vanaf 1.599€

Uitstekend 4.8rating (56)

Whales, Sharks and Penguins Conservation

location
2 - 12 weken  ·  Leeftijd 17 - 50+

rating  Uitstekend 4.8  · 
  Geverifieerd door Volunteer World
  Uitstekend Responsgraad

Highlights

  • Assist the onboard marine biologist on the whale or research boat with monitoring and data capturing of Southern Right and Humpback whales during the annual migration period from June to December
  • Help with the rehabilitation of injured, oiled and sick African Penguins and birds brought in for care and recuperation at a state-of-the-art facility. Penguin feeding takes place twice a day.
  • Get involved with data capturing and research of various shark species on the boat and while cage diving. This is one of few shark projects whose marine biologist is permitted to tag White sharks.
  • Taking part in lectures on shark biology and research, African Penguins, other marine mammal species, company and conservation overview, rocky shores ecology, boat safety and more.
  • The area has lots of fun things to do in your free time, visit an ethical predator sanctuary, shopping in Hermanus, visit wine farms, beach horserides, beer tasting or hike the fantastic shorelines.

Vooral geschikt voor

Leeftijd 17+
Alleenstaanden
Koppels
Families
Groepen
50+

Over het programma

Experience not only Whale, Dolphin, Shark and Penguin research and monitoring but also community education, environmental issues, ecology and ecotourism

This multi-faceted Marine Big 5 (Shark, Whale, Penguin, Seal and Dolphin) project is the perfect opportunity to make a difference with marine species conservation both on land and sea, ecotourism, research, and community development. There is a huge variety of work that you will be doing, and this ...

Over het programma

This multi-faceted Marine Big 5 (Shark, Whale, Penguin, Seal and Dolphin) project is the perfect opportunity to make a difference with marine species conservation both on land and sea, ecotourism, research, and community development. There is a huge variety of work that you will be doing, and this will largely depend on what work is being done at the time you are there and the whale migration season.

The Marine Big 5
• Shark – The Great White, Bronze Whaler, Blue and Mako. You might be able to spot Pyjama sharks if scuba diving in the kelp forests
• Whale – Southern Right, Humpback and Brydes’
• Penguin – African
• Seal – Cape Fur
• Dolphin – Bottlenose, Common and Humpback

Areas volunteers can get involved in

  • Support guests and operational support on the whale watching and shark cage diving boats.
  • Cleaning, fish preparation and assisting at feeding time at the penguin rehabilitation facility.
  • Assembling, cleaning, and monitoring fishing line bins
  • Shark egg collection
  • Data capturing on the boats of various shark species, rays and other marine species and support of other research activities. This is the only project in the area whose marine biologist is permitted to tag White sharks.
  • Environmental education with local students
  • Participate in community educational shows.
  • Beach clean-ups and capturing data afterwards.
  • Taking part in lectures on shark biology and research, African Penguins, marine mammal species, company and conservation overview, rocky shores ecology, boat safety and more. Please note to experience all the lectures, a full 4 weeks is needed.




Dagelijkse activiteiten

An example of a typical day

…please remember the daily schedule is affected according to the seasons and the weather. For the days that the weather is not advisable to go out by boat-for example due to high swells- there are still plenty of duties and activities to take part in:

5am to 8am- Time ...

Dagelijkse activiteiten

An example of a typical day

…please remember the daily schedule is affected according to the seasons and the weather. For the days that the weather is not advisable to go out by boat-for example due to high swells- there are still plenty of duties and activities to take part in:

5am to 8am- Time to wake up, wash have breakfast and get ready for the day. Remember you are dealing with the public so make yourself presentable. Head to the meeting point for the boat trips. Boat trips can be 2 to 3 times a day

8am to 12pm- Assist with the boat preparation and logistics for the trip. Welcome guests and help them with their life jackets. Once on the boat assist the guest when required, support the marine biologist/s with data entries, photographs, or environmental monitoring. This is always a great time to gain knowledge from these highly qualified professionals.  If the opportunity allows- which it often does- enjoy a shark cage dive. You may also be on the whale watching or eco boat tour and need to assist with guests and data entry.

12pm to 1pm– Break for lunch

1pm to 4pm- Presentations on marine species, boat safety, conservation work etc. These is also the time other conservation activities take place

4.30pm- Time to head back to the volunteer accommodation to prepare for dinner- maybe a South African style braai or maybe a pizza night in- or if you have energy after the early morning start, head out to a local restaurant for a good meal out…lots of lovely seafood restaurants being so close to the sea

Two volunteers are also assigned to help each morning and afternoon with the penguin feeding times which are 8am and 3pm.

