Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Africa or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.
This project is an interesting, informative and fun, educational program that is made up of learning and research tasks through wildlife volunteering along the stunning Garden Route of South Africa. This four week program provides ample opportunity for volunteers to engage in a host of different conservation efforts and research initiatives, working closely with African Elephants. Volunteers on this project will be able to learn about elephant conservation in South Africa, be involved with regional elephant conservation projects and research initiatives and learn about the perpetual threats to ecosystems and the environment.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses
The Garden Route is a stretch of land on the South Eastern coast of South Africa. It is located between the seaside town of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the famous Storms River in the Eastern Cape. The area is well known for its lush and environmentally varied vegetation as well as the many lagoons and lakes scattered along its coast. It includes towns such as Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and George – the Garden Route’s largest city.
The varied ecosystems of the region fill up to ten nature reserves, including a variety of distinctive marine reserves, home to soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals and a host of other marine life. Due to its diversity of habitat and endemic species accounts, this region is a favored research zone.
This project consits of four weeks that involve different volunteer tasks.
Week 1: Elephant Husbandry, Care, Welfare and Management: This first week will involve learning about various elements of elephant care. Volunteers will become familiar with every facet of an elephant’s life, becoming involved in various management functions, including the repair and maintenance of the grounds. Throughout the four-week program volunteers will be required to report back on their experiences and provide feedback to the other volunteers. Each day volunteers will be tasked with individual and group research assignments.
Week 2: Elephant Behavior Research, Monitoring and Observation and Interpretation: During this week volunteers will be guided through the use of various tools, techniques and mechanisms to record, monitor and note interesting behavioral observations and features pertaining to each of the elephants. As well as providing feedback, volunteers will also be required to compile their own account of the elephants through photographic accounts, written accounts and recorded research data.
Week 3: Wild Elephant Behavior and Ecological Adaptability Wilderness Safari: During this week volunteers will be taken to the world renowned Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth for a five-day elephant observation, interpretive and facilitated safari experience. During this week wild elephant behavior is observed and monitored. During this week volunteers will also observe all the other animals in Addo and how they relate to one another.
Week 4: Elephant Behavior, Adaptations and Observations and Conservation Research Projects: The final week is an culmination of all the knowledge and practical experience volunteers have acquired over the past three weeks. Individual experiences and interesting facts pertaining to elephant life, ecology, behavior and adaptability are collated by the group in presentation format. The document is copied, bound and presented to each participant when the program concludes.
Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
For an additional fee the following activities may be available. Please enquire about availability and cost after registration.
© 2022 GOECO | All rights reserved
Develop & Design | Msite
