1. Why volunteer with us?

 Unlike the larger, government-owned and run reserves, privately owned reserves are the provenance of people who have chosen to commit their own time and money to help safeguard Africa’s natural treasures. Many of these private reserves are owned by families who would rather spend their life savings to see the land restored to its original state than allow it to be converted (or remain) the sole preserve of agriculture and/or for-profit resource agencies (think fracking, oil, mining, etc). They do not get governmental assistance, and given the exorbitant costs to run a reserve (particularly now with the problem of rhino poaching), they must use all their own funding to make them work. Plainly speaking, they do it for the love of the land and the wildlife and people on it.

 

Of South Africa’s total land mass, only about 6% is under protection (of which only about 3% is national parks). “Grassland, thicket and Nama Karoo biomes have the highest proportion of underprotected ecosystems in South Africa (Dept of Environmental Affairs, State of the Environment 2013)”. We have all three of those biomes on our property, and we are adamant about protecting them. But we can’t do it alone. This is where volunteers come in.

 

Volunteers provide the necessary funding and manpower to do the work necessary for conservation, work that is vital but extremely difficult to carry out on our own. In our case, MCCE volunteers fulfill a very important role: helping us with the field work and projects that gather out-of-the-field information that provides us with the best data to make conservation decisions and contribute to the greater conservation field. We would not be able to fund or carry out many of these projects without the income generated and hands-on assistance from our volunteers.

  

 

2. Benefits of being a volunteer

•  Be a part of a true hands-on, behind-the-scenes safari, and take part in legitimate conservation work

• Rehabilitate land back to its natural state, therefore creating better habitat for the indigenous and endemic wildlife, and allowing for potential reintroductions of animals that once roamed these areas, but were pushed out by people long ago

• A chance to live in the bush and work alongside committed and passionate people who care deeply about wildlife and of Africa

• Adding to the greater good – our research and work isn’t only for our reserve; it feeds larger projects at universities and organisations doing long-term studies within conservation and environmental management

• Internal satisfaction knowing you’ve made a positive impact through your efforts  (we like to call this the ‘volunteer glow’ – that intense energy the body naturally sends out as a result of being wholly alive and present in the moment). Don’t laugh. It happens. 

 

3. Who volunteers with us?

Volunteers come in all ages and backgrounds. They hail from points all over the globe. Some are researchers working on their thesis. Some are on a gap year. Some are looking for a career change. Some are looking for work experience. Some simply want to give back. Some just want to spend a few weeks in the bush getting their hands dirty and filling their lungs with fresh air. And some are fulfilling a dream to come to Africa.

 

The unifying theme among them is an interest in spending their time and money to give back and make a positive impact.  

 

4. What's a typical day like for us?

Okay, first thing to learn in the bush – there are no typical days. While we often start our work at around 6:30am and end at around 5pm, we also often do night drives and other ad-hoc projects (as needed), so the schedule is always a work in progress. We do, however, usually take a break in the middle of the day, especially in summer, as it gets very hot. But otherwise we go, go, go! Except on Saturdays and Sundays. On those days volunteers can choose to sleep in, take in some sights off the property, or just simply chill out around camp. 

 

 A large part of the allure of Mount Camdeboo is the reserve’s location – the isolation really allows us to connect with the natural surroundings and reconnect with ourselves. To keep that remote feeling (and to ensure your experience is more personalised), we’ve limited the number of volunteers we accommodate at any given time to eight people.

 

We do our best to make sure that our volunteers get treated well. Our projects are many and varied, so you’ll never get bored of the work we're doing. And volunteers only work Monday to Friday, so you have your weekends free to leave the reserve and explore the many nearby sights, activities and points of interest. We also have a small gym, and WiFi and DSTV, should any of the volunteers feel a need to stay plugged into the outside world. Though to be honest, most enjoy the opportunity to unplug from technology and re-plug into nature and themselves.

 

Your time volunteering with MCCE will provide you with not only incredible experiences and memories, but also the satisfaction that you’ve picked up new skills and made an invaluable contribution to conservation and community, both on a small and large scale. And all while soaking up the beauty and adventure in a malaria-free game reserve in the South African bush!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. What will you learn as a volunteer?

Some of the many topics you may learn about include:

 

• Animal tracking, monitoring and behaviour

• Wildlife photography

• Game reserve management

• Field guiding

• Plant propagation and rehabilitation

• Community building and education

• Sustainable waste management and carbon offsetting

• Flora and fauna identification

• Research methods

• Astronomy

 

 

6. Additional opportunities for adventure? Absolutely!

For those of you who choose to explore the surrounding environs (and you definitely should!), there is no lack of activities to keep you busy.

 

• Mountain biking or hiking the rugged peaks or swimming at Nqweba Dam in Camdeboo National Park, or at Mountain Zebra National Park

• Skeet shooting

• Visiting Graaff-Reinet’s many museums and cultural sites

• Exploring the palaeontology and geology of the region (they've found tons of Jurassic fossils in this area)

• Day-tripping to the coast (an easy 3-hour drive) to see Jeffrey’s Bay (AKA J Bay, and legendary in the surf world for its Supertubes break) or the stunning Addo Elephant Park

• Roadtripping through all the other colourful small towns that dot the Karoo landscape (Nieu Bethesda, Somerset East, etc)

• Fly fishing in the area's many dams and streams (and yes, there actually are a lot of them out here!)

 

… the list goes on and on!

 

 

 

 

 A gallery of some of our past volunteers and students: