South Africa – Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

The rehabilitation centre is at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains, 33km outside of Hoedspruit town between the Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon.
This small town is one of South Africa’s major eco-tourist destinations to visit game lodges and nature reserves. The countryside rich in game and open spaces is an adventure and wildlife lovers’ paradise. It is surrounded by the largest conservation area in the world and specialises in mango and citrus fruit production.

This center is a non-profit organization, open to the public and relying entirely on public support. Project Volunteers will be involved in many aspects of conservation and animal care under professional supervision. Wildlife is brought to the center from all corners of South Africa, and once healthy enough, are reintroduced into their natural habitats. Those animals that cannot be returned to the wild due to the nature or extent of their injuries are cared for at the center and become ambassador animals, used to educate the many people who visit us each year, both from across South Africa and abroad. Another important function of the center is breeding. The center has successfully bred and released into the wild the endangered crowned eagle, serval and many others.

Volunteers will be involved in many aspects of conservation and animal care. They will also work and live with volunteers and professional staff from around the world. If a volunteer wants to increase his or her chance to see baby animals, we recommend they come from November-March, which is our baby season.

Some of your tasks may include:

• Hand-nurturing of orphaned animals from cheetah cubs, to birds, to warthogs
• The care and welfare of the permanent residents who, due to the nature of their injuries, cannot be released back into the wild
• Daily cleaning of animal enclosures, scrubbing their bed mats and feeding the animals
• The treatment and care of sick and injured animals
• Assisting with the upkeep of the center such as road maintenance, removal of alien vegetation, etc.
• Attending call-outs to capture animals for relocation or to be brought into the center for treatment. This may be by darting or humane trapping.
• Wildlife veterinary work, which would be mostly observational
• Game capture and relocation when appropriate
• Working hours are usually from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM and volunteers are expected to help whenever necessary.

Please note that, due to the nature of rehabilitation work, nothing is predictable or guaranteed, including which types of animals are at the center at any given time.

Internet: WiFi access at the volunteer common room.

Laundry: A laundry service is available.

Accommodations: Shared, single-gender accommodations are provided in a comfortable, brick bungalow. Rooms are shared with two to six volunteers. There are shared bathrooms with a hot shower and flushing toilets, as well as a large kitchen and living area. Linens and warm blankets are provided, but please bring your own towel.

Food: Three meals per day are provided and enjoyed in the volunteer common room. Once a week volunteers go out for dinner to a local restaurant, at own expense to volunteer. This is optional and if you do not want to join, you can notify the coordinator who will arrange a meal at the lodge.

Please note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Basic level of English
• Good physical fitness
• Motivation to work with animals
• Immunizations (please consult your doctor)
• Rabies vaccination is strongly recommended due to the nature of the work at the center

Volunteers are taken once a week to explore the beautiful Hoedspruit town and visit shops.

Quiet time is on Sundays, and although volunteers still tend to the feeding of all the animals, there is ample relaxation time. If volunteers want to get active, educational trips can be organized to nearby attractions, such as Blyde Reserve and Waterfall Hike, Blyde Canyon Boat trip, Hoedspruit Reptile Park and Kruger National Park.

Excursions are booked and paid for while on the program, subject to availability, weather, and the number of volunteers interested.