Cheetah Conservation and Research Project in South Africa

Overview

Journey to wildest Africa and volunteer to conserve cheetah in the South African bush whilst experiencing these incredible predators in their natural habitat.

You will head out on daily research drives on a game reserve in the Limpopo province to assist in the tracking and data collection of this vulnerable predator. Once successfully tracked you will be given the opportunity to get up close and personal, by viewing these fascinating animals on foot. Time spent with these individuals will allow you to deepen your understanding of the ecology of cheetah as well as gaining hands on insight into current research techniques used to conserve this species.



Cheetah populations are racing towards extinction and cheetah protection should be made a priorty. Shockingly, since the early 1970’s their numbers in Africa have declined by half facing threats of habitat loss, hunting and the demand for individuals in captive facilities. Intervention and the need for intense monitoring to save this species is crucial.

Our ongoing partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust enables us to contribute the data collected on our cheetah program to their established databases. Their current successes using a meta-population approach to achieve sustainable and ultimately, increasing cheetah populations is well renowned.

On project you will be trained to gain all the vital skills necessary for data collection such as animal identification, tracking and using research equipment. No previous experience is required, but you should bring with you a willingness to learn and become immersed in the project.

Highlights Include

Experiencing a unique African bush adventure at the heart of a spectacular game reserve; being part of cheetah conservation efforts; mastering radio telemetry techniques and learning to track animals through the bush; getting up close and personal with big cats; exploring nearby regions to experience such breathtaking views as from the Blyde River Canyon in the Drakensberg Mountains; living and working alongside FGASA qualified South African Guides receiving constant learning and inspiration.

Program Details

Project Life

Majority of your time will be spent out on the reserve, where you will be busy tracking big cats and collecting data from the research vehicles. You may also have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of cheetahs by foot if it is safe to do so. When you are not on a game drive you will be back at camp entering the data you have collected, some of which will be utilised by the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

Your home for the duration of the project will be our GVI camp, in the heart of the reserve. You will be sleeping in a dormitory-style room, and will share facilities such as bathroom, kitchen and living areas with your fellow volunteers. Camp duties are allocated on a rotational basis, so you should come prepared and complete with a teamwork spirit.

Project Details

Your primary task on project will be researching cheetah including; monitoring their feeding, behaviour, movements, interactions and health. In addition you will be given the opportunity to work closely with our science team to take part in our long-term cheetah specific study. Aside from this, you will also get involved in a variety of other studies and ecological work, such as removal of exotic and invasive vegetation species.

While you are on the project you will be given a basic and introductory overview of conservation in action, developing a good overall understanding of the environment in which you are living, and the tasks and challenges involved in protecting both its flora and fauna.

We also try to assist where required with off-site studies or mini-projects that may focus on different biota if we believe them to be relevant in the conservation context of the region. Such studies allow staff and volunteers to get a broader knowledge of conservation research across more than one ecosystem. Examples could include documenting bird of prey nesting sites, assessments of species population dynamics or the creation of micro fauna species lists. Any such mini-projects are as required, would make up the minority of your time on this program, and only for durations of 4 weeks or more.

How this project makes a difference:

As a result of habitat loss, hunting and the farming industry, South Africa’s cheetah populations are now increasingly under threat. It is important to develop an accurate picture of the genetics, behaviour and spatial movement of South Africa’s cheetah as high quality data is vital in developing effective conservation efforts.

This program is suitable for those who wish to volunteer on a serious cheetah conservation program. GVI works with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to monitor and maintain their portion of the viable Lowveld meta-population. These individuals are born on the reserve, grow, hunt, mate, and breed naturally. Only on exceptionally rare occasions, intervention is required. To avoid inbreeding and ensure the ongoing success of the meta-population, offspring are relocated to other reserves. These actions are not part of the volunteer program but pertain to decisions made by the Endangered Wildlife Trust who are well renowned for their successful contributions to conservation in Africa.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Exploration

Participating with GVI not only allows you to work on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield either before or after your program. Below is some information on trips and travel options in South Africa.

Side Trips Included

At our Karongwe Base, volunteers will visit the renowned Khamai Reptile Park as part of the training. Later on during the phase, volunteers are also taken to a local curio market where a variety of quality carvings and other gifts are sold.

Optional Side Trips

Both research bases have one day off per week. For longer duration volunteers, at the end of each 4 week cycle there may be the opportunity to take 3 or 4 consecutive days off. Independent travel from Karongwe is best done by renting a car, something volunteers usually do in groups to make more economical. Bear in mind there is additional cost associated with pick-ups or drop-offs at the reserve gate. Hoedspruit, the nearest town is about 45 mins drive away. In the area around Karongwe Game Reserve you can visit the Kruger National Park, with entry gates no more than an hour drive away. There’s also the ‘panoramic route’ which takes you on various scenic drives along the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, the Blyde River Canyon and to the historic towns of Pilgrims Rest, Graskop (where Harry’s Pancakes will serve you the best pancake on the planet!) and Sabie, where you can also book onto a variety of adventure activities such as bungee jumping, quadbiking, canyoning and hiking, or just chill out with a picnic lunch at one of the many nearby waterfalls.

Further Travel Opportunities

South Africa has such a wealth of fantastic opportunities for further travel. Possibilities include the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, the beauty of the Kalahari Desert, historic Zululand, the vibrancy of Cape Town (check out GVI’s Cape Town volunteer programs!), the fantastic Garden Route along the Southern Coast , the world-renowned National Parks of Kruger and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, and many more highlights that will leave you wanting more of this amazing country