Wildlife Research Internship And Conservation Volunteer Experience In South Africa

The Wildlife Research and Conservation program gives wildlife enthusiasts, volunteers, students, scientists and interns of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to get involved in the conservation and sustainability of African wildlife and ecosystems. Volunteers, interns, and students are critical in the continuation of our research and conservation efforts.

Volunteers, interns, and students spend five days per week assisting in various capacities of research and wildlife conservation. This can be in the form of field work collecting data, analyzing and entering data into our systems, or in the way of workshops and discussion days with our seasoned team members. We leave evenings and weekends open which allows the chance to explore South Africa and take part in various cultural and tourist activities. Based in the beautiful coastal town of Hartenbos, South Africa our volunteers, interns, and students have a unique experience of working hands on in conservation on a free roaming wildlife reserve while living within walking distance to our pristine blue flag beaches.

Operating with the embodiment of Nkonzo Wildlife Research ideals and goals, the mantra of “Educate Act Empower” is nowhere more evident than in the Wildlife Research and Conservation Program. Students are directly involved in protecting and studying African wildlife and ecosystems and also undergo educational sessions where the focus is in teaching the bigger picture through the better understanding of conservation biology, animal behavior, animal ethics and tourism, human-animal coexistence, and the many other areas of conservation.

Volunteers, interns and students are assisting in critical hands on research and conservation initiatives in the field that impact the wildlife and environment in both short and long term goals and solutions. These two areas, Educate and Act, work together to foster and facilitate the most important aspect of these ideals, to Empower. Through hands-on initiatives and education one leaves Nkonzo Wildlife Research with a better understanding of the problems plaguing African wildlife, the efforts being made to assuage these issues, and how they can continue to work with conservation and make a change for the better of wildlife, ecosystems, and our planet.

When participating in the Wildlife Research and Conservation program volunteers, interns and students are involved in various research and conservation initiatives and projects within the game reserve. Projects and initiatives are based on previously founded ecological and cognitive knowledge to better improve the welfare of current and future wildlife in Southern Africa. All aspects of current reserve needs regarding projects and daily operations are part of the program. Primary work will be dedicated to assistance within wildlife management regarding various long-term projects in the way of conservation research. All volunteers, interns, and students rotate through the various initiatives at Nkonzo Wildlife Research when participating in the Wildlife Research and Conservation Program, this includes our research.

Current work is being done with white rhino social behavior, wildlife and roads which is done in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and vigilance and resource acquisition. As a volunteer, intern, or student you will be working alongside the team to observe, collect data, develop projects, and data entry.
Please keep in mind that time spent on the various projects will be determined by monthly quotas, weather, and animal cooperation. Training in “bush basics” such as survival, track and sign, reading animal behavior, and ethical approach methods will also be provided. The team takes great pride in only ethical operations and approaches and find it important to provide the information and understanding as to why we operate in the field the way we do.

All participants must be of reasonably good health, physically and mentally. Participants will be required to work days and partial days on foot (the other days will be spent primarily in a vehicle/stationary). During on foot days the team hikes to access the areas needed to complete our work. Volunteers, interns and students must be able to hike up and down hills and across this terrain whilst carrying their own backpack that contains their provided lunch, drinking water, personal snacks, additional layers (weather dependent), and their share of the day’s equipment such as nets, camera traps, clipboards, binoculars, reference books etc.

Participants will be met by one of our team members at George Airport (GRJ), South Africa who will transport to their accommodation which is roughly 30 minutes away. Once at the facility participants will be given a tour of the accommodation as well as appropriate introductions and instructions for the remainder of the day. The following day will be our orientation and safety Introduction which will include reserve operations, living in South Africa, recommended areas such as beaches, restaurants, shops and introductions on the research and conservation work they will be assisting on during their time here. The next day will begin with field operations. Arriving and departing flights should be scheduled to and from George Airport (GRJ), South Africa.

The following is a tentative schedule that we follow each week (Monday to Friday).
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Depart for Field Work
9:00 a.m. Begin Data Collection or Training
12:30 p.m. Packed Lunch on the Reserve
1:15 p.m. Continue Data Collection or Training
3:00 p.m. Finish Field Work
Free Time

Participants are required to have at least two face masks that needs to be worn during the field days. Nkonzo Wildlife Research will provide industry standard sanitizer for use during the day. The research vehicle will be sanitized after each day.

We ask that all volunteers, interns and students understand that our work is conducted on a free roaming reserve of 11,000ha (27181 Acres). and that schedules may change based on animal locations, accessibility, weather, and other factors.

All of our volunteers, interns, and students stay together in the pristine town of Hartenbos.

Various activities can be booked for weekends. Nkonzo Wildlife Research also leads multiple weekend trips (2 or 3 nights) to lesser known areas of the Western and Northern Cape that are exclusive to our volunteers.

Please note, these weekend activities are not included and will be available at an additional cost.

Shared accommodation
Basic cold breakfast 7 days per week
Packed Lunch Monday-Friday
Conservation fees
Daily access to game reserve
Project related transported
24/7 emergency standby team
Guided research and management activities
All training material
Daily Housekeeping
Airport Transfer (GRJ)
Unlimited WiFi

Dinners (fully equipped self-catering kitchen available and restaurants within walking distance)
Weekend Lunches (fully equipped self-catering kitchen available and restaurants within walking distance)
Curios and other souvenirs
Drinks
Weekend activities
Flights
Visas
Laundry
Anything not stated