Endangered Wildlife Conservation Project
in KwaZulu Big 5 Reserves
The Endangered Wildlife Conservation Project provides an unparalleled wildlife volunteer
experience! YOU will be directly involved with some of the most exciting endangered and
priority species conservation work in the heartbeat of Africa. Working with a professional
team (who are supported by WWF amongst others) on National reserves, YOU will monitor
endangered animals, such as cheetah, African wild dog, black rhino, as well as priority
species with a high ecological impact like elephant, lion, rhino, hyaena, leopard and
buffalo.
If you want to experience genuine conservation work, find out what Africa is really about,
and have the wildlife experience of a lifetime, this experience is for YOU.
What will you do?
You will work side by side with our professional wildlife monitors, assisting them with all
monitoring activities. As one of only five team members, you will be part of an agile and
efficient team. Working out in the bush every day, monitoring work will include:
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Tracking endangered and priority wildlife from an open top 4x4 vehicle - locating
animals via radio or satellite telemetry
Mapping sightings using GPS equipment
Photographing and create identity kits of individuals where needed
Setting-up camera traps at watering holes and alongside game trails
Night tracking of animals, for example hyaena
Recording behavioural and feeding patterns for research purposes
Adding to ongoing large-scale game counts
Activities that occur when the need arises, and that you might be lucky enough to
experience, include:
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Fitting tracking and anti-snare collars onto animals
Relocation and re-introduction of endangered species
Notching (identity marking) animals like rhino
Bird capture and ringing
Alien plant control
Why is our work important?
Wildlife monitoring is an essential part of keeping track of animal movement patterns,
habitat utilisation, and population demographics. More importantly, it provides early
identification of snaring and poaching incidents of endangered wildlife species. This
valuable information, which you help gather, has numerous management applications.
This includes planning successful introduction and removal strategies for endangered
and priority species.
The program monitoring projects collaborate with local conservation authorities and
NGO’s, including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife,
Wildlife iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority
Authority,
ty the WWF,
WWF
Wildlands Conservation Trust,
Trust the Endangered Wildlife Trust,
rust the Black Rhino Range
Expansion Project and the KZN Wild Dog Management Group.
Where is the project based?
The project is based in Zululand, South Africa; an area well known for its spectacular
biodiversity - high concentrations of unique species of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
and plants.
The reserves
reserves you can experience are one or more of the following:
following:
(Please note that your likelihood of working on more than one
reserve increases according to the length of your stay.
Volunteers staying for two weeks will only spend time on one
reserve)
HluhluweHluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HiP)
Set in the heart of Zululand, and established in 1895, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) is one
of the oldest Game Reserves in South Africa. Part of the land was the exclusive hunting
preserve of the Zulu King Shaka, who protected the area by proclaiming 'conservation'
laws. iMfolozi is also famously responsible for saving the southern white rhino from
certain extinction. Today, Africa's "Magnificent 7" (lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino, leopard,
African wild dog and cheetah) stalk the flourishing savannah. The reserve covers a
massive 96,000 hectares, containing an immense diversity of fauna and flora. The Wildlife
ACT team focuses its efforts in the iMfolozi section on monitoring cheetah, leopard,
African wild dog and rhino, making extensive use of innovative monitoring techniques,
including the use of remote-camera traps.
Mkhuze Game Reserve
Reserve
A place of great beauty and high contrasts, Mkhuze is renowned for
its astonishing diversity of natural habitats; from the eastern slopes
of the Ubombo Mountains along its eastern boundary, to broad
stretches of acacia savannah, swamps, a variety of woodlands and
riverine forests, and a rare type of sand forest. The reserve
constitutes the northwestern spur of the recently declared World
Heritage Site: the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. Despite having
no lion, the reserve offers an abundance of wildlife, including the “Big 5” and endangered
species such as black rhino, cheetah, African wild dog and vultures, which form the
team’s main focus.
Tembe Elephant Park
Situated in Northern Zululand, and adjoining the Mozambique border, Tembe is home to
over 200 African elephants, and a rich diversity of wildlife - including the “Big 5”, with
black and white rhino, buffalo, hippo, leopard, lion, African wild dog, and various antelope
species. Despite having no cheetah, Tembe is famous for having the world’s biggest
elephants. They are massive! At Tembe you will focus on monitoring lions, elephant and
African wild dogs.
Zimanga Game Reserve
Zimanga Private Game Reserve is an 9000ha private reserve, situated in northern
KwaZulu-Natal. With the Mkuze River meandering through the heart of the reserve, and
the Lebombo Mountain range in the distance, along with a prolific diversity of wildlife, it
is a real piece of paradise. The reserve has a high diversity of species including the
endangered African wild dog, Cheetah and Vultures as well as priority species Rhino,
Elephant and Leopard, and over 300 recorded bird species, Zimanga has plenty to offer
in terms of unbelievable sightings. (Zimanga is the Zulu base word for something
‘unbelievable’).
