Garden Route Experience with The Conservation Co | Tours in Gauteng with The Conservation Co for Volunteer work when you are in South Africa

Do you want a well rounded volunteer experience? Immerse yourself in a colourful and diverse community. Volunteer in South Africa alongside the Rastafarians in a township eco-project, experience meaningful wildlife research and influence South Africa's young naturalists on community volunteer projects.

This is a combination project, for volunteers wanting an all round African Conservation Experience. It is recommended that you stay for at least the full 4 weeks to get experience in all aspects of the Garden Route Project.

Threats to the Garden Route:
Because of the desirability and apparently low rate of crime in the area, developers flock to the relative safety of coastal towns such as Plettenberg Bay and Knysna to provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. There is a rapid increase in the population as more houses are built and more employment is created. Increased population leads to an inevitably more damaging impact on the isolated ecosystems. This in turn threatens the ancient forests, salt marshes and fynbos areas. Over-fishing is an ongoing problem in the lagoon and poaching impacts on the sensitive marine life. These factors highlight an ever increasing negative effect on the area.

Necessary Skills:
Apart from a positive, open minded enthusiasm... not much! Being moderately physically fit will ensure you enjoy a project to the fullest as there is often manual labour involved. Applicants should have an interest in new cultures & the environment as well as working with communities in a third world country.

What You'll Experience:

Week 1: The Rastafarian Eco-Project
Visiting the Kayalethu Township is always an eye opening experience. The houses are brightly painted, cows wander across the road and many of parts of it have incredible lagoon and forest views. The Rastafarian Community is situated on a north facing hill looking onto a project that they can truly be proud of: The Kayalethu River Trail. You will be working side by side with various members of the Rastafarian community, including Maxie, the head of the community, Leo and Paul- the extremely entertaining and knowledgeable trail guides.
Through the growth of the township and development in the area as well as the massive introduction to non-indigenous pine and gum trees in the area, the natural fynbos and forest habitat has been under threat! The Rasta community is active in conservation and awareness issues in the townships and thought their eco project, they are creating a sense of pride in the community. The rehabilitated area is drawing back indigenous animal species including sunbirds and small duiker.

Duties include:

• Removal of alien invasive species
• Planting indigenous species
• Mending paths and walkways
• Clearing river debris
• Facilitating groups of tourists from abroad and surrounding communities

Week 2: Coastal & Forest Wildlife Monitoring
The Garden Route is famous for it’s diversity and beauty. It is one of South Africa’s Prime destinations and has a high rate of development. Unfortunately this puts a huge about of pressure on the natural habitat and species of the area. We are working in conjunction with the National Parks and Endangered Wildlife Trust to monitor various rare or endangered species. You will work with zoologist and researches in a variety of wildlife monitoring projects. Much of your time will be spent in the enchanting natural forests, on white beaches and dunes and near the mountain rivers.

The Projects Include:

• The Knysna Grass Owl Project: The aim of this work is to piece together the local life history of the Knysna Grass Owl, where it lives, where it nests and what it eats. This knowledge can be used to inform developers and policy makers, and will be used to safeguard areas where Grass Owls can persist. Grass Owls unfortunately seem to require open tracts of land that are ideal for property development, which has fragmented and isolated their populations and will ultimately cause a local extinction if suitable tracts of land are not secured. Your help will directly affect our knowledge base of the Knysna Grass Owl and the information gained will be used directly in the conservation of this unique species.
• Tracking The Knysna Elephants: The Knysna forest used to be home to large herds of free roaming elephants. They have since disappeared but evidence of a small herd has been reported from various sources. Our mission is to aid National Parks in tracking these elephants and determining the extent to which the herds have been depleted. Please note that is it unlikely that you will come across the herd as they are extremely elusive but we record any sign of dung, tusk damage and tracks that we come across on our transects in the forest.
• Small Antelope Forest Study: There is evidence of a decline in the number of Blue Duiker and Bushbuck in the Tsitsikamma forests. In conjunction with National Parks, we hope to accurately determine the distribution and population densities of these scarce species. This information can be utilised to protect suitable habitats and ensure their long term survival.

