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Location
  • South Africa
Project Types
Community Development Environmental Conservation Wildlife Conservation

Program Details

Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
2000
Price Details
Projects range from USD 500 to USD 4,400 per person excluding travel to and from the rendezvous. The price of each project, which we call your contribution, covers your food, accommodation, on-site travel (not airfare), emergency medical and medical evacuation insurance, and all of the various costs of field research (field permits, equipment, etc.). These costs may vary for each expedition and individual team.
Dec 05, 2019
May 16, 2016
Wish List
3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Trek through the wilderness of Africa to track rhinos, elephants, and other animals. Accompanied by an expert wildlife guide, you will observe and note the location of every animal you see. You may also have an opportunity to go on a night drive with research staff during the two weeks, which offers a great chance to see nocturnal animals out and about. On your recreational day, you could take a trip to Simangaliso Wetland Park, possibly join a boat tour to look for hippos, crocodiles, and birds and experience the St. Lucia Estuary, snorkel and swim at the beach and lunch at a local restaurant, or stay in camp and relax.

You also may visit a school on one afternoon, in a poor, rural area that has struggled over the years to receive support. Many of the children attending the school have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. If you would like to visit the school and see what a community effort can achieve, the staff will gladly arrange a visit.

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Walk with African Wildlife

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Default avatar
Mary
63
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved it so much, I did it twice.

May 16, 2016

I joined the Walking with African Wildlife project twice: in 2004, at 43 and in 2014, at 53.
I've traveled often to east and southern Africa, and can't get enough of its scenery and wildlife.
You and your fellow volunteers will be met at the airport, driven to spectacular Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, and divided among two camps. The North Camp, is more secluded, built along a river and surrounded by trees in the hillier region of the park. Here were kept close company with elephants, vervet monkeys, nyala, zebra and buffalo. The South Camp is atop a hill, surrounded by rolling savannah and somewhat easier hikes. I once saw a cheetah perched on a hillside, scoping out the prey species below. Both camps have spectacular birdlife.

Each morning you will wake early, have a bit to eat and some coffee, and bundle up for the chilly ride to your trail in an open vehicle. You and your ranger will be deposited at a trailhead just as the sun is rising behind you, and will walk west, with increasing light, looking for herbivores.
Your ranger (invariably a Zulu man) will advise you to walk directly behind him, and within 6 feet.
And so, the world of the African savannah will be opened up to you. You will be keenly attuned to sounds around you: birds, a monkey's call, the alarm snort of an ungulate, the crackle in the brush of....? Depending on your Zulu and/or your guide's English, you may converse a bit, or you may just be relishing this singular experience too much for talk.

Your hike may be 2 miles or 6, easy or difficult, but at the end, tired and happy, you will be retrieved by the staff and brought back to the camp for lunch. Afternoon is for naps, birdwatching, data input, or socializing, which continues along with sunset watching and stargazing till everyone tucks themselves in at night.

Have I persuaded you yet? I hope so. If you have questions for me, I would be happy to answer them. I can be contacted through Earthwatch.

What would you improve about this program?
Can't think of a thing.
32 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Mary Rowe

Program
Walking with African Wildlife
At University, Mary was a Biology major and holds a Master's in Nutrition. Sometimes, she likes to dance around the truth.

African Expedition

Why did you pick this program?

I love wildlife, and Africa has the best variety. The chance to see it on foot was quite rare.

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

Do it. The sooner the better. Some truths aren't obvious until you experience them firsthand. Then it's up to you to make them a priority.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Please love to hike and be comfortable hiking hills. I live in Boston, and it's a wonderful city to stroll, dine, and people watch in, but it's pretty flat. To prepare for this trip, I marched up and down the stadium seating at the local football arena. The helpful thing is, you walk relatively slowly so as not to disturb the wildlife.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

After my ranger and I had crested a hill, he motioned for me to take a breather under a shady acacia. I pointed out to him three white rhinos, two adults and a juvenile, that were not far from us. He was unconcerned. While we were resting, one adult crossed the path we were headed towards, looking for better grazing, I suppose. We got up to resume hiking, and as we headed along the path which proceeded through a thicket, I knew exactly what would transpire. As we approached, the lone adult rhino, now on our left, would become unnerved by our separating it, however innocently, from the other two rhinos who were to our right. Sure enough, as we came even to them, the rhino on the left did a little dance of agitation and charged right towards us. Knowing in my heart that it just wanted to be reunited with its buddies did not slow my sprint in the least. As the ranger and I were making our way with haste along the path through the thicket, I suddenly heard a large and shocking crash to my left. Was I wrong? Was this behemoth coming for us after all? My question was answered when a large male kudu, a huge antelope with spiraling horns, nearly fell on top of me. It too had been spooked by the rhino.

Do you have any packing suggestions for the expedition?

Layers of quick dry clothes, water-proof hiking boots, an anorak windbreaker/rain proof layer, and a fleece. Be sure to break in your hiking boots.

Location

Location:
South Africa
Currency:
South African Rand
Weather:
Jan-Mar
81 F / 57 F
Apr-Jun
68 F / 46 F
Jul-Sep
66 F / 45 F
Oct-Dec
77 F / 52 F
Airports:
O. R. Tambo International Airport
( JNB )
Cape Town International Airport
( CPT )
King Shaka International Airport
( DUR )

South Africa is often thought of as resoundingly unstable and poor; however, this is far from the case. The duality in South Africa encompasses big cities with a well-developed infrastructure, as well as rural areas that are underdeveloped and impoverished. South Africa is well known for having 11 recognized languages, beautiful landscapes, world-class universities, and an abundance of animals.

About Earthwatch Institute

Earthwatch is a worldwide non-profit organization unlocking the potential in people and the environment. Since 1971, Earthwatch has connected volunteers and partners with scientists undertaking vital field research around the globe. Everybody who works with Earthwatch, from students and teachers, to companies, retirees, and other individuals make a...
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