Join Our Wildlife Volunteer Projects
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 volunteer
Zululand, 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.
Zululand, South Africa
Ages: 18 - 65+
Wildlife ACT is officially contracted by the international wild cat organisation, Panthera, to conduct Leopard density estimate surveys within South Africa. This involves conducting a number of exciting, short-term Leopard Population Surveys using remote camera trapping survey methods. The survey is one of the largest on Leopards of its kind in the world where we’re working together with provincial protected areas to help inform management to improve Leopard conservation.
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.
Platte Island, Seychelles
Ages: 20 - 65
Platte Island, a mid-ocean oasis 130 km south of the inner islands of Seychelles archipelago, has just commenced a unique and exciting ocean volunteer conservation project. As an ocean volunteer, you will spend much of your time in the calm tropical water around the island, helping to conserve an array of both land and marine wildlife, including the endangered Green Turtle and critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle. Volunteer to become a valued member of our marine conservation team on this spectacular coralline island sanctuary, encircled by a 13km fringing coral reef forming a shallow lagoon (or atol) holding over 8% of seychelles’s seagrass beds, creating ocean nursery to a breathtaking array of marine wildlife.
- Wildlife ACT was awarded First Place for both a WTM World Responsible Tourism award and for an Africa Responsible Tourism award, in the category Best Nature-Positive Tourism.
- We are the only wildlife volunteer programme in Africa that works with and are supported by high-profile and international conservation organizations such as WWF, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Panthera and Wildlands Conservation Trust (to name just a few).
- We work across different game reserves in South Africa, including Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Game Reserve and Manyoni Private Game Reserve. Conservation volunteers therefore get the chance to experience varied natural environments. Many volunteer organizations allow their volunteers to experience only one reserve.
- Unlike other volunteer organizations that work solely on small, private game reserves (used as farmland in the past) we work predominantly on large, nationally proclaimed and protected game reserves that have always been home to wildlife – giving you a real sense of the true African wilderness.
- The Wildlife ACT experience is unmatched in terms of the type of work we do and the diversity of species we work with, including the ‘BIG 5’. We have been reviewed on several online platforms and the feedback we receive is overwhelmingly positive.
- No more than five volunteers are allowed per reserve at any given time. Unlike other volunteer projects we are not a glorified safari where up to 10 people get on one vehicle and as many as 30 volunteers on one private reserve.
- Our team members are highly qualified and focused on real conservation work. Our one founding member, Dr Simon Morgan, holds a PhD in Black Rhino Ecology. Our other founding member, Chris Kelly, completed his studies in nature conservation before a long career in wildlife monitoring, game capture, relocation and reintroduction.
- Wildlife ACT is a founding partner of Project Rhino KZN and sits on the advisory committee of the Wild Dog Advisory Group of South Africa. The Wildlife ACT Team founding members are also trustees of Wildlife ACT Fund.
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
Make contact with usFill out our simple online application form to become a conservation volunteer.
Ask our expertBronwen Kelly is our friendly and helpful reservations manager. She will guide you through the process and make sure your plans come together.
Pay your depositWhen 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.
Book your flightsYou 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!
My time in iMfolozi Park was amazing! Those two weeks are among the most special, exciting and adventurous weeks of my life so far! I’ve wanted to get to know African wildlife for a long time. A day safari was somehow never an option for me. Instead, I wanted to delve deeper into nature and the wildlife of Africa. Thanks to you, this dream has now come true and it was simply wonderful and unforgettably beautiful. Thank you so much for this amazing experience!
I had an amazing time both thanks to the awesome sightings, the work we were able to do, and also the professional monitor. Every day was rewarding, even the days in which we found very few animals. I’m definitely planning on coming back in the future and highly recommend Wildlife ACT to friends and family. The overall pre-arrival/booking experience has been very good. We had to reschedule 4 times due to the whole Covid crisis, once even just 2 weeks prior to arriving, but this never was an issue. I definitely feel that Wildlife ACT is making a contribution based on what I have seen.
It was an enriching experience to have been engaged as a research volunteer with Wildlife ACT at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. It was a great two weeks that mainly involved monitoring Cheetah, Lion, Black Rhino, Vultures and the African Wild Dogs using VHF radio telemetry, along with setting up and checking of camera traps and collecting wild dog scat for genetic analysis. The excitement was heightened by incidental sightings of the White Rhino, African Elephants and the calls of the Spotted Hyena, among other fascinating creatures of South Africa!The high point of the entire experience was participation in the radio-collaring event of a Lioness under the supervision of the Wildlife ACT Monitoring Team of iMfolozi, field rangers and the vet of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as part of the ongoing Endangered Species Conservation Project. All in all, a superlative time in the wild!
The conservation training course was amazing - I loved it so much! Being out in the bush was my highlight and as I learned new things each day, my love for the bush grew even bigger. The course content is very extensive and it was so interesting to apply the theory into practice. Also, it was a great feeling that my work actually contributed to the conservation efforts of Wildlife ACT. Wildlife ACT is such a great organization and I’m so happy and honored to have been a part of the team for 6 weeks (I added another 2 weeks of volunteering after the 4-week course, great choice!). The monitors I was with know so much about the bush and are all amazing and fun people with a huge passion for wildlife - it’s infectious! Thank you all so much for the most wonderful and unforgettable time!
