Volunteer with the 'Big 5' and the Born Free Foundation in one of South Africa's finest game reserves
You can expect to take part in the following during your time on the Shamwari Conservation Experience.
Below is an example of a 2-week itinerary, though you can take part for up to 12 weeks.
Volunteers are accommodated in the guest centre which has 10 twin-share rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Rooms are allocated on a same-sex basis, except for couples who are accommodated together. There are excellent communal facilities including a swimming pool, lounge and entertainment area, and a boma area with a fire pit. A laundry service and Wi-Fi is also available free of charge.
Three meals per day will be provided for you, along with a big cooked breakfast served once a week. Water, juice, tea and coffee are freely available, and soft drinks are available to purchase on-site or from local shops. Vegetarian and vegan diets can be catered for but please contact us if you have any other dietary requirements.
Nearly all the activities take place year-round except for the community-based projects, as schools are closed in South Africa between mid-December and early January. Therefore, if you are keen to get involved with the community projects, you should avoid volunteering during this time. The only other factor that may impact your preference of when to volunteer is the weather.
Due to its position on the Eastern Cape, the reserve typically enjoys mild, pleasant weather throughout the year with occasional rain (but no distinct wet season). There are 2 seasons which are explained below:
Summer (November - April): During these months, daytime temperatures average 25–30°C (77-86°F), but can occasionally go up to 35°C (95°F) with January and February being the hottest months of the year. At night, it stays relatively warm, averaging 15°C (59°F).
Winter (May – October): This time of year is still very pleasant during the day with temperatures between 20–25°C (68-77°F), however, it can get very cold at night with temperatures falling to 5-10°C (41-50°F).
You will need to fly into Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ) on your project start date and then transfer to the Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The transfer from the airport to the project site takes approximately 1.5 hours and while it is not included, it can be provided for an additional cost. If you would like to take the transfer on your start date, please ensure your flight arrives by 12:20pm at the latest as it departs at 1:00pm. Similarly, there is a return airport transfer available on your final day which arrives at Port Elizabeth Airport at midday. If you would like to take this transfer, please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 2pm. The cost of these airport transfers is $57 each way.
If you cannot find flights that arrive/depart in time for these transfers, we may be able to arrange a private transfer for you at a cost of $113 each way, but this is dependent on the availability of vehicles.
Citizens of most countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and most of those within the EU, do not need to obtain a visa to enter South Africa and are granted entry for up to 90 days upon arrival. You will, however, need at least 2 blank pages in your passport for the immigration officials to use and your passport must be valid for a period of at least 6 months from your date of entry.
If you are unsure of your individual visa requirements, we recommend speaking to your local South African embassy at least 2 months prior to travel.
We recommend all volunteers have a moderate level of fitness, as the days are busy and you will be involved in a variety of activities! Whilst no specific skills are required, we ask that everyone arrives with a willingness to get involved and a respect for the wildlife and the committed project staff with whom you will be working.
The vaccinations required will depend on the individual medical history of each volunteer. We recommend that you consult with your doctor/GP regarding your own vaccination needs as this will ensure you are protected and prepared to travel. In conjunction with this, we also recommend that you take a look at the Fit for Travel website for more helpful information on how best to prepare for your experience.
See what you could get up to as a volunteer at the Shamwari Game Reserve. From game drives to see the 'Big 5', to community outreach initiatives, Shamwari offers volunteers an incredible and diverse experience.
Volunteers Gillian, Gemma, and Pam discuss their hand in conservation with the 'Big 5' at Shamwari as they take part in community outreach programs, reserve research tasks, and spend time at the world-famous Born Free Foundation.
Discover some of the incredible activities you could get up to in your free time. With local wildlife sanctuaries and adrenaline sports on offer, there's something for everyone in South Africa's diverse and beautiful Eastern Cape.
After 3 white rhinos came to the rehabilitation centre, 1 year later, it was finally time for them to be released back into the wild on the Shamwari game reserve!
UPDATE | Aug 2024
Volunteers were treated to a great sighting of Shamwari’s largest herd this week! Found by the Bushman’s River, the herd stopped for a refreshing drink before continuing on with their day.
NEWS | Aug 2024
World Lion Day 2024 highlights a milestone in ending captive lion breeding in South Africa. Explore the next steps and challenges facing conservationists.
UPDATE | Jul 2024
Volunteers were lucky to observe one of the northern male lions this week. Since his brothers were translocated to a new reserve for genetic exchange, the remaining brother's mane has grown significantly. Without the competition of his brothers, he has grown quickly and spends more time around the northern lionesses!
From start to finish the experience was amazing. We sent my 17 year old son on the volunteering adventure of a lifetime. We were so worried with him being under 18 but the service and support we received from The Great Projects, especially Mags, was 100% excellent. The safari experience itself according to my son was like nothing he's ever experienced. The staff at the Shamwari Conservation Experience was exceptional and he's already working on a plan to return next year. Thank you again I could not recommend using The Great Projects enough.
Best 3 weeks of my life! What an amazing experience this was. The staff are super knowledgeable and friendly, always there to help with a smile and full of energy. The accommodation and food were better than expected and the is no ask too big or too small for the staff, they are very accommodating. The conservation activities included invasive plant clearing, road clearing, digging drainage lines and much more. The best part for me was the animal monitoring, being part of a conservation project which is fully hands off to let the wild animals be truly wild and witness their natural behaviour within arms reach was truly breathtaking. This experience brought tears to my eyes, and made some life-long friends with like-minded passion to contribute to something which is incredibly rewarding. The community work was equally as rewarding to be part of a project to make lives better for those people which in turn will educate and reduce the poaching on the game reserves. This is absolutely worth the time, travel and experience and I can't wait to return back and do it all again in the future. This for me is now a life-long passion, I've learned so... Best 3 weeks of my life! What an amazing experience this was. The staff are super knowledgeable and friendly, always there to help with a smile and full of energy. The accommodation and food were better than expected and the is no ask too big or too small for the staff, they are very accommodating. The conservation activities included invasive plant clearing, road clearing, digging drainage lines and much more. The best part for me was the animal monitoring, being part of a conservation project which is fully hands off to let the wild animals be truly wild and witness their natural behaviour within arms reach was truly breathtaking. This experience brought tears to my eyes, and made some life-long friends with like-minded passion to contribute to something which is incredibly rewarding. The community work was equally as rewarding to be part of a project to make lives better for those people which in turn will educate and reduce the poaching on the game reserves. This is absolutely worth the time, travel and experience and I can't wait to return back and do it all again in the future. This for me is now a life-long passion, I've learned so much and the passion from the teams really shines through. There is plenty nearby activities to fill your weekends including shopping, whale watching, sky diving, swimming with seals, shark cage dives, bungee jumping, kayaking, horse riding, hiking and more. The scenery, sun sets and stars are just stunning, everything all round exceeded expectations. (Show More)
Shamwari Conservation Experience is a wonderful place on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. As volunteers we were very well looked after by the knowledgeable staff. Every day had some new and different activities to offer, ranging from clearing of alien plants and animal monitoring to painting the outdoor space of a local community childcare centre. One of my absolute favourite moments were when we had parked the car out on the reserve and a herd of curious elephants strolled right up to us. A very humbling and amazing experience. The rangers, as well as the rest of the staff, were all super friendly, fun and professional. All in all a fabulous experience!