MOHOLOHOLO
WILDLIFE
REHABILITATION CENTRE
(Hoedspruit,
South Africa)
Nestled in a picturesque setting at the
base of the Drakensberg escarpment in the Limpopo Province lowveld of
South Africa, the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre plays a
crucial role in conserving many endangered species of Africa. Moholoholo
has become a haven for the rehabilitation and care of abandoned, injured
and poisoned wildlife as well as facilitating the monitoring and breeding
of endangered species.
Wildlife is brought into the Centre from
all corners of South Africa, and once healthy enough are reintroduced into
their natural environments. The animals who cannot be returned to
the wild due to the nature of their injuries are cared for at the Centre
and used as "ambassadors" to educate schools and visitors from all over
the world. Moholoholo was recently featured on National Geographic
in a six-part documentary call "Wild Orphans".
The
conservation efforts of Moholoholo make a huge difference to many species,
including raptors. Moholoholo strives to conserve what man is fast
destroying through the rehabilitation of African wildlife and currently runs
hugely successful breeding programmes for a variety of threatened species.
Moholoholo is the only facility in Southern Africa to have successfully bred
this endangered Crowned Eagle and has plans to breed the Taita Falcon (the
rarest of Falcon species) in the future. Additionally, the Centre has
bred and released over 150 rare Serval cats into areas where they have
previously become extinct. Reports have been received that some of the
females have since mated with wild males in the area where they have been
released.
The Centre is a non-profit organization
that relies completely on public donations and volunteer support to
continue their important work.
Volunteer Work
Because of the reactionary nature of the
Centre, the programme is both changeable and unpredictable. Volunteers
can expect to assist and participate in some of the following activities:
•Hand rearing of orphaned animals, such as
cheetah cubs and warthogs
•Care and feeding of the permanent residents
who cannot be released back into the wild due to the nature of their
injuries
•Treatment and care of sick and injured
animals who can thereafter be released back into the wild
•Attending call-outs to capture animals for
relocation or transfer to the Centre for treatment (darting or humane
trapping)
•Wildlife veterinary work, much of which is
carried out by the staff at the Centre
•Game capture, relocation and release when
appropriate
Of course the work will not always be
interesting and glamorous. Volunteers will be required to clean
enclosures, scrub bedding mats and cut grass for bedding. This type of
work is vital to the running of the Centre and should be untaken with
enthusiasm.
Other
Activities
Moholoholo is remote and there is no
public transport to town. However, volunteers will have an opportunity to
visit town approximately once a week in coordination with trips to collect food
and pick up/drop off volunteers.
The nearest town, Hoedspruit, is small but has all the usual amenities,
including medical doctors, supermarkets, restaurants and Internet cafés.
Moholoholo is also situated close to the
world famous Kruger National Park (60 kilometres from the Orpen Gate) so
you may have the opportunity to see animals in the wild. While we
can not guarantee a visit to Moholoholo's private safari camp in Kruger
(dependent on the amount of work at the Centre), volunteers can always
arrange their own excursions to Kruger.
Field
Conditions
Accommodation comprises a lovely brick and
reed building with separate male and female rooms and bathrooms (hot water
for showers) with 2-4 volunteers per room. We will do our best to
accommodate married couples in private rooms upon request. Linens are
provided, but please supply your own bathing towel. There is a communal
lounge and separate kitchen.
Three delicious meals are provided daily at
our Forest Camp Lodge, which means walking 10 minutes through the bush to
get there for breakfast and lunch (some people choose to just grab a quick
breakfast at the volunteer kitchen). For supper, we are lucky enough
to get a bush ride by vehicle to and from the lodge, which gives us a chance
to see nocturnal animals in the evening.
Time off is limited at Moholoholo although
you will tend to find that evenings and Sunday afternoons can be spent at
your own leisure. There are a number of attractions in around the area that
can be easily accessed during your time.
Training
/ Qualifications
Training will be
given in all aspects of the African bushveld, including wildlife
conservation, rehabilitation and research.
Costs
Volunteer
Contribution:
1 week: GB£595 / US$995
2 weeks: GB£845 / US$1395
3 weeks: GB£1145 / US$1895
4 weeks: GB£1445 / US$2395
8 weeks: GB£2895 / US$4695
Important Note:
Due to fluctuations in the major
currencies, Enkosini will be using the USD rates as our standard until
further notice. The GBP rates above are indications of approximate
recent values.
Please visit
www.xe.com to convert from USD to your
currency.
Volunteers receive a
US$100 / GB£50 discount when joining multiple Enkosini Eco Experience programmes
(one discount only).
The volunteer contribution
covers meals, accommodation, laundry, activities, transfers from Hoedpsruit
to the reserve and project donation. 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 Moholoholo, 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 dates for this project. Volunteers can stay between
1-12 weeks and 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 town to Moholoholo is HOEDSPRUIT - nearly 500kms
from Johannesburg. Hoedspruit is approximately 30kms, or a half hour
away from Moholoholo.
Flights and buses are available from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit.
Arrangements will be made to collect incoming volunteers
from either the Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport or Hoedspruit Bus Station.
By Plane – Jo'burg to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport
Flights leave from the
domestic terminal at Johannesburg International Airport. The flight is ±
1hour, 15 minutes. These flights are conducted by SA Express (www.flysaa.co.za).
By Bus - Jo'burg to Hoedspruit
Buses
leave from the Johannesburg Park Station or Pretoria Bus Station. To
get to these stations, you will need to organize transport with your
hotel/backpackers or catch a taxi.
City-to-City buses depart every other day from Jo'Burg at 07h00 and Pretoria at 08h15, arriving into Hoedspruit at 15h20.
For bus reservations, contact Veena at
veena@apx.co.za - email her with your name, dates
of travel and where you will be traveling to/from. Volunteers need
to arrive at the bus station at least 30 minutes before departure to pay
for your bus ticket or the ticket will be forfeited. Try to book
your bus ticket at least a month in advance as they definitely fill up!
Other
The
Hoedspruit area borders a malarial zone and it is incumbent upon each
person to take medical opinion on vaccinations and whether or not to follow a
malaria prophylactic program. There are no formal vaccinations
requirements for entering South Africa.
Moholoholo does have electricity, running
water (drinkable), and telephone service that needs a “World Call Card” to
operate. Please note that internet can only be accessed in Hoedspruit on
weekly town trips. Laundry service is provided, except for your
“delicates.”
Volunteers will be provided with two
tee-shirts upon arrival which should be worn every day as a work uniform
along with long trousers (preferably khaki). You can change into your own
gear after hours, but even after hours your wardrobe should be relatively
conservative. Moholoholo does not allow any alcohol on
the premises.
See
FAQs for complete packing list.
Testimonials
