Award Winning Endangered Wildlife Volunteer Programs in South Africa - Wildlife ACT

Name: Award Winning Endangered Wildlife Volunteer Programs in South Africa - Wildlife ACT
Brand: Wildlife ACT
SKU: 21946
Rating: 4.97 (39 reviews)

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4.97 Rating

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Location

South Africa

Length

2 to 12 weeks

Project Types

Conservation Environmental Conservation Wildlife Conservation Elephant Conservation

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Timeframe

Year Round

Housing

Rondavel

Groups

Small Group (1-15)

Travel Type

Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

1544

Price Details

Cost includes all accommodation and time you spend on the reserves, your 3 meals a day, all training, project running costs (such as fuel for the vehicles that track the animals – sometimes over very large distances to ensure their safety), vehicle maintenance (especially tyres), the tracking equipment (e.g. radio collars and telemetry sets), as well as basic salaries for the dedicated and hardworking wildlife monitors that tirelessly track the animals every day.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Equipment Meals Transportation Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2023

Last Reviewed: Jul 26, 2022

Wish List

69 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Get directly involved in some of the most exciting & important conservation work being done in Zululand, South Africa - an area which resounds with the heartbeat of Africa and which is one of the most diverse & productive wildlands on Earth. Join Wildlife ACT on the ground to save endangered & priority wildlife species: African Painted Wolves, Rhino, Cheetah, Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Vultures and more. It’s Real Africa, Real Conservation, and the experience of a lifetime. Ages 18 to 70+ If you want to visit the real African wilderness and be part of real wildlife volunteer work, Wildlife ACT is looking for you.

Our Fair Trade Tourism certified projects are conducted on national game reserves in South Africa. Wildlife ACT was recognized for their conservation work by being awarded Second Place for a World Responsible Tourism Award in the category “Best for Wildlife”
and Second Place for an African Responsible Tourism Award in the category “Best for Habitat & Species Conservation"

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from Wildlife ACT.

Video and Photos

Incredible Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Monitor Animals in their Natural Habitat

Conservation Internships in the Okavango Delta

Monitoring Lions & Other High Priority Species

Checking, Setting Up and Maintaining Camera Traps

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Program Highlights

Fair Trade Tourism Certified
World Responsible Tourism Awards winner 2018
African Responsible Tourism Awards winner 2017
Rhino Conservation Awards 2017 Winner
Partnered with WWF, Wildlands, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Wildlife Conservation Network, Panthera & others

Program Impact

Conservation efforts are typically driven by passion. Long hours with early mornings and late nights; sleeves rolled up and hands dirty; large distances covered, and funds stretched. This underpins the work that Wildlife ACT does – driven by a team that puts huge effort into their everyday jobs.

The difficult year of 2020 saw Wildlife ACT reflect on a dozen years of conservation impact. This was not a year synonymous with rejoicing, but, considering the immense efforts put in by Wildlife ACT’s dedicated team, partners and supporters, to keep crucial conservation work going during this global pandemic.

Wildlife ACT continues to achieve a number of milestones, including:

9 different species monitored
Over 3 500 volunteers
815 tracking devices fitted
Over 800 animals relocated
Rescuing and treating over 145 snared or wounded animals
209,508 monitoring and field hours in vehicles, in the air, and on foot

The organisation continues to grow and thrive, held up by dedicated staff, a global network of ambassadors and strong, committed partners. “We are extremely proud of what we have achieved and look forward to many more years of success in the conservation sector in Africa” - Managing Director, Mark Gerrard

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Program Reviews

4.97 Rating

based on 39 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 97.44%
4 rating 2.56%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.8
Support 4.9
Fun 4.8
Value 4.7
Safety 4.8

Showing 25 - 32 of 39 reviews

I have visited this project twice now and both experiences were inspiring and educational.
I was amazed at how close you can get to some of the worlds most amazing animals and you really do feel like you are contributing to the brilliant work that Wildlife Act does to protect these amazing creatures.
I have had the pleasure of working with nearly all of Wildlife Acts project leaders and found their knowledge and enthusiasm for their work truley inspiring.
Wildlife Act made it very easy to contact them before my trip and I was given enough information to know what was needed for this kind of work.
My accommodation was clean and cozy and the view from my room was even better!
I enjoyed every moment of my 2 month adventure with Wildlife Act and would suggest this project to anyone who wants to get back to nature and see these animals how they should be seen....in the wild!!

