Itinerary

The week usually begins on a Tuesday and you will receive an in-depth orientation of the programme and its aims. You will receive basic training in equipment and research methods and then go on a drive to receive some practical training. Subsequently volunteers accompany staff on 2 drives per day of approximately 4 hours - the morning drive leaves as the sun rises and returns around 10am.

During the day volunteers have a few base duties to complete. This may include cooking, cleaning and data input. Otherwise you are free to relax, write in your journal and enjoy the stunning scenery. In the afternoon the team heads out on a second drive around 3-4pm dependent on the temperature and activities. Volunteers return around 8pm for dinner. There is a 6 day working week and on a Saturday evening the team usually organises a social event either at the base or in a nearby pub/restaurant.

Sunday is effectively a day off, although there is an optional drive in the afternoon. You are free to use this time to visit places of interest around the area (such as Kruger National Park of Blyde Canyon).

The second week is similar in structure but, due to the nature of this project, itineraries are subject to change as you never know what amazing sightings or encounters you may experience out on the reserve.

There are occasionally opportunities to be involved in the darting of some of the large mammals on the reserve during a stay but these are not guaranteed and only occur when absolutely necessary.

The optional quad bike based black rhino monitoring takes place on a rotary basis for interested volunteers.

Duties

The aim of the LEO Africa research project is to provide the reserve wardens and ecologists with detailed information about wildlife in the game reserve. This information is used to evaluate the impact of re-introduced animals and to maintain balanced and sustainable ecosystems.

While the focus of our research is on a single pride of lion in the reserve, our volunteer wildlife research programme records and monitors the movements, behaviour, numbers, kills, and habituation of leopards, cheetah, elephant, and black and white rhino. This research will play a vital role in the management of conservation areas throughout South Africa.
Volunteers will receive continuous infield training in order to give volunteers a baseline understanding of the South African bush and research in the field. Training includes; conservation, reserve management, bird/mammal/reptile identification, tracking, tree identification and ecology. Volunteers will also be trained to use telemetry, GPS, and research equipment.

Volunteers during and once trained will help research assistants track the collared research focus predators using radio telemetry, which is mainly Lions but also Leopards. Each volunteer is given a role on the vehicle including map reading, GPS operation, Data input and radio telemetry. Once the research animal has been located, usually after some kilometers of tracking and Bundu bashing, the volunteers are taught how to identify each of the animals and taught what data needs to be collected.

Volunteers on The Great Lion Project will help:
• Determine and monitor predator numbers in the game reserve including lions, leopards and cheetahs
• Monitor the feeding behaviour, prey selection, kill frequencies, and the ecological impact of lion and other predators in the reserve
• Monitor the social dynamics of the Selati Game Reserve's resident lion population
• Monitor the movements and territories of predators and mega herbivores in the reserve
• Habituate elephants and develop their identification kits
• Specifically monitor the condition and track the black rhinos in the reserve on the new black rhino monitoring project, tracking the endangered animals on the reserve for a day on a quad bike accompanied by a guide. The black rhino monitoring project is an optional and exceptional adventure that allows you to genuinely experience the African bush and animals more intimately
• Monitor the condition and track the white rhinos in the reserve
• Collar and habituate resident leopards
• Assist The Great Lion Project with the upkeep of the reserve

The overall aims of the research is to monitor wildlife on the reserve, particularly lions, and provide the data to the managers so that accurate and informed decisions can be made to keep the animals, their prey and their habitat in an ecological balance.

For those volunteers who stay for 8 weeks or longer the project will include a year’s membership to the Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) and the opportunity to be assisted by the project team to complete a FGASA Level 1 theory qualification, great for any CV and this will really enhance volunteers understanding, involvement and enjoyment on the programme. Staff will carry out lectures in the week, which all are welcome to attend, and assist in learning in the field.

What Makes this Project Great

The project is located adjacent to the Kruger National Park and sandwiched between the escarpments of the Drakensberg Mountain Range, made up of a collection of 13 neighbouring game ranches that united to preserve and sustain the biodiversity of this wildlife-rich region. This saddle of beautiful scenery supports a diverse range of habitats and several species of grasslands wildlife. This diversity creates an incredibly complex ecosystem, the balance of which is a critical factor in the success of the 33,000 ha conservation area.

Your volunteer work will have a significant positive impact on the conservation policies and practices in South Africa. The data that volunteers and staff collect goes towards valuable wildlife management reports and well respected academic institutions databases and will allow other conservation areas to be better able at make decisions that affect the balance of ecosystems and help them to restore farmland to wilderness in a sustainable way. The data you will be trained and involved in collecting information is particularly valuable for re-introduced mammals like lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and rhino.

The Great Lion Project is also proud to announce that beginning in 2013 the Selati Game Reserve was the first private reserve to be chosen in the black rhino range-expansion project where the rare black rhinos were removed from national parks onto safer private land for protection. The Great Lion Project is privileged to be home to these critically endangered animals and the team is passionate and dedicated towards the conservation and protection of both black and white rhinos, which are under increasing threat from poachers for their horns in South Africa.

FAQs

How many other volunteers are there?
The programme accommodates a maximum of 12-14 volunteers at any one time

Do I need any experience or qualifications?
No special knowledge or experience is required, just an interest and commitment to be a member of the team. You do however need to be reasonably fit to carry out reserve tasks. You must be prepared to work alongside other members of the team, often for long hours in the hot African sun. You should also bear in mind that we live in the middle of the bush. We are just visitors to the home of the wildlife and you may come across spiders, insects and possibly even snakes.

What will the weather be like?
The seasons in South Africa are opposite to those of the northern hemisphere. Summer is from October to April with temperatures peaking in December, January and February. But summer is also our rainy season and we get some big rains so remember your waterproofs. Winter is from May to September and is generally the dry season. We still recommend you to bring your waterproofs as it can rain occasionally in winter as well; the bush can be unpredictable. Do not underestimate how cold Africa can be! Mornings and evenings can be extremely cold (as low as 2°c) and remember you will be on an open game viewer. For winter please bring a coat and plenty of warm layers, hat, gloves and scarf. Daytime winter temperatures are still extremely warm so t shirts, shorts and sun protection are still required.

Will I get time off?
Sunday is effectively a day off, although there is an optional drive in the afternoon. You are free to use this time to visit places of interest around the area (such as Kruger National Park of Blyde Canyon).

Reviews

“My favourite memory was impala stunting across the road and the lion coming within 2m of the vehicle. Scary but amazing!”
Monica Filkova, August 2012

The greatest part of the project was meeting many different people from all over the world. My favourite moment was when Mbhurri (one of the male lions) literally walked within 1m from where I was sitting in the car. It was incredible!
The only thing I would add to the itinerary would be another few weeks at the project – I wasn’t ready to leave, I wish I could have stayed longer!
Vanessa North, March 2013

Important Information

Visas
Holders of a UK passport do not require a Visa for South Africa. Upon entry you will be issued with a 3-month permit (at no cost) although it is recommended to check that the correct date and length of stay in the country is entered onto your visa when at immigration. 

Insurance:
You will be working in the vicinity of wild animals so please check with your insurance provider as you may require particular insurance. 

Vaccines 
Contact your GP for guidance although the surrounding area is malarial so prophylactics are advised.

Accommodation:
Volunteers at this project live in a rustic but comfortable farmhouse in a secluded location inside the reserve. Your view is of the magnificent hills and plains of this nature reserve: no roads, no pylons, no factories and no other people - just you and the African wilderness. Accommodation is communal with backpacker-style bedrooms. Piping hot water is supplied by a wood-fired boiler and the house is equipped with solar electricity and paraffin lanterns.
The volunteer house gets frequent visits from elephants and nocturnal wildlife - the lion's roar is often your sunrise wake-up call. When not on research drives the volunteers spend their evenings braaing on an open fire, socialising with new friends in the lapaand enjoying the night sounds of the African bushveld.

Due to the nature of the wilderness experience it is necessary to fulfill the following conditions in order to join the volunteer programme with The Great Lion Project:
- You must be in good physical condition - the volunteer work is active with many hours in a 4WD safari vehicle on bumpy roads and frequent bush walks
- You must be able to tolerate the heat, with an average of 32°C
- Minimum age is 18 years

Food:
Volunteers prepare food for the group with provided ingredients and complete house duties on a daily basis. Town trips are often necessary to replenish the volunteer team's fresh supplies giving you the opportunity, if space allows, to check your email, phone home and stock up on chocolates.

Health: If you’re an adult, you won’t need any inoculations unless you’re travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), when you’ll need certification to prove your inoculation status. It’s recommended to have required inoculations four to six weeks prior to travel to South Africa.

Kruger National Park and Limpopo do pose a malaria risk in the summer months. Many travellers do not take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do. Consult your doctor for latest advice.

What's Included:
-All volunteer activities
-Accommodation
-Food
-All Transfers and transport

What's Not Included:
-Flights
-Visas
-Vaccines
-Insurance

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