Volunteer - African Wildlife Conservation and Photography Project

On this unique program you will contribute to the vital conservation of South Africa’s wildlife and embark on the adventure of a lifetime as you learn from a professional photographer and improve your wildlife photography skills.

This project is based in the world-renowned Greater Kruger Area – famous for the Big 5 and amazing scenery. The region is also home to local people celebrated for their rich and vibrant culture. In this impressive setting, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your photographic skills while raising conservation awareness. If you have always wanted to take amazing wildlife pictures, there is no better place in the world!

Volunteers will assist in a number of conservation initiatives during your time and will be involved in conservation education and activities. Conservation in the community will involve visiting and helping educate communities on the importance of conservation as well as assist a local charity in various community projects where relevant. You will also be involved in hands-on field work such as clearing alien invasive plants, bush encroachment, litter picking etc.

Working in conjunction with the research team, photographers will assist in collecting animal identification information and other interesting and essential data. A photographic database compiled for educational purposes will also play a vital part of your volunteering.

The "Project Contribution" included in your overall fee will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project during your actual volunteer stay on the ground.

All of our Projects require you to be in good health, be reasonably fit, and a minimum of 18 years of age.

PLEASE NOTE THIS PROJECT RUNS EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR OASIS OVERLAND TRIP.

Prices

A  £300 deposit  is required to book this project. Please note the average weekly price reduces for every extra week booked. All prices are in Pounds Sterling (£GBP) and are per person (pp). Once requested your volunteer project cannot be refunded or exchanged.

No. of Weeks & Cost

4 weeks  ----   £2295

5 weeks  ----   £2697

6 weeks  ----   £3099

7 weeks  ----   £3501

8 weeks  ----   £3903

9 weeks  ----   £4305

Advertised price is based on 4 week project

Dates

Please contact Oasis Overland in regards to Start dates for this project

Included

• Shared Accommodation
• Project donation
• Orientation programme, including a photography course led by a professional photographer
• Return transport between O.R. Tambo International Airport,  Johannesburg, South Africa and Dumela lodge (where your project is based)
• Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at volunteer lodge
• All game drives/transfers that are project related, during your stay
• Support and guidance of experienced field-workers and co-ordinators
• Funding educational materials for the schools and tools for conservation work

NOT Included

• Flights
• Visa costs
• Travel & Medical Insurance (must cover volunteer work)
• In-country transport
• Costs and items of a personal nature
• Email, Wi-Fi and telephone calls made during your placement (charged out at cost)
• Soft drinks and other food items not included in your meals
• Any activities and excursions outside of your planned

Volunteers will need to bring their own photographic equipment (minimum required listed below)

• An SLR digital camera with at least an 18-55 mm lens, battery charger
• Laptop (including Lightroom software)
• External hard drive (at least 100GB)
• A tripod is highly recommended, but not essential

Project Orientation

• An intensive photography course taught by a professional photographer 
• Overview of the aims of the project and your role as a volunteer
• An introduction on the area where you are staying
• A brief introduction to other projects that we offer in this area
• Optional basic language lessons - learn some basic words and sentences in the local language
• An introduction to the Photographic database

Accommodation and Hours

During your placement you will stay in comfortable shared accommodation within the Greater Kruger Area. Volunteers and project staff meet and carry out inductions and research updates in the main lodge – a spacious thatched area boasting a large swimming pool and situated on 18 hectares of land. This beautiful landscape serves as home to impala, warthog, bush pig, nyala and a great diversity of birdlife. Here, you’ll dine, relax and socialise. The lodge is staffed with cooks and cleaners and all bed linen and towels are provided.

Spend evenings around a fire under the stunning African night sky; enjoy relaxing on your room balcony or by the pool bar; sit in the lounge and surf the web; enjoy the delicious food produced by our excellent catering team.

Hours are normally between 05:30 until and 18:30 followed by dinner, although this can vary depending on season.

