Touring South Africa

Whether you need a break from the rat race, want to explore a new direction in your life, are interested in wildlife conservation as a career or just aching to see the world, volunteering in

Wildlife Conservation is an unforgettable and magical experience.

Our volunteer project gets you involved with life on a Private Game Reserve set in the stunning wilderness of the Limpopo Valley, South Africa.

It offers the adventurous individual the chance to take part in valuable and rewarding hands-on conservation work that provides a sustainable future for Southern Africa’s important ecosystems.

The volunteers work alongside professional guides and rangers on vital wildlife conservation and game reserve management projects.  During your time as a team member you will

If it is gap year student work abroad or a working holiday in South Africa or a once in a life time experience that you’re looking for …..   contact us :  Rainer@afritours.de

And, of course, Southern Africa is a great place to travel with magnificent scenery, fabulous weather, good infrastructure, fascinating cultures, and last but not least, spectacular wildlife!

AfriTours is happy to offer you great tours throughout the rest of the country before or after your time at the game reserve. www.afritours.de

• Transfers to & from Polokwane*
• All food and accommodation
• All training materials and equipment
• Mapungubwe National Park visit
• Transport for PROJECT organised social activities
• Town trip once a week

• Flights (domestic & International)
• Medical & travel insurance
• Spending money and all items of a personal nature
• Soft drinks (Coke, Fanta etc) & alcoholic beverages
• Cost of non- PROJECT organised social activities/excursions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As our volunteer project has limited availability, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of securing your placement. However, it is sometimes possible to join a project at the last minute so please contact us if you are interested in travelling in the near future.

Absolutely not.  Our wildlife Conservation is open to anyone with a love of adventure, travel and the great outdoors! Whether you bring specific skills or good old-fashioned elbow grease and enthusiasm, you will perform important work on conservation projects on Venetia and surrounding reserves.  All Volunteers will receive training at the reserve in order to be actively involved on the volunteer project.  You will learn a lot about South Africa’s wildlife, behaviour and your surroundings as well as the importance of the work we do here.

No, all the animals in the reserve are 100% wild and have never had any human contact.  We believe that wildlife should be free and not in cages, wildlife rehabilitation is extremely difficult and should only be done by professionals.  However, volunteers will be able to assist the reserves management team if an animal is darted to replace or fit a radio collar for research purposes.  In this event volunteers may be able to see or touch a wild animal.

Yes, we welcome individuals, friends, couples, families and groups to participate in our program. But you must book in advance so that we can ensure availability and arrange private accommodation (where possible) – again, the earlier you book, the better your chances.

Volunteers will stay at our comfortable house in a secure camp on the  Nature Reserve.  There is a main kitchen, lounge and numerous outdoor seating areas.  The project staff also live at the camp. All rooms are shared, 2 – 3 beds per room and there is clean running water available at all times.  The showers are supplied with hot and cold water in single sex bathrooms.  Food is healthy and safe, and volunteers always have plenty to eat. We can provide food for special dietary requirements.  Linen and pillows are supplied for you although you will need to bring towels and a sleeping bag.

Our volunteer project is reasonably flexible, and free time is available most evenings and weekends. While the main responsibility is to our project and the reserves we work in, we always try to allow volunteers at least 1 day off a week to relax or explore the surrounding environments.

Of course! Many volunteers arrive early to start exploring South Africa or join our Wildlife Conservation Project halfway through a longer trip round the world.  It is also a great way to meet potential travel companions before heading off to explore this amazing country. Contact Rainer from AfriTours on www.afritours.de  for ideas and suggestions.

You can buy international phone cards from airports, certain stores and post offices which will allow you make a call from local land lines or cell phones. To make an international call from South Africa, dial 00 followed by the country code of the country you wish to call, followed by the relevant area code and phone number. You will find internet cafes in even the smallest of towns in South Africa!  There is also limited internet and cell phone signal available at the camp.

The very best, all of our staff are highly dedicated to making sure you have a safe and enjoyable stay in South Africa.  Our aim is to make sure you are fully briefed, prepared and well equipped before you go. Our support structure will ensure peace of mind for you in the field, and for your family and friends back at home.

All of the staff have lived and worked in Southern Africa for many years offering you a wealth of knowledge, experience and support throughout your time with us.

Most non-profit organizations that run international volunteer programs are driven entirely by volunteer contributions. In return for the opportunity to live and work in a private game reserve alongside South Africa’s amazing wildlife volunteers will fund his/herself, and often make a donation to the project.  Without the volunteers contribution we simply would not be able to carry out the conservation work we do. Food, accommodation, training and transport are very expensive ……    100% of your volunteer contribution goes to running the project on the ground in South Africa.

However, volunteers will experience the most amazing sights and sounds South Africa has to offer; see more, learn more, do more and contribute more than  they would on any safari holiday or independent travel holiday and for a fraction of the cost.

The minimum age requirement for our program is 18 yrs, however we will accept younger volunteers and family groups at the discretion of the Project Staff.  Please contact us for further details.

There are 11 official languages spoken in Southern Africa, namely: Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. However, English is preferred as a common language because it is seen as neutral and prevents the favouring of any one particular dialect.

It is advisable to have a basic understanding of the English language.

•Sleeping bag/pad

• Small daypack

• Work gloves

• Head torch with extra batteries

• Water bottle

• Towel

• Personal toiletries/medications

• Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock!

• Insect repellent

• Books  & Binoculars

• Camera/film

• Notebook/pens

• CDs/cards

• Warm clothes for cold nights (jackets/fleeces/long pants/raincoat)

• Hiking boots/sandals/sneakers

• Underwear/socks

• Sunglasses/sunhat

• Sports watch/alarm

• Casual set of clothes

• Cash/credit cards/travelers cheques

• Passport

• Driver’s license (if available)

• Immunization certificate

• Travel insurance certificate

• Copies of important documents

• School supplies/clothes for locals and books or travel games.

Your meals and accommodation are included in your volunteer contribution, so not much spending money is required unless you want to buy gifts or curios. South Africa represents great value for money for visitors and you can survive on surprisingly little day to day. We recommend that you bring cash, an ATM card and a credit card for emergencies (Visa or Mastercard are the most widely accepted). South Africa has plenty of banks in every town and you will find a “Bureau de Change” in the airport, convenient to change money to Rands upon arrival in South Africa.

At present, volunteers from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter South Africa and will be granted a temporary visitors permit valid for 90 days on presenting their passport on arrival. If you are intending to stay longer than 90 days, you can apply for an extension in your home country or at the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.

It is always a good idea to have adequate travel/medical insurance before you travel anywhere, and Africa is no exception! You will not be allowed to join the Wildlife Conservation Project unless you have fully comprehensive insurance. Travel insurance doesn’t have to be expensive – there are always great deals available for backpackers, gap year students and other travelers (www.statravel.com).  It is important that your policy covers you for theft, loss, illness, injury and repatriation in the event of a medical emergency. Check your policy to see if medical benefits are paid ‘as you go’ or on your return home. You may not appreciate having to pay for medical costs out of your own pocket if you are unlucky enough to need long-term treatment of any kind.