This was one, if not the best experience I have ever had in my life. I’ve learnt so much about conservation work, the flora and fauna, and the cooperation with different people and organisations. I understand now much better why this work is so important and I am glad that I could be part of it. It was a kind of privilege and honour for me to assist in all the activities. The monitors were amazing, friendly, funny and have great knowledge. They have taught me a lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The monitors were beyond expectation and the field work was an unbelievable learning experience and I learnt a lot more than expected. Everything at the accommodation was lovely and clean. My highlight was being lucky enough to see the Wild Dogs released from the Boma. Overall an amazing time all round.
Amazing!!! I had a great experience and met so many nice people. The booking process, accommodation and field work, all way exceeded my expectations. It was great to see how the uMkhuze Cheetah cubs had grown since I last saw them 1 month before. My highlight from all my 8 weeks was the re-collaring of a Wild Dog on iMfolozi. But everything was a highlight because it was never boring. The whole experience was a highlight for me!!!
My experience was everything I had hoped it would be. The monitors were informative, charismatic and courteous. The admin staff was quick to respond to my inquiries regarding a Covid test and helping me secure my luggage, for which I am very appreciative. Lastly, Wildlife ACT provided me an opportunity to engage in noble conservation work that is dedicated to helping the animals I love. There are plenty of organizations that claim to do this but sadly not all actually follow through. I did my homework to find exactly the right fit to make a small contribution to a larger cause. Thank you all for allowing me to live this dream.
The field experience was outstanding. I enjoyed getting to have a hands-on experience with the Painted Dogs. The team at Manyoni Game Reserve is very knowledgeable and patient. There are so many highlights but the full process of darting and transporting the Painted Dogs and working side by side with vets was simply fantastic!
An absolutely incredible experience. Wildlife ACT and the whole conservation team are welcoming, professional, friendly, proficient, and impeccably hardworking. Their dedication to their positions and the wildlife in the Park is inspiring. The process was so smooth to book, and the team are so accommodating when it comes to transfers and taking time out to get Covid tests etc. Really excellent.It is very clear that the work carried out by the teams informs the management processes of the reserve, and although a lot of the work is reactive rather than proactive, it is crucial to keeping these animals safe. Every big change takes millions of tiny acts of effort, and that is what these monitors are doing every day; doing their bit to ensure the safety of the individual animal, and sharing the knowledge and the compassion with volunteers and park visitors, to hopefully inspire others to also do their own tiny acts of effort.Being present at the re-collaring of a cheetah was a major highlight! Absolutely amazing to be there during such a crucial part of the monitoring process. Thank you again to all the team for allowing us to be there.
It exceeded my overall expectations. All the members I came across were very helpful and prompt with answering any questions and it was overwhelming to assist and experience in the field the high quality and professional work done by Wildlife ACT for the conservation of endangered species. It's very comforting to know I was a tiny part of a real conservation project. Everything was very clear and the information you provided with pre-booking is very complete. My main difficulties were related with getting a Covid test for my return trip, but even that was sorted out with a couple of emails.Having in mind the true purpose of the project and the fact we are here to be volunteers and not on vacation, the accommodation was good. Our monitor (Jarryd) was very professional and fully dedicated to the conservation cause and his monitoring job. It was amazing to see such a young person, so worried about the animals, skipping meals, breaks, hours of sleep, just to make sure they were safe. He also keeps a good relationship with other park professionals, such as rangers, vets and park managers.
It was a very awesome time, which ended too fast. I have learned so much about the problems around conservation. I live in Germany and the problems are so far away and you don't know all about them, but now I know it's really time to do something. It's not a small thing to save all these different species and it needs a lot of time and many people to help. It was a very awesome and special experience which I will never forget.
I have had an amazing experience! The Parks are absolutely beautiful, the animals are awe-inspiring, and the people (volunteers and monitors) are fabulous. Everything way exceeded my expectations. I was only met with kindness and ease during the pre-arrival and arrival process. Seeing the Wild Dog puppies as well as the re-collaring of a Lion, but also so many more incredible animals, people, and experiences, have all been highlights. I don't think that I have smiled this much in a long time!
The overall experience was great fun; being able to see a variety of wildlife as well as being able to help with the tracking via telemetry as well as the complete surprise sightings (Black Rhino on our way back from tracking the Wild Dogs as one example). As well as being involved in the process of assisting the game wardens in locating and being present for the de-snaring of a Painted Dog. With the great company from both the other volunteers and the monitors through Wildlife ACT, also makes the experience a great plus. All the information supplied before arrival was clear and ensured that everything was correct and we knew what would happen in any instance.
