Join Our Wildlife Volunteer Projects

"We did not know quite what to expect prior to our visit but found the project to go way beyond anything we had in mind. We are all so very grateful and humbled by being involved in such a wonderful project."

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?Being part of an operation where black rhinos are bring relocated to anotherreserve to try and breed them! But also the sights, smells and feeling ofthe bush were all amazing and different each day.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?Don't expect luxury! It's very basic but it's such great fun, there'severything you need for a great experience.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reducedenvironmental impacts or supported conservation?Definitely! Even though some of it is hard work (3am starts!) I really feltlike I had helped in some way. The monitors are fantastic, I learnt so much.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?Amazing!! Words cannot describe this adventure- over 1500 photos taken and amillion memories.I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on

After volunteering with Wildlife ACT in 2009, I was able to join their team as a long-term volunteer for half a year in 2013.There was no way I was gonna let such an amazing opportunity slide, so I put my medical studies on hold for a semester and – as expected – had the time of my life!Wildlife ACT are a conservation group focused on Wild Dogs, Rhino and Cheetah.They provide monitoring services to game reserves around KwaZulu Natal that don’t have the necessary resources and expertise to do so on their own and offer volunteers the chance to work alongside their monitors and take part in all aspects of the conservation work they around the reserve.It was a fantastic experience, and there wasn't a dull moment during the daily tracking of Wild Dogs, checking camera traps, monitoring Rhino and all the great wildlife sightings in between.I spent time at all of their project sites, including Tembe National Park, Mkuze and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve.Joining an organisation like Wildlife ACT, to me, is the best way to go on safari. Research vehicles are allowed into areas of the reserves that you’d never get to see as a normal tourist and the knowledge of the monitors far surpasses that of most guides.And obviously I wouldn't have had the chance to assist in several Wild Dog relocation's, fitting collars on Wild Dogs, Cheetah and Lions and be part of a massive Buffalo Tb-testing operation!The insight you get into the inner workings of conservation, as well as anti-poaching efforts and research is what would make me go for a volunteering trip instead of a normal safari every time!It’s definitely not a luxury holiday and their saying "this is Zululand, not Disneyland" certainly fits – the camps are basic, kitchen duty is shared and the day starts ridiculously early – but to me, that’s the best way to experience the African bush.It is Zululand after all, not Disneyland, and that way there’s no chance of confusing the two :)Also, a set up like this almost guarantees you a set of like-minded travelers as your camp mates, and to me, the company in which you spent your time is so much more important than where you sleep at night!I met so many wonderful people from all over the world and will remember some of the discussions we had and the experiences we had together.And when you’re sitting around a fire which a great bunch of people after a nice braai, listening to the lions roaring around camp, it doesn't really matter whether you’re sitting on fancy leather seats in a 5* lodge or on self-made chairs from wooden crates!All in all, putting my „regular“ life on hold in order to spent this time in Africa was the best decision I ever made, and I can’t wait to go back.The Wildlife ACT team really are a fantastic bunch, welcome everyone into their team with open arms and gladly share their passion for the African bush and its incredible wildlife.Taken from African Safari Journals

"Thanks for your great work once again, I love the way you are all so professional in what you do. I'm so happy with the experience, learning and rapport Jaquelina was met with. We set out to have a taste of what being a Conservation monitor comprised of, and discovered that its exactly what Jaquelina wants to do as a profession; so, all time and investment was only a part of the necessary things to the outcome. We thank you for that.I want you to know that we talk about Wildlife ACT every chance we have, and hope to be able to send you many young people that want to experience what Wildlife has to offer."

A wonderful chance to get inside nature conservation in Africa and great fun being on the 'front line'.

"I don't want to leave Africa! I will definitely be back with Wildlife ACT. All of the monitors I have been with have been absolutely brilliant at their jobs and amazing people. After speaking to Axel, Pippa, Lisa, Graeme and Philip I've decided to apply for a course in field guiding with Bhejane when I get home, so then when I am qualified hopefully I'll be able to work somewhere in South Africa. It's too beautiful here!"

My overall experience with Wildlife ACT was amazing, I enjoyed every minute of it whilst also gaining so many new skills and knowledge of African wildlife that will be useful tome for my course at university and in the future. From start to finish the experience was made trouble-free by the Wildlife ACT team. I would definitely recommend this organisation to other potential volunteers as a worthwhile programme.

