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City/State: Eastern Cape
Country: SOUTH AFRICA

Shamwari Game Reserve
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Worldwide Experience
The Oak Suite
Guardian House
Borough Road
Surrey
UNITED KINGDOM
GU7 2AE
Phone: +44 (0)1483 860 560


Program description:

Become a conservation volunteer on the world famous Shamwari Game Reserve, in South Africa. Change your life forever!! Shamwari Game Reserve offers the Ultimate in Conservation volunteer placements. Shamwari, meaning “my friend”, is the Southern Most premier “Big 5” Game Reserve in South Africa, boasting a huge variety of game over a vast 20,000 hectares. Here we promise to offer you the experience of a lifetime as you assist and adapt to the on going conservation work.

If exposure to the African wildlife is your dream, then gap year voluntary work on Shamwari will exceed your wildest expectations. Game reserve volunteer placements on Shamwari will allow you to become part of the conservation team and assist in their long term projects and ambitions.

The reserve is a massive 25,000 hectares and has been the residence to celebrities like Brad Pitt, Tiger Woods and John Travolta in its luxurious lodges. You will be however be part of the team tracking and monitoring the Big 5 as well as work at the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary...

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 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 where necessary to improve the environment.

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 during your placement.

  • 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

  • Taxidermist – Arguments for and against

  • 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 be involved with the feeding of these big cats as well as the maintenance of their enclosures.

    In November 2005 Shamwari started building a second Born Free Big Cat sanctuary in the Northern section of the reserve close to Alicedale. There will be many opportunities to get involved with development and on going construction of this new project.

    Costs Include Flights, Transfers, Accommodation, all meals and laundry.

    Shamwari game Reserve has set departure dates to help enhance the programme. All volunteers travel on the same day and groups are met at London Heathrow to help with introductions to fellow conservationists.

  • General program information:

    Program open to: Everyone
    Age range: 17+
    Travel to site: Independent Travel
    Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Varies
    No. in group: 8 - 14
    Living arrangements on the program: Apartment, Group living
    How long does the program last?: 1-3 Months
    What are the dates of this program: Please visit our website to see upcoming start dates.

    Benefits and advantages of the program:

    Spending time on this reserve will truely benefit those people interested in Wildlife, Community work and giving something back to our environment.  Volunteers not only get to see how a game reserve works but will actually work behind the scenes and gain a definite experience in wildlife management.  This exciting, theoretical, interactive and practical programme introduces Shamwari students to the wider principles of Wildlife and Game Management

    Cost or price of this program:

    4 wks

    from: £1,399

    8 wks

    from: £2,799

    Application process Involves:

    Registering 1 month prior to departure.

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