Zingela Predator Conservation Project

  South Africa

• Other Cities in South Africa: 
Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: year round

Description: The word Zingela is the Zulu word meaning 'to hunt', making it particularly fitting for this project, where you can study some of Africa's most elusive and persecuted predators.

Set on a vast reserve in the rugged and wild bushland of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, this project gives you the chance to track and monitor the cheetah, leopard and brown hyena populations, witness their natural behaviour first hand and contribute to the ongoing conservation effort to help secure a future for these stunning animals.

Highlights: Tracking Cheetah on Foot

Uniquely, cheetah are almost exclusively approached on foot on the Zingela project, which brings wildlife monitoring to a whole new level as you follow in the footsteps of these wonderful and endangered predators; moving when they move, resting when they rest and watching them stalk, hunt and feed. The work includes:

- Tracking collared animals using telemetry equipment and traditional tracking techniques.
- Locating and following animals on foot.
- Watching hunting and feeding behaviour, and their social interactions with one another and other species.
- Recording GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns.
- Recording kills.

Leopard:

This notoriously hard-to-spot predator is often seen at Zingela, and you will be involved in a baseline study to help determine the number of individuals within the reserve. Working mainly at night, when the African bush comes alive with a whole new set of animals, you will work to establish the home ranges and prey species of the resident leopards by:

- Locating animals from the open back of the research vehicle by (sensitively) using a high powered spotlight.
- Watching and recording hunting, feeding and interactions both between leopards and with other species.
- Recording GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns.

Brown Hyena:

The brown hyena is a lesser known predator but a beautiful and vital component of the environment. By studying these animals you will help to bring a greater understanding of this nocturnal animal's movements and habits. The work done will include:

- Using tracks as well sightings to identify and monitor individuals in the population
- Watching hunting and feeding behaviour as well as interactions with their own and other species
- Recording GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns
- Recording kills

Qualifications: No qualification or previous experience are necessary, just an interest and passion for wildlife conservation.

Cost in US$: 2,960

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Most of our volunteers have either finished college and want some international work experience before starting their career, or are taking a break from their career. Many are interested in wildlife conservation, but most have no previous experience or qualifications.

Age Range: 17-70

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

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 6

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

African Conservation Experience's Mission Statement: African Conservation Experience organizes work placements for volunteers of all ages on wildlife conservation projects in Southern Africa. We work only with projects that we assess as having a real and beneficial contribution to conservation efforts. Volunteers get very much involved with the work, rather than sitting back and observing, and provide a valuable resource to the projects. We pride ourselves on the quiality, integrity and frendliness of the service that we provide. We ensure that volunteers understand fully what is expected of them and place particular concern on volunteers' security and safety.

Year Founded: 1999

African Conservation Experience is a based organization. We do not require our participants to be of the same faith. Our volunteers will not be involved in religious proselytizing.