We have global award-winning African wildlife volunteering opportunities currently running in South Africa and the Seychelles. Conservation volunteering in Zululand forms part of our Endangered Species Monitoring Programme. Our Seychelles Conservation Project focuses on endangered species monitoring, marine conservation and ecosystem restoration.
Winner of the World Responsible Tourism Award 2023 in the category Nature-Positive Tourism!
Winner of the African Responsible Tourism Award 2023 in the category Nature-Positive Tourism!
Get involved in real endangered wildlife conservation and have the ultimate African wildlife experience while doing it.
Apply to volunteerZululand, South Africa
Ages: 18 - 65+
Zululand is recognised as one of the most biodiverse wildlands in Africa, with much of it declared a World Heritage Site. Wildlife conservation volunteers work across unique parks, with most of them being nationally-proclaimed reserves. For every 2 weeks that you join us as a conservation volunteer, you will have the opportunity to live and work on a different park. Our work focuses on endangered and priority wildlife species, including the African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Rhino, Lion, Elephant, Leopard and Vulture.
Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site and Surrounds
Relatively fit 18 - 65+
The Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project takes place both in and around the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site in South Africa, a crucial stronghold for several threatened and endangered species. During their time at the Project, volunteers live in an authentic farmhouse situated in the buffer-zone surrounding the World Heritage Site, surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
North Island, Seychelles
Ages: 21 - 60
Our Seychelles volunteer project focuses on three key aspects: Endangered Species monitoring, Marine Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration. For a unique ecotourism experience which allows you to give something back by supporting a dedicated conservation research and volunteer team on a private tropical island paradise, come and support those volunteering in the Seychelles. Ecotourists live and experience land and marine conservation life on the exclusive North Island in the Seychelles – considered by many to be the most beautiful archipelago in the world with its luminous white beaches, granite outcrops and azure oceans.
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 conservation volunteer we are looking for!
Anyone from the age of 18 up can join our team. All you need for wildlife volunteering is the passion to make a difference, have a good grasp of the English language, be in a reasonably good physical condition and most importantly, have a good attitude. And remember: This is Zululand, not Disneyland!
You can make a no obligation application at any time. ENQUIRE NOW
Fill out our simple online application form to become a conservation volunteer.
Bronwen Kelly is our friendly and helpful reservations manager. She will guide you through the process and make sure your plans come together.
When you are happy with everything, you can secure your place by paying your 30% deposit. 70% of your remaining balance will be due four weeks before you arrive in Africa.
You will be responsible for booking your own flights.
We collect and drop off all our participants at RICHARDS BAY, which is the closest airport. You would need to book your international flight arriving in JOHANNESBURG (O.R. Tambo International Airport), followed by a short internal flight from Johannesburg to Richard’s Bay (RCB). Please see the “How Do I Get There” tab on our Project Page for more info about flights.
Transfer Service:
When you arrive at Richards Bay airport, you will be collected by an organised responsible transfer company with a sign. All arriving conservation volunteers will be transported by the transfer company to a central meeting point, where you will be met by your respective Wildlife ACT wildlife monitors, who will then take you into the reserve, on the back of a monitoring vehicle. On the Monday of your departure you will be transported back to Richards Bay airport to catch your departing flight home.
Contact us at any time for help and advice
We guarantee you a prompt response to your enquiries. You will be able to contact the Wildlife ACT team on the reserves at any time during your preparations, so you will have access to all the latest developments live from the field. The Wildlife ACT team can also help you with specific enquiries relating to latest animal sightings and other interesting news as it happens. For the latest news, visit our blog.
Most conservation volunteers join Wildlife ACT for 4 to 12 weeks, with a minimum stay being two weeks. We maintain a small volunteer group of no more than five people per reserve and therefore recommend that you apply as soon as possible in order to confirm the dates that suit you.
Wildlife ACT runs a number of projects so we are in the unique position to offer you theli opportunity to join us on more than one reserve, giving you the chance to experience diverse aspects of wildlife conservation. The opportunity to work on multiple game reserves depends on the length of your stay. If you stay for only two weeks, you will work on one reserve, but for every additional two weeks you stay, the better your chance of experiencing another reserve.
