BACKROUND OF THE ORGANISATION

In 2006 many communities, preschools and schools were unable to provide effective programs due to lack of funding, resources and skill levels. With the assistance of

volunteers, these shortcomings were addressed, and the NGO slowly grew into a large organisation that now provides assistance to several communities across Africa. They

now also offer several wildlife conservation projects including pre-vet, white shark and wild cats. The flagship projects in Cape Town have grown exponentially and they now

run 10 highly successful projects where these challenges are being addressed on a daily basis.

BACKROUND OF THE PROJECT

The Endangered Species Project allows you to participate in hands on monitoring of some of

Africa’s most endangered species such as Rhino, Cheetah and Southern Ground Hornbill.

This project is ideal if you want to truly experience the wild side of Africa. Our bush camp is based in a Limpopo game reserve which is home to the 'Big 5'. This means you will get to

encounter, and live among, elephants, lions, rhino, leopards and buffalo while working with us. We will teach you basic bush survival skills and how to navigate your way through the

African bush. During your stay, your days will be spent mostly on foot walking through the reserve, learning how to track the animals. You will be approaching endangered species on

foot and recording their behaviour, location and condition. The collected information is then used by the reserve management and anti-poaching teams, as well as national conservation

efforts to help save these endangered species. Furthermore, you will take part in vehicle based monitoring to see the amazing Big 5, as well as habitat work to help with the

monitoring process.

Extra information about the Project

This is a unique experience for people who want to get more out of visiting a game reserve in South Africa. Everyone who joins us on this exciting program will get to experience the African bush in its extremes, from elephants strolling through camp to the tropical heat or the surprisingly cold winter nights. If you have a love of nature and want to participate in helping to save Africa's endangered species, this is the project for you.

Once a month we take our volunteers to a local orphanage. This place provides a home for children affected by HIV. When we visit them we spend some time playing with the children. They love the attention and it is a wonderful feeling to be able to bring a smile to their faces with just a hug. As well as basic moral support, we also support them with some provisions. We will often buy them food and special treats when we visit, and volunteers are asked for a

small donation to cover this. Volunteers are also welcome to bring other donations with them, or to buy them locally.

The most needed items are: Educational toys, Stationary, Crayons, drawing books, pens, pencils, paints, Educational Posters, Medical Kits, etc

Learning about South African wildlife conservation

• Helping out in saving endangered species

• Going on game drives and seeing wild animals up close

• Experiencing what it is like to live in the bus

Volunteer Tasks

Volunteer tasks are focused on monitoring, which forms the basis for the majority of our research assistance on the game reserve. We conduct monitoring drives in the mornings and afternoons. The monitoring coincides with times of increased activity of the specific

animals we are observing. We also spend time on foot tracking the more elusive animals, which is an amazing way to experience the bush. During the drier winter months, we have

several hides based at water holes which allow you to observe the various animals and their interactions at close quarters. The volunteers will also spend time attending to habitat

management requirements on the properties and the greater reserve.

In between activities, volunteers will receive a series of presentations on the work of the project, or how to

approach dangerous game on foot, or possibly even a Zulu lesson. This time will also be used to transfer all

data collected onto the computers and compile the weekly research report, as well as helping out with

vehicle checks and cleaning.

Average Working Week

Average working day

The project runs 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday. In summer we start at 5:30am and are out for 4

to 5 hours. In the afternoon we leave at 16:00 for another 3 to 4 hours. In winter we leave at 6:30am and are

out for 4 to 5 hours. In the afternoon we leave at 15:00 for another 3 to 4 hours. We also give lectures and

presentations 2 or 3 times during the week over the lunch period. For the remainder of the time between

monitoring sessions, volunteers are required to enter all the data that they have collected into our

databases.

MON Project start day. Town trip to pick up volunteers and restock on supplies.

TUES - Mornings will consist of monitoring walks to locate the rhino and cheetah. You will learn

FRI how to identify and age their tracks and how to record this information. Once the animals

have been located you will monitor their behaviour, environment and interactions in

order to better understand them. Meanwhile, you will also learn how to track other big

game such as elephant, lion and hyena in order to better understand utilisation of the areas covered. At all times you will also be on the lookout for potential sightings and

nest sites of the Southern Ground Hornbill. On return to camp, you will enter the data

collected onto the computers. You'll also get the chance to work through your bush knowledge work books to help improve your tracking skills. During the week there will

be a series of talks on the project, data collection, bush skills and maybe even a Zulu

lesson! In the afternoons, you will set out on monitoring drives in order to cover more

ground to determine new areas to locate rhino, cheetah and Southern Ground Hornbill.

