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KARIEGA
GAME
RESERVE
(Port
Elizabeth, South Africa)
The
ultimate "Bush, Beach and Community" experience!
This malaria free
"Big 5" private game reserve, set in the stunning Eastern Cape (approx 600 kms from Cape Town),
is one of South Africa's most scenic coastal wildlife areas. Kariega is an extraordinary and
exciting conservation project at the forefront of numerous species
re-introductions and conservation drives. The 21,000 acre reserve, bordered by the
picturesque Kariega and Bushman’s rivers, contains a variety of habitat
types and the unique landscape sustains a wide range of African game
including lion, elephant, rhino, hyena, giraffe and zebra.
While getting
involved in every aspect of hands-on conservation management on the
reserve, you will grow your skills in conservation and have the experience
of a lifetime. Our volunteers also get the opportunity to explore
South Africa's amazing coastline as Kariega is a mere 16 km from the sea... the beautiful
Indian Ocean is literally on your doorstep! This
coastline has particularly rich marine fauna and flora as well as endless sand dunes and beautiful beaches.
To top it all off, we have a brilliant community outreach programme.
Our volunteers assist at a local rural farm school by teaching children
basic subjects like English. Come and make a real difference and have fun
doing so!
Volunteer Work
The
Kariega programme is designed to offer volunteers the opportunity to be
involved in all conservation related projects on the reserve. During
your stay, you may see yourselves as "assistant conservation
managers" as all of the work done by you will improve the quality of
the reserve and the data collected by you will be utilized by Kariega
management in making important conservation decisions for the
reserve. A dedicated coordinator will endeavour to ensure that you
have a wonderful learning experience and leave with a stronger
understanding of conservation issues feeling like you made an important
contribution. Please note that our activities are based on a minimum stay
of 4 weeks. Although many of the activities listed below may take place in
2-3 week placements, not all are guaranteed. So the longer your stay, the
more in depth your experience.
Volunteers will be provided with stimulating practical experience in the
following four areas: research, conservation management, education and
community development.
Research
Projects
Most
research projects are done over a long period of time. As your
placement will only be for a relatively short time with regard to the time
frame of most research projects, there is no guarantee that you will be
involved in all projects during your placement. Long term research
projects at Kariega include:
• Elephant Impact Monitoring -
Volunteers will help monitor elephant movement patterns, range utilization
and vegetation impact with the aid of telemetry (certain individuals are
fitted with radio collars). Volunteers are involved in recording the
unique ear markings of each elephant for management purposes. Elephant
identification sheets are also given to each volunteer, which ultimately
provide important assistance to
the conservation department on the reserve.
• Lion Prey Selection Monitoring -
One of the
volunteer programme's responsibilities is to record as many lion kills as
possible. This data provides the conservation department at Kariega
with valuable information regarding prey selection. Certain lions on
the reserve are fitted with radio collars so volunteers will learn how to
use telemetry tracking.
• Birds
in Reserve Project (BIRP) -
This
project involves preparing a catalogue of the birds, bird numbers and
their breeding status in the reserve as part of a project headed by the
University of Cape Town’s Avian Demography Unit.
• Hyena Tracking and Monitoring -
Movement
patterns and breeding rates of these interesting predators are monitored.
None of the hyenas are fitted with radio collars so it can be quite a
challenge finding them on the reserve. Our recent volunteers found a
den site... one of our females gave birth!
Conservation
Management
Conservation
management activities form a large part of the volunteer programme.
Some of these activities involve physical work and therefore a certain
level of determination from the volunteers is required. Keep in mind
that the "reserve needs" are always taken into account and you will help
to fulfill those needs as a volunteer. Daily activities are
interesting and varied, and could include assistance with some of the following:
• Game Counts
• Sex & Age Ratio Recordings - Specific species like eland and giraffe.
• Alien
Vegetation Control -
Volunteers
will assist in the eradication and control of alien (non-endemic) plant species.