Please Note: Once bookings fill up, placements will be made based on where there are spaces available. Although we do our best to keep to the planned schedule once bookings are confirmed, all placements are subject to change should there be a specific need at any time.
Crowd Funding:
If you are ready and excited to start planning your trip, but discouraged by a financial road block, Wildlife ACT has another solution for you. We have teamed up with FundMyTravel, who provides us with an online platform where you can fundraise for your meaningful travel experience. How does it work? You create a campaign page, complete a brief profile to build trust, add a video and tell your story!
FundMyTravel has a team of dedicated staff who want to help Wildlife ACT participants reach their fundraising goals. They can provide tips and insights on the best ways to spread your word and offer sharing tools to get your campaign greater exposure through social media and email. Click the button below to learn more and get started!
Awesome!! I loved the time I spent on this project!! Everything was very organised and easy. I loved being out in the field! The animals and scenery are incredible and tracking the animals is a lot of fun! I'm a massive animal lover, and for the first time being to South Africa (first time being out of Australia) I'm just in awe of all the animals here!! Our monitors were great! They knew so much and could answer any question we threw at them and were always ready for a chat! Their attitude towards the animals that came along was awesome - always sharing information they knew!
Absolutely fantastic couple of weeks! Exceeded expectations and delivered exactly what I was looking for - an experience in South Africa with wildlife that had a positive impact. It delivered experiences beyond which I could imagine before coming here. The knowledge, hospitality and enthusiasm of our monitors was inspiring. Seeing the joy and passion on their faces as we came across Wild Dogs, Cheetahs etc. etc. and sharing that with them, was so special. Our monitors were a delight and made us feel so much a part of their work. Their passion, knowledge and dedication, is impressive, and they always had a smile and laugh to share.
An incredible experience. The monitoring project I was at is very impressive and it was such a delight to be a small part of it. It quickly felt like home and I really appreciated the comfortable beds. Being able to participate in the field work was a particular joy and meant we learnt a huge amount from our monitors, who were both passionate and very knowledgeable. They shared so much knowledge with us and always enthusiastically answered our numerous questions with patience. They provided wonderful explanations of animal behaviour as we shared sightings and saw some incredible things together.
Beyond expectations! I didn't really know what to expect, but what we experienced was a once in a lifetime experience. The main reason for being there (the field work), was just incredible. We booked by ourselves on the Wildlife ACT website and everything went well. I had tons of questions and doubts, but Wildlife ACT made sure I got answers on everything. All the pre-arrival information was clear and well explained. We lived crazy life experiences! I really felt part of the team and always safe during field work. I learned so much. Everything was beyond expectations.
Honestly magical. This trip will forever stay with me. The people, the bush, the vibes. Nothing will beat staying off the grid in the middle of the park with like-minded people from around the world. From the monitors to the other volunteers, everyone was incredibly welcoming. I will definitely be coming back in a heartbeat.
I loved it. The interaction you have with the animals, the tracking/monitoring and checking up on them, you really get close to nature and experience what happens in and around it. My passion for conservation, specifically for the animals we worked with, really became so much bigger. It was really amazing.
The volunteering program was amazing! We could see the impact of the conservation activities and how monitoring plays such an important role. The atmosphere and the Wildlife ACT staff were excellent and they made you feel at home. Everything was clear and all the necessary and detailed information was provided on time. The level of knowledge of the monitors for every single animal, which allows them to know their boundaries while monitoring and predict their behavior, was such a highlight. The work increases the quality of the game reserves massively.
I had an amazing time with Wildlife ACT. The monitors were amazing, and I loved that the other volunteers were the same ages as us. I really enjoyed monitoring and following the various species we were tracking. I would definitely like to come back one day. I learned a lot about conservation during this trip. It definitely opened my eyes to some factors and issues that I hadn’t thought about before, and demonstrated how a truly ethical and conservation-focused organisation should be run: animals first. The highlight of my stay was definitely the call-up habituation we did with the new pack of Wild Dogs. It took us a few tries to get it done, but getting to watch the dogs interact with one another was super cool. The monitors also gave me plenty of time to take pictures during the monitoring drives, which I really appreciated, because I got some amazing photographs.