Wildlife Act is a great comapany to go through. Helping the "painted dog" was really exciting. Just spending time out in Zuland was fantastic. I definitely recommend this program!

I spent a month volunteering this year with the Wildlife ACT team. They work on 4 different parks in South Africa, and I spent a week at each park. It is an amazing experience, and you get much, much closer to the animals than on any safari. We were out at dawn every morning tracking African Wild Dogs, Cheetahs, and Lions. Because you are working on an official conservation project, you get to go where no tourists are allowed. You work in a small team of 4 people, led by a professional wildlife monitor. The monitors have great knowledge and enthusiasm, and they really enhance the experience. I very much recommend this program to anyone with a love of wildlife.

We stayed at Mkhuze Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal which was just beautiful. The accommodation was good, and better than expected with a shower and hot running water. Seeing the sun rise and set over the reserve, was just something else. We went in August and the cold mornings and evenings, sat in the back of the truck was a surprise, and we were wearing layers and fleeces - do take a wooly hats and gloves!

I can not recommend more highly the wonderful support you get from the staff. Bronwen is just so helpful, and even made a cake for my stepson's birthday! Cilla, our monitor was so knowledgeable and made a real difference to our understanding of conservation and Africa.

WildlifeAct are special. We've made lifelong friends and developed a love of the African Bush. It really isn't a safari, it's far deeper than that, it get's under your skin.

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I have taken part in programmes with Wildlife ACT on two reserves - Thanda and Mkhuze - and hope to return to one of the other reserves at some point. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in South African wildlife to get involved in useful research and conservation and to see an amazing variety of creatures up close. We were tracking mainly wild dog and cheetah and I will never forget looking into the eyes of those beautiful cats from just a few metres away, as well as spending almost two hours watching two cheetah brothers devour an impala. How often do you get the chance to do that? It also gives you the opportunity to meet other people with similar interests. I have such wonderful memories of the sights and sounds of the bush and can't wait to get back there as soon as I can.

I had a really great time with Wildlife Act. I was Mkhuze for two weeks, and wish I could have stayed longer! The staff is very friendly, and the wildlife monitor I had was fantastic. He was really fun and taught me so much!
The best part of Wildlife Act is how hands-on it is. You're with the animals everyday and I really felt like we were helping them! The highlight of my two weeks was darting a young cheetah, who we fitted with her first collar so we could monitor her.
I recommended Wildlife Act to anybody who wants an exciting, hands-on experience with African animals.
I can't wait to come back!

I guess the best review I can post is that I'm planning to go back to work with Wildlife ACT in early 2012. Last April I wanted to travel to Africa, but could not find anyone who wanted the same type of experience I did. I am 54 yrs old, from the US and decided to go alone! Wildlife ACT was perfect. Even when I encountered flight problems, they knew where I was and were there to make sure I got to the reserve. I never felt alone.

I spent two weeks at Thanda reserve (1 of 4 reserves where Wildlife ACT is based). Our main focus for the time was tracking the newly re-released Wild African Dog pack. The knowledge, passion and skills of the staff was impressive. The bush is their home and we made it ours for a short (too short) time. I felt comfortable with them as they were relaxed and fun, yet I knew they were always vigilant for our safety.

My favorite memory is the giraffes that would be right outside my living quarters in the afternoon and the other animals that roamed freely through the camps. There is no way I can tell you how the time in Africa impacted me. I have a facebook page "South Africa Calling" with pictures and video links about my time with Wildlife ACT in Zululand this past April.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/South-Africa-Calli…

Read my full story

I volunteered with Wildlife Act in 2009. Probably once a month I scheme about how I can go back / lament the fact that South Africa is so far away. It was one of the most incredibly experiences of my life and I promise it will stay with you. The staff is incredible; the hands on experience with the animals is remarkable; and spending time in the African Bush is life changing.

The staff makes sure you are safe, #1. Still, about once a week I would say to myself, "I can't believe they are letting us do this." Certainly you can't find an experience like this in America.

Highlight for me: walking with cheetah!

Questions & Answers

Is there potential for volunteers to be employed by your organization in the long run?