Duties include:

• Recording the GPS of spoor and signs of all species we come across
• Collecting and examining owl pellets
• DNA sampling to determine range and population dynamics of all three species
• Learning to track and understand the signs and behaviour of each species
• Working towards a more aware and concerned community
• Creating and building on species lists (bird, mammal and reptile)
• Obtaining population information for other species we come across during our research.
• Meeting and working with specialised wildlife researchers

Week 3: Workshops with Local Kids

The Projects and Duties:

• Workshops in Local Schools: You will be involved in an exciting program for groups of kids of all ages. A team leader will run the workshop and each volunteer goes through a list of activities with groups of between 5-10 kids. This is very informal and the emphasis is on nature appreciation and biodiversity awareness. The kids love the interaction with volunteers in a relaxed and fun environment.
• Environmental Club with Underprivileged Children: At least once a week you will meet with underprivileged kids who live and work on the streets or in an orphanage. Many of these kids have family issues. We hope to become an extended family to them, to help strengthen their self esteem and give them a sense of purpose and direction in their lives. Taking them on hikes, watching nature videos with them or tending to their garden are all part of the program.
• Kids in Parks: Kids in Parks is run by the South African National Parks to provide children in South Africa with the opportunity to visit and experience one or more of the national parks. In addition to increasing awareness to national parks for kids, the program also seeks to give learners the opportunity to experience and interact with the wonder of our natural and cultural heritage and to explore the importance of its conservation. Volunteers assist wherever possible and will often go on field camps with the kids, or day trips to local areas of natural interest.
• The Tembelitsha School Wetland Rehabilitation Project: The small wetland at Tembelitsha School is in dire need of help! The community‘s cattle break the surrounding fences to reach the lush wetland vegetation and damage the delicate ecosystem. In conjunction with the National Parks, the kids and the staff at Tembelitsha school, we are helping to rehabilitate this area by building a sturdy fence, clearing the alien invasive vegetation and litter and in doing so, educating the community about the importance of wetland eco systems

Week 4: Community Work
In order to involve the community as much as possible requires giving a little back to them where it is needed. We select a charity organization and help them out wherever possible. As the Orphanage is understaffed, we have offered our help in the form of labour. We have informed the Matron that are willing to do whatever is required to maintain the orphanage, to help prepare the children"s meals, bath the babies or simply just be there for the kids. This is an extremely rewarding experience but is also hard work!

Duties include:

• Food Preparation
• Painting Orphanage walls
• Helping with Daily Chores
• Assisting with meal times
• General garden maintenance

Work Hours:
We work a full day from Monday to Friday. That means that you will have two days off a week to explore the area and catch up on your sun-bathing.

Accommodation and Surrounds:
There will be very little "roughing it" on this project. We place volunteers in fantastic backpackers quite literally on the beach! Buffalo Bay Backpackers is located next to a marine reserve and close to Buffalo Bay Beach which is the most popular surfing beach in the area.

Optional Trips:
We offer an optional five day trip to Storms river mouth and Addo Elephant Park. Experience the majesty of the Addo Elephant National Park. This is the only national park in the world where there is a possibility of seeing the Big 7! Home to the world"s most concentrated population of elephant, the Addo NP is renowned for its beauty and now has been extended to include a large stretch of marine reserve. Visitors may be exposed to the Big Five: Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Rhino, as well as the Blue and Southern Right Whales which migrate along the eastern coast.

The drive up to Addo is through the pristine Tsitsikama forest and the Eastern Cape Farmlands. We stop over at Storms River Mouth where there is the option to Bungee Jump the Highest Bungee in the Southern Hemisphere! You can also tube down the black water river, walk in the tree canopy and snorkel. We will be staying in chalets in the Storms River Mouth Reserve - one of the most beautiful marine-forest reserves in the area!