Location
This project has recently moved to the spectacular Thanda game reserve. It is situated ideally, as the reserve features over 14,000 hectares of bush and is home to extremely rare wildlife. The area is home to the Zulu tribe, a group of people with a very lively and colourful culture, and it is an ideal setting to improve photography skills, get a chance to photograph rare and phenomenal wildlife, and to help raise awareness about conservation in the local communities.
About the project
This project has a number of long-term goals, with the ultimate goals to raise awareness and help preserve the precious African environment. These goals include hands-on conservation efforts, creating a photographic database, and conservation research. Originally located in the heart of St Lucia, volunteers have made a significant contribution in the last three years. Recently moving to the beautiful settings of Thanda game reserve volunteers will continue to support and assist with the development of the local surroundings. Past volunteer photos have been used in conservation-education efforts, as local community involvement is a core belief in the methodology of conservation in this project.
Project Highlights
- Improve photography skills in a 3 day intensive course taught by an experienced professional photographer
- Stay in the heart of a Big 5 Game Reserve
- Take pictures of the extensive wildlife on regular game drives.
- Learn and photograph smaller species of flora and fauna on bush walks
- Help to create a photo database for awareness and educational purposes
- Help raise awareness in the local community about the importance of conservation
- Assist on conservation initiatives within the Park e.g. Snare Sweeps and Alien Plant control
Additional 2 or 4 week Project Extension
Volunteers may then choose to stay on for an additional 2 (6 week placement) or 4 weeks (8 week placement) and during this extra time on the project, volunteers will be working closely with the research volunteers to assist them in gathering photo research that is still needed.
As part of assisting the research team during their additional weeks, they will assist in building the database for records of animals and the landscape, documentation of erosion, spot patterns, whisker patterns, etc. In this way their photographic skills will also develop as will their knowledge of the animals on the reserve and they will also contribute to a research photographic database. Volunteers staying on beyond the 4 week photography course will also have the opportunity to visit neighbouring reserves.
Project Orientation
Upon arrival, volunteers will have a comprehensive orientation and a 3-day course, which is included in the fee. This is facilitated by the project volunteer coordinator and includes:
- A 3-day wildlife photography course taught by an award winning photographer
- Overview of the aims of the project and the role as a volunteer
- An introduction to where volunteers will be staying
- A brief introduction to all our other projects that we are involved in KwaZulu Natal.
- Optional basic language lessons - Volunteers will learn some basic words & sentences in Zulu, the local language.
- An introduction to the Green Vision Foundation and the Photographic database.
A typical day in Thanda:
Here is how a typical day might take shape. Please note that itineraries may differ, depending on volunteer's own experience and the number of other volunteers on the placement at the same time; this is simply to give an example:
- 07:00 - Get up, eat breakfast, and start getting ready to depart for the project*
- 08:30 - Head off to the photography area for that day and start taking photographs of wildlife. Volunteers may focus on finding different animals on different days
- 12:00 - Lunch break. Volunteers will be picked up, and taken to the volunteer house, where lunch will be waiting for them
- 14.00 - Start of the afternoon projects. Volunteers may be working on adding their new pictures to the database, or they may work on a conservation activity with local children
- 16.30 - End of the working day*. Volunteers will be picked up from the project and taken home, where they will evaluate the day with fellow volunteers and project coordinators, and discuss the schedule for the next day
- 18.00 - Dinner at the volunteer house. After dinner, volunteers may wish to go for a few drinks in one of the local bars
*Morning times and end of day times do vary depending on where volunteers are visiting and best conditions for taking photographs, for instance if the volunteer is going on a day game drive, the day will start much earlier e.g. 05:00 am
Project Support
Throughout the volunteer's stay at their placement, they will have the support and guidance of experienced field-workers and coordinators. They are part of our greater support team, and will provide volunteers with competent 24-hour field support and assistance.
Accommodation
During the placement, volunteers will stay in comfortable twin cabins set in the Game Reserve overlooking a water hole commonly visited by the animals in the park. There is a large communal thatched building with areas to dine, relax, watch the animals or to take a dip in the swimming pool. The accommodation is staffed with cooks and cleaners and all bed linen is provided
Volunteers can spend the evenings sitting around a fire under the stunning African sky or chatting on the viewing deck to see what animals visit the area as night falls.
Weekend Highlights
These are not included in the volunteering fee, but on-site coordinators are able to assist with making the necessary booking arrangements:
- 4 day photographic workshop in the Drakensberg Mountains
- Weekend trips to swim with Dolphins in Mozambique
- Visit the rugged scenery of Swaziland and experience the cultural heritage
- Game drives to the Tembe Elephant park, home to the largest Tuskers in Southern Africa
- Boat trips on the Kosi Bay lake systems to see ancient Fish traps and snorkel in the Estuary mouth
- Weekend trips to the seaside town of St Lucia to do Whale Watching (seasonal), to spend time on the beach or take a boat trip to see Hippos and Crocodiles up close.
Minimum requirements
- Volunteers will need to bring their own photographic equipment - they should bring an SLR digital camera with at least an 18-55 mm lens, battery charger and 2GB memory card. Through past feedback we now have listed a tripod and digital storage devices (in the form of at least a 4GB flash drive or external drive) as essential items to bring with .
- Min age 18 - Max age 80
- Basic English
- Good physical fitness
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)