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The Project

Volunteer in Africa and work on an incredible research and conservation project in the heart of the Kwazulu-Natal district, on South Africa’s East Coast. Working in conjunction with the University of Natal and the Wildlands Conservation Trust as well as a number of other conservation and wildlife agencies, this project centres around research initiatives on, amongst others, some of Africa’s most endangered species. The project works to monitor the elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard and black rhino populations within a Private Game Reserve and is committed to gathering data to support the long-term objectives of the Reserve’s Foundation. Volunteers are needed to spend time in the field, gathering and analysing data which will then be shared with the relevant researchers, institutions and authorities. The main focus of this project is to monitor the elephant and endangered Rhino populations of the reserve.

Why the project needs you

It is a sad fact that the black rhino population in Africa has dramatically decreased over the last 40 years due to detrimental hunting and poaching practices taking the population of Black Rhinos from 100,000 in 1960, down to less than 3,500 today. Due to recent conservation efforts however, this number is very slowly on the increase and the Game Reserve introduced Black Rhino into the park in 2009 to increase this effort. Their movements locally are tracked by the anti-poaching team and your time as a volunteer will be spent with a guide helping them to capture information on the movements of the rhino, their habits and also to help in monitoring their basic health. You may also be involved in the removal of snares, which pose a real and dangerous threat to the animals.

Within this project, there is also a keen focus on monitoring and protecting the elephants in the park, which is helping to support the natural migration of these wonderful animals. Conflict with humans is a pertinent issue and threat to elephants in the region and understanding how to mitigate this conflict stems primarily from getting to know the ecology of the species within the park. Your collection of data concerning the park’s elephant population will be used by the Reserve’s Foundation to help secure a positive and long lasting future for elephants and to help sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of their home lands.

Role of the volunteer

As a volunteer, you will be living and working in the heart of a Big 5 Game Reserve. You will be actively involved in carrying out research on the population of Black Rhinos and elephants within the park, as well as analysing data captured from a number of other types of wildlife. You will be involved in monitoring the night time movements of the rhinos as well as the day time behaviours of a newly introduced herd of elephants and you will also help in conservation initiatives looking at topics such as soil erosion and plant control. As of the beginning of this year, a new herd of elephants have been released into the park, so you will play an integral role in monitoring the behaviour, feeding patterns and movements of this herd.

Volunteers will also spend time collating and recording research data on a particular pride of lions, which will mean time in the bush, observing hunting practices as well as noting the social, breeding and territorial behaviour at five different times of day and night. Other duties involve conducting snare sweeps, physical work to help regenerate the bush from reclaimed farmland, as well as contributing to the long term strategy of removing alien plants from the park.

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.