Volunteer Abroad Siyafunda - Johanna

Profile

Name: Johanna

Age: 24

Project: Wildlife Monitoring Siyafunda

Duration: 4 weeks

Date: October 2025

Review Johanna – Siyafunda Volunteer Project

Once to South Africa and back: an October in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve

Not even two metres away from us, there is a loud rustling... I focus my camera and press the shutter. With a click, the sound interrupts the excited whispering of the other volunteers in the vehicle. Protesting, the young wild dog flees from the circle of his family as his siblings playfully chase after him.

And me? I still cannot believe that I am actually in South Africa. And that I apparently have a new favourite animal.

Arrival and preparation for my volunteer adventure in South Africa

Only yesterday, my flight landed in Hoedspruit – with a two-hour delay – which nearly gave me a heart attack.

Yet the entire preparation over the past months went smoothly: vaccinations, flights, documents, medication, equipment, SIM card (MTN) at Johannesburg airport… everything was quickly sorted.

Once again, Natucate supported me with everything I needed, and so the team on-site already knew that I would arrive later.

I spend the next four weeks at the main camp in the middle of the Makalali Private Game Reserve. The rooms are surprisingly well equipped with a shower and toilet, and not once does the hot water run out during the month.

Twice a week, you either get to cook for the whole team or do kitchen duty, and once a week, there is a braai. To my great joy, all of this also works with my gluten intolerance.

Typical day in the Siyafunda project

In the morning, we head out early; my alarm usually goes off just before sunrise at 4:30 a.m., so that I can first stumble into the kitchen and have a tea. Equipped with a telemetry device, data phone, torch and identification kits, the drive begins, led by the rangers on site or those in training.

The volunteers’ task is to record data on key species. The focus shifts each week across different areas of the reserve or specific species. At midday, you can relax by the pool or analyse the camera trap footage.

In the evening, we go out on the second drive. Of course, you do not see the Big Five every day, and some days are very quiet – after all, these are animals moving freely in the reserve – but there is still no chance of boredom if you are passionate about wildlife.

Alternatively, during the week, there are also walking patrols and maintenance. Or also “torture”, as we jokingly call Saturdays, when we help with the upkeep of the reserve. No, really, I recommend you pack gloves!

Everything plant-related has far too many thorns or spikes, and you constantly trip over trees blocking the road because elephants have decided that the leaves up there look much better than anything within reach.

And otherwise? Sit back, enjoy. And learn.

The small library in the communal room contains a wide range of identification and ecology books, and the rangers are always willing to answer questions.

Of course, nothing is mandatory, but after four weeks you can return home and confidently identify a lilac-breasted roller and other birds, or recognise that a radio conversation is about a female leopard. I simply loved that there was the opportunity to educate yourself at your own pace.

You need:

• Warm clothing! It gets very cold on the vehicle quite quickly
• Light clothing! Temperatures can also climb above 40°C
• A good rain jacket, as there can be sudden torrential downpours
• Mosquito net (there are not many mosquitoes as such, but it also keeps other unwanted guests away effectively)
• Gloves (as mentioned: thorns!)
• Some extra money in your account for optional Sunday excursions in the surrounding area (Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon...), prices are around 100 euros, plus a bit of money for snacks
• A camera! Whatever kind, it is worth it
• Dried mango from the South African supermarket! (Nothing beats tasty snacks on drives)

Stepping out of your comfort zone into adventure

Ultimately, I can only recommend everyone to have this experience at least once in their life! To live a little closer to nature and step out of your comfort zone, and also a bit away from conventional hygiene standards. It can happen that you find a scorpion in the bathroom, and you will certainly see a cockroach at some point.

But you will also hear lions calling at night, loud enough to give you goosebumps; there will be spectacular sunsets, wild animals moving freely just a few metres away, and encounters with people from all over the world, from which friendships can develop.