Wildlife Volunteer Program

  South Africa

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: anytime

Description: Bambelela is a self-funding and non-profit Wildlife Care & Guest Farm situated 20km out of Bela Bela [Warmbaths] in the malaria-free Bushveld in Limpopo Province, offering luxury 4-star self-catering accommodation, Rehabilitation Center, Farm-Tours, Game Walks, Volunteerships and Practicals for local students. We do hand raise orphaned and injured African animals to be rehabilitated back into the wild and working on being officially recognized as a Vervet Monkey Sanctuary in the Waterberg. Working together with Nature Conservation towards the survival of African Wildlife.

The following topics are being covered:
* Monkey hand-raising and introduction in troop/rehabilitation
* Caring, cleaning and feeding (including formula preparation) of orphaned or injured wild animals (mammals, raptures and primates)
in the wildlife care
* preparation of food and feeding of sub-adult and adult animal
* preparation of sub-adult animals for release
* Assisting the owner and manager in ad-hock duties
* Creating natural environment in enclosures, building of camps, game ranch management introduction
* Assist on call animal emergency call outs, capturing, transporting animals
* daily observation of flora and fauna in the region, especially identification of mammals, faeces analysis and track evaluation
* observation of released animals in their natural environment in accordance with other species like antelopes, zebras, banded mongoose, Vervet Monkeys, Baboons, predator cats, insectivores etc.

Highlights: Once a week a day trip to: de Wildt-Shingwedzi Cheetah Farm, Thaba Kwena, crocodile farm, Thaba Monate hot pools, 3h game drive at Zebula Game Lodge with Lunch and vitit to lion cubs, perhaps animal transfers to other Rehabilitation Centers like CARE and Moholoholo, visit National Game Parks etc. We do have a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi [whirlpool] for leisure time, also 24/7 Wi-Fi Internet Hotspot.

Qualifications: People with love for Nature and all animals, specially Vervet Monkeys.

Cost in US$: < 290 USD/week [220,--Euro/week]

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: To quote Vic Guhrs, "The trouble with Africa, he says, is that once it is in your blood, like malaria, it is almost impossible to get rid of." And the trouble with Africa is also the trouble with those of us who settle here. As a long as we insist on judging Africa from a Western perspective, we will be the outsiders who will be forever baffled by it. The complexities of African attitudes that seem to confound us are perhaps not so complex after all; it is their very simplicity that we fail to understand. On the road to our civilized enlightenment have we lost the ability to see life in its fundamental essence? Volunteers need to be open-minded and tolerant to experience wildlife and South African culture.

Age Range: 16-60

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Bambelela Wildlife Care & Guest Farm's Mission Statement: We are a self-funding and non-profit Wildlife Farm in the North of South Africa in the Limpopo Province. We care for orphaned and injured wild African animals and has established a Vervet Monkey sanctuary. We also nurse and hand-raise mammals and primates with the aim to rehabilitate them back into the wild. We are offering Volunteer programs and the possibility to study and attend FGASA preparation classes in order to become a qualified and registered Field Guide/Ranger joining our dedicated Team at Bambelela Wildlife Care Farm.

Year Founded: 2004