Askari Wilderness Conservation Programme

  South Africa

Hoedspruit

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Departure date every month

Description: Join us for an amazing work adventure that will take you straight into the heart of Africa. Set in 22 500 hectares of untamed beauty, Askari is based on the Pidwa Wilderness Reserve. The work that takes place on the reserve is diverse and each day brings about new challenges and developments. This creates the ideal situation for you, as a working volunteer, to assist the warden with the management of the reserve. You will have the opportunity to actively participate in the maintenance, management, research and monitoring activities that take place on a daily basis.

Askari is run in conjunction with the Pidwa Wilderness Reserve and the staff and volunteers of Askari are seen as an extension of the team responsible for running the reserve. During your time with us you will experience life on a game reserve and will be actively involved in all aspects thereof.

Not only will you learn an incredible amount about conservation, monitoring, research and reserve management but you will also be able to obtain an internationally recognised first aid certificate, will receive a certificate from Askari for all modules passed and have a great deal of fun and excitement along the way.

Above all else, you will be making an active contribution to South African conservation. Our long term goal is to create a benchmark reserve which is run according to strong wilderness and conservation ethics and principles. You can contribute to making this goal a reality. In the words of Edward Abbey, "Wilderness needs no defence, only defenders". Come join us in defending our endangered spaces, our heritage...

Highlights: Askari is run in conjunction with the Pidwa Wilderness Reserve and the staff and volunteers of Askari are seen as an extension of the team responsible for running the reserve. During your time with us you will experience life on a game reserve and will be actively involved in all aspects thereof.

Your first week will be an orientation week during which you will participate in a number of lectures and practicals, which will provide you with the tools you will need to actively contribute to the reserve. During this time you will learn the principles and goals of the reserve and be provided with a general knowledge of conservation in South Africa as well as its importance. You will also learn important bush skills such as first aid, 4x4 driving, fence maintenance etc. You will be introduced to research and monitoring programs and learn the correct methods of recording and capturing data. You will be taught how to correctly handle and care for all the equipment that will be used during your time on the reserve. During orientation week you will also be introduced to the main plant and animal species that you will be expected to be able to identify by the end of this week. You will be introduced to wilderness ethics and principles and will be taught the basic principles of field guiding. Orientation week is of great importance as your contribution for the remainder of your time with us will have a direct effect on the future well being of the reserve.

The following three weeks consist of 2 - 3 work sessions a day (approx 3 hrs each) where you will be involved in hands-on activities on the reserve. While we hope that your time at Pidwa will be educational, inspiring and above all else, enjoyable, we ask you to remember that you are participating in the running of an active Wilderness Reserve. The activities that you participate in require a diligent and conscientious input to ensure that you make a valuable contribution to the future of both the reserve and conservation as a whole.

Qualifications: No special skills required although volunteers would need to be in fair physical condition, be over 18 years of age and have a good command of the English language.

Cost in US$: 2500 USD for 4 weeks

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Any person who is generally fit and healthy, has a love for animals, adventure, conservation, wilderness and the great outdoors will enjoy all that Askari has to offer.

Age Range: typically 18 - 40

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 1 - 10

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Askari Wilderness Conservation Programme's Mission Statement: Our long term goal is to create a benchmark reserve which is run according to strong wilderness and conservation ethics and principles. You can contribute to making this goal a reality. In the words of Edward Abbey, "Wilderness needs no defence, only defenders". Come join us in defending our endangered spaces, our heritage...

Year Founded: 2007