Wildlife Volunteer

Africa has over 400 known endangered animal species. Monitoring & tracking of endangered wildlife is a critical step in the conservation of these species. Many game reserves do not have the capacity to run effective wildlife monitoring and conservation projects. Wildlife ACT provides free monitoring services to these reserves. We can only do it with the help of endangered species volunteer. Wildlife ACT funds these services through student researchers and animal conservation volunteers who contribute for the training and experience gained through spending time on a dedicated monitoring project. Why don't you make a difference by joining us today? Click here.

A Day in the life of a Wildlife ACT volunteer

Zululand is considered by many as the heartbeat of Africa, and makes a dramatic backdrop to the work we do. The African bush is such a dynamic and ever-changing environment to work in and our movements and activities are regulated by the animals we monitor.

Volunteer Costs

Many of our volunteers say that money cannot buy the kind of life changing experience they have had with Wildlife ACT. We ensure that all of your funding is used directly to benefit the important conservation work we do here in Zululand. The cost of volunteering with Wildlife ACT is dependent on the duration of your stay: Two Weeks - ZAR9800 For every subsequent two weeks - ZAR8200

Training and skills

All training will be via practical tuition in the field. Read more to view all the skills you will gain.

Who can volunteer?

Wildlife ACT is looking for people who want their contribution (in terms of their time and funds) to be effectively utilised in genuine conservation efforts. If you wish to be a part of a professional conservation team, make a real difference and experience important conservation work in Africa, then you are the kind of volunteer we are looking for!

Accommodation and Food

The accommodation is basic. Most volunteers will share a twin room, with separate shared ablutions and a living/eating area. We have electricity, running warm water and flush toilets. A bed, mattress and bedding is provided. You are responsible for keeping the camp clean and tidy. There is always an outside space where you can sit by the fire under the stars. Because we live on the reserve itself and don’t have fencing around the camp, you can expect visits from antelope, monkeys and baboons during the day, and hyena and bushbabies at night.

How to volunteer

Most volunteers join the Wildlife ACT team for four to twelve weeks with the minimum stay being two weeks. We maintain small volunteer group sizes of no more than four volunteers per reserve, and therefore recommend that you apply as soon as possible in order to confirm the dates that suit you. Because Wildlife ACT runs a number of projects, we are in the unique position to offer you the opportunity to partake in more than one project, giving you a chance to experience diverse aspects of wildlife conservation. We try to rotate team members between reserves every two weeks, so the longer you stay the more chance you’ll have of visiting other reserves.

Maps & Getting There

Getting here is easy. The simplest way is to fly to Johannesburg and then get a connecting domestic flight to Richards Bay where it can be arranged, for a fee of R600, for a Wildlife ACT project member to pick you UP and drop you off again. For flights into Richards Bay visit www.flysaa.com. You will have to arrive at Richards Bay airport before 13:00 on the specified Monday. If you arrive in Johannesburg or Richards Bay on an earlier date, you can stay over as long as needed until pick-up on Monday. If you need ideas of places to stay in Johannesburg or Richards Bay, contact us and we’ll gladly help you out.

Testimonials

"I loved every minute of it and wish I could be back now. The monitors passed on so much information to us while driving through the bush. My highlight was seeing the wild dog pups for the first time after looking for them for just over two weeks. Also helping to ID them by looking through photos taken of each of the pups. Through Wildlife ACT, I didn't just feel like a tourist, by completing daily tasks I felt I was contributing to the programme." Steph Ronson - UK, October 2009

FAQ's & Info

This is a database of questions frequently asked by people interested in volunteering with Wildlife ACT.

Other Activities

The area we work in is within easy reach of the coast where you can get involved with a wide variety of exciting leisure activities. Since only the occasional Sunday is guaranteed free days during your placement, if you are thinking of taking in some of these activities, we would recommend that you plan to spend some extra time here before or after your placement.