Volunteer shared bedroom
Assist with the treatment of sick andThe apex predator of the sea, the Great White Shark


Vrijetijdsactiviteiten

Some of the attractions in the area:

  • Wine tasting at local wine farms which the area is famous for… we love the Sir Robert Stanford wine farm but there are plenty in the neighbouring areas to visit
  • Visit the Klipgat Cave just outside De Kelders in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve the early home to ...

Vrijetijdsactiviteiten

Some of the attractions in the area:

  • Wine tasting at local wine farms which the area is famous for… we love the Sir Robert Stanford wine farm but there are plenty in the neighbouring areas to visit
  • Visit the Klipgat Cave just outside De Kelders in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve the early home to ancient homo sapiens some 70 000 to 80 000 years ago
  • Visit the most southern geographical tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas where a marker indicates the official dividing line of between the Atlantic and Indian ocean
  • Zip lining
  • Quad biking
  • Horse riding
  • Visit to a nearby ethical predator sanctuary to meet their beautiful lions, tigers, leopard, serval and caracal and hear the stories of where they were rescued from
  • Visit the Stony Point Nature Reserve penguin colony
  • Hiking
  • Craft beer tasting at local breweries


Voorwaarden

Voorwaarden

Minimum leeftijd: 17 jaar

Om deel te nemen aan het programma dien je ten minste 17 jaar te zijn op de startdatum van het programma.

Taalkennis

Je dient over volgende taalkennis te beschikken Engels (basis niveau)

Bewijs van goed gedrag en zeden

verplicht

Nationaliteitsbeperkingen

Geen beperkingen. Helpende handen van over de hele wereld zijn welkom.

Tijdsinzet

Uw helpende hand wordt verwacht op maandag, dinsdag, woensdag, donderdag, vrijdag en zaterdag van 08:00 - 16:00

Diensten ingesloten

Diensten ingesloten

Diensten door Volunteer Int. Adventures

The cost of the project includes:

  • 2 meals a day (breakfast and lunch) while on the project (not the hostel in Cape Town)
  • Shared volunteer accommodation
  • Sunday overnight stay at a hostel in Cape Town on arrival.
  • Monday overnight stay at a hostel in Cape Town (if needed) on project finishing day.
  • Airport collection on arrival from Cape Town International Airport to the hostel
  • Airport drop off after completion of the project on the Monday or alternatively from the hostel to the Cape Town International airport on the Tuesday.
  • Transfers to the project base and back from Cape Town
  • Branded clothing
  • Donation to the project
  • Pre-departure support and admin
  • In-country staff and 24-emergency help
  • Volunteers that stay 4 weeks and longer also have an artificial penguin nest sponsored on their behalf. If you are really lucky you might even have a rescued penguin names after you.



Afhaal aan de luchthaven op Cape Town International Airport

Sunday airport collection and an overnight stay in Cape Town at a hostel on arrival (shared accommodation) is included in the cost of the project.Arrivals at Cape Town International Airport need to be before 21h00.  You will be collected early on Monday morning for the 2-hour drive to the volunteer site. 

On completing your project on a Monday, you will be returned to your Cape Town hostel shared accommodation for an included overnight stay with an airport drop off the next day, Tuesday or if you choose to fly out that departure Monday from Cape Town International Airport, please make sure your flights depart after 21h00.

We recommend volunteers spend a few days before or after their project in Cape Town to sightsee and we are happy to advise on what to do and where you can stay. 

Accomodatie

Accommodation is at the volunteer centre. There are four cottages in the style of fisherman cottages for volunteers shared between 4 to 6 volunteers and a newly built lodge which can accommodate more volunteers in twin shared bedrooms with kitchenettes, lounges with smart TV’s (for those who have Netflix or other steaming accounts) and bathrooms. All the bedrooms are a shared sleeping arrangement. Bedding is provided and the water is safe to drink.

The volunteer cottages and volunteer lodge have mini kitchens, but most prefer to gather in the central kitchen in the main house. There is a lecture room and workspace as well as a garden with a pool in the main house and a braai (South African BBQ). There is an activity hall with cardio machines, weights and table tennis. Volunteers also enjoy a pool table and foosball and there are a variety of board games. Wi-Fi and satellite TV are also available. Between the main house, volunteer cottages and volunteer lodge is a fire pit that volunteers can spend relaxing around on summer evenings- or winter nights too.

Laundry is offered by an external service provider twice a week for a small surcharge.

The lodge is just 1,4km from the harbour where many of the operations take place and whilst there are two minibuses that move volunteers daily, it is also an easy walk or cycle away.

Recycling is a priority at the lodge.

Eten & Drank

There is a fully equipped communal kitchen in the main house as well as kitchenettes in each volunteer cottage and the lodge plus a braai (South African barbeque) in the outside courtyard area. South Africa is famous for its braais and it is also a great relaxed way to also get to acquainted with your fellow volunteers.

