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Voluntary Projects
The stunning 1800 ha park is part of the 22,000ha Zululand Rhino Reserve. Which is the second site identified by the WWF / Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. Game stock will be brought up to Big 5 Status reserve standards, with 22 black rhino released in the reserve to date.
The reserve is situated near Mkuze. With the world famous Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve about 45min away, and Mkuze Game Reserve about 20min away. There is an amazing diversity of wildlife on this reserve, including a rich bird life, Black Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe as well as many other different species of antelope.
The Volunteers will be accommodated at the main lodge, where you will share a room with 1 other volunteer. Activities are mostly centered around wildlife, with game drives and guided walks being the most popular.
The objectives of the reserve, is to provide a place where nature in its whole can be enjoyed in as natural a state as we can present in this day and age.
Consequently there is a strong focus on wildlife and reserve management in order to maintain ecosystems and biodiversity in such a way that the utilization thereof will truly be in a sustainable manner.
See these links:
1. Accommodation and general info
2. Volunteer duties will include
3. Places of Interest and Optional Activities
4. DOWNLOAD the Application Form
1. Accommodation and general info
- You will be accommodated in the main lodge, where most of your activities will be conducted.
- The lodge has 8 spacious rooms, 6 have on-suit bathrooms.
- Each room sleeps two.
- There is a communal kitchen, where all your meals will be made for you, but there may be times where you will have to make your own food if need be.
- You will have hot and cold running water as well as electricity.
- Other luxuries include a bar and TV area as well as a swimming pool.
- All rooms have a cupboard, dressing table, Mosquito net as well as electrical plugs.
- Additional to the above is an outside braai area in a boma, you may be lucky enough to spot the Elephant walk by at times.
- You will have transport to and from all activities.
- Linen is provided. Volunteers need to bring a sleeping bag as they may go camping outdoors during their stay.
- Washing can be done for the volunteer at an extra cost of R20 a week.
- There are trips into town at least once a week, and volunteers will get the opportunity to go in for any personal items.
- Volunteers eat together every night and they will be asked to assist wherever possible with food preparation.
- Volunteers with special dietary requirements are welcome. As specific food is required, it is a little more costly, so if you have special dietary requirements, you may need to pay a little extra. If you require a meal totally separate from everybody, you will have to prepare your own meal with provided ingredients.
- E-mail facilities are available. If volunteers wish to be on the Internet for long periods, it will be costly and an extra cost will be added. Otherwise, the project suggests that volunteers give their family and friends the project leaders address, and they send the e-mails over (please, no pictures / special effects due to slow download rates). Volunteers can prepare the emails offline, and when the project leader goes on, the emails can be sent for free.
- A telephone is available at the office. It will be charged per minute according to the telephone directory rates.
- Please remember that this is Africa, so there will be lots of bugs, spiders, snakes and scorpions, but do not be afraid, your program leader will teach you how to handle them.
- The Game Farm is considered a low risk malaria area, which means no malaria medication is necessary, but one would need to take precautions in the summer months (September - April) with the use of repellent sprays or cream. Please consult your GP if you will be visiting a high-risk area during your stay in South Africa
2. Volunteer duties will include
- Tracking and data capturing of the Black Rhino and Elephant.
- Checking of water troughs, fences, roads etc…
- Helping with game drives, game walks, safari operation tasks and catering if need be.
- Eradication of some alien plant species.
- Assisting with general maintenance of the lodge and accommodation.
- Some data processing, record taking and basic lodge duties.
- Assisting with the purchase of groceries, etc - for volunteer use
- Assisting lodge and game staff when possible
- The project hopes that this will be a challenging, fun, learning experience for volunteers, that would enable them to go home with many happy memories that will last a lifetime of their bundu (bush) adventure.
- The leaders like the volunteer to feel like one of the family and to join in with whatever activities are taking place.
Game capture and game counts.
The volunteers will also be learning about bush survival,
some activities will include:
- Learning how to collect water in the bush if you run out.
- Learn how to test berries and plants for edible food if you had to run out.
- Learn how to set traps if you were stuck in the bush with no food.
- Learn how to make fires and what wood you should never ever use on your fire.
- Learn about dangerous game and what to do if you come face to face to them.
- You may have the opportunity to sleep out and identify all the sounds you will hear around you.
- You will learn how to build a shelter.
- Learn about different animal spoor/foot prints.
- This is a very broad, rough guide, but we have no daily routine as such. Each day brings on new tasks and tasks that need to be done, so your project leader will let you know what your day will be like when you are there.
3. Places of Interest and Optional Activities
Arts and Crafts
Ilala Weavers - Hluhluwe
Emdoneni Art Gallery
Cultural
Ghost Mountain Cultural Experience
Ilala Weavers cultural village
Dumazulu Cultural Village: 2hr cultural tour 8.15, 11am, 3.15pm plus snake & Croc Park
Cheetah,Caracal, Serval and bush cat Breeding Project.
Game Reserve Tours
Hluhluwe/ Umfolozi Game Reserve and Mkuze Game Reserve
Mkuze Game Reserve Sun Downer Drive (2:30 - 6pm)
Optional Extras
- Tiger Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Elephant Tracking
- Ghost Mountain Walk
- Mkuze River Bird Walk
- Jozini Canoeing
- Scuba Diving at Sodwana
- Deep Sea Fishing
- Lake Jozini Boat Cruise
- Hluhluwe Boat Cruise (Leaves from Maphumulo Picnic sight in Hluhluwe Game Reserve 9am & 3pm - 2hrs)
- The St Lucia Estuary Boat Cruise (Born Free - 9am, 12pm & 4pm) 2hr Boat Trip up the St Lucia Estuary. Abundance of Hippos, crocodiles and bird life.
- There are two Health Spa's in the area for those who would like to spoil yourselves.
- Sodwana Bay (90km)
- Horse Riding on the Beach or in the Bush
Please note: You would need to book your flights to Durban International Airport, from there you will get picked up by someone who will transfer you to a nearby backpackers lodge, where you will get picked up by a 19-seater semi-luxury bus with a TV & videos, and trailers capable of carrying surfboards and bicycles, and driven to Mkuze, with a whole lot of other young people. Your program leader will be waiting at the drop off in Mkuze.
A "what to bring" list, and more detailed welcome letter will be sent to you once you have filled in the application form and sent it back to us.
4. DOWNLOAD the Application Form
Click here to download the application form!
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