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Big 5 African Wildlife & Conservation

4.8(141 reviews)
Experience
Volunteer
Destination
South Africa
Duration
2 to 12 weeks
Ages
18 to 85

213 others looking at this too. Next opening is Jul 2023, with limited spots.

Trip overview

How does living amongst wild animals – in their territory – while contributing to an important conservation project in the wild open spaces of South Africa sound to you? 

Break out of your day-to-day routine and embark on an adventure that will make the world a better place and help you grow as a person. 

On this all-inclusive volunteer trip, not only do you get to live and work in a 6000-hectare private game reserve in the heart of South Africa. When you go with Global, you get:

  • Volunteer project placement – Guarantee your spot at our screened and vetted project partner in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Start your volunteer journey without spending months searching for a reputable organisation on the other side of the world. 
  • Comfortable accommodation – Relax in your shared, single-sex dorm in a safe, modern site on the reserve. Don’t let the roaring lions keep you up at night – you’ll want to be up early to experience one of Africa’s legendary sunrises and the ‘dawn chorus’ that comes with it. 
  • Three meals a day – Prepared on site by the staff 3 times a day. Enjoy a mix of Western-style favourites and South African delicacies. 
  • Weekend excursions – It’s not every day you’re in South Africa! Embark on unforgettable weekend adventures alongside other volunteers coming from all over the world.
  • + way more!

Can you picture it? With the help of experienced trackers and wildlife guides keeping you safe – you’ll track herds of wild animals as they roam the African bush. You’re ticking the famous ‘Big 5’ off your list as you spend your days in the pristine wilderness of the Eastern Cape. 

But it’s the smaller critters that have stolen your heart. The mischievous monkeys prowling for unattended food, the mighty dung beetle rolling its cache down a dusty road, or the kaleidoscope of birdlife as your constant companion.  

For most people, an experience like this costs an arm and a leg. Especially if you’re actually staying in accommodation in the reserve like you’ll be doing on this trip. 

Although most people don’t get the chance to experience something like this. Tracking wild African animals in wild spaces – with experienced bush guides spotting elusive animals and keeping you safe – is a truly once in a lifetime experience. 

And when you go with Global, you get the full experience for a fraction of the hassle. Your volunteer placement and accommodation is sorted before you leave, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

Inclusions

Volunteer project placement

We’ll score you a guaranteed volunteering placement so you can start on your journey to make a difference to our planet.

Dedicated Trip Coordinator

Handpicked from an experienced team who’ve been there, done that and are ready to guide you through your entire journey and leave no question unanswered.

Pre-Departure Guide

Our in-depth pre-departure guide will have all the information you need about your trip & destination, at your fingertips.

Trip visa guidance

Get your visa approved as cheap and easy as possible with advice and assistance from your Trip Coordinator.

Personal Travel Concierge

You'll get a personal Travel Concierge to plan your flights, insurance or any add-ons to synchronise perfectly with your trip. Deal with a real human and get a personalised booking experience that ticks all your boxes.

Return airport transfer

To take you straight to your volunteer accommodation in the Eastern Cape. Upon completion of your placement, you'll also be taken directly to the airport.

Comfortable accommodation

Recharge in a shared, single-sex camp dorm, conveniently located on the reserve and accessible to the library, tennis court, pool and outdoor firepit or treat yourself and upgrade to a private room.

Project supplies

Get equipped with all the supplies and materials you need to perform your volunteer duties, including a cap and t-shirt.

Meals

Enjoy three meals per day, prepared for you by on-site staff and including a mix of western-style favourites and South African delicacies.

Local cultural experiences

Have the chance to join other travellers and head on weekend excursions to either Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, or other nearby destinations. Accommodation and transport are included, meals and activities are excluded.

24/7 Global Emergency Line

Feel confident knowing we have a worldwide emergency team on standby, 24/7/365, so you can feel safe and secure throughout your whole trip no matter where you are in the world.

Certificate of completion

In recognition of your hard work and dedication throughout the experience, and, it goes very well with your future resume. Employers will love this addition!

Ongoing local team support

Think of us as your family away from home. Whether you need advice or a shoulder to lean on, our team will provide you with unlimited support.

gWorld access

Stay organised with your personalised portal where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global.
NEW

Global Academy

Gain access to an ever-growing range of skills & languages to learn before & whilst you travel.

NEW

Marketplace deals

Get exclusive access to deals and discounts through our online Marketplace. Save big on a huge range of products and services from our brand partners worldwide.

$250 off your next trip

The “Travel Bug” is a very real thing! Once you catch it, it really doesn’t go away! Book any other trip with us later and save $250. Why would you ever stop travelling?

Qualification

To qualify for this trip you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be between 18-85 years of age
  • Be a citizen of an eligible country
  • Have no criminal convictions in the past 5 years

Ask a question

Chat with us online now, or we can call you back for free, 24 hours Mon-Fri.

Trip details

Our Wildlife & Conservation Volunteer trip in South Africa is designed to get you volunteering overseas in a safe and fun environment and with a genuine and rewarding purpose. Our expert team and local partners take care of everything you need to start making a positive impact, from volunteer placement to accommodation and ongoing support throughout your entire journey.

