2 - 12 Week Nkombi White Rhino Project

Vacancy: 2 - 12 Week Nkombi White Rhino Project
Company: Shumba Experience
Category: Gap year projects (Conservation, Tourism, Wildlife)

Dates: Several departures available (contact us)

Cost: From £895

Description:

The Nkombi Volunteer Programme is situated in a malaria free reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. The reserve is home to 42 species of large mammal including white rhino, giraffe, brown hyena, kudu, caracal and zebra.  It also boosts over 250 species of bird as well as smaller mammals such as porcupine, honey badger, otter and mongoose.   

Shumba volunteers will be actively involved in a number of conservation projects throughout your stay. The projects are designed to help understand the ecology around certain animals to aid future conservation. Highlighted projects include the South Africa Brown Hyena Project and Monitoring of White Rhino.   

During your first week you will undergo a series of workshops, designed to provide you with enough theoretical and practical experience to complete research tasks. You will also be taught some basic local language, traditional cookery skills, tracking in the bush and local craft making.  Volunteers will help management of the reserve through a variety of other activities, including the annual game capture in July/August. During this time you will play a key role during all game captures and relocations. This will give volunteers the unique opportunity to gain hands on experience with species such as giraffe, zebra, blesbuck and kudu. 

Highlights
* Assist the South Africa Brown Hyena Project
* Help with the nocturnal predator surveys
* Monitor white rhino on the reserve
* Sleep outs in the bush
* Radio tracking selected wildlife
* Setting up wildlife camera traps
* Bush walks throughout the reserve
* Population dynamics of small mammals
* Workshops - learning local language, cooking and craft making

Accommodation & Food

The bush camp is situated in the heart of the reserve where animals are free to roam. You will be accommodated in one of six log cabins located near woodland and the river that flows through the reserve. There is a communal log cabin, which houses the kitchen, living & dining areas. In the centre of the bush camp, there is a fire pit with seating.  This will form the hub of volunteer life in the evenings with BBQ’s around the campfire. 

Costs
Volunteers must pay for the time they are with the Nkombi team. The costs includes food, accommodation, transfers to/from Johannesburg airport, staff supervision, all placement activities and a local information pack.

2 Weeks - £895           4 Weeks - £1,595