Yomps, Adventure Travel Experiences

Wildlife Research Volunteering
Full Itinerary

Volunteer in South Africa for 2, 4, 8 or 12 weeks. Track lions, elephants and rhinos, observe and record their behaviour, look for and collar new leopards, learn about conservation research techniques, assist with data processing, learn the skills required of a safari guide and qualify with the Field Guide Association of South Africa.

South Africa

Week 1 - Learn about research techniques, how to use the project equipment, how to track animals, how to identify trees, birds, mammals and reptiles, learn about conservation, reserve management and ecology, and start to be an active member of the research team.

The research expedition is based on a spectacular private reserve, deep in the heart of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The reserve is located near the town Mica and boasts an area of 30,000 ha of pristine habitat and magnificent hills. Rare cycads emerge from the ground, an abundance of birds soar above, and endangered antelope roam the plains and rocky outcrops. The spectacular reserve is home to over eighty elephants, fifty rhino and a much-admired pride of seven lions. The landowners and managers are looking to gain more in-depth knowledge about the reserve’s fauna and flora, to maintain an ecological balance in the area and make responsible and informed management decisions. Many reserves do not have the workforce or finances to run such a programme, so the concept of the research is to provide the landowners of the reserve with vital information. This information is obtained through an intensive predator and wildlife monitoring programme, which offers you the opportunity to become aware of, and contribute to, the conservation of one of South Africa’s most diverse wildlife havens.

The first week begins with lessons about conservation, reserve management, tracking, tree identification, ecology, and bird, mammal and reptile identification. You will also be taught about research techniques, data collection techniques, how to track animals using the telemetry equipment, how to use GPS (Global Positional System), and how to use the computers. Lessons will occasionally take place in a classroom but you will, for the majority of the time, be learning outdoors ‘in the field’.

Each morning you will wake before the birds, grabbing some coffee and rusks (South African biscuits) before heading to the vehicle for the first job of the day: tracking down where in the reserve the lions have moved. By driving to high points in the vicinity in which the lions were most recently sighted, you will see if you can pick up a signal from the equipment and look for the lions’ spoor (physical paw prints). Once located, you will spend a number of hours observing the lions: recording their behaviour, noting whether they are on a ‘kill’, seeing how much they have eaten, and any other information that is of note; to all be entered as data when you return to base. On the way back you will note a few rhino condition ratings, before you tuck into the brunch that will be waiting for you at base. If you do not have any lectures, you will then have time to catch up on your journal, study for the FGASA exam, or just relax and recuperate. The afternoon drive will then take you in search of the reserve’s elephant herd or to spend more time with the lions (who will hopefully be in the same area as they were in the morning). Waiting with the lions until dark, you will then have the opportunity to see them moving, hunting, and possibly even killing prey. Once the research is complete for the day, you will head back to base where dinner will be served.

South Africa

Weeks 2 onwards - Go on research drives twice a day, be involved in research projects and collect and process data on lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards.

By the second week you will be fully trained in your duties and will be completely involved, confident and competent doing the research. Each day your responsibilities will be different and may include: capturing data, checking the vehicle and helping to fit punctures, using telemetry equipment to find animals, being in charge of radios, or cooking back at the base. Those who are based on the vehicle for the day will head out on a drive early in the morning; utilizing all the skills acquired over the previous week to find where the lions are located on the reserve. After spending time recording the lions movements and behaviour, you will head on to look for elephants and rhino; spending time monitoring them, working out which ones are related, taking photos for identification kits, and gaining a better understanding of the herd structure. If you are not doing this you will work any other research projects that are in progress. Heading back to base, you will then have some breakfast, enter the data collected on the morning drive, carry on with other research projects, mend any punctures the vehicle may have from the morning drive, or just kick back and relax.

The afternoon research drive will take you to either monitor the lions again, or research other wildlife that lives on the reserve such as elephants, rhinos, or leopards. If monitoring the lions, you will head into the field in the afternoon to relocate the lions from the morning’s drive; recording as much data as possible regarding their movements, behaviour and hunting. Returning to base later in the evening, you will then have dinner and be able to relax around a fire, recounting the day’s adventure beneath the South African stars. Your assistance actively monitoring a lion pride, collecting data on the reserve’s rhinos and elephants, and helping the leopard habituation programme, is providing vital help towards the future development and success of the project. Whether you are looking for a career in conservation or just want an amazing way to spend a gap year, sabbatical or annual holiday; this South African adventure is bound to give you the memories of a lifetime as you give a helping hand to an extremely worthwhile project.

