Research and assist in the conservation of South Africa’s most impressive wildlife

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Participating on this expedition allows you the chance to collaborate with GVI on critical conservation research and to witness some of South Africa’s most amazing wildlife such as the leopard, hyena, lion, cheetah and elephant.

Your role will be to collect behavioral patterns of the reintroduced predators and larger herbivores located on a private game reserve. To properly train you on this work you will be taught to use modern research equipment to aid in locating predators, as well as large animal tracking and identification techniques, and behavioral studies.

Each day you will reflect on your work while watching vibrantly colorful sunsets, and sleep on the reserve blanketed with the stars of the African sky. During the days you will work with qualified Field Guides and take some time to explore the surrounding areas.

Life on the Program

Responsibilities will vary, but a typical day will involve tracking the wildlife out on the reserve, conducting research from your vehicle. You will generally venture out during the cooler times of the day such as at dawn and dusk when wildlife is more active. Your research focus will primarly be on leopards, lions, hyena and cheetas but you will also have the chance to monitor other wildlife such as elephants.

If you are not out on a game drive you will refer to the daily schedule for your assigned duty. This can be data entry or helping with duties around camp such as cooking.

Accommodation is basic, and you will share the living space with other volunteers.

Program Details

The details of this program are subject to change due to weather conditions, time of year and wildlife movements but a typical expedition will include:

Detailed monitoring of predators (lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena).

Analyzing herbivore sex/age ratio data to see how it effects predator movement.

Vegetation monitoring is completed by surveys covering Elephant impact on area vegetation are also carried out, to note their impact on sensitive areas of the reserve.

Other activities and ecological studies include darting/fitting radio collars to predators, invasive vegetation and species eradication.

Community projects are available when visits to the reserve are organized for local school children and we plan fun and interactive lessons to teach them about the importantance of conservation.

Volunteer Testimonials

My highlights? Taking part in wildlife conservation and the feeling that your work had a part to play in the aim of the expedition. The close experiences with the amazing wildlife was incredible. The...

Craig Daly, Ireland

My highlights? Taking part in wildlife conservation and the feeling that your work had a part to play in the aim of the expedition. The close experiences with the amazing wildlife was incredible.

The program was everything I imagined it to be and more, meeting new people from all over the world is another incredibly influential factor in choosing another GVI expedition, just an amazing, life changing, all round experience.

A few of my favourite encounters include a visual of Zero, the male lion, with his zebra kill. One evening we spotted a hippo making her way into the water and grunting at another hippo to keep it...

Tess Hill, USA

A few of my favourite encounters include a visual of Zero, the male lion, with his zebra kill. One evening we spotted a hippo making her way into the water and grunting at another hippo to keep it away from her baby. Also saw a herd of elephants playing together in a huge mud bath.

Community days are incredible! It’s very gratifying to spend time with the local school children. The kids were so excited and had a blast. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to participate in this wonderful adventure. GVI is a phenomenal organisation.