Volunteer Programs in Swaziland

Volunteer Activities

	Walk and drive through game reserves to locate and monitor the nests and roosts of threatened birds
	Help construct nets and harp traps to capture bats and birds
	Record habitat conditions and environmental variables
	Get experience handling wildlife and using tracking equipment
	Participate in regular game sightings and game drives in areas populated by lions, elephants, and rhinos
	Take a 5-day educational tour of Kruger National Park
	Weigh, measure, tag, and band young birds, bats, and reptiles
	Monitor animal conditions and study their population dynamics and dispersal
	Take a 7-day marine conservation tour of Mozambique

Volunteer Program at a Glance

Start Dates:
First Monday of every month: January 4th , February 1st, March 5th, April 3rd, may 7th, June 5th, July 2nd, August 2nd, September 6th, October 4th, November 1st, December 6th.

Program Length:
4 weeks

Program Cost:
US $2822
*6-week placements are available.

Cost includes:

Accommodations throughout program

All meals

Orientation upon arrival

Airport pick-up and drop-off

Full support and daily guidance from the program coordinators

Program equipment

Program activities including national park entry fees

Schedule:
You will volunteer in the mornings and/or afternoons, 5 days a week. The exact hours and details of your day will be decided during the volunteer orientation. Approximately 6 hours per day will be spent in the research field.

Requirements:
Volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 65.

What Volunteers Can Do:

Volunteers in the Wildlife Studies Volunteer Program will research and investigate the habits and patterns of animal and marine life in Kruger National Park. Volunteers will gain hands-on field experience by supporting the wildlife research team and investigating the marine life of Mozambique. The program takes place in Swaziland, South Africa, and Mozambique, and volunteers will have the opportunity to work and travel between all three locations. In addition to visiting some of the region's most exciting wildlife areas and participating in an important field study program, volunteers will help to conduct wildlife research with other students under the guidance of onsite coordinators.

Why Volunteer in Swaziland?

The area where South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique intersect is home to a number of important ecosystems and animal species. Although Kruger National Park has been established and conservation efforts are gaining momentum, the area has undergone many changes as a result of human influence, land management, and climate change. Although the area is mainly known for its large game, including elephants, rhinos, and lions, there are a variety of smaller species that are under threat and are equally important to the proper functioning of the ecosystem. Raptors are at the top of the food chain and thus suffer from the cumulative effects of the degradation of the savanna habitat. Bats and reptiles are relatively unknown and are not well understood in southern Africa, yet they also play a key role in the ecosystem. As a volunteer, your field research in this program will focus on threatened birds, bats, and reptiles, particularly on their reproduction and movement patterns. By better understanding these species, we can learn to effectively manage and conserve them.

Swaziland Wildlife Studies Program Goals:

The goal of this program is to execute important research programs on the patterns and behavior of threatened birds, bats, and reptiles in Kruger National Park. Volunteers will contribute to different field programs by helping to erect nets and harp traps to capture bats and birds, recording habitat and environmental variables, or handling wildlife and using tracking equipment. In addition to field study, volunteers will participate in educational tours of both Kruger National Park and coastal Mozambique. By assisting with these wildlife research programs and deepening your understanding of the issues that these ecosystems face, you will play an important role in the conservation and preservation of this valuable region.

Airport Pickup and Orientation:

After being picked up at the Manzini International Airport in Swaziland, volunteers spend the night at a backpacker's lodge where they attend an orientation and detailed briefing of the program itinerary led by the onsite coordinator.

Transportation:

Transportation is provided to and from the airport for arrival and departure, between program sites, and for any additional program needs.

Accommodations:

Between excursions, volunteers will stay in a backpacker's lodge in the Ezulwini Valley. The main program offices are situated nearby. The lodge is conveniently located on the main Ezulwini road less than 2km from most of the area's main facilities and attractions, including craft markets, shopping centres, hotels, and restaurants. In the field, volunteers and staff will camp in dome tents with foam mattresses and pillows, all of which are provided. At the camps there is no electricity, but lanterns are provided.

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included for all the duration of the program.

In-Country Support:

In-country support will be provided during your time in Swaziland. Onsite program coordinators and/or guides will always be present to provide assistance and answer any questions.

Swaziland Excursions:

Volunteers are encouraged to travel on weekends, and program staff will assist them with making travel arrangements and reservations. There are also lots of activities available in the surrounding area, including:

whitewater rafting

mountain biking

safaris

adventure caving

hiking

horseback riding

swimming

golf

tennis

squash

fishing

Insurance for Volunteers:

	BridgeVolunteers provides emergency travel insurance for participants. For more information, please read our Insurance page.

Wildlife Studies Volunteer Program

Kruger National Park, Swaziland