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To apply for an

Enkosini Eco Experience

volunteer project:

ENDANGERED SPECIES MONITORING PROJECT

(Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa)

The Endangered Species Monitoring Project is based between three different game reserves in the Kwa Zulu Natal province of South Africa - the Mkuze Game Reserve, Pongola Game Reserve and Thanda Game Reserve.  We are currently expanding onto four more reserves in this Zululand region!

Volunteer Work

Daily activities will include... more to come...

Other Activities

Our field sites are within 2 hours drive of several towns including Mkuze, Mtubatuba and Richards Bay, but there is no public transport to town.  Volunteers will have an opportunity to visit town approximately once every week in coordination with trips to collect food and supplies. The nearest towns are small but have all the usual amenities, including medical doctors, supermarkets, internet cafes and restaurants.

Some of our field sites are situated in a world heritage site and are the foundation for black and white rhino conservation in the world.  We are also near world famous dive sites along South Africa's eastern coast on the Indian Ocean, the St Lucia world heritage sites, the heartland of the Zulu culture, and the superb Drakensberg Mountains.

Field Conditions

The field conditions vary depending on the different sites. Sometimes volunteers will sleep in a farm-house or hut/cabin but volunteers must also be prepared to live in a tent. Nevertheless, all sites have modern, but basic, communal kitchen and bathroom facilities. The climate at the field sites can be varied. Volunteers should not underestimate how hot and cold South Africa can be – both warm and cool clothing is required.

In the spirit of ‘field camp life’ volunteers will be expected to share in the domestic activities in camp. That means contributing to cooking and cleaning.  We have found that volunteers who are prepared to share in the day-to-day domestic activities of the group have a richer experience and positive interaction with their volunteer and researcher hosts. Activities ‘back-at-camp’ will include sharing in cooking, cleaning, equipment repair and maintenance, and data capture on the research computer. 

Volunteers are required to sign indemnity forms acknowledging and accepting the consequences of working in close contact with wild animals in the African bush. Applicants must be over 18 years old.

Training / Qualifications

Soon after arrival, volunteers will be given an orientation including a visual introduction to the larger ideas and goals that are the background to the research project, including our current understanding of the various priority species' behaviour and ecology, and a tour of the field site and reserve where you will be working. Full training in radio telemetry and GPS tracking in the African bush will also be given.

For those volunteers who stay for 4 weeks or more, we can provide you with a letter of reference detailing your contribution, experience and accomplishment during your stay. The program is designed to train and educate volunteers to a level of competence as a field assistant in a way that will facilitate future opportunities for you.  The more interested you are in working in the field again, the more beneficial a longer stay will be!

Costs