I had the most amazing time with Wildlife ACT! Everything was just perfect. It was very inspiring to work next to the monitors and see them so passionate about their job. I really feel like they make a big impact towards conservation. They teach new people everything there is to know about conservation and some volunteers even decide to do something with that in the future. The monitors were very professional, but you could also have a good laugh with them. From the moment I arrived in Richards Bay I felt taken care of and it was easy-going and fun right from the beginning.
Also, the bush-experiences I had were way beyond my expectations! There are way too many highlights, but seeing the Wild Dogs nearly every day (and getting to know them and their behaviour) and helping with the collaring of a Cheetah, were just unreal! But also just scanning with the telemetry, camera trapping, the sunrises and sunsets, braai nights, morning breaks with rusks and the great people you meet along the way, made this experience the most amazing time of my life!
It’s safe to say I’ll be back very soon!
As my second time with Wildlife ACT, I knew what to expect, but as always, the team blew me away with yet another fantastic experience. Furthering my love for the bush and for the conservation work that Wildlife ACT does, I will always thoroughly recommend these projects to anyone looking for a volunteer experience with wildlife in South Africa. Everything was so smoothly run as always, from booking to arrival - always exceeding my expectations from Wildlife ACT! The wealth of knowledge this team holds between them and the incredible work that they do, will never go unrecognised, and I will for sure be back to work with them again. Thank you to the teams who take the time, patience and dedication to run these programmes, and give people the opportunity to engage and aid with endangered wildlife conservation.
I spent two very exciting weeks in the Park with many experiences I would not have expected. Watching how passionate everyone is about their work was really inspiring. Taking part in this experience made me feel like I was contributing something useful towards the project. I wasn't totally sure what it would be like (although my girlfriend told me what we were going to do), but in the end it was a really amazing time which created great memories for me. My personal highlight of many incredible experiences was helping with an orphaned Rhino calf that was on the way to the orphanage. We encountered them on the way and could tell that they were having a bit of trouble, had a quick talk with them and followed to provide some helping hands. It was really intense to watch the calf on the truck and helping to transfer it to the orphanage. As sad as it seemed, I was impressed by the collaboration of three different groups working hand in hand to achieve the best outcome.
It was an amazing stay and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm very glad that I finally managed to come back and it was totally worth the long trip again. It's also great to see that the people from a few years ago are still around and everybody has been incredibly nice and helpful. We were so lucky to be here when the Rhino dehornings were taking place and I really didn't expect to see so many different things in just two weeks. Another highlight was the moment when I finally got to see the Wild Dogs again after 8 years, which had me really emotional. Seeing them so often was exactly what I needed.
It was amazing as usual. No complaints. I have already made another booking. It’s hard to believe that this is already my third time working alongside the one monitor who has come so far since our first meeting and has a wealth of information. His passion and enthusiasm for his job immediately draws you into his world. I feel that over the last few years, I always learn something new. Great monitors have a way of bringing back us returning volunteers - creating a family, and welcoming us home.
It was an amazing time. I’m quite impressed with your wildlife, your work and your passion for the animals. It is hard work out there in the bush but the monitors love their job. I loved to learn about the work and the animals, and the monitors told us so many facts and stories. Their passion was contagious. It was my first time in Africa and I didn’t know what to expect. I think two highlights were watching the Wild Dogs as they interacted with Elephants, and another day spent with the Rhinos. Every time we were searching for an animal and finally found them, was an amazing experience.
Beyond my expectations. I wasn’t aware of the amount of wildlife I would see and live just next to while doing this project. I learned a lot about the work you can and have to do in a reserve, and that’s what I came for. To be with the monitors for 2 weeks was really enjoyable. Both are lovely people who know a lot and share their experience and knowledge. A real highlight was the collaring of a Wild Dog after 9 days of trying, where we saw the sunrise and a rainbow perfectly at the same time. And the first drive from the gates to the camp. These are both memories I’ll keep for years.
It was a fantastic experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and one that I would definitely recommend to others. I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done, and definitely something that will stick with me forever. The field work and booking process way exceeded my expectations, and you will meet the most amazing people along the way. The monitors are amazing and incredibly knowledgeable, and really bring the whole experience together. When it comes to highlights, I have to say everything!
