Shamwari
Game Reserve offers the ultimate in volunteer conservation placements, 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, then gap
year voluntary work on Shamwari will exceed your wildest expectations ...
Volunteer
placements at allow you to become part of the conservation team at Shamwari and
to assist them in their long term projects , including: - Game Monitoring
/ Counts
- Community Project – C.A.R.E
- General Reserve
Maintenance
- Wilderness Experience – Camping out under the stars
in the wilderness area (Weather dependent)
- Shooting and APU (additional
cost)
- 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
- Updating data and information on to computer
- Game
Counts
As part of your placement there may also be the opportunity
to help and assist 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 the years the Born Free Foundation has been able to rescue several
big cats from situations where they are in 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 ...
As a conservation volunteer at Shamwari you will have the
chance to assist with many on going short and long term projects. As your placement
will only be a relatively short time in regards to many projects there is no guarantee
that you will be involved in all of them during your placement. Conservation at
Shamwari is about the management, development and rehabilitation of the environment
to create a sustainable ecosystem through the implementation of fundamental conservation
principals.
The conservation department at Shamwari has a highly effective
team including a qualified wildlife veterinarian, ecologist and environmentalist.
The Wildlife Department also boasts a breeding and rehabilitation centre, an education
centre and an anti-poaching unit. To ensure the lasting sustainability of the
reserve as an ecosystem rich in biodiversity, the ecology department strives to
protect and to improve the environment.
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’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 hours 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
Volunteers
are accommodated at Madolo’s Retreat situated in the northern area of Shamwari
Game Reserve. There are 12 bedrooms in the accomodation, as well as a communal
living area, all rooms are twin bedded and ensuite.
Madolo’s Retreat
boasts many facilities including TV with DSTV (Sky), CD player and a computer
is shared between all volunteers, (althoug lines are not always accessible). There
is a Braai (bbq) area and a swimming pool for all volunteers to relax and use
at leisure.
Time
Off
The working week at Shamwari is Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and
17:00. Evenings and weekends are at leisure. During the evenings board games and
other activities can be organised by the volunteers or relax with a drink at either
the Station Bar or Loui’s Bar. 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
| 2
weeks | 3
weeks | 4
weeks | 6
weeks | 8
weeks | 12
weeks | | £1,199 | £1,549 | £1,849 | £2,299 | £2,699 | £3,699 |
|