Zimanga reintroduced African Wild Dogs to the reserve in 2009. The initial reintroduction
took place following the need to relocate a pack of three remaining animals from the
Mkhuze Game Reserve pack – which was a welcome step for the KwaZulu-Natal
managed metapopulation.
There are now 4 managed African Wild Dog populations within KwaZulu-Natal’s protected
areas (namely, on Tembe National Elephant Park, Mkhuze Game Reserve, HluhluweiMfolozi Park and Zimanga Private Game Reserve).
Zululand Rhino Reserve ( ZRR )
Zululand Rhino Reserve (ZRR) lies within the Msunduzi valley in northern Zululand, in the
province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The area falls under the Mkuze Valley Lowveld
vegetation type, varying from open Savanna thornveld, bushveld to riverine woodland,
characterized by Acacia’s and Marula tree species. The reserve has over 70 Mammal
species and an exceptional diversity of birdlife.
The Zululand Rhino Reserve was established in 2004 and comprises of 17 landowners
who have dropped their internal fences to create a big 5, endangered species reserve.
The WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project was the conduit for the formation of the
reserve.
Somkhanda Game Reserve
Somkhanda Game Reserve is a community-owned game reserve managed by
“Wildlands Conservation Trust”, in partnership with the Gumbi community. The reserve
is situated in northern KwaZulu-Natal and is 12 500 ha in extent; is bordered by the
Mkhuze River in the south.
Somkhanda is the first community-owned reserve to be proclaimed under the Protected
Areas Management Act, meaning that this community has committed their land to
biodiversity conservation for the foreseeable future.
Accommodation during your stay
You will be based inside the reserve itself, and share
accommodation with, at most, 4 other people. The accommodation
is basic, but comfortable. Most people will share a twin room, (which
makes it perfectly suited for couples). There are separate, shared
toilets and a living/eating area. The camp has electricity, warm
running water and flushing toilets. A
bed, mattress, and bed linens are
provided, but please bring your own towels. An outside
seating area is available where you can sit by the campfire
under the stars.
Due to the fact that most camps do not have fencing, you
can expect visits from various animals during the day and
at night.
Each camp has a communal kitchen where everybody helps to prepare meals. Everything
you need is provided, including an oven, stovetop, microwave, solar cooker, and of
course a fire to cook on. If you have different tastes or diets to other volunteers, you are
also free to prepare your own meals separately.
How long can I stay?
You can join the project in multiples of 2 weeks, i.e. for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks.
Because we work on 4 game reserves across Zululand, you have the opportunity to work
on multiple reserves. If you stay for only 2 weeks, you will work on 1 reserve. For every
additional 2 weeks that you stay, you will get to experience another reserve. By joining
our team for 8 weeks, you will get to experience the diversity of all the reserves we work
on, and get a taste of the different conservation work being done on each reserve.
Getting Here
Getting here is easy! The easiest way is for you to book your international flight through
any airline of your choice, arriving in Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International Airport),
and then book a connecting domestic flight from Johannesburg to Richards Bay (our
closest airport).
For flights into Richards Bay visit www.flysaa.com or check with your local travel agent. If
you arrive in Johannesburg or Richards Bay on an earlier date, you can stay over as long
as needed until pick-up on Monday.
Why choose this program?
program?
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The experience is unmatched in terms of the diversity of species and type of work
we do
We are the only organisation to work across a number of Reserves. This means you
will have the opportunity to experience a variety of conservation work done on
unique and different Reserves.
We are the only organisations to work on National game
reserves (other volunteer organisations work solely on
Private Reserves)
We are the only volunteer programme in South Africa
supported by and work with high profile organisations
including WWF, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Wildlands
Conservation Trust, Wild Dog Advisory Group and Black
Rhino Range Expansion Project to mention a few.
To do effective monitoring work, we keep our teams small. No more than 5 people
are allowed per reserve at any given time. This way the team stays agile and every
member gets actively involved in conservation work, and allows for an intimate and
personable experience. Unlike so many other volunteer projects, we are not a
safari where up to 10 people get on one vehicle and as many as 30 volunteers on
one private reserve!
The work we do is important, and forms part of genuine conservation programmes
and does not only pay lip service to conservation.
"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
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 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. Julia Herold - Germany
My 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
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 – USA
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! I absolutely loved my trip to South Africa and I'm very glad I decided to go
with Wildlife ACT, as I experienced things I believe I would not have encountered if I'd chosen
another organisation. 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