Wildlife Conservation Volunteering
ACTIVITIES:
You will be immersed in the real magic of Africa – with its vast landscapes and indigenous wildlife. Experience nature at its best and directly contribute to the conservation objectives of this wilderness area.
Research
Contribute to a greater understanding of this wilderness area by conducting mammal and bird surveys, learning about the migration of different species at different times of the year, and building knowledge about resident individuals and herds (such as developing elephant identikits). Monitor camera traps and document nocturnal activities. All of this data feeds into the broader management planning of the area and contributes to the ultimate goal of a larger conservation area.
CONSERVATION PROJECTS
Activities are undertaken that reflect the conservation needs at the time, and will depend on climate, time of the year and circumstances. Common activities include fence repair, building and maintaining waterholes, soil erosion control, collecting wire snares, building and maintaining roads and many other local projects. All of these initiatives are important and necessary for protecting and maintaining the wilderness area.
Wildlife
Integral to being in a wilderness area is the opportunity to observe wildlife. This is the animals’ home and whether you are in a game-vehicle, walking in the bush, sitting at a waterhole or sleeping under the stars, you will see and hear their presence. Be it the call of a leopard at night, or the trumpeting of elephants mid-morning, these are sights and sounds that you will never forget. The Tuli Block is home to herds of elephant, zebra, wildebeest and other plains game, as well as predators such as lion, leopard, wild dog and hyena
SLEEP-OUTS
A highlight of every experience is a sleep-out under Africa’s starlit sky. This is when you truly feel the vastness of the universe as you witness a Botswana sunset overlooking the plains and fall asleep under the huge African sky. Taking turns to watch the fire and listening to the sounds of nearby creatures is all part of this exciting adventure.
DISCOVER
Learn how to identify both big and small species living in the African bush, appreciating their individual importance in the broader ecosystem. Embark on spoor identification (animal tracks), and if the conditions are right, take home a cast for a special memory of your adventure. Participate in a conservation debate, learn about bird identification and simply take in the silence and vastness of the surrounding landscapes.
Camp Life
A fully equipped tented camp is home away from home. There are 2-6 person walk-in safari tents with bunk beds, sheets and pillows. Ablutions are shared, with hot and cold showers and flush toilets. There is a common area for eating, relaxing and reading and a beautiful boma for fireside evenings. The kitchen is equipped with gas appliances and all meals are provided. Pizza nights are a highlight with the home-made pizza oven!
OBJECTIVES & IMPACT
This volunteer programme is located in the Central Tuli Block region. Historically a mixed-use area, much of the land was farmed or hunted until a group of private conservationists came together to re-wild the area and return it to its natural ecological state.
This region has now become a sanctuary for wildlife with vast areas of wilderness protected and home to a range of Africa’s iconic species, such as lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, zebra, giraffe and elephant. There are also many antelope species and hundreds of birds. With large tracts of land unfenced in this area, it provides an important space for migrating wildlife species.
The key objective of this programme is to provide an authentic wilderness experience for youth, while also working towards the conservation objectives of the area.
Our ultimate goal is to partner with adjacent protected areas, game reserves and national parks to take down fences and create an even larger protected area for the benefit of biodiversity in Southern Africa.
Download our brochure & send to potential future travellers!
