After many years of study you have already proved that you are a hardworking, intelligent and resourceful person. Now it’s time to break away and develop new skills in an exciting unknown environment!
Practical work with animal projects
A gap year is the time to take up a new challenge and experience the reality of life as an independent adult. Gap year students who volunteer to work with animal projects that include cheetahs and other predators do important practical work that makes a huge difference to global wildlife conservation.
Limpopo Game Reserve
In South Africa, you can live and work on an 18,000 acre Game Reserve in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Experience life in a bush camp and really make a difference in the conservation of endangered species. Learn new and exciting skills such as:
• Reserve Management
• Anti-poaching initiatives
• Animal tracking on foot
• Game capture (seasonal)
• Relocation projects
• Wildlife habituation
Wide variety of species
This vast reserve will allow you to see and work with animal conservation covering a wide variety of species including:
Aardwolf
Serval
Blue wildebeest
Kudu
Caracal
Bat-eared fox
Duiker
Hyena
Gemsbok
Cheetah
Impala
Black-backed jackal
Steenbok
Giraffe
Zebra
Wild dog
Conflict resolution techniques
The specific aim of this project is to resolve the issues between local farmers and cheetah who prey on their livestock. You will be directly involved in this important initiative to demonstrate the inestimable value of cheetah to the local economy. The scheme seeks to stop farmers hunting and killing cheetah and view them instead as the basis of a sustainable tourism industry. Wildlife tourism can improve the life of a whole community by providing sustainable jobs, educational opportunities and better health care.
Free-time fun
The opportunities for free-time activities are amazing. For example, you can train as a paraglider and receive an internationally recognised solo licence. In addition, there are surfing courses on the white beaches of Durban. Furthermore, you can spend an unforgettable seven days on a whale, shark and dolphin project in the ocean habitats around Cape Town.
Transferable skills
Gap year students who choose to work with animal projects on the Limpopo Game Reserve receive invaluable training in many key areas such as: game reserve management, conflict resolution, tracking predators, research and data collection and assist on the roan/sable breeding project. In addition, your place is assured on the incredible night safaris! Working closely with professional game managers and rangers and being completely involved in this essential work with animal conservation will develop specific skills you can transfer into your future working life.
Earn respect
Your outstanding CV will feature your ability to face up to a real challenge in a tough environment and earn you the respect and admiration of potential employers. Time spent as a volunteer in wildlife conservation will give you the essential personal and professional development that could completely change your life!
