Embark on a journey in South Africa that might just transform your entire being. If you are above the age of 18 and in reasonably good physical condition, then Africa is your oyster! From safaris and sunset cruises to comfort camping in the bushveld, Kichaka Tours & Safaris is offering all wildlife volunteers the escape of a lifetime.
Under the guidance of experienced wildlife conservationists, gain valuable insights into the challenges facing South Africa’s wildlife and learn about the innovative solutions being implemented. This immersive experience goes beyond traditional safari tours, allowing you to play an active role in safeguarding the environment. So let us embark on a journey to the busy heart of Africa where the opportunity of a lifetime awaits!
About Your Volunteering
Volunteers participate in science initiatives alongside nature and wildlife conservationists, local field guides, and communities. The main objective of this volunteering trip is to collect data, assist nature – and wildlife conservations, and contribute to tasks that are vital for the landscapes’ upkeeping. You will play a major role in the projects that Kichaka Tours & Safaris chooses to undertake.
These tasks include removing endemic tree species, counting wildlife, distinguishing males and females, and finally, collecting samples and data for further research. The majority of your first nine days will be spent at the Dinokeng Nature Reserve. Here, you will stay in comfortable, clean tents called Sunset Bush Camp. These tents come with beds as well as a wash basin.
In short, you will be helping with surveys for wildlife abundance and diversity as well as movement assessments. The wildlife at Dinokeng is in dire need of herd assessment. Certain guides believe that the wildlife numbers are starting to dwindle while others believe that the numbers are constant. However, the fact remains that the Dinokeng Nature Reserve needs your assistance in surveying the wildlife as resources are scarce.
Good to Know
When it comes to getting to South Africa, you need to make sure that you book a flight that lands early in the morning at OR Tambo International Airport. The flight tickets are unfortunately not included in the overall price. Make sure that the plane lands no later than noon. South African time. The tour guides will then proceed to collect you from the airport and take you to your accommodation. The duration of this volunteering excursion is 14 days, whereby you will land on the first day and fly back on the fourteenth day.
Book your return ticket as follows: book an incoming flight that lands before noon and an outgoing flight that departs after noon on the final day. You will be arriving and departing at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Make sure to pack your hiking boots as well as sandals or other shoes as you will be walking quite a lot. Also make sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, warm clothes for the evenings, and functional clothes for during the day.
Note that most clothing items should be in neutral colours, and preferably no perfume. Cost per person ranges between 1450-2250 pounds and this excludes flights and alcoholic refreshments. However, the cost includes transfers, accommodation, food, guided tours, bush activities, and safaris. You will also have 4 lectures during this week, focusing on animal behaviour, alien plant life, wildlife tracking, and habitat surveillance.
What to Expect
For the entirety of 2 weeks, you can expect to immerse yourself in the African lifestyle. This experience combines the luxury of bushveld living with the selflessness of volunteering. For 9 days out of the two weeks, you are expected to conduct fieldwork, including wildlife scouting, removing non-indigenous plants, finding water sources, as well as counting and collecting data on wildlife present in the reserve.
The volunteering work takes place in Dinokeng Nature Reserve, where there is an abundance of wildlife and indigenous flora. Interestingly, the Dinokeng Nature Reserve is known as a unique wildlife sanctuary located in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The name “Dinokeng” translates to “Place of Rivers” in Setswana.
These volunteering trips could also only accommodate between 6-8 volunteers at a time, so it is a real opportunity to not only increase intellectual wellness but also social wellness, or emotional wellness. It’s a great way to contribute not just to the wildlife reserves, but also to your holistic wellbeing.
All Work and No Play?
The answer to this question is no. You will not be given until it seems that there is nothing left for you to give. You are only volunteering your energy for the first nine days, and even this aspect of the trip is highly enjoyable. Basque under the African sun as the warm winds run through your hair. Smell the rich smells of dark soil and look into the eyes of beasts that traverse the barren landscape day in and day out.
The first nine days entail reasonable volunteering work, but nothing too strenuous. After your day out in the field, you return to your African camp where you and your fellow volunteers get to cook together, whatever you feel like. This volunteering trip is especially rugged, and it does not end at the camp. All ingredients will be provided for your meals, but the point of making your food is for various reasons.
You know exactly what goes into the dishes, you have total control and it’s a great way to bond with your fellow volunteers. After the nine days are over, you head to the Kruger National Park. You will enjoy the bush as is and indulge in all kinds of African delicacies such as safari game drives, swimming in pools, and lounging in hot tubs as well as sitting around the fires as the smells of ‘braai-vleis’ fill the air and the songs of hyenas echo in the wind.
If you enjoy this article, be sure to read about amazing hot-air balloon rides with Kichaka Tours!
Bless the Rains Down in Africa
Venture into South Africa’s untamed landscapes, where majestic creatures roam freely. From the iconic Big Five – lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes – to an array of other unique wildlife, this trip provides a chance for you not only to contribute but also to explore yourself and the best of Africa.
Embark on a journey that transcends tourism. Join Kichaca Tours & Safaris in the noble pursuit of wildlife conservation in South Africa. Together, let’s create a legacy of preserving the world’s natural wonders for generations to come. Contact Kichaka Tours today for more information.
