You
can be a part of one of the only meerkat research
volunteer projects in South Africa. Based at
the foot of South Africa’s 7th highest
mountain near Lesotho, volunteers live and work
on a beautiful game reserve surrounded by wildlife:
An unforgettable meerkat experience!
What You'll Experience:
Working closely with various colonies of these
incredible animals is a truly special experience!
Volunteers will experience life as part of
a meerkat colony as wild groups of meerkats
are habituated to human presence and accept
people in their lives as just another part
of their landscape.
Meerkats seeking a high point from which to perform
sentinel duty will often choose the head of a
seated person and this closeness to the cogs
of life in nature’s wheel is priceless.
Working with meerkats introduces people to the
astonishing diversity of subterranean life that
is dug up during a meerkat day of foraging leading
to an increased knowledge of the importance of
conserving what is left of natural habitats.
Being involved in the rich social life of a meerkat
family is enormously rewarding.
Duties include:
- Data capture
- Behavioral observation
- Mapping territories
- Habituating new groups
- Educating the surrounding community on issues
that meerkat populations face
- At least once a week, we will visit a nearby
orphanage to help with maintenance (painting
etc) and get to meet and help with the kids.
The Team:
You will be hosted by Wendy and Shelton. Two
meerkat specialists with extensive experience
in meerkat habituation and conservation. Wendy
has lived and walked with meerkats for two
years in Springbok (South Africa) and the Makgadikgadi
Pans (Botswana). One of her greatest achievements
is the many hours she has served as a meerkat
sentinel post! The daily scent marking that
she undergos by the dominant male is testimony
to the fact that she completely accepted within
the meerkat family.
Her research has been documented in “Meerkat
Adventures with Nigel Marven” on Animal
Planet and in South Africa’s nature program
50/50. She has published two articles on meerkats
in Africa Geographic September 2005 (“Meerkats
of the Makgadikgadi”) and Diversions September
2006 (“Meerkat Moments”). Shelton
Khanyoka has a rich background of habituating
wild animals and working with film crews on National
Geographic documentary film productions.
Accommodation and Surrounds:
The project is currently based at Moolmanshoek
Private Game Reserve, a beautiful undiscovered
piece of nature hidden in the Eastern Free State.
Bordering on the Lesotho mountains, and at the
base of one of South Africa’s highest mountains,
Moolmanshoek is a private game farm home to herds
of zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, ostriches and
of course- a large density of meerkats. The main
house is an original sandstone structure teaming
with history and character. Volunteers stay in
Wendy’s cosy cottage on the farm property,
equipped with braai (barbeque) facilities and
a fantastic view of the mountain! Two meals a
day are provided (Breakfast and Dinner) and you
can help yourself to lunch.
Farm activities include hikes into the mountains,
a natural waterslide made up of seven crystal
clear pools and visits to ancient cave paintings.
The farm is also home to over 200 hundred horses
and Wiesman will happily take you on a ride as
he has horses to suit all capabilities.
The Free State is well known for its space and
scenery. The land is relatively flat, but interspersed
with flat-topped mountains and kopjies (rocky
hills). There are plenty of gorgeous little towns
packed with old antique shops and homely pubs
near the farm. The area is full of interesting
local communities including a sangoma (witchdoctor)
following.
The nearest large town is Ficksburg and you will
be able to buy your supplies here on weekly trips.
Necessary Skills:
Apart from a positive, open minded enthusiasm
you will need to be relatively patient and
happy to spend long periods of time in the
field. Being moderately physically fit will
ensure you enjoy a project to the fullest as
there is often manual labour involved.
Work Hours:
Work hours will vary with weather and meerkat
behavior. Generally we will be up before the
sun hits the burrow and spend the morning with
the group of meerkats. We may take a packed
lunch or return to the base for lunch. In the
afternoon we will stay with the group until
they go into their burrows for the night.
We work a full week and volunteers will have
one day off per week (or two half days off).
That means that you will have time to explore
the area and catch up on your sun-bathing.
Outdoors work is dependent on weather conditions
and if they are not agreeable, we may have to swop
off-days to get the work done. |