Hi Sheillah, Thank you for your query. We get a lot of people asking about employment opportunities within Wildlife ACT. With the conservation environment being as dynamic as it is, and with our goal to expand our conservation efforts, we are always interested in keeping potential candidates on file for when the need arises. We do, however, mainly look for potential wildlife monitors who are...

By Wildlife ACT on January 15, 2016

Alumni Interviews

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

Why did you choose this program?

After doing a substantial amount of research online and a lot of questions to various organizations, I knew Wildlife Act was the best fit for me.

It's an opportunity to not only go see South Africa, but you also get to work with a great organization and help them with their conservation efforts. It's the best of both worlds: you get to see the animals but also be part of their conservation, learning from people on the ground.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Wildlife Act assisted with answering all questions, and they provide transport to the reserves once at the Richards Bay airport.

They also provide the name of a few guest houses in Richards Bay if you arrive early. It's up to you to organize getting to Richards Bay from wherever home is. Not to mention, they also supply all of your food for the time you are there; it is up to you to cook and to supply any snacks or drinks you may want.

View Entire Interview

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

Be prepared for varying weather. Also, remember South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, so your season at home may be very different than where you are going.

Bring warm & wind/rainproof clothing. It's Africa, but it's still cold at 4am on the back of a truck with the wind, and depending on the season, it does rain and you have no cover.

Also bring sunscreen, it is Africa :)

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Depending on which reserve you are at, you will go out for 2-3 sessions a day, with the possibility of 1 day for data entry (all the info you collect).

The morning sessions start normally well before the sun is up as everyone is bundled up on the back of the truck (with the very important cooler containing hot water, coffee/tea and rusks for your later break). You return to camp in the late morning to eat or relax until your next session. Normally you will go out again in the late afternoon, returning a little after the sun has set. You will get to experience the amazing sun rises, the beautiful sunsets, and the giant sky full of stars.

While out, you will be tracking various animals, depending on the priority for the wildlife monitor. You will be using telemetry equipment, along with a handheld GPS, and a triangulation app to find your animals, stopping to make notes and take a data point for anything important that you come across.

You will have dinner with your group once you're done for the day (maybe even a braai), before getting ready to head out the next morning.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear for this trip was traveling half way across the world alone, to Africa. A lot of planning and a lot of questions to Wildlife Act helped relieve some of the stress, but my desire to go was more than my fear of the unknown.

Now that I have traveled to South Africa alone twice, I know what to expect and have no issues with this travel; I'd go back right now if I could!

What are the groups like?

You will be placed with a max of 4 other international volunteers, and you will have 2 awesome wildlife monitors (they alternate sessions, but they do get days off so you may have 1 with you most of the time). These people quickly become your bush family, and likely lifelong friends, as you experience this adventure together.

Sonja Blum

Haley Pope

Lindsay Conway

Sue Learoyd

Gale Smith

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Spending a month traveling through Indonesia solo. This was an incredible experience and I made friends from all over the world. By the end, I did not want to leave! I considered a life of surfing, working via the Internet and spending the majority of my life in Bali...

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Visiting any African country is pretty much underrated. People are so quickly put off by the thought of getting murdered. While it's important to stay safe, it shouldn't deter one from visiting 'third world' countries.

Overrated in my mind refers to any destination that is more tourist-orientated than local - i.e. places that no longer possess a genuine local charm.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Having staff that WANT to work for you who truly believe in what they are doing. People need to know that their work is meaningful and that they are not simply a pawn or cog in a big machine making a few at the top rich through their hard labor.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I went from being totally disheartened by the thought of having to endure a 9 to 5 job that I didn't particularly enjoy, to actually wanting to work - knowing that I am helping to make a genuine difference in the world. Nothing is fake anymore.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Family-like relationships with their staff; completely open and transparent; taking everyone's feelings and ideas into account; progressive; doing incredibly admirable, on-the-ground, difficult work that is truly making a difference for the planet. Never giving up.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of your current team

Approaching Google and applying for Google Grants, which they granted us based on the nature of what we do!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

That their experience with us genuinely changed their life... (and the same has been said by several returning students).

Simon Morgan

Director

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 Wildlife ACT

Wildlife ACT actively advances wildlife conservation by conducting ongoing & essential monitoring projects on reserves in South Africa. Wildlife ACT performs these conservation services free-of-charge and completely relies on volunteer support to fund the work. We are supported by the WWF and have a very high percentage of returning volunteers -...