Once signs of activity and tracks have been located you will continue on foot to discover

more. Whilst driving through the reserve you will also get the chance to see some of our

other resident Big 5—elephant, lion and buffalo. On Friday afternoon, your drive will meet up with the research group for a sleep out under the stars. In conjunction with

research, all sightings of leopard will also be monitored and recorded - the more eyes

the better when trying to monitor this elusive animal!

SAT In the morning you will help out with some habitat work, either bush clearing, erosion

control, or road maintenance. Upon return from the afternoon monitoring drive, we may head out to the local pub or have a typical South African Braai (BBQ).

SUN Either an outing will be planned or it will be a free day for volunteers to relax or head

out on their own tour. In between activities, volunteers will receive a series of

presentations on the work of the project, or how to approach dangerous game on foot, or

possibly even a Zulu lesson. This time will also be used to transfer all data collected onto the computers and compile the weekly research report, as well as helping out with

vehicle checks and cleaning.

Please note that from time to time there can be unavoidable changes to projects. These can be caused by

weather, conservation priorities, materials supply, or because ongoing projects have progressed more

quickly or slowly than originally planned. We ask you to accept the changes – we are sure that you will

enjoy the replacement projects just as much.. This routine is kept as best as possible; however, working

with animals requires a flexible schedule. The above outline is subject to change.

Project Details Arrival Day: Saturday

Time: Your flight can land anytime on Saturday Airport: O R Tambo (JNB) International Airport Orientation: Saturday - Sunday Project Starts: Monday Departure Day: Monday Departure time: You MUST take a late evening flight out of JNB as the transport will only arrive back to JNB between 17h00 – 18h00 Min Duration: 2 weeks (incl 2 day Orientation) Min Age: 18 Max Age: N/A - Medium level of fitness

NOTE: We can also collect you at any Hotel or place of accommodation on your arrival day, should it be within close radius of the City centre or Airport

Volunteer Requirements

● Completed Application form

● Basic level of competency in English

● Copy of return flight itinerary ● Medium level of fitness

Packing list

● Casual working clothes for hot and cold days

● Semi-formal clothes for functions and for trips to town, Jackets

● Sunscreen and hat

● Swimsuit and towel

● Personal toiletries and bath towels

● Raincoat and boots (gumboots)

● Insect repellent

● Laptop with own dvd’s if desired

● Pocket money (drinks and souvenirs)

● Flashlight and batteries

● Notebook and pen ● Proof of all inoculations

● First aid kit and personal medication ● Water bottle

PS – The most important things to bring are a sense of humour, patience, an open mind and a positive attitude!

What’s Included?

Airport pick up

2 Day Johannesburg Orientation

Accommodation

Three meals a day (on project)

Weekly transport to town for

shopping

Shuttles to and from the project

24 hours support and

supervision

Donation to the project

Certificate of appreciation

NOTES:

● Cordial fruit drink, tea and coffee are provided.

● Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages (beers and ciders) and snack foods are not available in

camp but you can buy them on the weekly town trips.

Important reminder: Participants must advise the NGO of their dietary needs (e.g. if they are vegetarian

or have any allergies) prior to their arrival. Participants with very specific dietary needs may be required to supplement their meals at their own expense.

Meals All food for breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided, as well as fresh fruit. However, food is only re-stocked once a week so once it’s gone it’s gone! All meals are cooked by the group.

Volunteers may help themselves to tea, coffee, cereal and toast in the morning. For a late brunch you can make sandwiches or salads or have a tasty fry-up. In the evening, after the game drive,

the volunteers cook a delicious meal together or just braai (South African BBQ) in our Boma, where we light up the fire after sunset. In the evenings we spend most of the time under the

South African stars and start a fire in the boma. We sit around enjoying a well-earned drink and an amazing dinner, telling stories of the day's adventures.

Accommodation

Your home during your stay will be in our eco-friendly tented camp set amongst the

trees which overlooks a water course. There are large, comfortable twin share tents set

on raised platforms, ensuring each has its own unique view of the African bush!

There are shared ablution facilities with flushing toilets and bush showers. Your

evenings will be spent hearing tales from your experienced ranger, listening to the

sounds of the bush, before you fall asleep under the African sky

Laundry:

There is laundry on-site. The laundry service costs R50.00 per medium bundle of clothing. Please note: We are not responsible for any damage to clothes during washing or ironing.

Internet:

While there is no Wi-Fi available at the Endangered Species camp, when you go for lectures at the research base camp, you can access the Wi-Fi available there for R100 per stay.

Visit Jessica the Hippo

Location:

General Information

The reserve is nestled between the Drakensburg Mountains and the Kruger National Park

in the heart of the Lowveld. It is crossed by two rivers; the Selati River in the North and the

Makhutswi River in the South adding to the reserve’s unique topography. It is 65km North-

West from Hoedspruit and 75km South-East from Tzaneen.

