UmPhafa Nature Reserve

Why choose UmPhafa Nature Reserve?

UmPhafa Nature Reserve offers a number of placements to people who have a passion and an interest to learn about African Wildlife. Whether you are studying some form of Nature Conservation or would just like to have the experience of a lifetime our internships are for you.

Take a step into the wild and choose from either a two-placement or 4 to 12-week placement and discover just what it takes to manage a reserve.

The UmPhafa Nature Reserve, situated in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, is a 6,000 hectare reserve comprised of a number of farms previously managed for cattle and encompasses a wide range of habitats from acacia savannah and bushveld to mountainous terrain. Due to previous agricultural practices many of the natural inhabiting species had been lost.

UmPhafa is now home to a wide range of fauna including giraffe, kudu, impala, common reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, zebra, blesbok, red hartebeest, wildebeest, waterbuck, nyala, warthog, aardvark and porcupine – to name only some.

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Reviews

My time on Umphafa was life changing. My experience there shaped me to pursue a career in conservation. The wildlife sightings are far beyond what you would see on safari. Staying in a house (not a tent) with the staff on site is reassuring and provides ample opportunity for social time in the evenings plus an excursion once a week. I really enjoyed being immersed in the life of working on a reserve and being able to ask to participate in things i was particularly keen to do. Overall I found my internship extremely good value and aim to return.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Come prepared to get fully immersed. The more you put in the more you get out.

Pros

Good value for money
Wildlife sightings
Supportive staff

Best thing I have ever done in my life. Desperately want to go back again for longer. You learn so much about African conservation, the staff are super friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. My favourite part was helping the rangers and seeing all the jobs they do. We did a perimeter walk to check and fix fences.it was a lot of walking, you definitely need to be fit and healthy to keep up with the rangers but if you can't go all day you can go back so your not forced to push yourself to much. Also did a night safari, dam surveys, corrosion control, camera traps and so much more

You also get trips out of site as well if you which adds to the whole experience I went to a falconry show to see the birds fly and learn about how they do so and reptile house which was amazing something you wouldn't get to see to the same level back in England.

Definitely recommend taking part in this internship.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Tried so many different food items. Biltong was my most unfamiliar.

Pros

Wonderful wildlife
Knowledgeable staff
Once in a lifetime opportunity you won't want to miss

Cons

You won't want to leave
Time flew by

This experience was better than I could’ve imagined, I learnt so much about the African wildlife and the roles of staff on the reserve. The staff were very knowledgeable and happy to answer any and all questions.

The accommodations were okay; there were many activities to keep occupied while there, such as a pool table and a dart board.

The daytime activities are hard work but so rewarding, be prepared for a lot of walking and occasional lifting, but the sights to see are priceless!

I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to get some experience or even just gain some knowledge in the animal conservation field.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Bush pig and steak and cheesy warthog sausages

Pros