Testimonials

14 Aug 2010

"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*
I had "the experience of a lifetime" I really enjoyed my stay in Mkuze as well as in Thanda and can't wait to do it again. It was great to stay at two different camps and experience the differences between a private game reserve and a government run one. I definitely learned a lot about the differences, advantages and disadvantages of both kinds of management. Also, it gave me the opportunity to work with different people and see different environments. I really can't choose a highlight! The leopard capture was definitely an awesome experience, as well as the hyena. To see the Wild dog pack hunt and kill was amazing. Tracking and finding the cheetahs might seem like a boring routine in comparison, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss a single sighting - it's always different and always an great feeling to finally spot them. Last but not least, the amputating of Impala heads and legs with a pocket knife is something I won't ever forget;) Julia Herold - Germany, August 2009
My overall experience with Wildlife ACT was amazing, I enjoyed every minute of it whilst also gaining so many new skills and knowledge of African wildlife that will be useful tome for my course at university and in the future. From start to finish the experience was made trouble-free by the Wildlife ACT team. I would definitely recommend this organisation to other potential volunteers as a worthwhile programme. *Mel Parry - UK, July 2009*
My overall experience with Wildlife ACT was amazing! a great hands on experience and also a great confidence booster. Wildlife ACT allowed me to see a side of conservation that one can not get from being a tourist in South Africa. The knowledge given by the management/field team was very valuable and again agreat insight into conservation. I can honestly say everything was a highlight, but seeing the Rhino capture was very special. *Peter Holland - UK, August 2009*
If I hadn't already booked my flight home I don't think they could have made me leave. I met some really fantastic people, all of whom I was genuinely upset to say goodbye to. I learned a whole range of new skills like how to track using radio telemetry and also learned the basics of Zulu. I really felt as if I was part of a team and truly felt at home at both Thanda and Mkhuze reserves. At the moment my main priority in life is getting myself back to South Africa. Even though there were so many highlights in the field, some of my favourite times were just sitting around at camp having a braai with the people I met while I was in South Africa, even when the braai was interrupted by a bull elephant in our backyard. *Luka Atkinson - UK, July 2009*
I'm finding it very hard to try and sum up my overall experience as I took so much away from the trip with Wildlife ACT, so it's very hard to sum it up! I absolutely loved my trip to South Africa and I'm very glad I decided to gowith Wildlife ACT, as I experienced things I believe I would not have encountered if I'd chosen another company. To be able to have the hands on and close up experiences was truly life changing and it has made me re-think my future, as I was planning on working within a zoo environment, but now I would relish the opportunity to do research in the wild, especially in South Africa. One of my favourite moments was seeing the lion cubs and wild dog pups so closely was absolutely unforgettable. Also, meeting an array of different people who work for Thanda and Wildlife ACT, and feeling part of the team so quickly, as everyone was very welcoming. *Kat Donegan - USA, September 2009*