are free time.

Vital Conservation Projects

The Game Reserve is lucky enough to be home to a huge range of different animals, birds, reptiles and insects. Without diligent conservation efforts though, we risk losing these creatures forever – which is where you come in. As a volunteer, you will spend your days assisting with projects that will help to safeguard the future of this wildlife, which is something you can look back on for the rest of your life.

Some of the projects you might become involved in include:

  • Elephant impact monitoring – identifying elephants and monitoring their movement, so that they can be managed effectively in the future.
  • Lion prey selection monitoring – this is not for the faint-hearted! You must record as many lion kills as possible, so it’s possible to form a picture of what they are eating. As lions are fitted with collars, you’ll get regular glimpses of this majestic beast.
  • Population status of leopards – as one of the most elusive animals in South Africa, recording the population of leopards is tough. You’ll help to monitor them, and will be part of a privileged group to have seen this amazing cat.
  • Rhino monitoring – rhinos are becoming rarer and rarer, so it is vital that the remaining animals are monitored effectively. With 633 rhinos poached in South Africa in 2013 alone, protecting them is one of the biggest conservation priorities for the whole continent.
  • Birds in Reserve Project (BIRP) – if you are a bird lover, this is the one for you. There are numerous species of birds throughout the park, and they all need cataloging – something that lets you see the beauty of this part of the world first hand!
  • Conservation projects – these include projects such as game counts, sex and age surveys for certain species, controlling invasive plants and controlling soil erosion.

You won’t just get to do one of these projects though – you’ll be able to have a go at many of them! That way, you’ll get a real feel for how this important game reserve works. Occasionally, exciting projects such as animal releases and captures will also spring up, but these are not regular and therefore can’t be guaranteed. You’ll also get a number of educational lessons before each activity – don’t worry, they are informal and not like the formal classes found at schools and universities!

Helping the Community

While on this experience, you will also get to give back to the local community. Just outside the game reserve is a school that needs as much help as possible – it is under-funded and there aren’t enough teachers to teach the pupils there effectively. Volunteers on this programme will spend occasional days at this school, helping out with lessons and making a real difference to the lives of the children there. Projects at this school range from teaching the kids a variety of subjects, through to helping to renovate areas that have fallen into bad states.
This part of the trip is only available if you book outside of the school holidays, and heavy rain will also close the school. There is always something extra to do in the game reserve though, so you won’t have time to get bored!

What Else Is There?

Don’t worry: it isn’t all work, no play on this trip! You’ll get plenty of days off and will have the choice of many different activities to complete – or you can simply sit back and relax for the day, while you take in the sun and the beautiful scenery in the game reserve. Some of the additional activities you can complete are:
Horse riding on the beach

  • Deep sea fishing
  • Quad biking
  • Two day canoe trip on the Kowie River
  • Trips to the Addo Elephant National Park
  • Shark cage diving
  • Tandem sky-diving

Additionally, the closest town, Kenton, is only 15 minutes away and has an absolutely amazing beach, with a bar overlooking the sea – the perfect place to grab a beer and reflect on what you’ve done during the day. The town also has shopping facilities, where you can stock up on essentials. Port Alfred and Grahamstown are also close by, should you fancy a change of scenery. 

Accommodation

Throughout your trip you will stay in a house on the reserve, sharing with other volunteers. There is an entertainment room within the house, as well as a TV and fully equipped kitchen. There’s even a plunge pool in the yard, although going outside of the house’s boundaries during the night is strictly forbidden – you don’t want to come face to face with one of the Big 5 when you aren’t expecting it!

Trip Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this trip?
This trip runs from 2-12 weeks, depending on your personal preference. The longer you stay though, the more you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the workings of this important and beautiful game reserve! This is a great option if you want to spend a decent amount of time South Africa, because all of your food and accommodation are included, you only have to budget a very small amount for spending money.
Is there phone/internet access?
There is Wi-Fi at the house, where you will be able to check emails and browse the internet. There is no phone though, so you will need to use the pay phone in  reception or pay phones in the local towns. To make calls, we’d recommend bringing a good supply of “World-Call” phone cards.
What is the food like?
Ingredients are provided, however volunteers will be required to cook their own meals each night. Unfortunately ingredients can’t be supplied for those with specific dietary requirements – these will need to be bought by the volunteer. If you want a really authentic South African meal, feel free to use the barbeque at the house!
What should I bring?
The weather will generally be hot, so make sure you bring plenty of t-shirts and pairs of shorts! Heavy rain does happen though, so it is also vital you bring a decent rain jacket. It is also important to bring clothes suitable for manual work, such as boots and long trousers. You should also bring a sleeping bag for your camping outings, as well as towels, toiletries and insect repellent.
Many volunteers also bring items from home that they can donate to the local school. Popular gifts include stationery, sports equipment and vegetable seeds for the school’s garden. You’ll be amazed at how grateful the children and staff will be when they receive these gifts from you.
How do I get there?
In order to reach the Game Reserve, you will need to fly into Port Elizabeth Airport, where you will be met by a taxi organised by the game reserve. As the airport is predominantly for domestic flights, you will probably need to fly to Cape Town or Johannesburg, before then getting an internal flight. Arrivals to the park must only be on Mondays, although you are able to finish your trip on Fridays, Saturdays or Mondays. Please note whilst we will arrange the taxi for you you will need to make a local payment to pay for it.

Can this be combined with other trips?
Absolutely! There are many other trips within Africa that can be combined with this one, plus it is also easy to go on this trip in combination with a trip to Australia or New Zealand. However you want to combine this trip, we will be able to make it happen!

Price

  • 2 weeks         £499
  • 3  weeks       £759
  • 4 weeks        £999
  • 5 weeks        £1259
  • 6 weeks       £1499
  • 7 weeks       £1759
  • 8 weeks      £1999
  • 9 weeks      £2259
  • 10 weeks     £2499
  • 11 weeks     £2759
  • 12 weeks    £2999

Included

  • Representative to pick you up from the airport local payment charge applies (1 pax 700 zar)
  • Transfer to the reserves
  • All accommodation in a shared volunteer Lodge
  • All meals included
  • All Wildlife conservation activities
  • Wildlife field guides and mentors throughout the duration of the course

Excluded

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Spending money (budget five pounds per day)

Dates

There are no set arrival/departure dates for this project, but please note all arrivals are scheduled on Mondays. Departure days can be Fridays, Saturdays or Mondays (please note: no Sundays). Volunteers are required to sign an indemnity form acknowledging and accepting the consequences of working in close contact with wild animals. Applicants must be 17 years of age or older. The minimum time period for a booking is a two week placement and the maximum period is 12 weeks.

Please note that our activities are based on a minimum stay of four weeks. Although many of the activities listed below may take place in two to three week placements, not all are guaranteed. So the longer your stay, the more in depth your experience.

 

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