Volunteering with Wildlife in Botswana for Teenagers

Work on a reserve in the heart of Africa and help conserve wildlife and bush ecosystems

Destination

Botswana

Age

15-18 y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

During school holidays

Accommodation

Eco-lodge

Service Hours

50-100

What’s included

Excursions, Socials & Fun

Excursions to famous sights and cultural exploration throughout the programme.

24/7 Support

Full supervision from arrival to departure, and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Meals

All breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and always fresh drinking water.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

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Starting at €3,130 EUR for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments
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Trip Overview

Survey wildlife populations

Conduct surveys, collect research data on elephants and birds, and monitor animal movements, aiding conservation efforts in the reserve.

Participate in anti-poaching patrols

Remove snares, protect wildlife from illegal hunting, and contribute to reducing poaching activities alongside local conservationists.

Construct vital waterholes

Build and repair water sources, ensuring wildlife survival during droughts, and contributing to ecological balance in the Tuli Block.

Set up camera traps for research

Deploy camera traps, capture animal activity, and analyse footage to study nocturnal wildlife and their natural habitats.

Meet other teenagers like you

Work with teens from around the world, share cultural experiences, and build lasting friendships while living together on the camp.

View Itinerary

What you need to know

Overview

If you’re looking to pursue a career in conservation, or just want to do more to help the environment, this project is perfect for you. You don’t need any previous experience. We’ll teach you everything you need to know. All you need is a passion for wildlife and the great outdoors.

You’ll work with conservationists who are passionate about the environment and have dedicated their lives to African wildlife. They’ll be there to guide and support you, and make sure you’re safe.

This project is specifically designed for teenagers, and we have a set itinerary in place to make the most out of your time.

The activities strike a great balance between research and hands-on work. You’ll learn from conservation experts and do plenty of practical work. You can use it on your CV, in applications, and talk about it in interviews.

Activities

As a volunteer, you provide extra manpower to preserve wildlife and ecosystems in the reserve. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement:

Build waterholes and dams to create vital water access to wildlife

Teens conducting a wildlife survey in Botswana

Survey and track birds, elephants, and other wildlife

Teens on an anti-poaching patrol in Botswana

Undertake anti-poaching patrols and remove snares from the reserve

Teen volunteer monitoring a camera trap in Botswana

Set up camera traps and study animal behaviour

Conservation volunteers on a safari tour in Botswana

Work with teenage volunteers from around the world

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Build dams and waterholes for wildlife

Water is a scarcity in Southern Africa. As a Conservation volunteer, you will help construct and repair waterholes, boreholes, and rainwater tanks. This will ensure that water is stored during the wet season and that there is lots of water during the dry season. This is vital for wildlife to survive during times of drought.

Track animals during surveys and help gather research data

The Tuli region is home to large and diverse wildlife populations, which is one of the most exciting things about the area. It is important for us to keep track of population growth and movement. You’ll help us do this by taking part in surveys. You’ll also conduct research and collect data to help track animal movements and family units of the local wildlife.

Remove wires and snares and participate on anti-poaching patrols

Illegal poaching of bush meat is a major challenge to conservation in Botswana. As a volunteer, you will help reduce poaching efforts in the Tuli area. You will mainly do this by joining local staff members in removing snares around the reserve. By removing hundreds of these snares, we are able to save the lives of hundreds of animals.

Set up camera traps

As animals are very active by night, camera traps help us study their natural habitats, behaviours and movements. You will be involved in setting up these cameras around the reserve.

Camera traps have produced a couple of first sightings for us. A baby brown hyena, a honey badger, a leopard and an aardvark were seen for the first time on our cameras. This is incredibly exciting, as it tells us that our efforts are creating an environment where animals thrive and breed.

Work with volunteers from around the world

You’ll volunteer with teens from around the world. There will be plenty for you to learn from your new friends, like the customs and cultures in their home countries. And during your leisure time, you will all get to experience life in the African bush together.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to preserve the ecological well being of the area and ensure the survival of precious wildlife species.

Tuli has seen a recent decrease in wildlife populations, largely due to growing human activity in the region. Increases in illegal hunting and poaching, as well as land degradation, have also contributed. By doing wildlife research, soil erosion control, construction, and anti-poaching drives, we are helping preserve what is left.

The ultimate goal of the project is to create a conservation area protected by law. We are working on this with other game reserves and national parks in the area.

Join us in Botswana and become part of our efforts to protect African wildlife.

Map & Location

World-renowned for having the largest elephant population, Botswana is a country located in Southern Africa.

It’s considered one of the safest countries in Africa making it a popular tourist hotspot to see Africa’s Big 5—elephants, lions,
leopards, rhinos, and buffalos!

Famous for sights such as the Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert, and Chobe National Park, it’s one of world’s last true wildernesses just waiting to be explored.

The Tuli Block

Immerse yourself in the heart of the remote African bush at our conservation reserve in The Tuli Block, eastern Botswana.

This region, characterised by dramatic sandstone cliffs, baobab trees, and the Limpopo River, supports a diverse ecosystem of spectacular wildlife. In fact, it’s home to a large elephant population that may even stroll right through your camp!

You’ll also see giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and much more — it’s a safari lover’s dream.

Food & Accommodation

We’ll provide everything you need for a fantastic experience in the heart of the African savannah, including a comfortable bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water.

You’ll share a safari-style tent with other volunteers during your stay at our base camp in the Tuli Block. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and share a totally different experience with the wildlife of the bushveld on your doorstep.

Despite having no electricity in your room, you will have access to communal, solar-powered charging stations and hot, running water. Your room will be cleaned weekly by our team of camp attendants and we’ll take care of your laundry too!

Enjoy your free-time under the stars around the campfire, playing cards, sharing culture, and telling stories.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Botswana Arrival Procedures page.