South African Research Volunteering

Volunteer in South Africa for 4, 8 or 12 weeks. Track lions, elephants and rhinos, observe and record their behaviour, look for and collar new leopards, learn about conservation research techniques, assist with data processing, learn the skills required of a safari guide and qualify with the Field Guide Association of South Africa.

This Yomps responsible volunteering adventure gives you the opportunity to aid the conservation of a unique and spectacular part of South Africa; making it a fantastic and worthwhile way to spend a gap year, sabbatical or holiday. Whether you are looking for a career in conservation or just want to go on the trip of a lifetime, being a volunteer in South Africa will provide you with the memories of a lifetime.

For anywhere between 4 to 12 weeks you will live deep in the heart of the South African bush seeing awe-inspiring sites, enjoying exciting activities and having fantastic adventures volunteering in South Africa. You are based on a huge 30,000 ha game reserve teeming with an amazing array of game that includes rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards and antelope. The base is located 50 km from the largest game reserve in South Africa, Kruger National Park, making it the perfect place for anyone who wants to volunteer in South Africa and see the full variety of amazing wildlife it is home to.

Working alongside professional researchers, you will track lions, elephants and rhino; recording their behaviour to aid an intensive predator and wildlife monitoring programme. Each day you will go on two game drives to track lions using telemetry equipment, following their trail for many hours collecting valuable data. You will also be involved in projects that habituate and develop identification kits for elephant populations, monitor conditions of white rhino populations, and collar and habituate resident leopards.

Anyone staying eight weeks or longer can become a member of FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) and sit a written exam to gain a Level One theory certificate. As well as looking impressive on any CV, this certificate will give you fantastic knowledge, being of special interest to anyone who wants to pursue a career in conservation.

You will have lectures on subjects such as ecology, trees, grasses and mammals, and be given access to a reference library to study towards the exam. In the evenings you can relax and eat under the South African stars to the amazing sounds of the bush. When the sun comes to set on the whole of your spectacular safari, you will be dreaming for years to come of the life changing experience you enjoyed in South Africa.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.yomps.co.uk/trip-search/trips/12573