Overall, my experience with Wildlife ACT was wonderful. I felt welcomed by my monitors and other volunteers. I believe we had a really good group. The field work was interesting and easy to pick up! I enjoy writing data down and feeling like putting an active contribution on monitoring these endangered species. I was very pleased that it met my expectations on responsible conservation. I put a lot of effort into making sure I was making a good decision to aid in actual conservation efforts and not impact the surrounding communities negatively.
Loved my experience with Wildlife ACT. I felt like the work we were doing truly gave back to conservation. The monitors were knowledgeable and made an effort to make sure you enjoyed your time on the projects. I also met so many wonderful volunteers that I hope to stay in touch with, and even volunteer with Wildlife ACT again. I really enjoyed getting to know the animals we were monitoring and looked forward to seeing them during sessions. Our monitors brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm with them. Both are passionate about their job and conservation.
Fantastic. I already did two volunteering trips in the past (not with wildlife ACT). They provided a different experience with animals, but with wildlife ACT, the impression at the end is that the work you are doing really does bring something and help support endangered species. Participating (even if from the back of the truck) in diverse activities, like animal calling or setting bait, helping to find tracks and gaps in the reserve fence to keep the animals safe, made for a rich experience altogether. I will put wildlife ACT on top of my list for my next volunteering trip.
Amazing! I learnt a lot about different wildlife and the ways of tracking and monitoring them. It was very insightful and awe-inspiring. I have never volunteered with wildlife ACT so it is hard to judge if my expectations for the field work were perfect. However, I had an amazing time and learnt a lot, which I think proves that the organization is well-structured and really cares about the work they do. I found the accommodations to be quite peaceful.You can’t change the way the animals behave. If they want to stay hidden, they will. We had trouble seeing the Wild Dogs because they were in the bush, but that isn’t the program’s fault. There is no guarantee that you will see everything you want or that you will participate in every aspect, but learning and trying to make a difference is one of the most rewarding things. As long as you are taught how to use the equipment and what is going on, that is enough in order to help.
The trip of a lifetime! I had the most amazing time with a great group of people. I learned so much about the reserve and conservation, and got to immerse myself a bit in South Africa and South African culture as well. There are too many highlights to mention! Seeing a baby Elephant and Cheetah cubs, helping feed a Cheetah and Wild Dogs, finding a pair of male Cheetah after searching for them for ages, having a braai with everyone! Our monitors were super entertaining and engaging and really knowledgeable about the animals and the landscape!
Excellent experience. I will definitely recommend this program to people around me and will try to return again. Wildlife ACT definitely makes an impact. I love the fact that Wildlife ACT contributes with providing data to make informed decisions and gather support when needed. The passion of our two monitors showed incredible effort, love, and time allocated to the conservation program, as well as kindness to volunteers. They are two of the best assets you have :)
My experience with Wildlife ACT was fantastic! I will be returning very soon… already booked! I’d thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone with an interest in wildlife conservation. The patience, dedication and knowledge of the team, is incredible, and I look forward to being back with them. It was an opportunity to experience the animals in an up-close, but safe and respectful manner, and a chance to work with such a dedicated team. We worked well as a group and our monitor was easy to get on with, very professional, as well as a good laugh – a real asset to the team! We had a fantastic time and saw a lot of exciting things.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Southern Berg project. I went there with a passion for Vultures from what I had learned at university. Having the opportunity to participate in a practical, hands-on experience of monitoring, management, and observation of these incredible species, was inspiring and insightful. Having the chance to put what I have learned theoretically in lectures, into practice for a species I hold close to my heart, was a completely different experience. Learning new skills and approaches to conservation, will take with me further in future employment and endeavors. Wildlife ACT's team is warm, welcoming, and supportive, and I cannot thank them enough. It was fantastic to meet like-minded people with a shared passion for these fantastic vultures.
My overall experience during my four weeks with wildlife ACT were truly unforgettable. I never thought I would do such meaningful work and meet the amazing people that I did. I will be back as soon as I can! Our monitor taught me so much - way more than I expected to learn even. He knows every bird, plant, reptile, everything. He could identify birds by their calls and it was so cool to learn so much. He was also a very kind and a fun monitor to have!