● Shops/Grocery Stores: You will receive weekly transport into town so that you can

purchase essentials and food items

● ATMS: There are plenty of ATMS in Johannesburg where you will have your orientation.

Once on project you will have the opportunity to withdraw money on your weekly

shopping trip. The nearest ATM is at a garage 20 km away.

Supervision/Co- Ordination: As the nature of the work varies we will place volunteers under the supervision of various

staff members. We will have one member of our team assigned as “team leader” to

facilitate the smooth operation of the volunteers stay and provide guidance where

necessary.

Free time: The activities listed here are the some of the outings offered on a Sunday, if volunteers

have not decided to stay in camp and rest for the day.

Activities

Visit the Reptile Park

Please note that these are local costs which would need to be booked and paid directly

to the project. Prices may

change over time without notice. Transport fees may apply.

Explore the Blyde River Canyon

NB!! Safety Tips

Water: General Information

Water is safe to drink. However, please be aware that there may be a shortage during

dry season. Use water sparingly and have short showers or baths.

Power: South African electrical power is 240 volts AC. Appliances from North America will burn

out if they are not switched over or have a properly-rated power transformer (not just a

plug converter) attached. Think twice about that hair dryer! South Africa is also prone to

electricity cuts (load shedding) due to short supply. Please turn off lights and heaters

when not in the room. The plug adapter needed for South African plugs are very difficult

to find in your home country, we suggest you buy the adapter in South Africa.

Health & Safety: Your health is very important to us! Please let us know of any special requirements that

you have, e.g. allergies, diabetes, etc. You will be accompanied with a trained team

leader at all times. Should anything happen, first aid is immediately available, and a

First Aid kit is always available. The nearest hospital is within a 30min drive from the

facility. All team leaders are equipped with their cell phones, so communication is never

a problem.

The sun is an important health factor to consider. You can burn easily, even in winter and

on cloudy days, so always use sun block (SPF 30+) and a hat, and drink plenty of water

Moderate to severe sunburns are common among visitors and volunteers, yet they are

completely preventable. Please be cautious of the sun, severe sunburn can prevent you

from participating to full capacity.

General: ● Participants must conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner at all times

● Hitchhiking is not permitted at any time and travelling alone in the dark is not

recommended

● Always be aware of your surroundings and don’t leave your belongings unattended

● Never give beggars money - speak to your coordinator if you would like to make

donations

● Do not look like a tourist with your camera around your neck or walk and text

● Do not carry large amount of cash on you that people can see – Cards are accepted in

most places

● Lock your room to ensure all your valuables, passport and money stay safe

● You can only drive from the age of 18, with a valid driving license. International licenses are required for vehicle rental in order to drive in South Africa ● People under 18 years may not drink or buy alcohol ● Drinking alcohol in a public place is illegal (this includes drinking on the beach) ● It is legal to smoke cigarettes in public places, but shopping malls, businesses, public transport and restaurants have no-smoking policies. Smoking is permitted inside places where permission is granted. ● It is illegal to carry, buy or use drugs, including marijuana ● The age of sexual consent is 16, and having sex with anyone under 16 is illegal

Health and Safety

All participants should have informed the NGO of any medical information, including

allergies, prescribed medications, or any known medical condition. It is advisable to

remind your volunteer leaders again during orientation!

Insurance

All participants must have medical, travel and trip cancellation insurance for the duration

of their program. The NGO must receive proof of insurance prior to arrival.

Drugs

The NGO has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs. Offenders will be removed from

the program immediately without refund.

Smoking

No smoking is allowed during project hours.

Alcohol

A responsible level of drinking (for volunteers of legal age) during free time is allowed.

However, in these limited situations:

● Alcohol is never to be consumed during project hours or on any Premises.

● Participants are never to be intoxicated during project hours

● No hangovers will be tolerated on project so please keep drinking to off days

Failure to comply will be treated as a serious matter. The NGO reserves the right to

remove a participant from the project without refund if they disregard this policy.

Participants who endanger their safety or the safety of others through irresponsible

drinking of alcohol or negligence may be removed from the program without refund.

Wha t is the differen ce betwe en voluntee ring and regula r touris m ?

In regular touris m the emph asis is on the tourist who expec ts to receive excelle n t servic e on their trip

(great hotel, good food and all excur sio ns wor kin g accor din g to a timetab le). The plac e and local

comm u nity becom es less importan t with the tour ist becom ing the centr e of atten tio n. In VOluntee r touris m

(or “volun tour ism ” ) the emph asis shifts to wor k contr ib ution , goals of the progr am and helpin g the local

comm u nity. It is the success of the progr am and the atmosp her e betwe e n the comm un ity and the

volun teer s that helps make the trip unfor ge ttable – not the level of servic e or the quality of the hotel.