- Qualifications for volunteers staying for eight weeks or more

If you stay with us for eight weeks or more you will have the opportunity to study for a field guide qualification: the FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) Level One theory certificate. A year’s membership and the exam fees are all included in the cost of the trip, and you gain a fantastic qualification that will look good on any CV. All that is required of you is a bit of study!

- About the Research

The overall aim of the project is to monitor wildlife on the reserve; paying close attention to the pride of lions, the elusive leopards and their prey, the elephants, and the white rhinos. Providing such data to the reserve will help to ensure that only well-informed and accurate decisions are made by the reserve staff, keeping the animals and their habitat in an ecological balance and being essential for the long-term conservation of the area. The research team aims to determine the impact reintroduced mammals have on game reserves, helping with their management and conservation. Research of this kind plays an important role in the management of future conservation areas in South Africa.

The following summarises the specific monitoring focuses you maybe involved in:

• Determining and monitoring predator numbers within the reserve, including lions, leopards and cheetah
• Monitoring the feeding behaviour, prey selection, kill frequencies and impact of lion and other predators
• Monitoring the social dynamics of the lion population
• Monitoring the spatial movements and territories of predators and mega herbivores across the reserve
• Habituating and developing ID kits for elephant populations
• Monitoring the condition of the white rhino populations
• Collaring and habituating resident leopards.

- Why this work is important

The importance of management research and monitoring cannot be stressed enough. It is impossible to manage a reserve without having the ground knowledge of how the integral components of an ecosystem affect the ecological balance of a reserve, which is particularly important when it comes to the reintroduction of mammals (such as predators and mega herbivores) to the reserve. Increasingly landowners and managers alike are realising the importance of monitoring the wildlife in their reserve. Therefore conservation methods and opinions of the past are slowly changing towards a more sustainable conservation ethic for the present and future.

- A typical day

Please note that this is only a rough guide to give you a better idea of what to expect during your stay.

0545 – Wake Up
0600 – Tea/Coffee/Juice & Rusks
0615 – Prepare for research drive
0630 – On research drive (with a break for hot/cold drinks)
1030 – Arrive back and have breakfast
1100 – Entering research data onto the computer, have a tutorial, making use of the library, spare time
1230 – Lunch
1330 – Spare time
1530 – Prepare for research drive
1600 – On research drive (with a break for hot/cold drinks and snacks included)
2030 – Arrive back at base from drive
2045 – Dinner
Bed time is at your own discretion.

- Extra activities available (at your own expense)

Volunteers and staff have one day off a week to explore the surrounding area. The reserve is ideally situated, being surrounded by a variety of awesome things to see and do, which include:

• Taking a day trip to Kruger National Park
• Hiking and exploring the Blyde river canyon seeing the waterfalls
• Going on a horse safari into the bush
• Visiting local wildlife rehabilitation centres
• White water rafting
• Kloofing
• Paintballing
• Going to a reptile park
• Taking a cultural tour

- Arrival / departure information

Volunteers must make their own way to Phalaborwa (by taking a coach or flight from Johannesburg), where you will be met by a project staff member. You will receive more information when making your booking.

- Costs

Please note that when completing the online booking form, you should select the applicable start date and specifiy your desired trip duration in the 'Other Details and Information' section.

	Pound sterling (£)	US Dollar ($)	Euros (€)
2 weeks	649	1,299	848
4 weeks	995	2,109	1,299
8 weeks	1990	4,219	2,598
12 weeks	2985	6,328	3,898

- Malaria Awareness

Travelling to long-haul destinations can be a wonderful and exciting experience. Before you go, make sure you take the right travel advice about visiting Malaria risk countries. At Yomps we are committed to stopping traveller deaths from malaria which is why we support the campaign being run by Malariahotspots.com. Click here to download our free guide about Malaria Awareness (opens in a new window).