Breakfast is “help-yourself” with eggs, bacon/vegetarian sausages provided, cereal, bread, milk, coffee and tea.

Lunch is provided on the boat – cheese and tomato rolls, fruit, crisps; the same lunch is available on “no sea days”, but most volunteers decide to cook for themselves in this case or they go out for lunch.

Dinner is your own responsibility (don’t forget to budget for this)– some volunteers cook together; others go it alone and sometimes they go out to eat or grab pizza takeaways and watch the sunset from the rocks. There are some great seafood restaurants too in the area thanks to the nearby fishing industry.

Please make sure to bring seasickness tablets with you though as you may not have much need for food otherwise 😊

Internet toegang

Makkelijke toegang op de project site

Wat is er NIET inbegrepen?

Wat is er NIET inbegrepen?

Vlucht tickets

De dichtste luchthaven is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assisteren u met het vinden van goedkope vluchten naar Zuid-Afrika. VIND GOEDKOPE VLUCHTEN

Reisverzekering

Naar het buitenland reizen is een avontuur en het is best om goed voorbereid te zijn. Plots ziek worden of gewond raken, annulaties of diefstal - een reisverzekering voor Zuid-Afrika biedt zekerheid en is een meerwaarde. KRIJG EEN OFFERTE

Vaccinaties

Als je de intentie hebt om als vrijwilliger aan de slag te gaan in Zuid-Afrika dien je eerst medisch advies in te winnen alvorens je eropuit trekt. Kijk de benodigde vaccinaties na voor Zuid-Afrika. VACCINATIE CHECKER

Gegevens over jouw aankomst

It is an early Monday morning start, so volunteers need to arrive at Cape Town International Airport on the Sunday prior preferably in daylight hours and overnight in Cape Town at a hostel of our choice which is included in the cost. 

If volunteers prefer to choose their own alternative accommodation within the Cape Town city vicinity, that will be for their own cost. 

An overnight stay in Cape Town on returning on the Monday, can be arranged too. Single or double accommodation can be arranged for a surcharge for Cape Town. Meals are not included in the Cape Town overnight stay. 

Volunteers are welcome to arrive a few days before to do sightseeing and acclimatise to the region and we are happy to advise and give tips on what to see and do. 

Beschikbaarheid
jan. feb. mrt. apr. mei. jun. jul. aug. sep. okt. nov. dec.

Programmakosten

2 weken (min. verblijf) 1.599€
3 weken 2.091€
4 weken 2.583€
5 weken 3.075€
6 weken 3.567€
7 weken 4.182€
8 weken 4.674€
9 weken 5.166€
10 weken 5.658€
11 weken 6.150€
12 weken (max. verblijf) 6.642€
Gemiddelde kosten 676€/week

Programmakosten

676€ per week 2 - 12 weken Leeftijd 17 - 50+

Betaalmethodes

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

GEEN CREDITCARDKOSTEN


Duurtijd

2 - 12 weken

Waarborg

De waarborg dient om je plek als vrijwilliger te verzekeren. Betalingen worden door PayPal behandeld, onze betrouwbare betalingsprovider. Indien je niet over een PayPal account beschikt, kan je ook met een credit kaart betalen.


Finale betaling

Uw finale betaling zal worden goedgekeurd door Volunteer Int. Adventures gedurende de aanmeld procedure. Veel voorkomende oplossingen zijn een banktransfer of contante betaling op de projectsite.


Ontmoet je organisatie

Volunteer Int. Adventures

Uitstekend 4.8 rating (56 beoordelingen)

Agentschap

Geverifieerd door Volunteer World

  Uitstekend Responsgraad

Gepresenteerd door

Sharon

Gesproken talen: Engels, Afrikaans

Over de organisatie

We are a small, personal, hands-on volunteer organisation with 15 years experience of working with volunteers in conservation and humanitarian projects on the ground.

Ontmoet je organisatie

Volunteer International Adventures is dedicated to youth and animal projects, which are areas of great passion for us. We recognize the need for assistance from international volunteers in developing countries and have witnessed the transformative impact of their hands-on involvement on communities and conservation efforts.


Our core priorities are as follows:


1. Culture and Cultural Sensitivity:

We encourage our volunteers to fully immerse themselves in the culture of the country they are volunteering in, understanding that volunteering differs significantly from being a tourist. By working closely with local communities and project partners, our volunteers gain profound insights into the challenges faced by the country. We actively support and facilitate opportunities for volunteers to engage in various activities, interact with locals, and educate themselves about the nation's history, no matter how difficult it may be. Cultural sensitivity is paramount, and we ensure that our approach is collaborative rather than imposing our own ideas. We welcome suggestions and creative ideas from our volunteers, as they often prove to be feasible and enrich the communities we serve.