Many programs are underfunded and staffed so inevitably there will be some difficulties; however it is

the overcoming of any challenges which creates a sense of achievement and satisfaction not

found in regular tourism.

Will there be any surprises?

Volunteer tourism can be unpredictable! While the NGO does the utmost to stick to timetables and examples

of type of work needed by the volunteer, there are many factors that can impact these plans. For example, the

weather and seasons, local holidays, mood of the wildlife and immediate needs of the programs.

The information you will receive from the program is important and valuable however things can change

and we urge you to use it as a guideline and expect the unexpected – this is what makes volunteer tourism so

diverse and exciting. It is important that you arrive with a flexible attitude and remember that just by being

at the project you will be contributing to its running, growth and success. Many of these programs are in

cultures very different than yours and as such the type and length of work given may or may not seem

important to you but it will be for the program.

The first few days

These are the most important and can be the most difficult ones. You have just arrived off a long flight in a

strange location and are living with new people. Even if the first impression might not be as you had

expected. Please give yourself a couple of days to acclimatize and give the project the help it needs.

Volunteer work – some examples

It is important to realize that not all the work will be easy or 'romantic'. A lot of the time

you will need to roll up your sleeves and get dirty with tasks such as:

● Animal projects: working with raw meat, cage cleaning, removing ticks, etc.

● Environmental projects: manual labour, carrying heavy items, getting dirty, working in the rain, etc.

● Humanitarian projects: cleaning up after the kids, kitchen duty, changing diapers, wiping runny noses,

etc.

● Building projects: mixing concrete manually, picking up garbage off site, removing

vegetation, etc.

Keep a positive attitude and note that even ‘boring’ tasks contribute and are also very

important to the program. Also remember ‘boring’ tasks are not given to you on purpose

but they form a part of the overall volunteer experience as it takes care of the needs of the

overall project.

Sticking to a timetable

Each program asks its volunteers to stick to a timetable which helps the program run smoothly. Please

follow the instructions from the program managers. However, please note that volunteer programs are

usually underfunded and understaffed which can lead to multiple changes in the program timetable.

Volunteer work needs to be flexible for various reasons and should not be seen as a nine to five office

job even if some changes do not make sense to the volunteer. Flexibility and an 'expect the unexpected

attitude' are needed – however never forget that by volunteering you are contributing immensely to the

program.

Important points to read

If there are any problems during the

program please speak to the volunteer

leader. It is important to initially raise and

discuss the issue in the program as most

can be solved in this manner. The

organisation and projects rely on each

and every volunteer, if you leave the

program in the middle (or leave unhappy

and disgruntled) it could seriously

damage the hard work being undertaken.

Before you leave for project

Please look after yourselves and listen to the Leaders and the program staff you are visiting. Drink lots of

fluids and remember your sunscreen. Volunteer trips are what you make of them and coming with an

open mind and listening to the program managers/Leaders will help you experience an unforgettable

trip. Please also remember that this is an English speaking project. In order to be inclusive and for

everyone to have a positive experience, we ask that volunteers speak English at all times.

The Volunteer Leader

Most programs will have a volunteer leader. This person is usually a volunteer who is on a long term

contract or has volunteered on the same project in the past. The volunteer leader can be of great

assistance when a problem arises though please approach them at a convenient time outside of busy

working hours. It is important that you listen to the volunteer leader and cooperate with them.

Culture shock

The volunteers you will be working with come from all over the world and may be from different

religious and ethnic backgrounds. Volunteering is also a cultural experience where you can learn

about different cultures, please be both tolerant and patient. Do not be shy in sharing your

experiences, recipes, songs and traditions it will just add to the overall group cohesion. For

example, children may be raised in ways that are very different to what you are used to. If you are

ever unsure about a certain issues, please feel free to discuss it with your volunteer leader.

Extra expenses

Please take into account additional expenses like tours, trips, telephone, restaurants and bars. It is a

good idea to have different types of payment available to you like: cash, credit cards, debit cards and

traveller's cheques.

Approaching us directly will help us to resolve the issues for future volunteers or for the

sustainability of the project. We want to make it an unforgettable experience for you and

all others. We also want our projects to continue receiving the much needed volunteers –

we can only help if we know what the concerns are!

Important points to read

It is strongly recommended that all participants read and print out areas of

interest from the websites and reference materials listed below as these

will provide valuable background information and help to put project

goals and activities into context.

● Website: www.freepackers.fr ● Instagram: www.instagram.com/freepackers/ ● Facebook: www.facebook.com/freepackers/ ● Email: reservations@freepackers.com ● Phone: +33631961240

The more positive you are, the more

positive your memories will be! Your

time on project will be over sooner

than you know, what would you like to

think back on later in your life?