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City/State: Western Cape |
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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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WHITE LION CONSERVATION PROJECT on Sanbona is the only of it’s kind in the world. You will become part of a team monitoring the impact of the ONLY pride of free roaming white lions in the world.
Based a mere 3 hours from Cape Town you will have a chance to experience the vastness of Africa as well as the city life of one of the worlds most famous cities nightlife (on the weekends)
Sanbona is also home to Africa’s Big 5 so you will be involved in overall reserve conservation which included mammals like elephant monitoring, buffalo tracking and soil erosion control work. The project is ongoing and offered to volunteers for 2, 4, 8 & 12 weeks throughout the year.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve situated in the heart of the Little Karoo offers you a conservation experience second to none. Join the experienced conservation team in their vision of releasing the legendary white lion back into the wild.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is 54 000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock art and incredible rock formations situated at the foot of the Warmwaterberg mountains. The reserve has been set up a little over 3 years and is still in the developmental stages of a game reserve.
Africa volunteer work at Sanbona gives you the ultimate conservation experience allowing you a direct insight into the maintenance and development of a game reserve. Although only a relatively new game reserve Sanbona still boasts the Big Five free roaming on its plains and rocky escarpments.
The name Sanbona, a combination of the "San" people who occupied the area 250 years ago and "bona" which represents their vision has been combined to position this beautiful wildlife reserve.
Gap year projects on Sanbona are very much a personal experience and allows you to become part of the family and conservation team that strive so hard to bringing nature back to its original environment.
Gap year conservation work on this reserve will involve working with exciting rehabilitation projects. Find out what exciting activities our volunteers have been getting up to over the past month: Click Here.
* Game counts, monitoring and transect analysis
* Game Introduction - when available
* Animal research projects
* Alien vegetation control and rehabilitation of indigenous vegetation
* Medicinal use of plants and vegetation biomes
* Plant studies and identification
* Animal habituation
* Nocturnal studies
* Camp outs in the bush
* Bird monitoring - bird counts on the dam, species list, raptors, etc
* Game fence management plan and removing old fences
* Soil erosion control and grass planting
* Construction and maintenance of bomas
* General reserve maintenance, road building etc
* Maintenance of nursery of indigenous plants
* Introduction to firearms
* Photography
The White Lion Project
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is the only place in the world to have successfully reintroduced white lions back into the wild. As a conservation volunteer on the reserve you will assist with ongoing research and monitoring projects.
It has been ‘a long walk to freedom for Sanbona’s White Lion’s’. Jabulani and Queen were introduced onto the reserve in 2003. During their sty here they have been living in a large boma and as proof of their comfort there they gave birth to three beautiful cubs on 18 May 2004. The family has been flourishing under the careful supervision of the Sanbona Wild Life Department. They have been fed only wild game and have not been subjected to any interference from the human race.
It seems that the female is more adventurous than the male and it was Queen who took the first steps to freedom, to be followed by two of the cubs. Jabu was wary for quite a long time and one of the cubs preferred to stay with him. After about an hour, Jabu walked out of the gate of the boma, head held high to see what the rest of his family were up to. The reluctant cub took another half an hour before it followed. In this magnificent Pride of White Lions there are 3 male cubs.
They have been released into a 3500 hectare fenced of area which is freedom for them at these stages. The area has been well stocked with a large variety of game and has an abundant water hole. It remains to be seen whether they will take naturally to hunting. The wildlife staff will be monitoring the lions for a time, to ensure that they are catching food and that all is well with them.
This proves they have made great strides in their journey away from captivity and exploitation.
Please note that the White Lion project is ongoing and volunteers may not necessarily have involvement during their experience.
Location
Sanbona can be found at the foot of the Warmwaterberg, in the heart of the Little Karoo, between Montagu and Barrydale on the famous Route 62. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is situated approximately 3.5 hours drive from Cape Town. On the way to Sanbona you will travel through the Huguenot Tunnel and a part of the scenic Du Toits Kloof Pass. After that you will enter the the Breede River valley. The Breede river valley consists out off historical old buildings, farm stalls, art and crafts shops, famous wines cellars, fruit-, roses- and top horse breeding farms. Travel on the famouse route 62 through the Montagu Pass and experience the most awe-inspiring rock formations. The historical town of Montagu, known for its hot springs is passed through. At the area "Die Vlakte" you will find Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.
Sanbona boasts magnificent views, panoramic landscapes and towering cliffs, streams and the abundance of trees and indigenous flora, all contribute to making the Breede River Valley one of the Western Cape's most diverse regions.
Accomodation
You will be accommodated in purpose built accommodation within the boundaries of the reserve. One of the most amazing aspects of Sanbona Wildlife reserve is the opportunity to experience the tranquillity, sights and sounds of the African bush twenty four hours a day. It is not uncommon to hear the roar of lions as you enjoy a Braai (BBQ) under the brightly lit African sky.
The accommodation comprises of 6 large rooms, a common room and dining room kitchen area. The rooms are all ensuite and accommodate 3 volunteers per room.
The common area consists of a seating area with sky TV, video/DVD player and music system. There is a self service bar for any refreshments plus a pool and darts table for socialising.
The common area has a Braai (bbq) area and a swimming pool for volunteers to relax and use as they please.
You can also gain access to a phone and Internet access in the private office area. Please note there is one computer between all volunteers.
Time Off
The working week at Sanbona is Monday to Friday, evenings and weekends at leisure. Due to the location of Sanbona evenings are spent at the accommodation relaxing in the common area socialising with staff and other volunteers. On occasions volunteers and coordinators will head into the local town for a meal at one of the restaurants. Weekends can be used for private arrangements. Popular choices include Cape Town: Table Mountain, Waterfront, Cape Peninsula tour, Shark Cage diving. Horse riding, Gouritz Bungee, Cango caves, Skydiving etc.
All transport and activities are at the volunteers’ expense.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 17+
Travel to site: Varies
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Varies
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
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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Sanbona is offering anyone with a keen interest in lions, or any african wildlife an opportunity to come and help with their latest project. The reserve has re-introduced white lions, orginially living wild in the Timbavati area of South Africa, back into the wild.This is a fairly new reserve and it is still has a long way to get the reserve back to its original state after farming. Volunteers will be able to form part of that rehabilitation and thier efforts so far has made a massive difference. Sanbona's experience will give every person a positive outlook on life and a sense of playing a part in conservation.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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4 Weeks from £1949
Price Includes return flights, accommodation, transfers, meals
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Typical person for this program: |
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If you lovw nature, adventure and the outdoors, You love the big White lions and meeting new people - This is for you
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