2. Fulfilling Volunteer Experiences:

We strive to ensure that all our volunteers leave with a sense of accomplishment. Whether it is helping a child grasp mathematics, teaching cricket to school children, providing sewing classes to uplift youth, participating in wildlife conservation efforts such as satellite collaring African wild dogs or rhino relocation, collecting data on great white shark populations, treating sick indigenous wildlife, assisting with animal sterilization in disadvantaged communities, instilling a love for reading in children, or teaching marimba classes—the list is diverse and extensive. We want our volunteers to develop a deep connection with the country they are assisting and forge lifelong friendships that can serve as future ambassadors for their respective nations.


3. Ethical Projects:

We strictly oppose trophy hunting and the breeding of lions for commercial gain. Our wildlife and animal projects take place in free-roaming reserves, registered rehabilitation centers, or sanctuaries where the animals are non-releasable due to injuries, human habituation, or being non-indigenous to the area. We support local and ethical animal sanctuaries and reserves, which our volunteers can visit during their free time. When working with children in teaching, care, or youth development projects, we require a recent paper copy of a background check (CRB check) from volunteers' countries of origin. This precaution ensures the safety and well-being of the children we serve, who often come from challenging socio-economic backgrounds and have been let down by adults in the past. We prioritize the protection of innocent animals and children who cannot advocate for themselves.


4. Responsible and Sustainable Approach:

We take pride in implementing responsible and sustainable projects that involve local community members, ensuring the continuity of operations even when volunteer numbers are low. While some projects rely heavily on volunteer support due to limited funds, we strive to strike a balance by involving sufficient local participation.


5. Cost Effectiveness:

Having collaborated with volunteers on projects for nearly 15 years, we recognize that volunteering can come at a significant cost. Therefore, we are committed to making volunteering more accessible, reasonable, and inclusive. Our projects encompass various extras, and we maintain affordability by keeping costs low and encouraging increased hands-on assistance. We offer negotiable family, friends, and group discounts, as volunteering together enables us to further reduce expenses. Loyalty is rewarded, and returning volunteers receive special recognition in our projects. Additionally, our costs include donations to our projects, contributing to their sustainability and impact.


6. Safety:

The safety of our volunteers is of paramount importance. We thoroughly vet and assess all our projects, ensuring adequate safety measures are in place. While certain areas may be off-limits due to potential risks, it is important to note that complete safety guarantees are impossible in any location. We have established channels for reporting incidents and maintain close relationships with in-country support on the ground. Furthermore, we possess liability insurance and require all participants to have personal travel insurance. To provide comprehensive support, we arrange airport collections and drop-offs, ensuring our volunteers are assisted throughout their entire journey. We pride ourselves on delivering a personal touch and remain available 24/7 to address any emergencies.


Please remember to arrange your comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking your trip, as it is an essential aspect of ensuring your well-being and peace of mind.


We sincerely appreciate your interest in Volunteer International Adventures and our commitment to making a positive impact through responsible volunteering. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

56 beoordelingen · rating4.8

This was one of the best experiences of my life. Ingot to meet amazing people from around the world. The staff from the program were exceptional. I couldn’t have asked for better people to take care of me while I was there. And getting to be out on the whale and sharks boats was incredible. ...
Antoine Aurel rating4.4

2021 at Whales, Sharks and Penguins Conservation

I spent 3 weeks in Gansbaai and I really enjoyed it. First, the people and the crew were so kind and welcoming, I learnt a lot about marine conservation, species... Always safe on the boat and good talks too. Thanks to Ettiene for bringing me to activities during my days off. Then the animals. The ...
I had a wonderful time in this ethical sanctuary. Lauren and Keegan are amazing people who know what they are doing. I learned a lot about cats among experts and I fell in love again with those beautiful animals. The location is just perfect, you will sleep in a good accomodation on top of an hill ...
Lynn van den Broecke rating5

2024 at Ethical Predator Sanctuary Assistant

A massive thank you to everyone who was involved in this project! I felt safe and well taken care of. I think about this experience a lot. I would definitely recommend it to everyone! ...
Anja Jutta Scharer rating4.4

2024 at Vervet Monkey Rescue & Rehabilitation

If you would like to get involved in an animal project and have a love for monkeys, Carol and Steve are the right people for you. They are incredibly experienced, dedicated and care about every single animal life. It is important to know that they can only pursue their passion with many helping ...
I have absolutely loved my experience in South Africa volunteering with Endangered Wildlife Monitoring and Research, and I am sad that I have to leave in a few days. By the time I leave I will have spent six weeks in South Africa, so I've been lucky enough to volunteer at all three of the reserves ...

Plaats


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