Bush encroachment control through selective clearing is also done in
certain areas on the reserve. This aspect involves physical hard work!
• Soil
Erosion Control -
Previous
land utilization practices like cattle ranching has caused erosion gulleys
in certain areas on the reserve. These sites need to be rehabilitated.
• Reserve
Clean-Up Operations - Volunteers assist in pulling out remaining old
cattle fences and water pipes on the reserve.
•
Road Maintenance &
Reparation of River Crossings
• Parasite Control - This involves
making up and administering anti-parasite medications to specific
species (when required by the reserve).
Volunteers
may also have the opportunity to experience the following additional
conservation activities (and any other conservation management activity
that might "pop up" at the time and require your assistance):
• Capturing
of Wild Animals - Our 2007 volunteers had the AMAZING,
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assist
with the capture of the following species on the reserve: elephant,
lion, rhino, hyena, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and impala! Please
remember that captures only occur when required by the reserve and not for
the sake of the volunteers.
• Game
Introduction - There is an ongoing programme for the introduction of
additional game, especially as the reserve has just acquired more land
that will need to be stocked with various African mammal species.
• Fire
Management - An important driving force in savanna ecosystems
(depending on the time of year and fire regimes).
Community Development
We have identified an
under-funded farm school near the reserve where our volunteer programme
can make a real difference.
The school is small, yet very under-staffed and local kids aged 4 to 15
years attend the school. Kariega volunteers visit the school one day
a week (not during school holidays or rainy days as most of the children
walk about 10 km to attend school and no one goes to school when it
rains!), and make valuable contributions to the children’s education.
Our volunteers take many of the classes themselves and teach 12-15 year
olds subjects like English and Math. You might also help with the
maintenance of the school’s facilities or by giving sport lessons to the
kids. Your contribution here is real, and both the children and the
headmistress are very appreciative.
Education
/ Theory
Each volunteer will be
given a field booklet, which can be taken home at the end of the
placement. The booklet has been carefully compiled and will aid you
during your stay at Kariega. Before you start with each practical
task, the relative theoretical background on the subject will be discussed
in informal lectures. The theory provides insight into the value of the
practical activities in which you may participate. Mammal, plant and bird
checklists are also included in the booklet and will help you identify
different species at Kariega.
Practical
education will be provided throughout your stay:
• Bush
Walks, Game Drives & Night Drives - Identification and discussion of various
mammals, plants and birds
• Sleep
Outs - Camping out in the bush around a campfire under the African sky
(weather dependent)
• Field
Skills & Survival - Learn to look after yourself in the wild
Excursions
• Canoeing on the stunning Kariega
River
• Trips to the beach. You
don't get much more pristine than the beaches around Kenton-On-Sea. Our
local "hang-out spot" in Kenton is a restaurant overlooking the beach that
serves the best pizzas and ice cold beers!
•
Saturday town trips to nearby towns like
Kenton-on-Sea, Port Alfred and Grahamstown (shopping, internet, medical
doctors, restaurants, etc available in these towns).
Volunteers
can also organize additional local activities at your own cost (and on
condition that a few others in the group also want to partake in the
activity), including:
• Horseback riding on the beach
• Whale and dolphin watching
• River rafting (including
overnight stay on river bank)
• Sky diving (static line or tandem)
• Deep sea fishing
Field Conditions
You will be accommodated
in a fully furnished house on the reserve. Volunteers will be divided into
teams and will be responsible for the preparation of meals on a rotational
basis. There will be plenty of opportunity for braai’s (BBQ’s)
under the night skies and socializing around a fire.
The working week at
Kariega is from Monday to Friday. Working hours depend on the season and may
vary from 7 – 9 hours per day. Saturdays are reserved for a town trip
(either to Kenton-On-Sea, Port Alfred or Grahamstown) where volunteers can
do their shopping, eat out and visit all the sites of the local towns.