Transfers

You will need to arrive on the Saturday of your project start date. You will be transported by shuttle service to accommodation in Johannesburg where you will meet the rest of the volunteers and your team. You will spend the Saturday night, and be transported on the Sunday to the project. If, for any reason, you do arrive on the Sunday, please ensure that you land no later than 09.00am as the transfer will leave at 12.00pm. You will be transferred back to the airport on your set departure date (4-12 weeks after arrival, depending on length of project) and will arrive at O.R. Tambo International around 17.00pm on Saturday. Please keep this in mind when booking your return flights.

Insurance

It is a compulsory requirement that you have adequate travel insurance before you join any Oasis Trip & at the very least are insured for all necessary medical & repatriation costs incurred overseas with a recommended sum insured of £500,000. It is also wise to leave a copy of your insurance policy with a friend or relative for safe keeping.

Please ensure that your policy covers you for Volunteering work and activities.

We believe that your safety and holiday enjoyment are very important. It is a mistake to think that "it will never happen to me". It is also very important that you are covered for all the activities that you may wish to undertake while on our trip.

For further information on the insurance we offer, the activities covered, costs and how to book - please check out the Insurance section of our website.

Visas and Vaccinations

Most nationalities do not require a Visa for South Africa, but it is advisable to contact the relevant Embassy in plenty of time before the trip departs to check the current visa requirements.

As we are not medically trained - we are unable to give detailed or professional advice on vaccination requirements, therefore please consult a reputable travel clinic or GP for advice on any medical issues. We suggest allowing 8 weeks to get all your vaccinations. For more information visit: www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk or  www.nomadtravel.co.uk  Oasis travellers receive a 10% discount on vaccinations, medical kits, clothing and camping equipment from the Nomad Travel Clinic - you will receive your discount code on your booking receipt. Medical advice should also be taken regarding Malaria risks.

Clothing and Equipment

Please see our full list of Clothing and Equipment, in the Essential Trip Information on each trip page, for the Overland trip that you are undertaking before or after this project. This should more than cover the items you will need for your Project. You will also receive a full Welcome Pack from our Project Provider, after booking, that will list any other items.

Responsible Travel

Before you go

• Remove unnecessary packaging before you go - waste disposal facilities are often stretched in the places we visit.
• To avoid unnecessary pollution of local water supplies take environmentally friendly toiletries with you.
• Why not invest in a wind-up or solar-powered torch or media player before you travel or at least rechargeable batteries.
• Learn some of the local language and read up on the local history / culture before you go. You'll get so much more out of your trip. Why not pack some pens / pencils exercise books in your rucksack and they can be donated to a local school or project while you're away.
• Take a sturdy water bottle with you from home that you can re-use throughout your trip.

While You're Travelling

From experience gained in running trips, we have developed our own practical and a manageable environmental policy.  We welcome your input on this, plus any new ideas you may have, to improve our existing procedures. As a guide here's a few tips to bear in mind.

• Don't waste water. It is a scarce resource in many of the places our trips visit.
• Never buy endangered species or endangered habitat products. Apart from the fact of it being illegal it also encourages the trade to continue.
• Look after and preserve the areas we visit. Be careful about stepping on coral reefs or trekking on undesignated tracks.
• Buy locally made crafts and products helping to support the local economy.
• Don't feel when bargaining that you have to get the cheapest price possible just for the sake of it. Pay what the item is worth to you.
• Try the local food and drinks - this will help to support local farmers and food sellers. Sitting in a local cafe is also a great way to meet local people.
• Dispose of litter appropriately on your trip. This includes cigarette butts. Not only does litter look unsightly it can be lethal to wildlife.
• Where any toilet facilities exist, however unsavoury they might seem to you, they should be used. Where they do not, always bury your waste and make sure it is never near, (at least 30m) from a water source.
• When game viewing do not encourage your guides to get too close to the wildlife so that their natural behaviour is impeded.
• Respect local customs, traditions and beliefs of the people in the different regions that you travel through.
• Do not take photos of people, ritual events or special places unless you have asked first. Dress appropriately according to local codes and show respect around religious festivals.
• Recycling is almost non-existent in many of the areas and countries we visit - we do the best we can with limited resources & space on our vehicles.

For books dedicated to travelling more responsibly & ethically see: www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Please note that you will be required to fill out an application form prior to being accepted on the Project. You may also be asked for references.

This Project can be combined with any other African Project.