Kruger Conservation and Leopard Monitoring

Volunteers assist in research tasks and help to maintain the reserve in three areas; predator monitoring, conservation research and reserve management. Whilst at the project you will be involved in a variety of tasks which may include:

• Monitoring of leopard populations: installing, maintaining and checking camera traps
• Predator monitoring
• Habitat assessments
• Bird point counts
• Herbivore transects
• Identification and management of invasive plant species
• Creating seed banks
• Bush patrols monitoring fences
• Manual labour tasks on the reserve

Volunteers all complete Bush Craft training on arrival which will give you a foundation of knowledge on animal identification, tracking, and behaviour.

You are working on a diverse reserve and your daily commute to research sites will often include lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard sightings.

Working days and hours

Volunteers normally work for 6 days a week for 4 - 6 hours a day however depending on the season these times may vary.

Other volunteers

There are normally 8 - 10 volunteers at the project at any one time, with a maximum of 18.

Volunteer reviews

Read about volunteer experiences and challenges in our Kruger Conservation volunteer reviews.

Whilst the Kruger Conservation project employs a team of local staff, they are often over-stretched, particularly due to the fact that many of the research activities involve extensive data collection over many hectares of land. This is very labour intensive therefore volunteers provide additional manpower.

As well as focusing on Leopard and predator monitoring, the additional support provided by volunteers means that the team is able to collect data on many species which migrate through and live on the reserve. Volunteers also put together rhino identikits, analyse territories, record buffalo and elephant movement patterns, snare locations and poaching activities and protect reserve boundaries.

Limpopo is home to over one third of South Africa’s suitable leopard habitat, however there is still very little know about its population. Despite this lack of information on population and a high level of illegal poaching in the area, the government continues to issue increasing numbers of leopard hunting permits. Without vital conservation research in this area, the population could be seriously threatened in the future.

The primary role of the project is to avert this, by providing important data on leopard and other predator population and behaviour. This information is used to improve conservation both in the Limpopo province and throughout South Africa.

You will be staying within Greater Kruger National Park, in the Balule Reserve. The accommodation consists of dormitory style rooms. The bathroom facilities are in a separate building, have western side toilets and have hot and cold running water.

It is in a beautiful and peaceful location overlooking the river with a safari feel and abundant game and birdlife all around. There is an outside dining and barbeque area where volunteers enjoy their meals and socialize in the evenings.

During your free time, volunteers stay on the reserve and relax by the river, play sports, read a book or have a barbeque together.

Before you go:

• Carefully selected and vetted volunteer project
• Support from our friendly and highly experienced Pod UK team
• Single point of contact - Ellie is your dedicated placement manager
• In-depth Volunteering Guide on your volunteering placement
• Travel information - visa, health and safety advice
• Access to specialist travel insurance at exclusive rates
• Recommended travel agency for flights and tours
• Access to special deals and resources
• Fundraising guide and support
• Financial protection for monies paid to Pod

On your placement:

• Conservation volunteering placement
• Airport pick up (Hoedspruit) and return transfers
• Accommodation - shared room
• Food - all main meals
• Daily transport within the reserve
• Induction
• Bush craft training
• Shirt
• Onsite support from local team
• Support from Pod UK office by phone and email
• 24/7 emergency back up
• Incident Management and Emergency Response Plans

On your return:

• Contact from your placement manager
• Feedback scheme
• Volunteering certificate (on request)
• References (on request)
• Member of the Pod community

Not included: Flights, travel insurance, visa (if required). Budgeting guidance is provided in our Volunteering Guide which we will email you when you apply.

Pod Volunteer is run as a non-profit organisation. Fee levels are set to match costs and any surplus monies are distributed to the projects we work with via the Pod Charity.