Volunteer Abroad South Africa: Kalahari Wildlife Conser­va­tion

The price includes the airport transfer, both on arrival and on return. We will assist you with all preparations if you would like us to. Accommodation, food, and drinking water will be provided on-site. You will receive training and be supervised by English-speaking staff with many years of experience. Flights, visa costs, travel insurance, snacks, soft drinks, and alcohol are not included in the price.

Before travelling to South Africa, it is advisable to seek advice from your doctor about possible dangers, vaccinations, and protective measures. Although malaria is endemic in South Africa, the reserve region is malaria-free. You must decide for yourself what protective measures you want to take and talk to your doctor about possible medication or prophylaxis. Remember to pack mosquito repellent, long clothing, and a mosquito net to minimise contact with mosquitoes. You should also not forget a first-aid kit with medication for diarrhea, pain, and travel sickness. Travel health insurance is also a prerequisite for taking part in the project. You should also be at least 18 years old.

Yes, travel health insurance is necessary. We can help you find the right solution for you.

Bring comfortable clothing in muted colours/earth tones and sturdy shoes with thick soles to protect you from thorns. A small backpack for the activities is also recommended. Remember to pack a hat and some warmer clothes for the cooler nights. Toiletry bags, sun cream, and mosquito spray should also be on your packing list. In addition, a headlamp, binoculars, and a camera can enrich your journey. Don't forget to bring your ID documents and copies. For your electronics, we recommend a power bank and checking whether you need an adapter for charging. You will receive a detailed packing list from us before your departure.

You must take part in the project for at least two weeks.

All ages are welcome to participate in the volunteering project but you should also be at least 18 years old. However, we usually recommend that children only participate if the camp is reserved exclusively for a group. Although there is no specific age restriction, we like to point out that working with wildlife may require a certain level of physical activity.

It would be best if you organise your flight to Johannesburg yourself, but we will be happy to help you with the planning. From there, we will organise a transfer to take you and any other guests to the camp.

There will be a (safety) briefing where the most important things will be explained. There will also be a tour to familiarise you with the surroundings and the camp.

You are a maximum of eight people, divided into four two-person tents.

During your stay in the project, you will enjoy comfort and cosiness in twin tents. Each tent offers either two single beds or a double bed for couples and has a bathroom with a toilet and a shower. A fan ensures pleasant air circulation, and our cleaning service is available as required. In addition, the tents have access to a terrace with outdoor seating where you can enjoy the outdoors. Our accommodation also offers Wi-Fi so you can stay connected. Coffee and tea are also provided.

It is generally possible to be accommodated together with a traveling partner. Please let us know as early as possible so that our partner and we have enough time to arrange this.

Our catering option provides you with three delicious meals a day during your stay, as well as snacks for on the road during the trips (alcoholic drinks and soft drinks are excluded).

Yes, this is possible. Please let us know your dietary preferences such as vegetarian/vegan or intolerances such as gluten-free etc. in good time so that we can take this into account (for an additional fee).

Communication in this project is in English.

With a bit of luck, volunteers will have the opportunity to observe cheetahs, black and white rhinos, brown hyenas, giraffes, elephants, lappet-faced vultures, pangolins, and African wild dogs. Nocturnal species such as aardvarks, aardwolves, bat-eared foxes and Cape foxes, brown and spotted hyenas, caracals, genet cats, honey badgers, leopards, and porcupines can also be spotted. The Kalahari Desert offers the opportunity to experience elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos - the famous Big Five - in their natural habitat.

Volunteers can take part in daily activities every day. Of course, everyone is free to take a break at any time and skip an activity to rest. We recommend that participants take a rest day at least every 10 days to relax, sleep, or enjoy the pool and reflect on the impressions they have gathered.

There is a contact person on site. You can contact the Natucate team at any time if you have any questions or problems.

The South African currency is the Rand. It is helpful to have a small amount of South African Rand (e.g. 500 ZAR) with you. You can change or withdraw money at ATMs or banks at the international airport. The camp has a small shop where you can buy essentials and a few perishable goods. Please note that only cash is accepted in the shops.

You have the option of using the WLAN in the camp. There is also network reception in some places in the camp. You can get a South African SIM card for your mobile phone when you arrive at the airport; we recommend MTN for the best network in the camp. Please understand that the reserve is very remote and internet coverage is not always guaranteed.

The Kalahari Desert has some of the greatest temperature fluctuations in the world. In summer it is usually hot during the day (~40°C), while in winter temperatures can drop below freezing in the evenings. Activities are organised according to the weather, so people often relax in the shade at lunchtime if it's too hot. Bring suitable clothing for the hot days and cold nights.

There is nothing wrong with participants enjoying a sundowner or a few drinks with/after dinner. However, we advise volunteers to consume alcohol in moderation. Drugs are strictly forbidden.

Smoking is prohibited in all buildings and vehicles. Cigarette butts must be properly extinguished and disposed of in the ashtrays provided or in your bag while participating in a bush activity.

Good preparation minimises the risk of accidents. During the induction session, volunteers will receive an explanation of emergency procedures. The radio and telephone lines are provided with clear instructions, and there are first aid kits and fire extinguishers at several locations in the area. Qualified first aiders are also available on-site.

In the event of an emergency, it is important to alert a member of staff immediately. For example, if you are bitten or stung by an animal, you should immediately inform the staff, who will call for help and take appropriate action. Before traveling, please check whether your travel insurance is also valid for working with wild animals.