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We take your safety seriously and have partnered with organisations to help you prepare for your experience of a lifetime:
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We give you the chance to offset your carbon emissions from your flight by contributing to Climate Care. More>> |
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We aim to promote sustainable behaviours both in the UK office and through our participants in overseas placements. More>> |
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 Hands on Big 5 South Africa
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Our Conservation Project is the ultimate Big 5 "Bush and Beach" experience, where you get the opportunity to get hands-on involved in conservation management as well as exploring South Africa's amazing coastline. |
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This Big 5 reserve is an extraordinary and exciting conservation area, at the forefront of numerous species reintroductions and conservation drives. While getting involved in every aspect of conservation management on the reserve, you will grow your skills in conservation and have the experience of a life time.
| Closest Town: |
Kenton-on-Sea (near Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape) |
| Country: |
South Africa |
| Details: |
Rural – coastal bush, conservation area. Nearest town is Kenton-on-Sea (a small seaside town) |
Plunge into a hands-on conservation project in one of South Africa's most scenic Big 5 game reserves. While getting involved in every aspect of conservation management on the reserve, you will grow your skills in conservation and have the experience of a lifetime. Your work will include habitat rehabilitation; elephant impact monitoring, game counts, telemetry tracking of lions and much more. If conservation management on a reserve in Africa is your interest, then this is the project for you!
While volunteering you may see yourself as an 'Assistant Conservation Manager'. All the work done and data collected by you will be utilized by the reserve's Conservation Department. As a volunteer you therefore derive a good deal of satisfaction from your work, as your efforts directly contribute to improving the reserve. Some of the activities may be hard physical work, and a certain level of determination from your side will be required. All we require is that you help with the tasks to the best of your abilities and to do everything with lots of enthusiasm. As long as you try your best, it is good enough for us!
Conservation Management:
These activities form a large part of the volunteer program. The reserve's needs at the time are taken into account and as a volunteer you will help to fulfil those needs. Management activities could include: game counts, soil erosion control, reserve clean-up operations, road maintenance, habitat rehabilitation, alien vegetation control and parasite control for animals.
Research Projects:
- One of our long term research projects is elephant impact monitoring. This involves monitoring elephant movement patterns, range utilization and vegetation impact with the aid of telemetry.
- You'll aid in elephant identification BY recording each elephant's unique ear markings.
- Lion and hyena tracking with the aid of telemetry as certain lions on the reserve are fitted with radio collars.
- The Birds in Reserves Project (BIRP) involves preparing a catalogue of the birds, their numbers and their breeding status in the reserve.
Other Activities:
- Bush walks and game drives: identifying and studying mammals, plants and birds and their behaviour.
- Capturing of wild animals: only when required by the reserve. Recent volunteers had the opportunity to assist with giraffe, rhino and elephant capture.
- Game introduction: when required by the reserve. We recently released hyena back into the area.
- Fire management: important for savannah ecosystems (depending on the time of year and fire regimes).
- Camping out in the bush and sleeping around a campfire under the African sky.
- Coastal systems ecology involves fun time on the beach while learning about the ecology of rocky shores.
Community Development Project:
Our volunteers assist at a local rural farm school as part of our community outreach project (normally one day a week). Our help is in the form of teaching, giving sport lessons and helping with maintenance of the school's facilities. Come and make a real difference!
Theory:
Each volunteer will receive their own booklet that can be kept. The booklet is carefully compiled and will aid you during your stay. Informal lectures will be given on specific topics throughout your stay. The four main subjects that will be explored, are outlined in the booklet and are namely: Principles of conservation; Field skills and survival; Habitat management; Game management
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Accommodation: |
Volunteers are accommodated in a renovated, fully furnished house on the reserve - comfortable but not luxurious.
- You will be sharing bedrooms and there are communal bathrooms.
- There are no internet or telephone facilities at the volunteer house for volunteers to use. |
Meals: |
- All the ingredients for three basic meals a day is provided. Volunteers are divided into cooking teams and the volunteers themselves at the house make all meals.
- Volunteers are also responsible for washing up and keeping the kitchen clean and tidy.
- The meals are basic, for example cereals, porridge and toast for breakfast; sandwiches for lunch and a pasta dish and salad for supper.
- If volunteers wish to add ingredients to meals that are not available to them at the volunteer house, they can buy it on town trip days at their own expense.
- Meals that volunteers eat at restaurants on town-trip days, are at own expense. |
Transport: |
- Volunteers live on the Reserve, and their transport on the reserve will be on an open game viewing vehicle.