Whether you’re doing gap year volunteering or taking a volunteering holiday from work, you’ll arrive in South Africa with the confidence that absolutely everything has been pre-arranged for you. You’ll be able to jump straight into your volunteer duties, relax into the African lifestyle and start making new friends with all the logistical details sorted, from airport transfers to accommodation.

Channel all your energy into immersing yourself in your volunteer placement, as well as taking time to get to know the local area. Spend your weekends getting a golden glow on Port Elizabeth’s beaches, roaming through Grahamstown’s trails and trying the local cuisines instead of sweating the logistical stuff - that’s exactly why we’re here. Feel confident and proud you are contributing much-needed help to a meaningful cause and save yourself the time, money and even the risk of being stranded in a foreign country by having us on your side. Make your time count on this life-changing opportunity to volunteer in Africa and arrive home knowing you've made a lasting and positive impact on Africa’s incredible biodiversity. 

Requirements 

To qualify for this trip, you must be able to undertake laborious duties.

What extra costs will I have? 

Flights, travel insurance, visa, vaccinations, criminal background check, souvenirs & spending money.

Trip itinerary

Before you leave

Your volunteer placement – including accommodation and 3 meals a day – is confirmed and organised before you leave home. We’ve partnered with a screened and trusted project host at a private game reserve in South Africa. We’ve completed many successful trips with this partner so you’re in good hands.

Arrival

When you arrive at Port Elizabeth Airport, a driver will be waiting for you. You may be taken to a temporary lodge while you wait for more Global Travellers to arrive. Once everyone’s ready, you’ll be driven directly to your shared, single-sex camp dorm in the reserve.

First week

You’ll waste no time getting stuck in! Your first week will be spent doing volunteer duties around the reserve. These may include: Lion tracking and monitoring Wilderness trail walks and patrols Fence patrol Game counts Game drives Game captures Building & maintaining wildlife structures Tree planting and landscaping Fauna and flora work in the nursery Removal of alien vegetation in and around the reserve No two days in a game reserve are the same. So while there are certain tasks that need to happen everyday, life in the bush is unpredictable.  You never know when an elephant will push a tree onto the fence of your camp enclosure. Something that needs to be dealt with immediately!

Ongoing

Most days will be spent out in the African bush, learning while contributing to conservation efforts in this incredible area.  Your weekends are free, giving you plenty of time to explore the area on your own terms. Take us up on one of the included activities and excursions. Which may include:  Weekend trip to Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, or a variety of nearby destinations. Accommodation and transport included! Head to the coast to sample some of the world-class South African surf or dive with the beasts of the deep.  Grahamstown boasts an array of historical sites and amazing hiking trails. Or venture further afield after your placement to experience Cape Town – the cosmopolitan centre of African city life – or a diverse range of locations across the country.  If you choose to go home after your placement, your host will drive you to the airport to make sure you get home easily and safely.  Head north to the subtropical forests of Kwa-Zulu Natal, discover ancient rock art along the Drakensberg mountain range, get lost in the galaxy while you star-gaze from the deserts of the Karoo, or experience city life with an African flavour in Cape Town.  Whatever you choose to do, we can help make it safe, easy & fun.

Purpose & Your Impact

Africa is often seen as one of the last sentinels of truly wild spaces on Earth. But these wild spaces and wild animals are under threat from human exploitation. 

In fact, the majority of wild rhinos in South Africa have had their horns removed – legally and without harming the animal – by professional animal welfare organisations. 

Why is removing their horns considered essential for their survival? 

Because their horns are a target for poachers. These poachers are NOT humane and leave the animal to bleed out once they’ve stolen the horn. Threatening the existence of rhinos in the process. 

On this trip you won’t be chasing down any poachers (this is reserved for highly organised anti-poaching units with military-grade weapons and training). But you will spend your time observing and recording herds of wild animals (rhinos included) to monitor their numbers. 

This is a vital step in understanding how effective conservation efforts are. What’s working, what’s not, and how to improve. 

The goal is for the next generation of these incredible animals to live safely.

And here's how you'll do it:

  • Lion tracking and monitoring
  • Wilderness trail walks and patrols
  • Fence patrol
  • Game counts
  • Game drives
  • Game captures
  • Building & maintaining wildlife structures
  • Tree planting and landscaping
  • Fauna and flora work in the nursery
  • Removal of alien vegetation in and around the reserve

A lot for you to experience, and a lot for you to make a considerable impact during your time on this unique project. Besides, you get to follow herds of wild animals around in their territory. How’s that for a perk of the job?

