Coastal & Forest Wildlife Monitoring with The Conservation Co | Tours in Gauteng with The Conservation Co for Volunteer work when you in Africa

Spend your days in the ancient Tsitsikama forest in South Africa: one of the oldest coastal forests in Africa. Surrounded by gigantic trees, ferns and crystal clear streams you will help us monitor and study endangered species such as the Knysna Grass Owl, small forest antelope and the very elusive Knysna Forest Elephant.

What You'll Experience:
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.

Projects:

• 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

The Team:
You will be hosted by The Conservation Co. Team on arrival and during your stay. We will provide you with all the training and support necessary for the Coastal and Forest Wildlife Monitoring Project. In addition to this, you will often be working with members or staff of the National Parks who have specialised in these species.

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!