- Volunteers may get transported on an open pick-up truck to Kenton-On-Sea (small town) |
What’s included: |
- 3 basic meals per day - breakfast, lunch and supper
- Accommodation - shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms
- Laundry - done by domestic helper
- All local transport costs including airport pick-ups from Port Elizabeth airport on Monday morning before 10am, or pick-up from Backpackers of your choice on Monday morning (if flight arrives in Port Elizabeth on Sunday)
- Town-trips once a week or once every two weeks
- 5 days a week work experience, helping the Conservation Department with management work on the reserve. |
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Minimum Duration: |
2 Week(s) |
Maximum Duration: |
12 Week(s) |
| Visa required: |
If staying less than 90 days free “Visitors Visa” obtainable on arrival. If staying longer than 90 days, applicant must arrange for own visa for duration of stay in South Africa |
| Any Closure Dates (public or school holidays): |
16 June 2008 – 29 June 2008 (2 weeks)
15 September 2008 – 28 September 2008 (2 weeks)
22 December 2008 – 11 January 2009 (3 weeks) |
| What’s not included: |
- The cost of a visa in the case of your volunteer stay being longer than 90 days
- Medical Insurance, which must include work, emergency evacuation. Please make sure you understand how your medical insurance works in South Africa as TWIN will be unable to pay for any doctors accounts or the like in lieu of being refunded by the medical scheme
- Use of Phone: use own Mobile or phone You2Africa's Toll free number
- Accommodation at Backpackers of your choice in Port Elizabeth if your flight arrives before Monday start of project
- Entertainment costs over the weekends.
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- International flights are not included
- Please arrange your flight to arrive at Port Elizabeth
- All of Twin’s volunteer placements are in partnership with recognised Charities, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), government ministries or registered agents, giving you the confidence to work with reputable organisations.
- Comprehensive insurance is available for each of the volunteer placements, please click here for full details.
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| Is the work at the project physically dangerous? |
It can be. Any work done in any "Big 5" Game Reserve in Africa can be potentially dangerous. Wild animals remain unpredictable and therefore when we enter their domain we should do so with care and apply the necessary skills needed. Your volunteer co-ordinator will not put any volunteer at risk though and he/she has the safety of the volunteers as a number 1 priority. There may be however certain dangerous elements that the volunteer co-ordinator cannot control, like snakes, scorpions etc. |
| Details: |
Wild animals are WILD, so caution must be exercised!
Please make sure your Tetanus Shots are up to date. |
Any potential health risks
(Egg HIV, scabies, pollution): |
Generally, HIV/AIDS is extremely prevalent in South Africa so it is your personal responsibility to take extreme cares with regards to sexual relationships. |
| Programme DETAILS: |
| Other Skills: |
Volunteers need to be reasonably fit and able to be out all day – there is hard physical work! |
| Resource Rating: |
Project is well resourced with all necessary equipment supplied |
| Communication at Project: |
Phone |
| Suggested Resources: |
Comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting dirty
Project is well resourced with all necessary equipment supplied |
| What To Bring: |
Own Cell/Mobile phone, Driver's License (if you have one), a money belt (for carrying your money/cell phone/camera safely), and loads of enthusiasm!
Any stationary that can be donated to the rural farm school where volunteers might be assisting would be most welcome. The children are very poor and things that you may take for granted, they appreciate very much, such as: pencils, pens, writing books, rubbers, pocket calculator, colour pens, files, paper glue, ruler … anything that you’d need in a school
Essentials:
- Short sleeve shirts and/or T shirts
- Long work trousers and shorts (Or work trousers with zip-off longs)
- Hiking Boots and long socks
- Rain jacket (a "must have" as it can rain all year round)
- Sweat shirt/Fleece (Winter months May – Aug)
- Padded parka jacket/windbreaker (it can get very cold on an open vehicle - even on a summer evening)
- Daypack rucksack
- Sleeping Bag – for sleep outs
- Gloves for working
- Warm Hat and Gloves for warmth in winter months (May – Aug)
- Casual clothes for evenings
- Trainers/running shoes
- Bath towel and Beach towel
- Swimming costume, Sun Hat and Sunscreen (even when it is cold you can burn!)
- Toiletries
- Tick / insect repellent
- Binoculars (a definite "must-have" as you will miss out on a lot if you do not have a pair)
Other useful items:
Good flash-light /torch, Water bottle, Camera, Spare batteries /rechargeable battery set, Sunglasses (to keep the dust out of your eyes as well as the sun!), Personal medical goodies, Cards/CD's, Notebook and pen.
You may not be able to bring everything when you fly into South Africa, but you can by everything you need in Port Elizabeth (Shops closed Saturday afternoons & Sunday) |
| Important Cultural INFORMATION: |
- South Africa has a mix of people from all over Africa, but you may still encounter racial prejudice despite Apartheid being over 13 years. In the Eastern Cape you will find a mix of Xhosa, English and Afrikaans speaking South Africans, each with its own unique culture and traditions.
- South Africans normally have some form of faith; mostly either Christian, Muslim or African Traditional
- Volunteers need to dress modestly
- South African culture is very warm and people communicate a lot through touch and close proximity - this should not be misinterpreted as a sexual advance!
