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To apply for an

Enkosini Eco Experience

volunteer project:

ENKOSINI RANGER PROGRAM

(6-12+ Month Game Ranger Experience)

Steeped in history and beauty, the Enkosini Wildlife Reserve is a spectacular 15,000 acre preserve located on a magnificent escarpment of rolling mountains and plains in South Africa. Enkosini, derived from the Zulu word meaning "place of kings", was formed in 2001 to protect and preserve Africa's wildlife and habitat (the land was previously used for cattle and agricultural farming).  Enkosini was established as a conservancy, by purchasing and joining together large South African farms with the aim of restoring the environment back to its natural state and establishing a larger reserve for the benefit of African wildlife. 

A start-up reserve, Enkosini has amazing bird, reptile and small mammal life, however much of the big African game in the area has been shot and poached over the last 50 years.  Species that have been amazingly resilient and still exist at Enkosini include leopard, brown hyena, side striped jackal, black backed jackal, African wildcat, caracal, serval, civet, small spotted genet, large spotted genet, mongoose, aardvark, aardwolf, porcupine, pangolin, honey badger, baboon, vervet monkey, lesser bushbaby, greater bushbaby, zebra, impala, kudu, waterbuck, red hartebeest, mountain reedbuck, steenbok, bushbuck, duiker, klipspringer, baboon, vervet monkey, ostrich, bushpig, warthog, otter, crocodile and an amazing variety of birdlife (approximately 250 species), reptiles and smaller creatures.  Over the upcoming years, Enkosini plans to re-introduce all of the indigenous wildlife onto the land they once naturally roamed (rhino, buffalo, giraffe, cheetah, lion, etc), ultimately re-establishing the original fauna to the area.

Enkosini will also continue to acquire habitat for the long-term survival of the wildlife and the preservation of their eco-systems.

Ranger Work

The Enkosini Wildlife Reserve is currently accepting rangers for a minimum timeframe of 6 months (although a year or longer is preferred). An Enkosini ranger experience is an absolute must for anyone who is enthusiastic about wildlife and the environment. Rangers participating in the program all have a common ambition – to see, feel, and smell the African bush while developing a practical knowledge of life in the wild. You will leave with a greater knowledge and understanding of Africa, and a feeling that you made a positive contribution to conservation.  Or perhaps you will stay and continue to work for and support Enkosini.

The upcoming years are going to be a fantastic time at Enkosini. Enkosini completed its perimeter fencing in mid 2009 and immediately started wildlife reintroductions.  In the past few months, we have reintroduced zebra, ostrich, impala and waterbuck with giraffe arriving soon.  Wildlife reintroductions have been scheduled in 3 phases: 1) plains game including zebra, wildebeest, impala, and blesbok; 2) larger herbivores including rhino, buffalo and giraffe; and 3) predators including cheetah, spotted hyena, wild dog and lion.  Rangers will be actively involved in the preparations for these reintroductions.

Rangers will experience firsthand the early stages of a game reserve.  Responsibilities will include game reserve management (fencing, construction, bush encroachment, alien plant control, fire breaks, etc), security and anti-poaching on the property (i.e. snare patrols, poaching/trespasser patrols, checking fencing lines for breaks, camping at different locations to prevent movement of people and vehicles, etc) and local staff management.  The ranger position is a great way to gain experience, knowledge and references for working in the field of conservation.

Ranger Conditions

Enkosini will supply rangers with food, accommodation, staff teeshirts, radio with charger and spare battery, South African SIM card for cell phone and a 3-day, 2-night camping safari to Kruger National Park (including transport/guide, but excluding all personal expenses).  However, rangers must supply their own quad bike for mobility on the property. 

The new quadbike costs are currently R45,999 South African rands for a Honda 250cc and R63,999 South African rands for a Honda 420cc (see www.xe.com for current exchange rates).  If financially possible, we recommend that rangers purchase the 420cc quadbike.  The 420cc is stronger and 4x4, whereas the 250cc is only 4x2.  A 4x4 quad is necessary for accessing certain areas of the Enkosini property.  We are no longer allowing rangers to purchase second hand quadbikes.

Please review our standard ranger contract, expense overview and enrollment form (see links below).  If you are interested in a ranger placement, please email info@enkosini.com with a completed ranger enrollment form, recent photo and personal reference.  Additionally, interested South Africans should contact us regarding resident rates and conditions for volunteer work and employment at Enkosini.

www.enkosiniecoexperience.com/RangerExpenseOverview.htm www.enkosiniecoexperience.com/RangerEnrollmentForm.htm www.enkosiniecoexperience.com/RangerContract.htm

Ranger Expectations

The ranger work is fantastic and it's great to have the independence of a quad bike for mobility on the reserve, but it is important to note that the ranger program is quite serious in terms of expectations and the nature of the work.

