Umkhondo Big 5 Volunteer Program
R25,300 | Contact us for 2013 rates | Back to previous page
The Program
The Umkhondo Volunteer Project’s goal is to offer participants the absolutely incomparable volunteer experience in practical knowledge and diverse hands-on encounters with the world famous “Big-Five” animals of Africa – The Lion, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and Rhinoceros, as well as a multitude of other wild animals found here in Africa.
As a volunteer, you will learn numerous facets of operating a wildlife game reserve, make memories that will last you a lifetime and more importantly, you will contributing to returning some of Africa’s lands back to their original state – an African savannah teaming with wildlife.
- Gametracking + relocation
- Tracking + monitoring of released cheetah
- Managing + maintaining the cheetah breeding project
- Elephant interactions + upkeep of their boma’s
- Lion monitoring
- Training on approaching wild animals on foot
- Mineral and medical darting, when needed
- Two day survival camp
- Snake handling + reptile park upkeep
- Community involvement, e.g. sustainability + conservation
- Wildlife immobilization when needed
- Wildlife nutrition and feeding
- Game counts and species recording
- General reserve duties: erosion control, vegetation rehabilitation and road + fence maintenance
Volunteers will be involved in creating community awareness, expanding the existing reserve and working on the successful cheetah breeding program. Here you will experience what it’s like to work on and run a Big Five game reserve set against the majestic Langeberg Mountain Range on the world famous Garden Route Coast in South Africa.
Course Instructors
- Hein Schoeman – Founder & Director (Bio)
- Kim Schoeman – Managing Director
- Liezel – Field Specialist
- Russouw – Field Specialist
Eligibility:
Veterinary and biology volunteers as well as animal lovers will benefit greatly from this project and should be in good physical health and fitness because of the demanding nature of work on the reserve.
Location:
Mossel Bay, South Africa. For two weeks of the course you will be staying at the Oceans Campus, whilst the remaining two weeks will be spent living on the Garden Route Game Lodge
Cost Breakdown
Includes
Confidence that every effort is made to ensure your safety & enjoyment during your stay, rapid pre-departure support & information, introduction, orientation to projects & colleagues, thorough orientation to area, continuous project support & feedback sessions, accommodation, 3 meals per day, travel arrangements to and from projects (on allocated days), project related transport, assistance with optional activities & tours, 24/7 emergency support, phone sim card, t-shirt, survival course (camping), post-project involvement & updates
Excludes
Flights & visas, travel insurance (necessity!), optional excursions & activities, post placement transport
Syllabus
Practical
Game tracking & relocation, tracking & monitoring released cheetah, managing & maintaining the cheetah breeding project, elephant interactions & upkeep of elephant boma’s, lion monitoring, training on approaching wild animals by foot, basic weapon handling including dart guns, mineral & medical darting, e day survival camp, snake handling course & reptile park upkeep, community workshops, community involvement & partnerships, wildlife nutrition & feeding, wildlife immobilization, game counts & species recording, marine education, general reserve duties
Theoretical
Animal immobilisation, Basic rifle handling, Tracking, Bird, insect & plant ID
R25,300 | Contact us for 2013 rates
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Testimonial
"Great time! Where else to you get to feed elephants by hand, play with tame cheetahs and watch their wild brothers hunt spring bok! "
Amber Gerber
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