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City/State: Hoedspruit, near Kruger National Park |
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Country: SOUTH AFRICA
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| Worldwide Experience |
The Oak Suite
Guardian House
Borough Road
Surrey
UNITED KINGDOM
GU7 2AE
Phone: +44 (0)1483 860 560
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Program description: |
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CHEETAH SANCTUARY AND REHABILITATION NEAR THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: If you have always had a passion for the fastest cat in the world, and you want to get close to them – this is the project for you. Kapama is home to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre that cares for sick and injured animals. They focus on the conservation of rare, vulnerable or endangered animals, which cheetah breeding being part of their core principles.
Volunteers have the chance to get involved with the rehabilitation of these cats, which includes feeding them at least twice a week. You will be working with the wildlife department and you focus on 3 key principles on the set course; the rehab centre, conservation and sight-seeing.
This is a very hands on programme which is offered for 3 weeks, on a monthly basis. Dates are set, so please call us to get additional information.
Kapama Private Game Reserve is one of the most exciting Big 5 reserves in South Africa. Situated in the Limpopo Province, it was proclaimed a private nature reserve in December 1993. Covering approximately 13 000 hectares of prime big game territory, Kapama Private Game Reserve has succeeded in combining the wilderness of the bush experience with working in the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
The name comes from Kapama, a Swazi king, whose tribe inhabited and hunted the northern Drakensberg mountain region around Mariepskop back in the 1880s.
A game relocation programme was introduced and the reserve now supports a wide variety of game including elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, and large populations of giraffe, impala, blue wildebeest and kudu. Predators include lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and many smaller species.
The volunteer program is flexible. Kapama is a working reserve and volunteers are included in the operations of Kapama Game Reserve, either with the vet or conservationists.
Some of the more common activities where students will be involved in, are as follows:
* Monitoring programs (general antelope and the Big5)
* Feeding of animals in the Hoedspruit Research and Breeding centre for Endangered Species
* Environmental education on conservation
* Lectures on various topics of reserve management
* Camping in reserve
* Star gazing
* Immobilizing of wild animals
* Target Shooting (various calibers – in order to expose volunteers to anti-poaching)
* Capturing of wild animals when required by the reserve or the sanctuary
* Assisting the vet with veterinary proceedures
* Game drives through the reserve
* Assisting in hand raised animals – very hands on
* Elephant back safari's
The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is situated on over 100 hectares within the Kapama. Established in the late 1980s by Lente Roode as part of a breeding programme for the endangered cheetah, the centre has expanded to breed and conserve other African species for reintroduction into the wild.
The centre has cheetah and wild dog, both on the endangered species list, and are presently under the expert supervision of Lente Roode, veterinary surgeon, Dr Peter Rogers and a dedicated team of young conservationists. Extreme care is taken in creating the most suitable environment for cheetah to breed, for example the carefully constructed breeding enclosures which are diligently maintained to suit the behavioural habits of the cheetah as well as provision of the most nourishing diets.
The cheetah are also maintained free of external and internal parasites. The nutritional status and dietary supplements of the animals are monitored carefully to ensure an optimal and balanced nutritional state. By advising clients on the feeding of cheetah, the Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Centre endeavours to ensure that the high standard of the nutritional state of the animals is maintained.
Volunteers accommodation is in thatched huts shared by two people in Nungu Camp, within the Big 5 reserve boundaries of Kapama Game Reserve. Shared bathroom facilities (men and ladies separately) Laundry facilities provided in Nungu Camp. Three meals per day provided in camp or tea garden at the Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Centre for Endangered species. BBQ every Monday night (weather permitting) in camp.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 18+
Travel to site: Varies
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Group
No. in group: 10
Living arrangements on the program: Varies, Group living
How long does the program last?: 2-4 weeks
What are the dates of this program: Set course dates all year round.
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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This is a perfect opportunity to take part in hands on conservation work. Volunteers take part in all activities and get a perfect insight to how a game reserve operates, whilst also allowing volunteers to work in the rehabilitation centre.
You get the best of both worlds at Kapama; combining work at the rehabilitation centre with work on the game reserve.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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From £1,449 for 3 weeks
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