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The Project

You can volunteer in South Africa on an incredible wildlife photography course where volunteers develop skills for taking great shots whilst working alongside an important documentation project where the wildlife of the wetland parks are being captured and documented. In order to preserve indigenous plant life and wildlife, it is essential to get local communities involved. What is lacking in current educational syllabus is a detailed photographic database of the wildlife in the area. The project aims to create a database which will be used for educational purposes. As a volunteer, you will contribute to this goal by taking photographs of as many wildlife species as possible. You will photograph large animals such as elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard, as well as smaller creatures such as chameleons, insects, and some of the 521 bird species that call this World Heritage Site home. The best pictures will be included in the project database. The project is a unique opportunity to encounter some of Africa’s most beautiful animals on a daily basis, to improve your photography skills, as well as to contribute to conservation efforts.

Why the project needs you

Photographing wildlife is an activity that relies as strongly on patience and good luck as it does on the right equipment, knowledge of the techniques and creative skill. When a moment arises, an animal is spotted or a particular behavior is observed, the best chance of capturing it comes from as many people, as regularly as possible, being there to catch the moment. This wetland area is vast and in order to build the database that will aid education and research, volunteers with a passion for photography are encouraged to join this project and combine this opportunity to build a stunning portfolio, with a worthy goal that contributes to the conservation efforts.

Role of the volunteer

Following your 3 day photography course within the wetland park, you will spend your mornings on various game drives, located in hides or travelling to an area which is to be documented - each day focussing on a different area or animal. In the afternoons, you will organise and document your shots on the database, visit local communities where you can continue documentation in some of the local community development projects and even get involved with some of the community work yourself. On certain days you might get involved with community education talks, workshops and excursions that begin to educate the local people and children at the local schools, on the value of conservation within their land.

Project Fees

We  do charge a project fee. Why pay to volunteer? Project fees for volunteering are an increasingly common necessity for volunteering abroad projects. With Kaya you can guarantee your contributions are put to best use. All our projects are supported by volunteer services which must be paid for; safe, quality homestay accommodation and 2 meals a day which can provide a local family with an income while ensuring the standards are suitable to volunteer needs, airport pick-ups and in-country support staff as well as briefing and orientation materials and language support. Please visit our website for more information.