Game Reserve Assistant

About the Program

The Wildlife Project is situated approximately 45 minutes from Port Elizabeth. The reserve is on 6000 hectares of land which is filled with a variety of game, bird life and wild animals, including the BIG 5! In addition to the mixture of grasslands, sub-tropical vegetation, fynbos and bushveld, it also has naturally formed pockets of water, amazing rock formations and splendid flora.

As the wildlife programme is based in Port Elizabeth and participants need to book their flights direct from their home country to Port Elizabeth. The programme begins on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. Participants must arrange their flights to arrive at Port Elizabeth airport before 4pm on the Monday to be in time for their shuttle which collects them at the airport and transfers them to the wildlife project. The programme is designed for volunteers that are interested in having a truly African experience while making a difference to the local wildlife and environment.

Structure and Facilities 

• Volunteers are placed in staff housing (fully furnished) 
  
• Separate housing for male and female volunteers 
  
• Recreational activities are limited on the game reserve 
  
• Weekend getaways to the city can be arranged every alternative weekend.
  

The reserve’s farm area has expanded into a “plains sanctuary” which is a sanctuary for orphaned and injured non dangerous animals such as zebra, springbuck, etc.  It also boasts a lion rehabilitation camp which has been established and running quite successfully. This area (approximately 300 hectares) is where the lions from the predator educational and rehabilitation center go to before being released into the wild. This eases them into the process. Their white lions have also had their first baby! Unfortunately the first time mother has been having trouble looking after the cub and they have had to intervene and hand rear the cub. The cub is now doing well and will be moving into its own enclosure in the near future.  

Usual working days go from 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM and include the following activities.

• Game capture
• Visitor management 
• Accompanying guides on game drives
• Clearing paths
• Tracking animals
• Mending fences
• Animal counting
• Animal feeding
• Removal of alien vegetation in and around the reserve
• Wildlife structures
• Tree planting and landscaping
• Fauna and flora work in the nursery
• Wilderness trail walks and patrols, etc.

The Wildlife South Africa Programmes has set arrival dates and the programme begins on a Monday and ends on a Sunday.  

- 04, 11, 18 & 25 June

- 02, 09, 16, 23 & 30 July

-06, 13, 20 & 27 August

-03, 10, 17 & 24 September

-01, 08, 15, 22 & 29 October

-05, 12, 19 & 26 November

On weekends you will be send out for excursions between Saturday and Sunday. The excursions will either be to Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, or any other nearby destination. On these excursions please note that the reserve will only provide you with accommodation and transport to and from your destination. Accommodation will be in dorms and if you would like to upgrade yourself, you are welcome to do so but at your own cost. For those participating in their Garden Route tours, they recommend that you stay behind on the weekend to fully enjoy the wildlife component and go into PE on Monday. You are free to participate in the weekend excursions, but the meals for the Monday will then be for your own account. They also offer Addo excursions through a travel agent and the reserve can assist you with these arrangements. Since these excursions are done by an agent, volunteers need to pay for their accommodation, activities and meals which will form part of their excursion package. You are also free to organize your own excursion, but this will be at your own cost.
You are also free to stay behind during the weekends to relax and unwind at the reserve.