Reviews

Sue E
I had the BEST experience today. Monique & Dan were friendly & proffessional all through the booking process. They were informative & answered all of my questions beautifully. They were very patient with me when I kept asking about every single detail of the trip. They were upbeat, confident & kind. It was as if I was talking to my best friend. They were lovely & im really looking forward to many more conversations with the team & planning loads more trips with this FABULOUSE company!!😊 I cant wait to get to South Africa😊
Bianca M
The customer service is great. Friendly, helpful and enthusiastic staff. Explained everything clearly and made sure I was comfortable with each part of the process. Really looking forward to my trip.
Ruth E
I'm looking forward to my trip end of this year and I just want to say that my Travel Concierge Ashley has been so AMAZING. She was super helpful and understanding and patient me with through the whole planning flights process.
Olivia Y
Friendly amenable and excited! Great staff and coordinator to help you get you on your way to your adventure.
Belle W
It was good, straight forward and easy to understand everything

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Frequently asked questions

Why go with Global Work & Travel?

As the world’s leading gap-year and “work & travel” company, we offer you the ability to not only choose from a number of awesome experiences all over the world but, we'll be your support system from the very first moment you become a Global Traveller! We provide a premium service that allows you to pick the destination of your dreams, get our visa & pre-departure assistance, book great flights and organise the perfect travel insurance or tours for when you arrive. Plus, we’ll back it all up with some cool and exclusive tech features that are with you the entire time.

As a Global Traveller, you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace deals for discounts with our brand partners, a unique social network to connect you with other Global Travellers when you’re overseas, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages to learn as you travel, invites to bucket-list side trips with other travellers, local meet-ups and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better?

And it doesn't even stop there. We continue to be there from the moment you land with a dedicated 24/7 emergency team, over 100 staff and ongoing support ensuring that you have the tools you need to feel like a local. That’s why 65,000+ Global Travellers from all over the world have chosen to turn their travel dream into reality with us and we can proudly brag that we’ve got the most & best reviews in the biz!

Why should I book now?

Covid-19 threw us a curve ball and pretty much halted all travel. This means that we have a backlog of travellers, just like you, who are desperate to get out and explore the world! Global Work & Travel works on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Booking earlier ensures that you don’t miss out on the best intake, season, placements and more! We recommend our travellers take 6-12 months to plan their trip for a reason - to make sure you’ve got everything organised perfectly, stress-free.

As a Global Traveller you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace Deals, a unique social network to connect you with other like-minded Global Travellers, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages, and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better?

Why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking that trip!

Can I travel with a friend?

Yes you can! Simply tell your Trip Coordinator after booking that your friend is also going and they can link your profiles. For most of our trips we should be able to have you and your friends placed together or nearby. Meaning that you can live, work, play & travel together!

But wait there's more! Not only can you travel the world with your besties at your side, you can also earn some extra cash towards your own trip just by referring your friends to Global Work & Travel. You can learn more about the great referral rewards program inside your gWorld account once you join.

And for those who decide to go-it-solo, we’ve made it easier to meet other Global Travellers in the same region as you. Just like any other social platform, you’ll be able to interact, share, chat and meet with some really cool people who are doing trips just like you!

What happens if COVID affects my trip?

If you have to make any changes to your departure date, you’re protected with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee and our Ultimate Corona Booking Flexibility. With this, we will change your trip dates for free. If this doesn’t fit around you and you can’t go on your trip anymore, we will give you a 100% refund in the form of a Trip Credit with us (See terms). If you’re unable to use it, you can also transfer that credit to someone else for them to put towards any trip too.

If you’re affected by Covid-19 while you’re overseas, you will have all the support you need from our team or partners in-country as well as have access to our 24/7 Global Emergency Line. We recommend travellers purchase Global Travel Cover travel insurance that provides Covid-19 medical protection too.

Do I need to be vaccinated to book?

As border restrictions for countries begin to ease, being fully vaccinated will maximise the number of locations you can visit. So while you are not legally required to be vaccinated, and it’s also not a requirement to travel with us, it will limit some of the countries that you can visit and may make it harder to travel through over the next 12-18 months. We highly recommend our travellers look at the current travel restrictions of their destination, speak with a medical professional or get in touch with our team for travel advice.

What happens if I want to cancel my trip?

Our Ultimate Corona Booking Flexibility means you can change your trip’s start date up to 84* days before departure without incurring any charges when you rebook it for any time (or even any other trip) in the next 2 years from your original start date.

In the event that you want to cancel your booking altogether, if you give us over 84* days notice you can do so with only a 50% cancellation fee. Your refund of the balance will come in the form of a Store Credit which you can put towards booking absolutely anything travel related with your Travel Concierge within the next 2 years!

*Some select trips excluded, including Teach (Spain, Italy & Czech Republic) and USA (Summer Camp, Working Holiday and Hotel Professional), and others as listed in Booking Conditions.

How it works

Make your decision

Choose your trip style and destination, and confirm your spot with a deposit. Then, open your gWorld account and celebrate, the hardest part is over and the fun is about to begin.

We become friends

You’ll be matched with a personal Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs. They’ll guide you through everything we need to do together, so you can leave your worries behind.

Time to go

We’ll get your tickets in-hand and your transfers ready. Then, our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared for your arrival. It’s now time for the real adventure to start.

24/7 support

Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support and check-ins. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24/7.

Still have questions?

Why go Global

Flexible trips

The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.

Worldwide support

Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/7.

We're the experts

With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 100 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.

Partner network

We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.

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