Join Our Wildlife Volunteer Projects

Absolutely fantastic. The North Island staff embraced us like a warm hug. The island itself is stunning, and the conservation work being done is truly heartwarming. Volunteering on North Island was a once in a lifetime experience. It taught me a lot regarding Sea Turtle conservation, the blight of ocean trash, and the balance of flora and fauna required to rehabilitate a species or remove an invasive one. And all this was done whilst living in paradise! Helping the Environmental Team effectively double the number of Turtle hatchlings is a super positive outcome. Removing, analysing and uploading data on ocean trash will hopefully support efforts to reduce this blight. This is a long way to go, but every little bit helps!

Excellent. Best volunteer project I have ever done. I did not want to leave! So many amazing sightings and experiences. Excellent staff and accommodation. Well-organised and packed programme. There were many highlights, including the darting of three Cheetahs, a Hyena call-up and sightings of young Lion cubs.

Overall, I am very happy to have had the chance to experience such a unique volunteering opportunity. Seeing what real conservation looks like and being able to learn about the wildlife and diverse ecosystem in South Africa, was really special. I observed so many unimaginable things that will stick with me forever. I feel good about my contribution to the work being done, even if it was a small effort. Every bit counts. I will be forever grateful to have seen, heard, smelled all the beauty and to have met some good people along the way. Best decision I ever made to join Wildlife ACT.

Thank you for the opportunity to assist, for which I hope I have made and left a positive impact from my 6 weeks in total with Wildlife ACT. It took me 5 years to finally get to Zululand, and what a journey it was. For the first 2 weeks, I always had tears of joy from seeing what I was seeing. The monitors really snuggled into my heart, and I cannot speak more highly of their passionate love for our Earth and their high-energy vibe whilst assisting in conserving it. The Park is incredible, so vast and beautiful. I fell in love with the mountains and the undulating lands. Even when no animals were present, I was in awe with the beauty. When the animals did show themselves, I was in bliss. WOW WOW WOW!! Is all I can say.

I had a wonderful, enriching experience! I learnt a lot, and the enthusiasm and passion from the whole team really shone through. The field work felt very relevant and purposeful. I was very pleased that all activities were relevant and necessary to the project, rather than just to just appease volunteers. I was able to participate in real-life, in-situ conservation, which has enhanced my practical knowledge and field skills. The project managers are true standouts and are extremely knowledgeable in their fields. Their willingness to share their knowledge and experience really enhanced the experience. The wider community on North Island was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We were well fed too, which is always good!

Awesome!! I loved the time I spent on this project!! Everything was very organised and easy. I loved being out in the field! The animals and scenery are incredible and tracking the animals is a lot of fun! I'm a massive animal lover, and for the first time being to South Africa (first time being out of Australia) I'm just in awe of all the animals here!! Our monitors were great! They knew so much and could answer any question we threw at them and were always ready for a chat! Their attitude towards the animals that came along was awesome - always sharing information they knew!

Absolutely fantastic couple of weeks! Exceeded expectations and delivered exactly what I was looking for - an experience in South Africa with wildlife that had a positive impact. It delivered experiences beyond which I could imagine before coming here. The knowledge, hospitality and enthusiasm of our monitors was inspiring. Seeing the joy and passion on their faces as we came across Wild Dogs, Cheetahs etc. etc. and sharing that with them, was so special. Our monitors were a delight and made us feel so much a part of their work. Their passion, knowledge and dedication, is impressive, and they always had a smile and laugh to share.

An incredible experience. The monitoring project I was at is very impressive and it was such a delight to be a small  part of it. It quickly felt like home and I really appreciated the comfortable beds. Being able to participate in the field work was a particular joy and meant we learnt a huge amount from our monitors, who were both passionate and very knowledgeable. They shared so much knowledge with us and always enthusiastically answered our numerous questions with patience. They provided wonderful explanations of animal behaviour as we shared sightings and saw some incredible things together.