Sundays are off time – for both the volunteer coordinator and volunteers -
and volunteers are to entertain themselves.
Costs
Volunteer
Contribution:
2 weeks: GB£695 / US$1395
3 weeks: GB£845 / US$1695
4 weeks: GB£995 / US$1995
*Joint
Discount*
Volunteers receive a
US$100 / GB£50 discount when joining multiple Enkosini Eco Experience programmes.
The volunteer contribution
covers accommodation, meals, abovementioned excursions and donation
to the project. Flights and travel/medical insurance are
NOT included. The
only additional spending money required will be for personal purchases
(curios, alcohol, soda, luxury/imported goods, chocolates, sweets,
toiletries), social excursions away from Kariega, and pre/post project
travel.
Please bear in mind that the sooner you
apply, the better your chances of securing your placement!
Dates
There are no set arrival/departure dates
for this project, but please note no arrivals or departures over weekends
(Saturdays and Sundays). Volunteers just need to inform Enkosini Eco
Experience of the date they are planning to arrive. Volunteers are
required to sign an indemnity form acknowledging and accepting the
consequences of working in close contact with wild animals.
Transport
The closest towns to Kariega are
Kenton-on-Sea, Port Alfred, Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth - approximately
600-700 kms
from Cape Town.
Flights
and buses are available from
Johannesburg/Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Arrangements will be made
for JC Shuttle Services to collect incoming volunteers
from either the Port Elizabeth airport or bus station (R550 South African rands
or approx GB£35 each way paid directly to
shuttle driver). Kariega is 140 kms
(two hours) from Port Elizabeth.
Flights
and buses can be booked online at www.kulula.com
and www.computicket.com,
respectively.
Other
Kariega 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 programme
(if you are planning onward travels into malarial zones). See FAQs for complete packing list.
Testimonials
"I
joined Kariega Game Reserve’s volunteer programme for a month during 2007. I
left the UK and headed to South Africa not knowing what the road ahead had
in store. However, I can honestly say that it was the experience of a
lifetime.
My reason for joining
Kariega’s volunteer programme was to collect data and information for my
third year university project. I was able to prepare prior to my stay due to
the excellent response from Enkosini Eco Experience, in finding out what
research projects I would be involved in. On my arrival, the Kariega team
provided me with a wealth of information, time and support in helping me
complete my tasks. The team here is so talented and working in the field
with such people was awe inspiring!
I was really shocked at
how much I was involved in during my short stay. I remember thinking
back in the UK – “come on, as if I’ll get to do that”. The next thing you
know I’m in the back of a truck with a sedated zebra! I was actually
involved in all the research and conservation projects the web site
advertised – no joke. However, they always made time for my individual needs
– sorry for all the questions guys! The team have great personalities too
and play just as hard as they work! They allowed me to explore local towns,
visit the beach, party (oh!) and skydive from a plane at 10 000 feet. Yes
people, I have video evidence – what a day that was!
