 |
|
 |
 |
City/State: Western Cape |
|
Country: SOUTH AFRICA
|
|
|
| Worldwide Experience |
The Oak Suite
Guardian House
Borough Road
Surrey
UNITED KINGDOM
GU7 2AE
Phone: +44 (0)1483 860 560
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Program description: |
|
|
The O.R.C.A. Marine Foundation gives volunteers the chance to become part of one of the world’s most successful ocean research teams. Located in Plettenberg Bay, one of the most breathtaking and serene outdoor classrooms in South Africa, the O.R.C.A. team have strived to turn the area into a protected Ocean Marine Park. During your 4 or 8 week stay you will become part of the O.R.C.A. family and help and assist in their long term projects and goals. Gap year travel does not get much more exciting than this!
The O.R.C.A. Marine Foundation gives volunteers the chance to become part of one of the world’s most successful ocean research teams.
The O.R.C.A. Foundation, in conjunction with Ocean Blue Adventures, is located on the world famous Garden Route. It is home to some of the world’s most fascinating marine species, including Southern Right and Humpback whales, Bryde's whales, Bottlenose and Common Dolphins, O.R.C.A.'s or Killer Whales, Great White Sharks to name but a few. Gap year travel placements here give you a unique once in life time chance to work with these magnificent marine species in exciting and groundbreaking marine conservation volunteer work.
Whether you witness Southern Right Whales breaching the water's surface only meters from the research boat, or seeing hundreds of common dolphins swimming and playing alongside your kayak as you paddle across the calm waters of the Indian Ocean with, you will have an unforgettable time!
The experienced O.R.C.A. team will help settle you in over your stay and give you the opportunity to take on your own individual projects. O.R.C.A. offers ocean research volunteers personal diversity in the programme; from assisting the dive research teams to helping with their community outreach programme. Volunteers will also be working alongside the commercial venture that helps fund research at ORCA; OCEAN BLUE ADVENTURES.
O.R.C.A. Marine Foundations Aims:
Research that aims to insure the sustainability of marine resources.
To alleviate coastal poverty through the creation of jobs and the development of skills, which will assist in maintaining the sustainability of the marine resources.
To raise public awareness and educate all communities of how the protection and sustainable utilization of our coastal and marine resources can benefit all and why maintaining coastal and marine bio-diversity is so important.
To implement an education programme for school children based on the curriculum.
All student activities on the project will support the mission and objectives of the O.R.C.A. Marine Foundation, including current research activities at the time of the course.
Marine conservation volunteer work at the O.R.C.A. Foundation will also include being involved in theoretical and practical lectures including:
1. Plettenberg Bay orientation - geography, history and local culture
2. Beaches, Rocky shores and intertidal rock pools
3. Whales
4. Dolphin
5. Sea Fishes
6. Fynbos and local fauna and flora
7. Conservation program
8. Social program and application of a commercial business within a sensitive environment.
9. Safety at sea and boat maintenance
10. Seals and marine birds
In your stay in Plettenberg Bay, you should be lucky enough to witness the power and grace of whales, the exuberance of dolphins and killer whales, see playful seals and the majestic of mountains and forests scenery. Above all, being an ocean research volunteer will allow you to actively and meaningfully participate in ensuring that things stay this way for future generations. Through the O.R.C.A. marine conservation project, you can join the drive to manage this marine and coastal zone in a sustainable manner and in the process experience the community, culture and environment in a way more intimate than most visitors.
Work may involve the following:
Involvement in community development programmes for previously disadvantaged communities (e.g. the Masizame Street Children’s project, Qolweni)
Participation in a broad range of educational initiatives involving the local community: educating school children on conservation principals and helping spread the word of the O.R.C.A. Foundation, (please note some of the students may not be able to speak or understand English)
Organising co-ordinated provincial marine and coastal awareness campaigns
(e.g. National Environment Week, National Marine Week, Youth Day)
Participating in commercial marine-eco tourism activities, which include whale and dolphin watching tours, sea kayaking, township tours, river ferry cruises (many water activities are complimentary of ORCA Marine Foundation). The objective being to stimulate guest’s awareness of, and interest in, the marine environment and the realistic, holistic conservation thereof through a commercial eco-tourism project that actually works (winner of the Green Trust Award)
Monitoring and cleaning of beaches and coastal regions
Maintenance and cleaning of fish tanks at the ORCA education centre (on a daily basis).
Conducting research surveys:
Marine and coastal resource economic valuations
Angling surveys within the surrounding estuary and coastline
Sampling, tagging, monitoring and dissection of fish species
Supervised collection of touch pool and aquarium species for the O.R.C.A. Education Centre
Report presentations on topics relative to the project which will be tailored to suit and stimulate your individual interests
O.R.C.A. patrol boat trips to collect data, monitor the bay and take photos of whales, dolphins and other marine species
Rescue and rehabilitation of marine species
Other Activities Free of Charge:
Ocean Blue Adventures Dolphin and Whale watching
Ocean Blue Adventures Sea Kayaking
Blue Lounge River Ferry
Kynsna Elephant Park
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.
Location
Plettenberg Bay is characterised by sweeping, unspoilt golden beaches, a dramatic rocky peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers and sea. With its exceptional climate, and beautiful view sites over the Indian Ocean, Plettenberg Bay is perfect for tourists, travellers and locals alike.
Accommodation
Your accommodation for the duration of your stay will be in the ORCA volunteer house situated in Plettenberg Bay approximately 1 mile from the ORCA centre. The house is owned and managed by your coordinator Clayton. The accommodation is self catering with shared bedroom and bathroom facilities.
Laundry facilities are available for volunteers and the house is within close proximity to nearby shopping centre which has various shops, cinemas, restaurants and bars. You will be provided with a Mountain Bike for the duration of your stay to help you get around during your placement.
Time Off
Your working week on your O.R.C.A. placement is generally speaking Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1700 depending on the activities of the day. Evenings and weekends are at leisure.
Leisure activities include golf, bowls, horse riding, angling, sailing, blackwater tubing, abseiling, mountain biking, scuba-diving and surfing, as well as hiking and bird-watching in the nearby Robberg, Keurbooms River and Tsitsikamma nature reserves. Unusual, but highly recommended options - a treetop canopy tour or bungee jumping off the 216m Bloukrans River bridge, the highest jump in the world!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General program information: |
|
|
Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 17+
Travel to site: Independent Travel
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Independant
Living arrangements on the program: Apartment, Group living
How long does the program last?: 1-3 Months
What are the dates of this program: All year round
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits and advantages of the program: |
|
|
This is perfect opportunity to give something back to nature and help preserve this beautiful coastal environment. Not a lot of people always realise that whales, dolphins and other marine animals in also in danger of disappearing from our oceans and this is a perfect way to help in conserve these unique creatures and experience marine life. Community involvement also helps to teach South Africa's youngsters about marine life and how to protect it, whilst by becoming involved also helps better their lives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost or price of this program: |
|
|
From £1,699 for 2 weeks and £2,499 for 4 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
