BIG FIVE Game Parks conservation project in South Africa

YOUR WORK

Volunteer Polly Tayler helping to put a collar on an elephant in Phinda, so that it can be monitored and data about it collected

The work involved in all the Big Five Game Reserves is varied and fascinating and a large part of it is devoted to researching and collecting data in the field.

The nature of the projects you'll be involved in will depend on which Game Park you choose and which projects are taking place at the time you're there. All the projects will give you ample opportunity to see the various species of game within the park.

Generally you'll be involved in some or all of the following:

Collecting valuable information on the number and density of various species. This is to determine their numbers, habitat, pack size and other useful data.
You'll also assist in ascertaining the different habitat uses for different purposes by different herbivores. Monitoring is mostly done by vehicle, but when done on foot, it means you could walk as much as 15 km through the African bush.
Monitoring the interaction of one species on other species within the environment.
Plant collection and plant growth and phenology monitoring - determining how much of a plant is made up by buds, young and mature leaves, flowers, etc., and making growth measurements on individual plants
Trapping, photographing and releasing small mammals. Photography is used a lot to identify specific animals who can then be monitored for growth, migration patterns and other much needed data.
Back at base camp, you'll cross-reference the photos with existing data and make detailed notes of when and where they were subsequently spotted. This helps to establish patterns in the data.
Mapping game paths
If you have any experience of working with snakes, you could also collect (and subsequently release), photograph, identify and prepare for housing snakes and reptiles.
Observing and recording species of birds over particular intervals during the day
Monitoring and recording the types of feeding done by various types of animals
Mapping elephant and other game paths
Generally assisting with elephant monitoring
Also monitoring other other species, the variety of which will depend on which Game Park you're allocated to.
Entering the data collected during each week into a spreadsheet

A typical day would be getting up very early in the morning (anything from around 4.00 a.m. to about 6.00 a.m.) to go out into the field to do monitoring or transects.

Work starts early because the heat in the middle of the day is intense and out in the bush is not the best place to be at that time! Seeing and hearing the wildlife starting to awaken at sunrise is an unforgettable experience and you'll find your excitement rising in anticipation as you set out into the Park.

You’ll probably return to camp in the late morning. After a siesta and food, you’ll quite likely spend the afternoon inputting data onto the computers or generally updating notes on what you’ve been doing and the information that you and other volunteers have collected during the morning.

Later, it is possible that you’ll go out again to do more work in the Reserve.

This won’t take place every day – your work will be dictated by what is required at the time and work schedules and content can change from one day to the next. You should therefore be prepared to be adaptable and patient, because conservation doesn’t always work to time or a date calendar.

Travellers works very closely with the University of Natal on projects and their expertise and knowledge ensures that you will gain a lot of experience and learning from your placement in these Reserves.

Volunteers in the Research Office at Tembe

YOUR ACCOMMODATION

Depending on which Game Reserve you're in, you could live in the camp in the Game Reserve, in a comfortable room (maybe sharing with one other volunteer), or possibly in a house on-site. At times you may live in a tent when you're out in the field. There are usually good shower facilities, a kitchen area and/or a barbecue area. The setting is always beautiful, as you can imagine in a Game Reserve, and you'll feel very much in tune with the African bush.

It’s also possible (depending on the work required at the time you’re there) that you may spend a week or two at a time, and possibly much longer, out in the reserve in tents, doing monitoring, etc.

Food will either be supplied and sometimes your meals will be prepared for you or you'll be given a monthly budget and you'll have to prepare them yourself. Self-preparation will give you lots of chances for barbecues, a very popular form of eating in South Africa. Generally everyone mucks in and helps when it comes to meals!

Please note that these are Game Reserves and that facilities like access to the Internet are likely to not be available.

TRAVEL:

You have the option to arrange your own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.) Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up before leaving for your placement.

Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable ticket. We meet you at the airport regardless of whether you make your own travel arrangements or not.

You will usually fly into the Airport in Johannesburg where, stopover time permitting, you will be met at the airport. From there you have a choice of onward transport, but the most popular is to go by Baz Bus, with an overnight stop probably in Swaziland, taking you to Kwa-Zulu Natal. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the fascinating countryside.

On arrival in Kwa-Zulu Natal you'll be met and taken to your placement.

VISAS:. In countries where visas or immigration documents are required, we'll send you all the necessary forms and information and make the process very easy for you.

To read about the extensive Support & Backup we provide in our countries, please click here.

We can also arrange your flight dates to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and wondrous country!

Left: These lions were darted to sedate them so that they could be checked over by the vets and inoculated. They were released back into the wild, healthier and none the worse for their doctor's appointment!