This has been so much more
than a uni trip for me. The memories I brought back to the UK, I will keep
with me for the rest of my life." -Adam Howson, England
"Staying on Kariega Game Reserve was the most amazing and definitely the
best thing I’ve ever done. Being part of the whole experience, living on the
middle of a game reserve, enables you to learn so much and truly understand
what conservation is all about. The work is a mix of physical labour, for
example, the removal of old fence lines, which is hard work but very
satisfying when finished. Driving around the reserve and being able to see
lions, elephants and all the game so close up is unbelievable – definitely
an experience to remember! Being able to sit so close to the lions and take
photos as they posed for us – stunning! And then there are the beaches,
awesome even in winter. The Kariega experience I would recommend to anyone
and everyone." -Rebecca Underdown, England
"The Kariega experience was one which I will never forget. During the
mornings while I was there the group of about 10 of us staying on the game
reserve would do work such as fence removal, trail rebuilding, clean up farm
sites, game counts, and alien plant removal. This type of work was physical
but definitely rewarding because you could see how it was going to directly
help the animals on the game farm and conservation of the habitat for the
future. In the afternoons we got the opportunity to do some fun activities
and see the game reserve a bit more. We went canoeing, on hikes, to the
beach, and tracked down the lions or elephants. I'll never forget the
feeling of first seeing the group of elephants and just how close we were,
especially when they all started to get anxious and we had about 6 of them
come at us...inches away from the truck. It was amazing just as it was when
we would all of a sudden come upon the gorgeous lions. I loved being able to
be a part of the game reserve, both living and working on it. This is
definitely a great experience and one which I recommend to anyone." -
Jennifer Banning
"I just wanted to say thank
you for allowing me to go to Kariega Game Reserve. I had such an
amazing time and it was an experience I will always remember! Helana and
Dirk were fantastic and made my stay both interesting and fun; and supplied
us with everything we could possibly have needed. I feel I have learnt a lot
and every task I took part in was rewarding. I hope every other volunteer
enjoys themselves as much as I have! Thanks again!
-Katrina Dixon, England
"It’s definitely true what the Kariega
Volunteer Programme slogan says: 'An equal mix of work and play' defines my
experience here down to a pinpoint. If you choose this placement for an
easy ride or think that it is solely a better chance to see the Big 5 up
close … you’ve come to the wrong place. That’s not to say you won’t
experience things with wildlife that others only dream of. For example
having a bull elephant come up to the fence of your house, patrol around the
perimeter and stand majestically, watching a magnificent sunset, allowing
for literally perfect photos. Of course there’s hard work to do as well,
such as the removal of invasive plant species or old fences which now act as
physical barriers to wildlife, or even expanding the waterhole outside our
house with clay and water … BUT you’ll be surprised at the sense of
satisfaction and personal gain you will feel. You will also feel like you
are really making a difference when you see the fruits of your work. My
personal favourites were seeing a family of 6 giraffes who have become
residents outside the house due to our work on the waterhole, and seeing
whole plains of alien plants dying as a result of our spraying chemicals and
thus restoring some of the natural balance in the ecosystem.
We also got ample time to explore the
surrounding area like the local towns (especially the beautiful
Kenton-On-Sea) and had the opportunity to do a number of additional
activities, like horse riding on a stunning beach and skydiving over the
Eastern Cape bush. There really is so much to do in the area. I will love
the Sunshine Coast forever!
My personal experience of the programme has
been fantastic and even after a 8 week stay, I was still seeing and doing
new things every day. My recommendation to future volunteers … The longer
your stay, the better your experience will be as you will get the chance to
do so much more – things you may never get the chance to do again!
Definitely make the most of your stay by putting your all into everything
and I promise that you will leave Kariega at the end of your visit with
awesome memories, new and exciting skills, and some great friends. I say
all this without any doubt whatsoever. To all future volunteers at Kariega:
Have a fabulous time!" - Adam Tiran, UK
"Last Saturday we returned from a wonderful
vacation and experience at the beautiful Kariega Game Reserve. We enjoyed it
very very much and we thank you that you recommended it to us.
Everything was well arranged and prepared. They have a varied volunteer
program where you experience a lot! We learned new things about animals and
plants and experienced the real life of the Xhosa people who live there. It
was great fun!! We are already saving money for a next year's South
African vacation so we will keep in touch because we are very pleased with
your organisation." -Rene Verhaar & Magda Rozenboom, Netherlands
"As
conservationists we live in a world with numerous challenges and daunting
odds. However, we all share responsibility for the wise use of our
resources and for the conservation of the diversity of ecosystems and
species. It is this extraordinary diversity that makes Africa such a
vibrant place to live in and to visit. You cannot love what you do not
know. Come share our passion for conservation here at Kariega Game Reserve
and experience the depth and scope of the challenge facing environmental
conservation in Southern Africa." -Helena
Warren, Kariega Volunteer Programme Manager
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