If I hadn't already booked my flight home I don't think they could have made me leave. I met some really fantastic people, all of whom I was genuinely upset to say goodbye to. I learned a whole range of new skills like how to track using radio telemetry and also learned the basics of Zulu. I really felt as if I was part of a team and truly felt at home at both Thanda and Mkhuze reserves. At the moment my main priority in life is getting myself back to South Africa. Even though there were so many highlights in the field, some of my favourite times were just sitting around at camp having a braai with the people I met while I was in South Africa, even when the braai was interrupted by a bull elephant in our backyard.

I had "the experience of a lifetime" I really enjoyed my stay in Mkuze as well as in Thanda and can't wait to do it again. It was great to stay at two different camps and experience the differences between a private game reserve and a government run one. I definitely learned a lot about the differences, advantages and disadvantages of both kinds of management. Also, it gave me the opportunity to work with different people and see different environments. I really can't choose a highlight! The leopard capture was definitely an awesome experience, as well as the hyena. To see the Wild dog pack hunt and kill was amazing. Tracking and finding the cheetahs might seem like a boring routine in comparison, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss a single sighting - it's always different and always an great feeling to finally spot them. Last but not least, the amputating of Impala heads and legs with a pocket knife is something I won't ever forget ;)

My overall experience with Wildlife ACT was amazing! a great hands on experience and also a great confidence booster. Wildlife ACT allowed me to see a side of conservation that one can not get from being a tourist in South Africa. The knowledge given by the management/field team was very valuable and again agreat insight into conservation. I can honestly say everything was a highlight, but seeing the Rhino capture was very special.

"I loved every minute of it and wish I could be back now. The monitors passed on so much information to us while driving through the bush. My highlight was seeing the wild dog pups for the first time after looking for them for just over two weeks. Also helping to ID them by looking through photos taken of each of the pups. Through Wildlife ACT, I didn't just feel like a tourist, by completing daily tasks I felt I was contributing to the programme."

I'm finding it very hard to try and sum up my overall experience as I took so much away from the trip with Wildlife ACT, so it's very hard to sum it up! I absolutely loved my trip to South Africa and I'm very glad I decided to gowith Wildlife ACT, as I experienced things I believe I would not have encountered if I'd chosen another company. To be able to have the hands on and close up experiences was truly life changing and it has made me re-think my future, as I was planning on working within a zoo environment, but now I would relish the opportunity to do research in the wild, especially in South Africa. One of my favourite moments was seeing the lion cubs and wild dog pups so closely was absolutely unforgettable. Also, meeting an array of different people who work for Thanda and Wildlife ACT, and feeling part of the team so quickly, as everyone was very welcoming.

"The time I spent with the Wildlife ACT team was one of the most memorable and incredible experiences of my life. I had always dreamed of going to Africa to work on a game reserve and this is the real deal! Their motto, 'Real Africa, Real Conservation' absolutely sums up their project. As a volunteer you are put to good use and help with the vital conservation work the team are doing. I learned how to use the radio tracking equipment that is used to locate animals such as the African Wild Dog packs, Cheetahs and, on a night trip, Hyenas, and along with another volunteer, I picked out photos that would be used to identify the Rhinos and Elephants we saw in the future. You see some of the most amazing animals on our planet and know that you are genuinely helping to conserve them. One of the most unforgettable moments I had was watching two adult bull Elephants washing and playing in a water hole. Watching how the older Elephant interacted with the younger male was incredible and at one point the older Elephant came within 10 metres of our vehicle!I would recommend using the facility of being picked up from the airport. This is how most volunteers get to the meeting point before meeting who they'll be working with and going on to the game reserve where they'll be staying. If you are thinking about going, I would say go for it! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you should not miss! I will never forget my time in Africa, and I am planning on returning for part of my gap year... I cannot wait!!"

