Gap Year Advice and Information

Conservation Gap Year in Southern Africa

The Challenge of an African Conservation Educational Work Experience. For enthusiastic young people wanting to do conservation work on Game and Nature Reserves in Southern Africa, African Conservation Experience arranges voluntary placements for 1 – 3 months. Volunteers can gain valuable practical experience by working side by side with conservationists and rangers on an Educational Work Experience.

Prospective candidates have to complete an Application Form which is used to assess the match the applicant to the most suitable project. Regular Open Days are held which gives the volunteer the opportunity to meet the A.C.E. team and speak to other volunteers. They are also given a presentation on how the scheme works and details of the various conservation programme.

What can a Volunteer Expect on an Educational Work Experience?

When working on some of Southern Africa’s most beautiful Game and Nature Reserves, teeming with game and birdlife, volunteers are given the opportunity to become involved in a wide range of conservation and research projects. This varies across the different Reserves and may include darting a rhino for relocation or an elephant for fitting a tracking collar. Some Game Reserves are over stocked and carry out game auctions so game capture, tagging, releasing and game counts may be part of the work programme. Working individually or as part of the team on everyday reserve management - from erecting and checking game fences and controlled fire break burning, to animal monitoring and habituation, are other possibilities. On coastal Projects, volunteers assist with Whale and Dolphin research in the warm Indian ocean.

Who should accept the Challenge?

Volunteers participating in the programme all have a common ambition – to make a positive contribution to conservation. To see, feel, and smell the African bush while developing a practical knowledge of life in the wild. No qualifications or previous experience is necessary, those wanting to learn from their experiences and develop themselves, volunteers must have an open mind and be prepared to change their way of thinking – most important of all is to have a passion for conservation.

Game & Nature Reserves

Reserves participating in the scheme are spread throughout Southern Africa –covering hundreds of thousands of hectares and teeming with large game, including the “Big 5” (rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard), to small mammals, reptiles and insects. Along rivers full of aquatic life, and crocodiles basking in the African sunshine. Birdlife from the tiniest humming bird to the mighty fish eagle. Reserves overshadowed by the spectacular Drakensberg mountains in South Africa, the arid semi-deserts, to the marshes and lush bushveld in the Lowveld of Zimbabwe.

Some of the South African game reserves participating in the scheme include Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Garonga Conservation Project in the Limpopo Province, The Centre for Dolphin Studies in Plettenberg Bay, and Dibangombe Ranch in Zimbabwe, and many others. Volunteers can also do a Game Ranger Guide Course to improve their knowledge of African wildlife. Volunteers work in teams of about 6.

Educational Work Experience Co-ordinators

Experienced conservation managers, wildlife vets, biologists and game rangers, appointed by the Reserves, are responsible for each volunteer during their time on the Reserve - from the time of arrival until departure. The Co-ordinator is the point of contact on the Reserve to allocate work projects, act as guide and tutor/mentor, and generally look after the volunteer’s welfare.

The cost of an African Conservation Experience voluntary placement starts from about £2500 for 4 weeks to about £3800 for 12 weeks. Costs include flights from London, domestic flights/transfers, food and accommodation. A.C.E. can provide many fundraising ideas if volunteers require assistance.

For more details:

Applications Department

P. O. Box 9706, Solihull, West Midlands. B91 3FF

Tel: 0870 241-5816

E-mail: info@ConservationAfrica.net

WebPage: www.ConservationAfrica.net