Unreal. I have made new friends for life. This has literally given me a new lease on life and really helped me to visualize what I want to do with my life. I enjoyed that my work around the camp didn't go unnoticed. Maintenance around the camp was good as it kept me busy during the days. I will genuinely be coming back. Our monitors were welcoming and have a wealth of knowledge. They kept us on our toes and also kept us in tears of laughter throughout the two weeks with their stories from over the years.I will also definitely be suggesting the experience to family and friends. Everything way exceeded my expectations. Everything was very clear, organised and smooth sailing. The accommodation is everything you need. Field work was unreal. Taking daily turns allowed it to be shared around and didn't make it become boring. Was also good to learn more about genuine tracking and not just telemetry.
Excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed every day. We were given lots of opportunities and the fact that the Wild Dogs were being released from the boma whilst we were here, was just fantastic. Having previously volunteered in South Africa, I was hoping that this experience would be better, and it certainly was.The small group really helps and you really feel part of the team and that the monitoring work you do is valuable. The monitors are great and all the other staff that we met were very welcoming and thanked us for our support. It is quite apparent that the reserve staff rely on Wildlife ACT's work to help them run the reserve. They can be called on at anytime and are always happy to respond ASAP. They stick to the rules and give the lodge staff priority for their guests when necessary.
Fantastic! Amazing experience. I felt very much apart of the project, not just by viewing, but by being hands-on. I think we were very privileged to see the darting and release of Wild Dogs back into the wild. We got to see a variety of mammals and had a better understanding of how the projects are crucial to wildlife conservation. I feel I had the best experience even though the days were long.
I volunteered with Wildlife ACT in order to support their ongoing conservation efforts at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park after finding them through a number of travel website recommendations. Their primary species of focus, the African Wild Dog, holds a special place in my heart. It was the trip of a lifetime. If you’re interested in doing volunteer work abroad, working with animals, getting out of your comfort zone, truly experiencing other cultures, or taking some amazing photographs (yes they will be better than your food pictures) then this is the program for you. The booking process is simple and easy. They are there every step of the way to ensure you safely arrive at your destination, regardless of where you are coming from.
I had an amazing experience with professional men and women. I found what I was looking for: animals and a commitment to protecting them. The monitors are dynamic and happy to meet you. The other volunteers made up an excellent group and a good mix, which was a very good thing. Each person had found one place in the mission. A special thank for to the team and Marumo!
Amazing.I enjoyed everything, but we were also very fortunate to be part of and experience some very special things, including releasing the Wild Dogs and helping to track and find a Cheetah and his sister post darting. In addition to the events we experienced it was so good to feel that the work we were doing with Wildlife ACT had an important role to play in the running of the reserve,and also that the reserve management really appreciate it. Our monitor was also excellent - both very professional and also good fun.
My experience with Wildlife ACT exceeded expectations; and I was expecting (or at least hoping) for a lot. The monitors were personable, helpful, knowledgeable and professional. The opportunity to accompany the monitors on the vehicle each session, and to assist with locating the wildlife, was amazing. The experience was enhanced significantly by the generosity of each monitor in explaining what we were seeing or doing and by taking the time to allow us to absorb the countless magical encounters. Truly memories for a lifetime.The quality of the fieldwork experienced by the volunteers is determined by the expertise and energy of the monitors. Wildlife ACT seems to have assembled an all-star staff who appreciate the opportunity to share Africa with people from around the world. Because I was not familiar with Wildlife ACT, my initial contact was with the purpose of trying to develop confidence in the legitimacy of the organization. I found Bronwen very helpful in working me through the process. The Tembe Elephant Park research camp accommodations were also very comfortable, safe and easy to manage all daily living routines.Thanks go to the monitors who shaped the entire experience so positively.
I had an amazing experience with Wildlife ACT, which was different from my previous volunteering experiences. It was extremely interesting and enlightening to learn what daily monitoring is like. It is indeed not Disneyland, but looking for needles in a haystack every day is really exciting! The monitors obviously contribute to the fun with their passion for the bush and their commitment. Thanks guys!! My highlight was without a doubt the incredible chance to see the Nqholoti Pack and to participate in the darting and re-collaring of a dog. Totally unexpected and simply unforgettable!
I wouldn't change a thing and I'd go back in a heartbeat. This was the most awesome experience I've had and sharing time in the company of knowledgeable and dedicated professionals who go above and beyond to protect wildlife, will live with me forever. My pictures are a fantastic memory but do not give justice to the emotional roller-coaster; I've felt anger, relief, sadness and absolute joy during my 2 weeks and witnessed close-up the incredible work of the Wildlife ACT monitors, reserve management, staff and the vets. It's been an incredible adventure and I'll be back. (Can I book more sunshine?)
It was a magical experience. I learned a lot about the country and the work of monitoring and Zululand wildlife. Looking for the same animals regularly is perfect I think, because we get attached and learn to know them. This makes a huge difference compared to a safari where you only point at animals. The Wildlife ACT experience is just what I was looking for.
Outstanding!!! I am going to repeat it. Two weeks were definitely not enough! Living in the bush is like going back to your roots! Great experience! I can't give enough thanks to our extraordinary monitor Fi for making it even more exciting! Catching the sunrise at the best coffee spots was also so great.