"My husband and I volunteered for two weeks on the Thanda Reserve as part of our honeymoon, and wow, what a great two weeks. Thanda is a beautiful private reserve with a great variety of scenery including hills, plains, watering holes, trees, and bushland, and we got to know it pretty well while canvassing for animals in the back of the truck.One surprise we found was that "getting up with the sun" happens a lot earlier in Zululand than it does back home...3:00 or 3:30am. We got used to that pretty quickly and were always eager to start the day with the telemetry equipment in search of wild dogs, black and white rhino, cheetah, lion, elephant, leopard, and more. Many, like giraffe and warthogs, we saw as they sauntered or ran through our camp. Pretty exciting. Our job was to find the animals and track where they were and what they were doing. It was particularly exciting to find and watch the pack of wild dogs; many of which were born earlier that year.Our highlight was really learning about wildlife management from experienced, passionate conservationists and seeing what happens day-to-day to manage the land and animal resources in the area. For example we spent nearly three days locating a white rhino (who knew such a large animal could be so hard to find and keep in front of you!), helping the vet and other staff to get her on her feet after being darted and "walk" her into a huge moving van so she could be relocated to another reserve where breeding would be more successful for her. There isn't more hands-on work than actually touching a beautiful animal like that.The days volunteering were long, some eleven hours, and it was purely magical every day to locate the animals, learn about their day-to-day activities, spend all day outside in a beautiful area, and to be with such great staff. My husband and I highly, highly recommend volunteering with Wildlife ACT and to be part of their efforts to protect such amazing animals."

"I was lucky enough to work in all four reserves and had an absolutely amazing month in the bush. The highlights were coming face to face with lions, elephant and rhino, plus getting to be involved in a black rhino release program was amazing. Anyone who loves the bush, loves conservation or just wants the best hands-on safari available should definitely join Wildlife ACT.... you will not regret it!"

"I guess the best review I can post is that I'm planning to go back to work with Wildlife ACT in early 2012. Last April I wanted to travel to Africa, but could not find anyone who wanted the same type of experience I did. I am 54 yrs old, from the US and decided to go alone! Wildlife ACT was perfect. Even when I encountered flight problems, they knew where I was and were there to make sure I got to the reserve. I never felt alone.

I spent two weeks at Thanda reserve (1 of 4 reserves where Wildlife ACT is based). Our main focus for the time was tracking the newly re-released Wild African Dog pack. The knowledge, passion and skills of the staff was impressive. The bush is their home and we made it ours for a short (too short) time. I felt comfortable with them as they were relaxed and fun, yet I knew they were always vigilant for our safety.

My favorite memory is the giraffes that would be right outside my living quarters in the afternoon and the other animals that roamed freely through the camps. There is no way I can tell you how the time in Africa impacted me. I have a facebook page "South Africa Calling" with pictures and video links about my time with Wildlife ACT in Zululand this past April."

"I have taken part in programmes with Wildlife ACT on two reserves - Thanda and Mkhuze - and hope to return to one of the other reserves at some point. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in South African wildlife to get involved in useful research and conservation and to see an amazing variety of creatures up close. We were tracking mainly wild dog and cheetah and I will never forget looking into the eyes of those beautiful cats from just a few metres away, as well as spending almost two hours watching two cheetah brothers devour an impala. How often do you get the chance to do that? It also gives you the opportunity to meet other people with similar interests. I have such wonderful memories of the sights and sounds of the bush and can't wait to get back there as soon as I can."

"Just to say a huge thanks to the team at Wildlife ACT. I had a great 2 weeks volunteering. I was lucky enough to end up at Tembe where I was involved with the release of the 14 wild dogs. It was such an emotional time and what an honour to be involved with them in the last few days of their captivity and then to be only a few meters away from them in their first few hours of freedom - to see their first footsteps in the wild, to see their first feed beyond the boundaries of the boma and then to track them with their radio collars over the next few days trying to make sure we knew where they were and that they were hunting on their own and staying out of trouble. Amazing!Cilla was our monitor while we were there and she was a legend! Hugely enthusiastic and knowledgeable and such a passion for those 14 dogs. It was a great experience. Thanks to everyone!"

"I had a really great time with Wildlife ACT. I was Mkhuze for two weeks, and wish I could have stayed longer! The staff are very friendly, and the wildlife monitor I had was fantastic. He was really fun and taught me so much! The best part of Wildlife ACT is how hands-on it is; you're with the animals everyday and I really felt like we were helping them! The highlight of my two weeks was darting a young cheetah, who we fitted with her first collar so we could monitor her. I recommend Wildlife ACT to anybody who wants an exciting, hands-on experience with African animals. I can't wait to come back!"

