Conservation Volunteering in South Africa and Botswana

You can take part in a Conservation & Environment project in South Africa on our nature reserve called Kwa Tuli. You will be based on the Botswana side of the Limpopo River, on the very frontier with South Africa. This is the chance of a lifetime to experience living in a wild landscape teeming with animals.

The project involves different reserves and environmental groups in South Africa and Botswana working together. We look to conserve wildlife and bush ecosystems, and to share knowledge about the diversity of the area. Volunteers can help to conserve hyenas, elephants, and many other African animal species. All of this takes place in an incredible location with skilled and experienced supervision from local staff.

This project is perfect for anyone with a passion for nature and the great outdoors. It offers you adventure and the chance to learn about the fascinating world of African Bushveld Conservation. You do not need previous experience to take part in this project. Volunteers are welcome on a gap year, a career break, for university research, or as part of a summer holiday.

Here you will find answers to the following questions:

What is my role on this Conservation & Environment project?

What are the aims of this Conservation & Environment project?

Where will I live on this project?

What is my role on this Conservation & Environment project?

Volunteers on this project can take part in a wide variety of activities, such as:

• Mammal, bird and plant population census using observation and tracking techniques
• Wild dog tracking and collaring
• Soil erosion control
• Removal of old fencing wire
• Dam building
• Helping construct natural water holes for animals
• Tracking elephant paths
• Developing elephant identikits
• Building viewing hides
• Designing and marking new roads
• Sustainable agriculture
• Community education
• Patrolling for snares
• Veld rehabilitation
• Learning skills in animal and plant identification

Volunteers on average work five or six hours a day; four hours of more strenuous work in the cooler morning and two in the late afternoon. The middle of the day is normally devoted to eating, sleeping, swimming, relaxing and keeping cool!

The work is divided up amongst all of our volunteers using a weekly timetable. Trained local staff are on hand to supervise activities and provide support. You will also be able to take part in weekly workshops designed to teach you about different aspects of the project and the environment you will come to call home. Topics are diverse and include herpetology, botany, astronomy, park management and many more.

What are the aims of this Conservation & Environment project?

The project aims to create a protected conservancy, bringing together Projects Abroad Kwa Tuli and other reserves in the area to create a central Tuli block. Once this is achieved we can join a Trans Frontier Conservation Area, consisting of conservation blocks from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. This is an exciting new initiative, combining conservation efforts across international boundaries - including game reserves, national parks and conservation areas. It is all for the benefit of wildlife, local people and future generations.

Drought, deforestation, desertification and land degradation are major environmental problems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reserves like Kwa Tuli are essential havens for wildlife. All over Southern Africa, animals still roam the plains, but the human population has pushed most of the elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards, out to the frontiers. Our goal is to protect the resident wildlife and allow the land to return to its natural state.

Kwa Tuli reserve is 5000 hectares and the conservation efforts are continuous. Volunteers will find themselves getting involved in a wide variety of different on-going projects. Data collected across these projects is used to gain a greater understanding of the populations and their migration habits, which is passed on to various co-operating groups. By joining forces we can create one powerful voice with an aim of conserving a big enough land mass to allow the original migratory routes of large indigenous mammals.

Where will I live on this project?

Accommodation at base camp is in 2-3 person, single-sex tents surrounding a large, open air communal area with a fire pit and kitchen facilities. This is where much of the food is cooked over a traditional open Braai - a kind of barbeque. Hot water showers and toilets are open to the stars with traditional termite-mud walls.

In your spare time at the camp, you can cool off in the small pool, play darts and cards, or relax under the shade of the nearby trees with a good book. Some volunteers simply like to watch a magnificent African sunset or sunrise, or find a quiet spot near the river. Due to the absolute wildness of this reserve, volunteers are never to leave camp without a qualified member of staff. The group makes weekly trips to town so you get a chance to call home, help re-stock the fridge and get hold of anything you've been craving since the last trip.

This project is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work within the local area please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period. All volunteers joining the Conservation project for two weeks should arrive on a Friday.

All volunteers taking part on any other project in South Africa now have the opportunity to add a 7-Day Conservation Project to the end of their main placement. Please note that one week volunteers should arrive in Polokwane on a Friday.