Kariega Game Reserve - South Africa

Product Details

Kariega Game Reserve is the ultimate "Big 6 Bush and Beach" experience, where you get the opportunity to get hands-on involved in reserve management as well as exploring South Africa's amazing coastline. This reserve is completely unique and can offer its visitors the "best of both worlds"... a Big 5 bush experience as well as stunning beaches on your doorstep. There is no doubt that you will find the Kariega Conservation experience stimulating and challenging, but most important of all, fun.

The Kariega Conservation Project is all about aiding in the conservation management of Kariega Game Reserve, to help ensure the future of our diverse ecosystems for generations to come. By harnessing the knowledge of our qualified conservationists and the enthusiasm of our volunteers, we strive to conserve every aspect of the environment at Kariega. As a result of fragmented habitats, small reserves and conservancies have become a vital element in the conservation of animal and plant populations.

While working as a volunteer on Kariega Game Reserve, you may see yourself as an "Assistant Conservation Manager", as all the work done and data collected by you will be utilized by Kariega for conservation on the reserve. These activities may include:

Conservation Management

Conservation management activities from a large part of the volunteer programme. Some of these activities involve physical work and therefore a certain level of determination from the volunteer's side is required. Keep in mind that the "reserve's needs" at the time are taken into account and as a volunteer you will help to full fill those needs. Management activities that you could get involve in include:

• Game counts
• Alien vegetation control
• Soil erosion control
• Reserve clean-up operations
• Road maintenance
• Habitat rehabilitation
• Building of nesting structures for water birds

Research Projects

Most research projects are done over a long period of time. As your placement will only be a relatively short time in regards to the time frame of most research projects, there is no guarantee that you will be involved in all during your placement. Long term research projects at Kariega Game Reserve include:

• Elephant impact monitoring
• Lion and hyena tracking using telemetry
• Birds in Reserves Project (BIRP)
• White rhino monitoring

Practical education

• Bush walks and game drives
• Coastal systems ecology
• Field skills and survival
• Camping out in the bush

Other activities that student may have the opportunity to experience

• Capturing of wild animals - when required by the reserve. Our recent volunteers had the opportunity to assist with impala, wildebeest and giraffe capture
• Game introduction - when required by the reserve. We recently released hyena back into the area
• Fire management - an important driving force in savanna ecosystems (depending on the time of year and fire regimes)

Accommodation

Whilst on your placement you will be accommodated in a renovated, fully furnished house on the reserve. You will be sharing bedrooms and there are communal bathrooms. There is a lecture room, a lounge with a T.V, dining room and a fully equip kitchen with a fridge, stove, microwave, cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils. Your meals are provided for however the preparation is shared between the volunteers.

The stunning location of Kariega Private Game Reserve also gives you the opportunity to explore some of the surrounding areas. Kenton-On-Sea is a beautiful small coastal town only 15 minutes drive from the reserve. The beaches are absolutely breath taking and pristine. Your local "hang-out" is a pub / restaurant overlooking this stunning beach! After their Saturday morning shopping in Kenton (volunteers can stock up on all everyday essentials), volunteers often laze around on the beach, swim in the waves or sit in the beach bar while sipping away on a cold drink and taking in the scenery.

Grahamstown is a vibrant student town famous for Rhodes University and is 30 minutes drive from the reserve. Port Alfred is also a coastal town, a bit bigger than Kenton, and is also about 30 minutes drive from the reserve. Port Elizabeth is an hour and a half drive.