Ode to Megan Lategan

‍You’ve been our guide since last Thursday

And have been amazing in every way

You found Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino and frogs

But as of yet no wild dogs

We searched and searched for Fen and Poofy

But had more chance of finding Goofy

Those pesky Mutts are so elusive

The Tembe pack have become reclusives

Despite no dogs we’ve had a blast

Chasing round the park so fast

Megan, you have been a brilliant guide

Taking us from hide to hide

North, South, East, West

You really tried your very best

And because you’ve done so much for us

I’d like to say thanks, you are gorgeous!

"To the Wildlife ACT Team,Just back from an incredible two-week stay at uMkhuze Game Reserve, I find myself grateful for an amazing adventure and already wishing I was out in the bush again each dawn and dusk with the Wild Dogs. I also wanted to thank each member of the Wildlife ACT Team that made this opportunity possible and specifically thank and recognize those who made my experience, and that of the other volunteers I shared my time with, especially memorable and inspirational.Firstly, for patiently and sincerely answering my seemingly endless pre-departure inquiries, Bronwen Kelly. Despite thoroughly researching Wildlife ACT before deciding on coming, I had a number of specific options and questions that Bronwen answered expediently and comprehensively, in a friendly, helpful manner. This made a significant impact on my decision to come to Wildlife ACT, as her professionalism and efficiency gave me a good deal of confidence in the team’s validity and ethic, each step of the way.Secondly, yet most importantly, our Wildlife Monitor, Cole du Plessis was an absolutely inspirational ambassador for Wild Dogs, the Mkhuze wildlife we encountered, and conservation in general. His focus and passion for his work and the Wild Dogs was impressive to each one of us. Cole set an excellent example with his solid work ethic, time management skills and incredible adaptability.The most inspirational part of this whole experience, though for me, was being able to spend time with, learn about, and experience the Wild Dogs through Cole’s dedication, affection and enthusiasm for them. I already had a great interest in the plight of the critically endangered African Wild Dog, but that was multiplied exponentially by the passion and breadth for which Cole performs his job.Again, thank you all so much for the opportunity to be a part of this experience, for your commitment to the cause of conservation, and for the personal sacrifices you each make to run a great team on the front lines, dedicated to Real Conservation.Kindest regards,

"In July 2011 I've participated for two weeks, worked at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and enjoyed it very much. A well organised project in a beautiful reserve. Good accommodation, with a communal kitchen and hot showers(!!). The monitor on Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Cathy, is very experienced, enthusiastic and responsible. Monitoring the painted dogs was great, these are exceptional social animals. Working with camera traps was great fun. I would love to participate again."

"We stayed at Mkhuze Game Reserve, which was just beautiful. The accommodation was good, and better than expected with a shower and hot running water. Seeing the sun rise and set over the reserve, was just something else. We went in August and the cold mornings and evenings in the back of the truck was a surprise, and we were wearing layers and fleeces - do take a woolly hat and gloves!I cannot recommend more highly the wonderful support you get from the staff. Bronwen is just so helpful, and even made a cake for my stepson's birthday! Cilla, our monitor was so knowledgeable and made a real difference to our understanding of conservation and Africa.Wildlife ACT are special. We've made lifelong friends and developed a love of the African Bush. It really isn't a safari, it's far deeper than that, it gets under your skin."

To the Wildlife ACT monitors: Thank you for an awesome(!) 8 weeks. You are a truly amazing bunch of people – your passion, knowledge, patience (especially with my tendency to organise) and dedication to the wildlife you monitor and protect is both inspiring and humbling. I have learnt so much from you all and the experiences I shared with you will be in my memory forever.

Dear Bronwen,

I would like to thank all the Wildlife ACT team for the amazing time I had in Africa.

I can truly say that the experience changed my life forever. Before the trip I had no idea what I wanted to do and didn't know what good could come from my university course, which is Advertising. And now, Wildlife ACT inspired me to used it for a good cause. I have been trying to get involved in Brazilian conservation organizations and have been more interested in my country's wildlife which is huge!

At both Tembe Elephant Park and Hluhluwe I met the most amazing people and I know I made friends for life. The work you guys are doing is incredible and I would like to help in anyway I could. Please let me know if you guys ever need anything! I'm planning on coming back in July of next year. I cannot wait.

Thank you so much for everything.