Buffelsdrift Eco-Ambassador Program

I had a wonderful time at the Buffelsdrift Game Reserve. One of the main reasons was our wonderful team with which we all started as strangers but left as very good friends. I made some very memorable and hillarious memories here. That was only possible because of our amazing Volunteer cooperator Tanica. She did everything to make our time here enjoyable. We couldn't have asked for someone better than her. Get her a pay raise for the wonderful job she does! Also the Guides were very kind to us and we loved to go on safaris with them.
So to sum up, the time here was perfect thanks to our Group and the people. The place Buffelsdrift itself offers you a great variety of animals on two reserves with a total of 3000 hectares. Every day is interesting and you never know what you might see that day. I was also able to assist a vet while he was fixing a baby Zebras broken leg. However you should also know that I don't agree with everything they do. They do a lot for the conservation of animals without doubt but for example the elephant experience they offer is in my eyes more for the joy of the tourists than the wellbeing of the elephants. And you should also know that it's not easy to go to town or a bar on the weekends because after sunset you can't walk back to your camp because of wild roaming Hippos.

Great experience, the reserve is the home of many animals that I (and I guess most volunteers) was excited to see, the staff was adorable, special mention to Tanica who, despite her weird sense of humour, kept us happy the whole time and found the perfect balance between work and fun.
We were super involved in the life of the reserve and it was very pleasant to see our direct impact. Overall I am super happy with this experience, which offered even more than I was expecting. I would definitely recommend it to any animal lover.

I had an incredible time at Buffels Drift. The people are very kind, welcoming, and fun. The volunteer coordinator, Tanica, couldn't be sweeter. All their patience with me and their passion for the project's purpose kept me very inspired and motivated to do all of the duties. It's really interesting to be backstage and witness some of the animal's routines, to learn about their habits and their behavior. Also, I learned a lot about the plants, their impact on the environment, and even how they can help us to rehabilitate the soil. I have no words for the amount of things I learned, it was really transformative.

Everyone has to make his own experiences, so no special piece of advice. But I can tell you will have a lot of new impressions. Sleeping in a tent, not in a house, listening to nature and the animals in the night, and out of bed in the early morning hours. Working with and for the animals like preparing food, looking after the elephant and lions or cheetahs. Another task, for example, is repairing fences, filling up the water holes or planting spek booms. And to have a good co-ordinator as Tanica and her Daisy (a wonderful old V8 LandRover).

I came to Buffelsdrift with the hopes of getting close to the wildlife of South Africa while doing something good for our planet, as well. My experience exceeded these hopes by far. Not only did I get to work very close to and even with the animals, I also learned a lot about conservation and hospitality. The employees are some of the kindest and most attentive people I have ever met, they made me feel welcome from the very first day. Especially our volunteer coordinator, Tanica, always did her very best to combine the (sometimes very hard but necessary) work with fun activities. My volunteering time would not have been the same without these wonderful people.

I recently had the pleasure of participating in the African Wildlife Experience, and it was truly incredible. From close encounters with majestic lions to hands-on conservation activities, every moment was unforgettable. I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in wildlife conservation and adventure. The program not only provided valuable insights into conservation practices but also fostered personal growth and meaningful connections with both fellow volunteers and the remarkable wildlife of Africa. Overall, it was an enriching and fulfilling experience that I wholeheartedly recommend to others.

I wasn't expecting the low amount of volunteers. But that was actually the best thing about being Eco-Ambassador at Buffelsdrift. You really get to know everyone by heart, they go from being strangers to being friends in no time. Also being so few, all the guides and the workers will know you in an instant, especially if you stay for longer. That makes everything more special. To be honest, more than the 7 volunteers we were would not be fun, as there would be no space or activities. The best part about being here is of course also Tanica, the Volunteer Coordinator. She made sure that our time here was well spend and that we could make the most of it. She is the best, without her it would not be the same. The feeding was honestly the most fun and exciting thing being here. Being so close to the hungry rhinos and buffalos twice a week was exilirating and just beautiful. The reserve in general is beautiful, there is a lot to see. And also being able to be so close to three majestic elephants has its advantages, as they are just unbelievable to walk past.

This experience overall was unique for me, it was something I have never done. As a law student, I was a little bit unsure about what nature conservation would consist of. But now I can say this experience was an enrichment to my life. I have learned so many things from the little things like cutting up fruit for the elephants and cleaning up their enclosure to the bigger things like building a dam or relocating a cheetah.
I have mostly learned that everything is connected. The little, easy, things may look less important because they are easier but in the end it all contributes to a bigger picture and that is the conservation of nature at Buffelsdrift.