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.
Improve your skills and take some of the most amazing wildlife photographs as you volunteer in the heart of the world famous Greater Kruger Area. Add your photographs to the conservation database and contribute towards ongoing awareness campaigns and research.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum four-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arriveat Kruger Mpumalanga International airport (MQP). You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to the volunteer house in Limpopo. Spend the day settling into your new home and get to know your fellow volunteers and the local team.
In your first week you will take part in an extensive workshop learning the basics of photography, completing assignments and gaining experience in editing your photos to enhance their quality. The following is an example of what the next three weeks typically look like, as the activities can vary from week to week:
Day 1, Monday: Photograph waterfalls and landscapes, practice macro photography on a bush walk.
Day 2, Tuesday: Participate in conservation by removing invasive plants, listen to a rhino poaching presentation, go on a game drive and spend the night at a camp where you will experience astral photography.
Day 3, Wednesday: Take some more photos on a game drive before you pack up the campsite and return to the lodge. The afternoon will be spend planning the conservation club, photo editing and light painting.
Day 4, Thursday: Experience a sunrise photo shoot, work with the community at the conservation club and have fun at a quiz night in the evening
Day 5, Friday: Take part in a photo critique session, do some more photo editing or take a trip into town, before beginning your weekend with a Braai Night (an African BBQ).
Days 5-6: Saturday-Sunday: Take the weekend to rest before another week of adventure, or use it to explore the Greater Kruger Area and it’s surrounds.
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having Saturday-Sunday free. Try your hand at photographing everyday African life on your weekends by joining a culture tour or retreat to a boat trip for a chance to catch a glimpse of hippos and crocodiles. Departures are on a Sunday.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses
This project is based in the Greater Kruger Area close to the famous Kruger National Park – one of the largest game reserves in Africa and home to Africa’s ‘Big 5’ species. The park stretches across the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces in northeastern South Africa. With over 500 bird species, 100 reptiles, 150 mammal species, multiple archaeological sites and an equally diverse array of trees and flowers, Kruger truly exemplifies the majesty of Africa.
Project Orientation (Included):
Upon arrival, you will have a comprehensive orientation facilitated by the project volunteer coordinator that includes:
During the first 4 weeks of your stay, your tasks may include:
You may choose to stay on the project for an additional two or four weeks. During this extra time, you will be working closely with the research volunteers to assist them in gathering photo research that is still needed. You will not be participating in photography training or workshops after your first 4 weeks.
As part of assisting the research team during your additional weeks, you will assist in building the database for records of animals and the landscape as well as contribute to documentation of erosion, spot patterns, whisker patterns, etc. During this time, you will develop your photographic skills as well as your knowledge of the animals on the reserve. If you choose to stay on beyond the four-week photography course, you will also have the opportunity to visit neighboring reserves.
A typical day: You should be prepared for an early 6:00 am start at which point you may head out for a photography game drive and return for breakfast around 9:30 am. You will then participate in a photography or conservation-related lecture before having lunch. Your afternoon project will begin around 1:00 pm and could involve going on a game drive or assisting with conservation education. Your day will finish around 4:30 pm when you’ll return to the lodge to edit your pictures. Dinner will be at 6:30 pm, followed by time to relax and hang with fellow volunteers.
Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
Travel Extras (Not Included): There is an abundance of places to go and sights to see during your free time in South Africa. Activities available for an additional fee include those below and can be arranged only upon arrival:
Day Tours:
Weekend Trips:
Add on our eight-day Garden Route Road Trip to enhance your South Africa experience!
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