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Game Ranger

4.7(11 reviews)
Experience
Volunteer
Destination
South Africa
Duration
8 weeks
Ages
18 to 85

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

Trip overview

Embark on an unforgettable volunteer trip and experience the African lifestyle whilst making a real difference to the environment and wildlife. On this amazing adventure, you’ll volunteer in the stunning Eastern Cape and be amongst all the famous faces of the animal kingdom. Picture yourself tracking the movements of wild herds of animals across the 6,000-hectare private game reserve upon an open-top safari, having the chance to spot the 'big 5' in their natural habitat, gaining your field guide qualification and contributing to an important, real-world research and conservation project.

We offer the complete package for those looking to volunteer abroad and become a qualified game ranger in South Africa and, best of all, we’ve joined with exclusive project partners to secure you a guaranteed volunteering placement overseas. You’ll be contributing to the environment with both confidence and purpose. Our team will help you with all the essentials, from airport pickup and on-site training to volunteer accommodation and provided meals, plus so much more.

Make a sustainable impact on wildlife conservation, make new friends from all corners of the world and break away from your routine back home as you embark on this incredible volunteer travel opportunity. This trip is perfect for anyone ready to make a difference and lasting impact on Africa’s game park management and gain a qualification whilst channelling that adventurous lifestyle at the same time.

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.

FGASA Level 1

Gain accreditation as a game ranger by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa when you complete your course, covering topics such as geology, astronomy, weather and climate, basic ecology and taxonomy.

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. Return transfer to the airport upon completion of your volunteer placement.

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.

First Aid Course Level 1

Complete comprehensive first aid training so you’ll have all the qualifications you need to become a field guide.

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.

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.

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.

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 Game Ranger Course 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 and meals 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 course and 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 field guide course and 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 as an expert in wildlife conversation that will ensure the inhabitants of the animal kingdom remain for years to come.

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

Week 1

Once you’ve touched down at Port Elizabeth International Airport, your pre-arranged transfer will take you to a temporary lodge while you wait for the other volunteers to arrive. Once everyone has arrived, you’ll be taken straight to your volunteer accommodation on the reserve. Your course will commence in your first week, with emphasis on practical exposure. You’ll be introduced to the other volunteers, go over your course outlines and take part in many volunteer activities. You could find yourself heading out on safari game drives assisting with game counts and captures or joining in on lion tracking. If you’re lucky, you may be able to spot all of the big 5 on your trip; lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and water buffalo.  You’ll have every weekend off, which gives you the perfect opportunity to explore on your weekends - if you don't want to relax and stay at the volunteer house, there are transfers and overnight accommodation included for weekend excursions (just pay for your own meals and activities). Make the most of your time off and head to Port Elizabeth where you can watch a game at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, visit Kragga Kamma which is a haven for free-roaming White Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetahs, Giraffe, Zebra or head out to have the chance to spot great white sharks and the southern right whales! Or, visit historic Grahamstown and enjoy a picnic in the botanical gardens or hike the Alexandria Hiking Trail.

Week 2

Lectures will begin, however, the majority of your time will still be focused on practical experience. Your activities could include heading out to the nursery and conducting some flora and fauna work, going on wilderness trail walks and patrols, helping out with tree planting and landscaping in the reserve or visiting a local school to help with their mealtime and connecting with the local community. 

Week 3-7

Amongst your volunteering duties, you’ll also have lectures and theory with some self-study modules during this period. Here is when you will learn the majority of your course information. 

Week 8

In the last week, you’ll finish revision and complete your assessments and exams. Upon successful completion, you’ll receive your qualification and will become a certified game ranger in South Africa.

Ongoing

Our dedicated team will check in regularly and keep in touch with you throughout your stay but, if at any point during your trip you need travel advice or assistance, we’ll be here to answer all your questions. Don’t forget you can always jump on our social media pages too or buzz our 24/7 emergency support line for urgent matters.

Reviews

Georgia Blue A
Oh my goodness Sam was soo helpful and lovely! I am very happy with everything I can't believe my dream from a little girl is coming true thanks Sam for helping me, reassuring me and being apart of this with me! South Africa here I come !!!

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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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