Beyond expectations! I didn't really know what to expect, but what we experienced was a once in a lifetime experience. The main reason for being there (the field work), was just incredible. We booked by ourselves on the Wildlife ACT website and everything went well. I had tons of questions and doubts, but Wildlife ACT made sure I got answers on everything. All the pre-arrival information was clear and well explained. We lived crazy life experiences! I really felt part of the team and always safe during field work. I learned so much. Everything was beyond expectations.

Honestly magical. This trip will forever stay with me. The people, the bush, the vibes. Nothing will beat staying off the grid in the middle of the park with like-minded people from around the world. From the monitors to the other volunteers, everyone was incredibly welcoming. I will definitely be coming back in a heartbeat.

I loved it. The interaction you have with the animals, the tracking/monitoring and checking up on them, you really get close to nature and experience what happens in and around it. My passion for conservation, specifically for the animals we worked with, really became so much bigger. It was really amazing.

The volunteering program was amazing! We could see the impact of the conservation activities and how monitoring plays such an important role. The atmosphere and the Wildlife ACT staff were excellent and they made you feel at home. Everything was clear and all the necessary and detailed information was provided on time. The level of knowledge of the monitors for every single animal, which allows them to know their boundaries while monitoring and predict their behavior, was such a highlight. The work increases the quality of the game reserves massively.

I had an amazing time with Wildlife ACT. The monitors were amazing, and I loved that the other volunteers were the same ages as us. I really enjoyed monitoring and following the various species we were tracking. I would definitely like to come back one day. I learned a lot about conservation during this trip. It definitely opened my eyes to some factors and issues that I hadn’t thought about before, and demonstrated how a truly ethical and conservation-focused organisation should be run: animals first. The highlight of my stay was definitely the call-up habituation we did with the new pack of Wild Dogs. It took us a few tries to get it done, but getting to watch the dogs interact with one another was super cool. The monitors also gave me plenty of time to take pictures during the monitoring drives, which I really appreciated, because I got some amazing photographs.

I had the most amazing time with Wildlife ACT! Everything was just perfect. It was very inspiring to work next to the monitors and see them so passionate about their job. I really feel like they make a big impact towards conservation. They teach new people everything there is to know about conservation and some volunteers even decide to do something with that in the future. The monitors were very professional, but you could also have a good laugh with them. From the moment I arrived in Richards Bay I felt taken care of and it was easy-going and fun right from the beginning. 

Also, the bush-experiences I had were way beyond my expectations! There are way too many highlights, but seeing the Wild Dogs nearly every day (and getting to know them and their behaviour) and helping with the collaring of a Cheetah, were just unreal! But also just scanning with the telemetry, camera trapping, the sunrises and sunsets, braai nights, morning breaks with rusks and the great people you meet along the way, made this experience the most amazing time of my life!

It’s safe to say I’ll be back very soon!

As my second time with Wildlife ACT, I knew what to expect, but as always, the team blew me away with yet another fantastic experience. Furthering my love for the bush and for the conservation work that Wildlife ACT does, I will always thoroughly recommend these projects to anyone looking for a volunteer experience with wildlife in South Africa. Everything was so smoothly run as always, from booking to arrival - always exceeding my expectations from Wildlife ACT! The wealth of knowledge this team holds between them and the incredible work that they do, will never go unrecognised, and I will for sure be back to work with them again. Thank you to the teams who take the time, patience and dedication to run these programmes, and give people the opportunity to engage and aid with endangered wildlife conservation.

I spent two very exciting weeks in the Park with many experiences I would not have expected. Watching how passionate everyone is about their work was really inspiring. Taking part in this experience made me feel like I was contributing something useful towards the project. I wasn't totally sure what it would be like (although my girlfriend told me what we were going to do), but in the end it was a really amazing time which created great memories for me. My personal highlight of many incredible experiences was helping with an orphaned Rhino calf that was on the way to the orphanage. We encountered them on the way and could tell that they were having a bit of trouble, had a quick talk with them and followed to provide some helping hands. It was really intense to watch the calf on the truck and helping to transfer it to the orphanage. As sad as it seemed, I was impressed by the collaboration of three different groups working hand in hand to achieve the best outcome.