- South Africans are often very loud, and not terribly punctual. You will discover that things happen according to "African Time"
- Like most Third World countries, South Africa has very rich and very poor living side by side: you will encounter poverty in the form of people begging in the streets and a huge section of the population living in shacks.
- This particular region in the Eastern Cape is called the Albany District or Sunshine Coast and known all across South Africa for its relaxed atmosphere, and warm and friendly people. The only thing that might take getting used to be just exactly how relaxed and friendly this area in the Eastern Cape is!
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| Accommodation and Food DETAIL: |
- There is a lecture room, a lounge with a T.V, dining room and a fully equip kitchen with a fridge, stove, microwave, cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils.
- If a safe for cash and valuables are required, volunteers can use the safe at reception.
- Please bear in mind that the house is in the middle of a "Big 5" game reserve, so therefore one cannot walk outside the boundaries of the garden fence.
- The volunteer programme’s domestic helper, Somalia, does all the laundry. Please note that the laundry is fairly basic, and expensive clothes go into the wash at your own risk. Somalia also assists the volunteers in cleaning the house. Volunteers are however responsible for keeping their accommodation clean and tidy at all times (including washing up after themselves in the kitchen).
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| Is Smoking Permitted? |
Smoking is not permitted in the volunteer house |
| Food Full Details: |
All the ingredients for three basic meals a day is provided. Volunteers are divided into cooking teams and the volunteers themselves at the house make all meals. Volunteers are also responsible for washing up and keeping the kitchen clean and tidy. The meals are basic, for example cereals, porridge and toast for breakfast; sandwiches for lunch and a pasta dish and salad for supper. If volunteers wish to add ingredients to meals, or have special dietary requirements, they can buy what they need on town trip days at their own expense. |
| Description Of Area: |
Kenton-On-Sea is a beautiful small coastal town only 20 minutes drive from the reserve. The beaches are absolutely breath-taking and pristine. Your local "hang-out" is a pub / restaurant overlooking this stunning beach. After their Saturday morning shopping in Kenton (volunteers can stock up on everyday essentials), volunteers often laze around on the beach, swim in the waves or sit in the beach bar while sipping away on a cold drink and taking in the scenery. There are the following services in Kenton-On-Sea: small grocery store, pharmacy, post office, police station, doctor, stationary shop, internet cafe (computers not always in good working order though) and a small beach clothing shop.
Grahamstown is a vibey student town famous for Rhodes University and is 30 minutes drive from the reserve. Port Alfred is also a coastal town, a bit bigger than Kenton, and is also about 30 minutes drive from the reserve. Both Grahamstown and Port Alfred have good doctors and most services and products that one would need.
Port Elizabeth is an hour and a half drive from the Game Reserve. There are two very good private hospitals in Port Elizabeth - Greenacres and St Georges Hospital.
Please note, there are only cash points in Kenton-On-Sea for Mastercard, Visa etc. (no big banks in Kenton). Travellers Cheques in a foreign currency are not recommended as there is nowhere to exchange them. |
| Location And Transport Detail: |
| Distance From Accommodation: |
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Shops |
Internet |
Police |
CLINIC |
Entertainment |
Beach |
City |
Walk |
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Drive |
15minutes |
15minutes |
15 minutes |
30 minutes |
30minutes |
10 minutes |
1h30 minutes |
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| Distance between Accommodation & Project: |
none |
| Description of area around program: |
Rural, coastal bush land with wild animals |
| Arrival And Orientation: |
Volunteers need to arrive at Port Elizabeth airport on 1st Monday of month BEFORE 10am and they will be collected by the project. Alternatively, volunteers can arrive in Port Elizabeth a few days before, (either by bus from Cape Town, or flying into Port Elizabeth from Cape Town or Johannesburg) and stay at a Backpackers of their choice, at their own cost. Please inform You2Africa well in advance which Backpackers you need to be collected from. A taxi and representative from the Game Reserve carrying a card with your name will meet you either at the airport or at the Backpackers.
Upon arrival at the game reserve, volunteers get taken straight to the house that they will be staying in. Volunteers will be given a room and shown around the premises.
Orientation generally starts the next day but depends on the time of arrival. Generally a site inspection is done first, where the volunteer co-ordinator drives the volunteers around and show them the property. One of the first lectures that the volunteers receive is with regards to "Principles of Conservation". This is an informal lecture that gets everyone thinking about what conservation is really about and "why am I here".
Note: it is only safe to use public transport in daylight, and never board an empty minibus taxi after dark, or get on an empty train coach. Always travel during daylight times and do not isolate yourself.
Additional activities can be organised for you on condition that a few others in the group want to partake in the activity) like horse riding on the beach, river rafting, sky diving, deep sea fishing and whale watching. |
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- 2 weeks: £1145
- Additional Price Per Week: £450
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