About usThe Sibuya Wilderness Experience offers volunteers, as part of a gap year, sabbatical or eco traveling, the unique and exciting opportunity to get behind the scenes and involved with the Conservation efforts of Sibuya Game Reserve.
Volunteers will take part in short and long-term projects which are intended to create sustainability for generations to come. Tasks may vary from physical work to interesting and interactive lecture-based content. Our volunteer program will run from 1 to 4 weeks. In order to guarantee an educational and impactful experience for each volunteer, we will work in small groups with a maximum number of 10 participants.
Together with the team, the volunteers will be accommodated and hosted by Retha and Geraldine at the beautiful Intaka Bird Lodge (situated close to the Reserve). Happy family vibes, expansive grounds to explore and a large swimming pool with BBQ area make it the perfect spot to relax and unwind from the adventures of the day. Participants will share comfortable twin-bedded rooms with en-suite bathrooms, including full board (3 meals a day).
This is the perfect eco volunteer program for you, if you are looking for a meaningful travel opportunity abroad that put – together with like-minded people from all over the world - your passion for nature, environment and wildlife to good use, trying to make a difference.
Programme Highlights
Much of our Conservation work will take place at the nearby Sibuya Game Reserve itself as well as at the nearby rivers and beaches. The Reserve is located in Kenton-on-Sea, along the Sunshine Coast of the Eastern Cape in South Africa, about 120 km from Port Elizabeth. This renowned Reserve is home to a wide range of different species of Flora and Fauna, with the stunning Kariega River Estuary meandering through it.
- Wildlife Tracking & Monitoring: Spend your time immersed in Nature, on the trails of Africa's Big Five. Regular monitoring and observation enable us to identify individuals, compile information about the family/ herd structure and determine feeding habits. Activity includes: Game Drives, Game Counts, Game Captures, setting up camera traps and track stations, learning Bush Skills.
- Addo Elephant National Park: Volunteers will spend a day visiting the Eastern
Capes flagship game reserve – Addo Elephant
National Park.
Addo houses the densest population of African
elephants per square kilometer and holds a
mammoth section of conservation history for our
area.
- Kayak Expedition: Nothing brings you more solitude then being out on a kayak along the Kariega River which meanders through some of the most beautiful wildlife areas of the Eastern Cape.
- Rhino-Watch/ Anti-Poaching Support: Play an active role in the protection of our Rhino by performing Anti-Poaching night-patrols and learn more about their importance and protocol through night drives and sleep-outs on the Reserve that assist in Sibuya’s Anti-Poaching Unit efforts.
- ORI Fish Tagging: Volunteers will go on a boat cruise and partake in
the oceanographic research institute's cooperative
fish tagging project. Each participant will be
briefed on how to safely catch, tag, record
information, and release estuarine fish species.
Fishing rods will be supplied for each individual to
practice the above procedures. Our findings will
be loaded onto the ORI international data base.
- Alien Plant Control & Botanical Surveys: Alien plants were introduced to the land by the farmers of old for different reasons and uses. Today these invasive plants need to be removed to increase the natural biodiversity and to decrease fire risk. Volunteers take part in Vegetation transects and data collection for monitoring and calculation of Game carrying capacity.
- Marine Explorations, Research & Surveys: The nearby Rivers are being monitored on a regular basis to provide research with much needed information about species population densities, occurrence of critically endangered species, salinity levels and water temperatures. Regular trips to the beach for exploration and learning about the coastal Eco-system and how it works will open eyes to the diversity of life that is so close, yet often unnoticed.
- Community Engagement: Conservation does not stop at conserving Nature alone, but also includes a responsibility to uplift local and impoverished Communities. This responsibility includes environmental education of the Community as to the role and benefit of conserving biodiversity and further stresses the importance of conserving our natural resources. Regular trips are made into the local Community to raise awareness and assist in various Community Projects.
Please note: We say NO to any kind of interaction with wild animals and we strongly dissociate ourselves from so-called sanctuaries, parks or rehabilitation centers that promote Cub petting, Lion walking or interacting with Elephants. These organizations mislead visitors to believe that they're promoting conservation while the truth is that they keep wild animals in captivity and use them for commercial exploitation.
Minimum ages:
Minimum age for a Volunteer travelling by themselves 16 years
Minimum age for a child travelling with their parents 12 years
Children will be charged the adult rate
The Team
We are a team of passionate and experienced conservationists working tirelessly to save our endangered and threatened wild- and marine life from extinction - eager to inspire future generations!
Luke Beckmann
From a very young age I have always had a love for nature and an interest in being able to show Africa off to the world. Sibuya Wilderness Experience provides a unique platform to showcase our beautiful Eastern Cape area and what it has to offer in the form of the abundance of biodiversity. The combination of bush, estuary and ocean is the perfect African setting.
What to pack
G E N E R A L
- Toiletries
- Relative supply of any personal medication as required
- Personal first aid kit
- Rehydrate powder or drinks
- Sunscreen (with a high SPF)
- Beach towel
- Reference books and notebooks
- Games, playing cards
C L O T H I N G
- Short and long sleeve
- T-shirts
- Short and long work trousers
- Hiking/work boots and trainers
- Sweatshirt/fleece
- Windbreaker/rain jacket
- Cap for sun all year
- Swimming costume
- Changes of casual clothes for the evening
- Underwear and socks
Clothing should be neutral in colour and not bright for bush days.
For leisure days, any colours are acceptable.
G E A R
- Binoculars - essential for the best experience!
- Daypack rucksack
- Torch
- Camera and Laptop for presentations
- 3-point round plugs/adaptor plugs for South Africa electricity
- Sleeping bag (alternatively Sibuya can provide a sleeping bag at a rental fee of R120
per night)
We look forward to taking you on this unique, impactful and adventurous journey full of unforgettable experience.
