Shamwari
Game Reserve offers the ultimate placements for conservation volunteers in a malaria-free
environment. Shamwari means 'my friend' and this reserve is the southernmost
premier 'Big Five' Game Reserve in South Africa, boasting a huge variety of game
over a vast 24,000 hectares. Here we promise to offer you the experience of a
lifetime, assisting the award-winning conservation team. If exposure to the African
wildlife is your dream - perhaps even working with lions - then gap year
voluntary work at the Shamwari Game Reserve will exceed your wildest expectations
.
Volunteer
placements allow you to become part of the conservation team at the Shamwari reserve
and to assist them in their long term projects, including: - Game
Monitoring
- Community Project - C.A.R.E
- Wilderness
Experience - Camping out under the stars in the wilderness area (Weather dependent)
- Shooting and APU (additional cost)
- General Shamwari
reserve Maintenance
- Orientation of camps and facts
-
Fence, wire and rubbish clearing
- Fence Patrol
- Survival
Sleep out
- Road Maintenance and Bush Clearing
- Rock
packing along fence lines
- Game Counts
As part of your
placement there may also be the opportunity to help and observe behind the scenes
at the Born Free Foundation's Big Cat sanctuary situated within the Reserve.
It is the mission of both The Born Free Foundation and Shamwari Game Reserve
to promote the conservation of species and the protection of habitat while maintaining
a humane and compassionate approach to the welfare of animals.
Over years
of working with lions and other big cats, Born Free has been able to rescue
animals from situations of serious danger, and provide them with excellent life-time
care.
As a conservation volunteer you may also be involved with
the feeding of these big cats as well as the maintenance of their enclosures. |
MORE
INFORMATION ...
Conservation volunteers at Shamwari Reserve will
have the chance to assist with many on-going short and long term projects; however,
as your placement will only be a relatively short time there is no guarantee that
you will be involved in all projects during your placement. Conservation at the
Shamwari Game Reserve is about the management, development and rehabilitation
of the environment to create a sustainable ecosystem through the implementation
of conservation principals.
The conservation department at Shamwari has
a highly effective team including a qualified wildlife veterinarian, an ecologist
and an environmentalist. The Wildlife Department also boasts a breeding and rehabilitation
centre, an education centre and an anti-poaching unit. Working alongside conservation
volunteers, the department strives to protect and to improve the environment
to ensure the lasting sustainability of the reserve as an ecosystem rich in biodiversity.
The
reserve is constantly monitoring existing game and introducing new game throughout
the year, making Shamwari one of our most exciting conservation projects.
| The
wildlife department where you will be working has received the Global Nature Fund
Award for Best Conservation Practice, and Shamwari Reserve's wildlife director,
Dr Johan Joubert, was voted one of South Africa's Top Ten conservationists by
the Endangered Wildlife Trust. | |
 | Location
Shamwari
Game Reserve is situated in the Eastern Cape of South
Africa, only an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth. This area historically had
an abundance of wild game roaming free.
The Eastern Cape is justifiably famous
for a number of other game reserves. The great herds of Knysna Forest elephants
were almost totally eradicated at the turn of this century, and yet, miraculously,
the man most responsible for nearly wiping out an entire species had a dramatic
change of heart and spent the balance of his life fighting for a safe haven for
these rare and wonderful animals. |
Addo National Park and the Mountain Zebra Park saw almost exactly the same thing
happen to the rare mountain zebra. Shot to the brink of extinction, in the 1930s
this rare species struggled to come back. Today, there are over 200 in the park.
Click
here to read more about South Africa |
Accomodation
Conservation
volunteers are accommodated at Pote's Lodge situated in the Southern area
of Shamwari Game Reserve which is located two minutes from Shamwari's wildlife
centre.
There are 15 bedrooms as well as a communal living area and lecture
room, all rooms are twin bedded and ensuite. Pote's boasts many facilities including
TV with DSTV (Sky) and DVD player, CD player and a computer is shared between
all conservation volunteers. There is also a Braai (BBQ) area and a swimming
pool for all volunteers to relax and use at leisure.
The accommodation
is based on a predator free section of the reserve allowing total freedom and
safety to all our Conservation volunteers.
Time
Off
The working week at Shamwari Reserve is Monday to Friday, between
08:00 and 17:00 (Some days may start as early as 05:00). Evenings and weekends
are spent at leisure. During the evenings conservation volunteers can organise
board games and other activities or relax with a drink at Sandlflats pub in the
local town of Paterson. During weekends you can explore some of the surrounding
attractions. Popular choices include Storms River Bungee jump, or surfing at Jeffrey's
Bay. |
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 | | £1,999 | £2,499 | £2,799 | £3,249 | £3,649 | £4,649 |
|
