Conservation volunteer work - FAQ's & Info

Q: Do I need to be a student in order to volunteer?
A: Although our projects do attract a lot of students, it is not necessary to be a student in order to volunteer with Wildlife ACT.

Q: Do I need any specific skills or qualifications to volunteer with Wildlife ACT?
A: No skills or qualifications are needed, but volunteers should have a love of nature, a sound level of fitness, and a positive attitude with an understanding and respect for other cultures, as well as a fair understanding of the English language.

Q: What is the age range for Wildlife ACT volunteers?
A: Although we work with many young people / students from all over the world, we rarely allow volunteers under the age of 18 years to join our team. We do have a wide variety of volunteers from all over the world, ranging in age from 18 years old all the way to 60+ years of age. The maximum age is really dependent on the particpant's health and ability.

Q: What medicine or vaccinations will I need?
A: As we are not qualified to give medical advice, we recommend you discuss any concerns with your GP or MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad). Although our projects do not fall in high malaria risk areas, it is advisable to confirm with your GP whether you will require Malaria medication or vaccination. A small number of volunteers have contracted African tick bite fever in the past. African tick bite fever is usually mild, and serious complications are very uncommon. Symptoms can include fever, headache, malaise, and skin rash. There is no inoculation or vaccination you can take to prevent it, so you just need to make sure you use repellent every day and check for ticks regularly. (Note: In South Africa the antibiotic Doxycycline is the preferred agent for treating Tick-bite Fever. Doxycycline is also an anti-malarial drug, so while chatting to your doctor about precautionary medication, ask about Doxycycline, and you may find that you can “kill 2 birds with 1 stone.”)

Q: How much will it cost?
A: Please visit our "costs" page for a comprehensive answer to this question.

Q: What is my money used for?
A: Your money is used for your accommodation, training, equipment and food for meals while at the Wildlife ACT camps, as well as Wildlife ACT’s project running costs, such as vehicle maintenance, fuel, equipment and salaries, as we provide the priority species monitoring service free of charge to reserves which cannot afford or manage them. We also use a portion of our profits as part of the region’s social and conservation efforts. We are therefore completely reliant on funding from volunteers in order to continue this work.

Q: How is payment made?
A: Full payment is only required 4 weeks before you depart, however, a 50% deposit is necessary in order to confirm your placement. In the event of a volunteer failing to join a program or leaving prior to completion, no refunds or liability will be accepted by Wildlife ACT.

Q: Can I volunteer with a friend or a group of friends?
A: Of course, and we can arrange for you and your friends to be placed together. If you are a group of four, you will qualify for big discounts. If you are volunteering on your own, you can be assured that you will meet some great people.

Q: Can I split my time between more than one project?
A: Yes you can. Wildlife ACT works on projects located across 4 different Game Reserves in Zululand, with varying vegetation types and different species of animals occurring on each Reserve. 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.

Q: How long can I volunteer for?
A: You can volunteer as a part of the Wildlife ACT for any amount of time ranging from two weeks to six months. Our bookings run in multiples of 2 weeks, which means you can join us for 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks etc. Our starting dates are every second Monday. We do this to curb our carbon footprint (driving out to do pick-ups and drop-offs at the airport as little as we can) and to minimise our time away from doing monitoring work.

Q: How safe is the environment we will be working in?
A: It is important to note that we do work with large, wild and potentially dangerous African animals. Almost any animal can be dangerous if it feels threatened by people. However, if you carefully follow the instructions of your wildlife monitor, there is no need for concern. For the most part, we view and monitor these animals from the safety of tracking vehicles. If you feel you may be in danger for any reason, always inform your Monitor. They have full authority when you are on fieldwork. Always follow their instructions.

Q: What is the accommodation like?
A: The accommodation is basic but comfortable. Most volunteers will share a twin room, with separate shared ablutions and a living/eating area. We have electricity, running warm water and flushing toilets. A bed, mattress, pillows and bedlinen are provided. You will be responsible for helping to keep the camp clean and tidy. There is always an outside seating area 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 hyaena and bushbabies at night.

Q: What is the food like?
A: How good is your cooking? At every camp we have a communal kitchen where volunteers prepare their own meals. You’ll have an oven, stovetop, microwave, solar cooker and of course a fire to cook on. Most of the time volunteers take turns preparing meals, or one person becomes the "chef" and the others help with chopping, pealing and cleaning. Sometimes volunteers have different tastes and cook separately, which is also fine. We take volunteers into town to shop for groceries every week or two weeks. We then stock up on everything you will need. As far as possible we try to be environmentally friendly eg. we don’t buy tinned tuna and we use as much game venison as possible.

Q: Can the projects cater for vegetarians?
A: Yes. You join us when we do your shopping for you, and because you prepare your own meals in the communal kitchen it is manageable. Please make known to us your dietary requirements in your application form.

Q: What is the weather like?
A: The summer season covers October to the end of April when the sun is particularly intense, and the air hot and humid, especially December through February when the average daily maximum temperature is around 35°C, with temperatures peaking at around 40°C. A warm dry winter begins in May and ends in September. Although the days are generally sunny, the nights and early mornings can be cooler so long-sleeved tops will come in handy then. The average daily maximum temperature is 25°C. There can be quite heavy dew-fall some mornings, so bring waterproof shoes if possible for walking through wet grass!

Q: How much spending money do I need to bring?
A: We cover all your accommodation, training, food and travel costs while you are a Wildlife ACT member so you don’t have to bring spending money except for your leisure time. You may want to bring some spending money for treats like chocolate and fizzy drinks, or to buy gifts to take home. Although the water at the camps is safe to drink, it does not always taste great, and some volunteers choose to buy bottled water. Spending money can also be used for leisure excursions during your free time and on weekends if you choose to take a weekend off. It is possible to withdraw cash at ATMs in most towns in South Africa, using either a VISA or MasterCard, so you don’t need to carry too much cash with you.

A: You should be able to access the internet once a week in the office. That having been said, please be aware that our internet service out here is very slow compared to international standards, and is often unreliable. Although we will do our best to provide you with the opportunity to use it when it is available, you may not always get through. We suggest that you bring your personal cellphone with you, as it is the easiest way to keep in contact with friends and family back home.

A priority species is any animal species which is of a management concern on a reserve we are working on, for any number of reasons. For example the African Wild Dog is of concern because it is an Endangered Species and their conservation status is critical, while on the other hand Lion and Hyena are of a concern because they impact heavily on Wild Dog numbers. By understanding the Lion and Hyena demographics and feeding ecology and by managing their populations properly we will be better able to conserve the Wild Dog. The ecological impact that a species has can also be of concern, for example high densities of African Elephant, especially on small Reserves, can have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. We therefore need to monitor this priority species to establish the population’s demographics and feeding ecology too.