Volunteers assist several tasks five days a week, normally doing two tasks per day for an average of 2 - 3 hours each. 

On a normal week volunteers help walk dogs on two separate days. In addition volunteers who are good swimmers help exercise dogs in the pool. We also try to do man trailing (canine scent tracking) at least once a week - volunteers will assist training dogs for our decoy (one of the staff hiding at the end of a trail). These walks take place on our reserve and we frequently see giraffes, zebras or, if we are lucky, jackals. Volunteers need to be fairly fit and able to walk 5km at a fast pace. Volunteers need to be ready to start these walks an hour after sunrise. All activities with dogs are supervised. Please bring both running shoes and hiking boots for these activities. 

On days that are shorter, the volunteers will assist in training the dogs in our training classroom, initially focusing on basic obedience but after some time this could include cognition training or advanced obedience - at least two dog obedience training sessions a week. Overall we try to do at least an hour of volunteer work with the dogs five days a week. Whilst volunteers don't need to have a lot of experience training dogs they must have an interest in dog training - this is an absolute must. 

We also have a greenhouse and vegetable garden and twice a week, using organic methods, we work in the greenhouse. Please bring your own gardening gloves to help in the greenhouse. 

Twice a week we do a bush walk and snare sweep, locating illegal poaching devices and removing them. We log GPS coordinates and photographic evidence. In addition we do general reserve maintenance work, preventing erosion or creating barriers to slow the flow of water. Again, working gloves are a must. 

Every second week we do a community outreach day, we cook food (a big barbecue) and help with general building projects, fencing etc. If there are dogs requiring vaccinations etc we work with the owners and local charities to get free vaccinations and/or sterilisations. Please dress appropriately as some communities are more conservative. 

We do have optional excursions, usually on Saturdays, which include hikes in the Blyde Canyon, optional snake handling courses, days at wildlife outreach organisations.  

On their days off volunteers can swim in our 14x10m swimming pool, hike in a nature reserve and learn about animal tracks, read in their hammocks or take photos of crocs and hippos at the river in front of their tent decks (there is an electric fence to keep you safe). Please make sure you have a swimming costume and towel (we provide bedding).