Wildlife Volunteer
Get involved in real conservation of endangered wildlife and get the ultimate African wildlife experience doing it. Volunteers work with our wildlife monitors at the game reserves, tracking and monitoring animals as part of our conservation projects. We only work in small teams of no more than four volunteers per reserve, so you have one-on-one time with the monitors, gaining true conservation experience. The days are full, the work is important and provides volunteers with a true conservation experience. It's not always pretty or easy, but it is real Africa, real conservation. You can join us starting from 1000 Euro for 2 weeks!
Volunteer for wildlife conservation
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 aspect of wildlife conservation. The opportunity to work on multiple Reserves depends on the length of your stay. If you stay for only 2 weeks, you will work on 1 Reserve, but for every additional 2 weeks you stay, the better your chance of experiencing another Reserve.
Volunteer work in South Africa
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 in which to work, and our movements and activities are regulated by the animals that we monitor.
Wildlife 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.
Practical Information on wildlife volunteering
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 bed linen is provided. You will be responsible for keeping the camp clean and tidy. There is always an outside seating area / barbecue area where you can sit by the fire under the stars. (With the absence of artificial light, stargazing at the Reserves is phenomenal!) 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 hyaena, elephant, bushbabies etc at night.
(For this reason please remember it is very important to always use torches when moving around the accommodation at night, and to never leave the immediate camp area on foot when it is dark!)
Wildlife Volunteer - 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
Conservation volunteer work - FAQ's & Info
This is a database of questions frequently asked by people interested in volunteering with Wildlife ACT.
Donate to wildlife conservation
Scientists believe that the figures regarding endangered animals will increase dramatically in the next twenty years unless serious counter measures are put into place. This means that the next generation and those to follow, will not be fortunate enough to see critically endangered animals like the African Wild Dog or Cheetah in the flesh.