Anti-poaching efforts can be dangerous and involve direct confrontations with trespassers/poachers.  The poaching at Enkosini generally falls into two categories: 1) snaring of wildlife; and 2) cutting of plants/trees for witch doctors, drugs, etc.  Although this poaching may seem mild and small-scale compared to media portrayals, it can still have disastrous effects on the flora and fauna at Enkosini.  We need quick thinking rangers who remain calm and clear-headed under pressure.  We need rangers with strong, dominant personalities who are comfortable in confrontational situations.  A strong level of physical fitness is also important as poachers will run from the rangers. 

Furthermore, we consider the rangers as staff and depend on them very heavily in terms of reserve management work at Enkosini.  If you are looking for a social/party/holiday program, then the ranger program is not right for you. Rangers will work with management, operational staff and local workers every day, but the program can be relatively solitary in the evenings. The evening time is normally spent reading books, listening to music, watching movies on laptops or just relaxing to the sounds of the bush. The ranger program is completely separate from our short-term volunteer program - the two programs have totally different camps and different purposes. Rangers will only have the opportunity to spend time with the short-term volunteers during town trips or the weekly braai hosted by the staff/rangers.

The ranger program will suit people who enjoy natural places, a simple bush lifestyle and hard, practical work.  Good rangers are invaluable to us and we often have more permanent opportunities for the right people.

Visa Requirements

Rangers will need to apply for a long-term visa in order to stay in South Africa for longer than 90 days. A long-term visa can take some time to process, so the visa application should be made immediately upon acceptance into the program.  Enkosini can write you a “letter of invitation” to assist with this process. It is easiest to apply for a long-term "visitor" visa as the Embassy generally requires less information than for a work or volunteer visa.

If you are looking to join the program immediately and therefore don’t have time to apply for a long-term visa in advance, we recommend that you enter South Africa on a regular 90 day tourist visa (most nationalities receive this automatically upon arrival into Johannesburg) and then apply for an extension through the Home Affairs office in Nelspruit.  Alternatively you can exit the country before your visa expires (Mozambique and Namibia are closest options) and you will get a new visa stamp upon re-entry into South Africa.

Field Conditions

Rangers will either stay at Suikerbos Camp (rock rondavels), Buffelskloof Camp (wooden cabins) or other wooden cabins along our boundary depending on the needs of the sanctuary.  The camps are completely eco-friendly and we strive to maintain harmony with nature by using solar power and fire-driven water heaters.  There is no permanent electricity although limited solar power will be provided for charging cell phones, camera batteries, laptops, etc. 

Accommodation is very simple and rustic - dorm style rooms with outdoor bathroom/shower at Buffelskloof and indoor bathrooms/showers at Suikerbos.  Pillows and fitted sheets will be provided, however rangers must bring their own sleeping bag. 

Dates

The Enkosini program starts every Monday.  We will arrange for rangers to take the Bushveld Link Shuttle on the Sunday before your start date, departing directly from the Johannesburg International Airport at 2:00pm and arriving into Lydenburg at 6:00pm (cost of R200 South African rands). Rangers must arrive into Johannesburg on Sunday by no later than 12:00pm as it can take some time to go through customs and collect your luggage.  

We will also arrange for you to stay at The Manor Guesthouse (www.lydenburgmanorhouse.co.za) in Lydenburg on Sunday night (cost of R260pp sharing or R360pp single, including dinner, bed and full English breakfast). The shuttle will drop you off directly at the guesthouse and then the Enkosini staff will pick you up from the guesthouse on your start date.

On your departure date, we will arrange for you to take a Translux/City-to-City bus (very modern and convenient) departing Lydenburg at 10:25am and arriving Pretoria at 3:15pm or Johannesburg at 4:30pm.  Outbound flights should not be booked before 7:00pm.

Off-schedule transfers will only be arranged when absolutely necessary and will cost R495 South African rands.

Training / Qualifications

From all ages, from all walks of life, and from all over the world, Enkosini rangers have the experience of a lifetime while making a lasting impact on the environment. No previous experience is required, however we do give preference to people with security experience (military, police, forestry, etc).  All rangers should have a strong level of fitness, a love of nature, a positive attitude, a strong dominant personality, a sensitivity and respect for other cultures, a willingness to help and learn, and a strong sense of humor. The sanctuary is run in a spirit of co-operation between everyone present, and all are expected to give their best at all times.  Rangers should expect to be dirty and exhausted at the end of each day! There is no typical day at Enkosini - each brings its own magical moments, trials and tribulations - all adding to the adventure and spirit of living and working in Africa. Training is continuous and will provide a basic and holistic understanding of the bushveld and the running of a wildlife reserve.

Other

Enkosini is based in a malaria-free area and there are no formal vaccination requirements for entering South Africa, however it is incumbent upon each person to get their own medical advice on vaccinations and on whether or not to follow a malaria prophylactic program (it is possible that rangers may enter malarial zones during the safari to Kruger National Park).