Safari Ranger Project

BETA VERSION CODE VGS128

The Big Five Wild project offers you a unique experience in the African bush and gives you the opportunity to observe and be a part of the research/monitoring teams on the reserve. The focus of the this project revolves around some of our key species; elephants, lions, hyenas and leopards. You will also be involved in monitoring our breeding initiatives comprising buffalo, livingston eland and nyala. Habitat work also plays an important part of the monitoring process. Whether on a monitoring drive, on foot, or observing the wildlife at a waterhole, all of your work will be done under the guidance of our qualified rangers.

Project Highlights

Learning about South African wildlife conservation
Going on game drives and seeing wild animals up close
Experiencing what it is like to live in the bush
You will be living close to many wild animals in the bush. Nothing beats being surrounded by a herd of elephants or a pride of lions and being able to spend time observing their individual traits and family dynamics.

Volunteer Requirements

CV/Resumé
Basic level of competency in English
Medium level of fitness
18 years of age or older

Whether on a monitoring drive, on foot, or observing the wildlife at a waterhole, all of your work will be done under the guidance of our qualified rangers. As each activity has a pre-determined objective, you don’t only get to view the animals, but are also able to assist in their conservation. You will be living close to many wild animals in the bush. Nothing beats being surrounded by a herd of elephants or a pride of lions and being able to spend time observing their individual traits and family dynamics.

At the end of the day you will return to the camp to fall asleep to the sounds of the bush.

Volunteer Tasks

Volunteer tasks are focused on monitoring, which forms the basis for the majority of our research assistance on the reserve. We conduct monitoring drives in the mornings and afternoons. The monitoring coincides with times of increased activity of the specific animals we are observing. We also spend time on foot tracking the more elusive animals, which is an amazing way to experience the bush. During the drier winter months, we have several hides based at waterholes which allow you to observe the various animals and their interactions at close quarters. The volunteers will also spend time attending to habitat management requirements on the properties and the greater reserve.

Included

- - Return Transfer from Johannesburg Airport
  - All meals
  - Accommodation
  - 24 hour support and supervisor
  - Donation to the project
  - 2 day Johannesburg orientation
  - Certificate of completion

Accommodation
The volunteer house accommodates a maximum of 10 volunteers in five cosy rooms which sleep two people in a shared space. Each room has a washbasin and an en suite bathroom, which is shared with the adjoining room, consisting of a shower with hot running water provided by eco-friendly solar heaters and flushing toilets. The camp has no fence around it so you will see free roaming animals and birdlife during the day.

Next door is the kitchen with an outside eating area. The kitchen offers cooking facilities for volunteers to prepare their breakfast, lunch and dinner. The fridge is always filled up with fresh veggies and fruit, cheese and a variety of meat. Volunteers may help themselves to tea, coffee, cereal and toast in the morning. For a late brunch you can make sandwiches or salads or have a tasty fry-up. In the evening, after the game drive, the volunteers cook a delicious meal together or just braai (South African BBQ) in our Boma, where we light up the fire after sunset. In the evenings we spend most of the time under the South African stars and start a fire in the boma. We sit around enjoying a well earned drink and an amazing dinner, telling stories of the day’s adventures.