It was an amazing stay and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm very glad that I finally managed to come back and it was totally worth the long trip again. It's also great to see that the people from a few years ago are still around and everybody has been incredibly nice and helpful. We were so lucky to be here when the Rhino dehornings were taking place and I really didn't expect to see so many different things in just two weeks. Another highlight was the moment when I finally got to see the Wild Dogs again after 8 years, which had me really emotional. Seeing them so often was exactly what I needed.

It was amazing as usual. No complaints. I have already made another booking. It’s hard to believe that this is already my third time working alongside the one monitor who has come so far since our first meeting and has a wealth of information. His passion and enthusiasm for his job immediately draws you into his world. I feel that over the last few years, I always learn something new. Great monitors have a way of bringing back us returning volunteers - creating a family, and welcoming us home.

It was an amazing time. I’m quite impressed with your wildlife, your work and your passion for the animals. It is hard work out there in the bush but the monitors love their job. I loved to learn about the work and the animals, and the monitors told us so many facts and stories. Their passion was contagious. It was my first time in Africa and I didn’t know what to expect. I think two highlights were watching the Wild Dogs as they interacted with Elephants, and another day spent with the Rhinos. Every time we were searching for an animal and finally found them, was an amazing experience.

Beyond my expectations. I wasn’t aware of the amount of wildlife I would see and live just next to while doing this project. I learned a lot about the work you can and have to do in a reserve, and that’s what I came for. To be with the monitors for 2 weeks was really enjoyable. Both are lovely people who know a lot and share their experience and knowledge. A real highlight was the collaring of a Wild Dog after 9 days of trying, where we saw the sunrise and a rainbow perfectly at the same time. And the first drive from the gates to the camp. These are both memories I’ll keep for years.

It was a fantastic experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and one that I would definitely recommend to others. I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done, and definitely something that will stick with me forever. The field work and booking process way exceeded my expectations, and you will meet the most amazing people along the way. The monitors are amazing and incredibly knowledgeable, and really bring the whole experience together. When it comes to highlights, I have to say everything!

Overall, my experience with Wildlife ACT was wonderful. I felt welcomed by my monitors and other volunteers. I believe we had a really good group. The field work was interesting and easy to pick up! I enjoy writing data down and feeling like putting an active contribution on monitoring these endangered species. I was very pleased that it met my expectations on responsible conservation. I put a lot of effort into making sure I was making a good decision to aid in actual conservation efforts and not impact the surrounding communities negatively.

Loved my experience with Wildlife ACT. I felt like the work we were doing truly gave back to conservation. The monitors were knowledgeable and made an effort to make sure you enjoyed your time on the projects. I also met so many wonderful volunteers that I hope to stay in touch with, and even volunteer with Wildlife ACT again. I really enjoyed getting to know the animals we were monitoring and looked forward to seeing them during sessions. Our monitors brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm with them. Both are passionate about their job and conservation.

Fantastic. I already did two volunteering trips in the past (not with wildlife ACT). They provided a different experience with animals, but with wildlife ACT, the impression at the end is that the work you are doing really does bring something and help support endangered species. Participating (even if from the back of the truck) in diverse activities, like animal calling or setting bait, helping to find tracks and gaps in the reserve fence to keep the animals safe, made for a rich experience altogether. I will put wildlife ACT on top of my list for my next volunteering trip.

Amazing! I learnt a lot about different wildlife and the ways of tracking and monitoring them. It was very insightful and awe-inspiring. I have never volunteered with wildlife ACT so it is hard to judge if my expectations for the field work were perfect. However, I had an amazing time and learnt a lot, which I think proves that the organization is well-structured and really cares about the work they do. I found the accommodations to be quite peaceful.You can’t change the way the animals behave. If they want to stay hidden, they will. We had trouble seeing the Wild Dogs because they were in the bush, but that isn’t the program’s fault. There is no guarantee that you will see everything you want or that you will participate in every aspect, but learning and trying to make a difference is one of the most rewarding things. As long as you are taught how to use the equipment and what is going on, that is enough in order to help.