An
elephant project on a National Park ... You get the opportunity to contribute
to conservation on the most exciting National Park in South Africa! This is a
lifetime experience!
You will spend your time
working with the trackers and researchers monitoring elephant herds consisting
of up to 120 elephants. Addo have had a problem with the elephant population the
past few years, with over 400 elephants in the park, studies where carried out
on how to maintain reasonable numbers. The park has also increased in size to
be the only Big 7 park in South Africa. This makes the experience different, exciting
and jam packed with action.
With lion just recently being introduced you
will be on a Big 5 National Park also allowing volunteers to get involved in local
community upliftment as well as the conservation experience on the park. The project
is ongoing and offered to volunteers for 4, 8 & 12 weeks throughout the year.
Location
 | Addo
Elephant National Park is situated in the Eastern Cape of South
Africa, approximately 1 hours drive from Port Elizabeth.
The main hub of the park – where volunteers will be based – is situated
near the town of Addo in the fertile Sundays River Valley.
The Sundays
River Valley is the largest citrus-producing region in the country, fed by the
fastest-flowing river in the country: the Sundays River.
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Photo
Gallery
Projects
usually include
- Wildlife Monitoring
-
General Park Maintenance
- Community Liaison
(optional)
- Wildlife monitoring
-
Wildlife capture & care (seasonal)
- Nocturnal
wildlife
- Exposure to conservation management
in a national park
- Horse trails
- Walking
trail maintenance
- Law enforcement (tourist
patrols)
As part of your placement there may
be the opportunity to observe and assist various researchers active in the park. -
Predator Research
- Elephant Research
-
Red Bishop Research
Project
Duration and Rates
Ground only rates (excluding
flights)
| 2
weeks | 3
weeks | 4
weeks | 6
weeks | 8
weeks | 12
weeks | | £1,299 | £1,749 | £2,049 | £2,499 | £2,899 | £3,899 |
Fully
inclusive (including flights) *subject to availability
| 2
weeks | 3
weeks | 4
weeks | 6
weeks | 8
weeks | 12
weeks | | £2,049 | £2,499 | £2,799 | £3,249 | £3,649 | £4,649 |
MORE
INFORMATION ...
All of the projects that you assist
with whilst on your placement all help towards the key objectives and visions
of Addo Elephant National park. Because your time spent on the reserve is relatively
short in comparison to the length of the parks ongoing projects you will not necessarily
assist with all the projects.
For a detailed information pack on all the
projects at Addo Elephant National Park apply
today to find out more on this true African Experience.
Addo
Elephant National Park is one of 22 national parks spread throughout the country,
managed by South African National Parks (SANParks). Addo received the SANParks
Kudu Award for Best Park due to excellent performance in the three core business
areas of SANParks: tourism, conservation and people & conservation.
SANParks
as the country’s premier conservation organisation, has been mandated by
the South African government to expand South Africa’s protected areas from
the present 6% to 8% of the country’s surface area and up to 20% from 2%
of the coastline by 2010. Addo’s expansion process aims to see the park cover
236 000 hectares of land by 2010, with an associated 120 000-hectare Marine Protected
Area.
Conservation at Addo Elephant National Park is focused on conserving
the unique fauna, flora and ecological process that characterise the Eastern Cape.
Natural processes are restored and conserved. Part of the commitment of the park
is to reintroduce only naturally-occurring fauna and flora, drawing on historical
distribution patterns of wildlife to create an authentic representation of biodiversity.
Expansion
of the park is ongoing, creating an exciting backdrop to conservation management.
Wildlife introductions and translocations occur throughout certain months of the
year, employing some of the latest technology and research methods.
As
a conservation volunteer at Addo Elephant National Park you will have the chance
to assist with many ongoing short and long term projects. As your placement will
cover only a relatively short time there is no guarantee that you will be involved
in all projects during your placement.
In a large and expanding national
park, conservation priorities may change at short notice or in response to emergencies.
It is vital that you are flexible in your response to these priorities, and be
able to work on your own initiative in order to gain the most out of your experience.
For those who have the drive, interest, and are self motivated, much can be learned
at Addo.
Accommodation
Volunteers
are housed in basic accommodation comprising of a wooden hut and mobile home in
the game holding (boma) area of the Addo Elephant National Park. The wooden hut
has one room with two single beds. The park home (Caravan) has one twin bedded
room and a small lounge and communal kitchen area as well as toilet and shower
facilities which all volunteers share. Volunteers will be required to share rooms
with each other.
Please be aware that accommodation within the reserve
is isolated therefore it is recommended that you take plenty of reading material,
games etc. The nearest town from Addo is Patterson approximately ten minutes by
taxi, where there is a local bar frequented by various Game Reserve staff and
volunteers from other reserves.
Time
Off
Your working hours in the park are generally
speaking Monday to Friday 07.30 to 17.00 with an hour or two for lunch, please
note working hours are dependent on weather conditions, and nature of activity.
The evenings and weekends are at leisure.
Weekends give you the opportunity
to relax at Alicedale or visit some of the splendours and beauty that South Africa
has to offer. |
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