First Day
Upon arrival into Port Elizabeth airport you will be transferred to the project site. Once you have arrived, you will have a welcome orientation and briefing. You will then have the rest of the day to settle in and meet the rest of the volunteers.
Regular Days
On your typical working days you will work from approximately 8am to 4 or 5pm and have the evenings off. The tasks can vary depending on the season and the number of volunteers on site.
- 7:30 am: Breakfast
- 8:00 am: Meeting with fellow volunteers and coordinators
- 8:30 am: Morning activities, distributed on a rotational basis
- 12:00 am: Lunch break
- 1:00 pm: Afternoon activities
- 5:00 pm: Work is finished
- 6:00 pm: Dinner
You can expect to take part in the following activities:
Game count & monitoring
Annual game counts of species (including rhino, elephants, lions, leopards and antelope) are carried out in order to establish the carrying capacity of the reserve, the movement of animals to and from the area, as well as predator to prey ratios.
Telemetry tracking & research
Telemetry tracking (or tracking using remote sources such as wire or radio) is used - particularly with regards to the more elusive species like cheetah and leopards.
Restoration and rehabilitation of reserve landscapes and fencing
This is integral to the well-being of the reserve and ensures its long-term revival as a pristine landscape suitable for an extensive collection of flora and fauna.
Maintenance of the reserve as a healthy breeding centre
Shamwari is an important breeding centre for a variety of species. Management here can refer to anything from veld (open country or grassland) conditions assessment, mapping of breeding area, mapping of alien vegetation, monitoring animal numbers and managing water points.
Alien plant control
An essential part of your volunteer duties here, alien plant control helps to get rid of unwanted (and potentially poisonous plants), increase the natural biodiversity of the reserve, as well as decrease fire risk.
Volunteering at Born Free Foundation
An opportunity will be given on a weekly basis for you to volunteer with big cats (lions and leopards) at the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary - a world-renowned animal rehabilitation centre.
Volunteering at the Animal Rehabilitation Centre
Shamwari Animal Rehabilitation Centre was set up to aid in the rehabilitation of injured animals found on the reserve and the surrounding community. The aim is to give the animals the short term care they need so that they can be successfully released back into the environment.
Community Projects
This responsibility involves the education of local communities in the benefits of conserving biodiversity and stresses the importance of conserving the natural habitats of Shamwari and the surrounding area. Weekly trips are made into the local community to assist in various community projects that range from creating and maintaining vegetable gardens, recycling projects, painting classrooms and building jungle gyms.
Restoration and Rehabilitation of Reserve Landscapes
The need to return the once pristine landscape to its original splendour includes the collecting and removal of old fence lines and rehabilitating degraded and overgrazed land.
Research Projects
These projects are often undertaken in conjunction with both local and foreign research and academic institutions and may range from elephant fertility testing to capturing data on lesser-known species such as Brown Hyena.
Last Day
Once you have said goodbye to your fellow volunteers and facilitators, you will transfer back to the airport for your return flight home or you will commence onward independent travel plans.
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