Ranger experience in an African game reserve

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Visual monitoring, research and tracking of wildlife:

• Elephant
• Rhino
• Lion
• Cheetah
• Learn how to identify animal tracks and use radio collar technology to track and follow key species throughout the Reserve.
• The data collected is key for determining species distribution and habitat utilization.

MONITORING OF THE CAPE LEOPARD CAMERAS ESTABLISHED

• The Cape Mountain leopard is a critically endangered animal. Learn how to participate in photographic surveys and radio collar data to determine species distribution within the surrounding area.

BIRD IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING

• Learn the skill of bird identification and use it to determine bird distribution and movement on the reserve in different habitats and seasons.

TRANSLOCATION & VETERINARY CARE OF WILDLIFE – SEASON DEPENDENT

• The reserve frequently introduces new animals onto the reserve and distributes certain species to other reserves throughout South Africa. Different live game capture techniques are used for different species.
• While the reserve wildlife population is completely self sufficient and free roaming there are certain endangered and specialty species, which require human intervention for injury, vaccinations, parasite control, or collaring for monitoring purposes.
• (Note: veterinary and game capture/release is not guaranteed during your program and is done on an as needed basis.)

FEEDING AND MONITORING OF ANIMALS IN BOMA – SEASON DEPENDENT

• Certain wildlife are kept temporarily in a boma (holding enclosure) when they are released onto the reserve in order to safely settle them into their new environment, such as predators and elephant.
• While enclosed they need to be fed and maintained. Volunteers will be involved in the various boma feeding programs
• (Note: no animals are guaranteed to be in the bomas during your program.)

BUSH SKILLS AND INTERPRETATION

• Bush skills are an ancient art. Participants will learn much of this art and use it in their day to day activities while on the reserve :

• Track/spoor identification
• Antelope and bird identification
• Tree identification
• Fynbos identification
• Map Utilization (road, contour, aerial Google maps & GPS navigation)
• Approaching wildlife by vehicle and on foot
• 4×4 Driving skills

• Basic survival skills

• • Basic first aid
  • Learning to make a shelter, fire, fishing rod, and compass
  • Learn how to forage and fish
  • Celestial identification and navigation

VELD MANAGEMENT

• Erosion control

• • Roads
  • Erosion sites

• Participation in eradication of alien vegetation (Black Wattle, Port Jackson)

• • The encroachment of alien vegetation is one of the reserve's greatest environmental threats.
  • The reserve has embarked on one of the largest environmental rehabilitation programs in the region. Participants have the opportunity to learn more about the vegetation, and to participate in the eradication of the targeted species.

• Vegetation surveys

• • Transect surveys to determine species diversity and wildlife carrying capacity
  • Development of herbarium

• Help with the nursery

• • Organic vegetables
  • Indigenous tree seedlings

 GENERAL MAINTENANCE

• Fence patrols
• Road maintenance
• Boma Maintenance

COMMUNITY WORK

The reserve is closely associated to the local community. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with the community and participate in:

• Community kids programs
• Community adult development programs

A Typical day

06:00  – Wake up

06:30  – Breakfast (cold buffet & Ranger’s fry up)

07:00  – Depart on Morning activity  (Example – locating cheetah/monitoring/leopard cameras)

10:30 –  Move to conservation project site  (Example – Erosion site/vegetation survey site)

13:00 –  Packed lunch in bush or at camp

14:00 –  Continue with conservation/field project

16:00 –  Depart on evening game monitoring drive

18:30 –  Return to camp and freshen up

19:00 –  Dinner (homemade, hearty meals as well as a potjie & braai night)

20:30 –  Evening talk and prep for next day’s activity

Voici la sélection de notre équipe pour voyager facilement avec la bonne durée et une visibilité sur le budget.

Les dates et tous les détails sont modifiables sur-mesure.

Certains voyages sont prévus lors des périodes de vacances scolaires, spécialement étudiés pour les familles.

D’autres sont prévus hors vacances scolaires pour profiter de la destination avec moins d’affluence.

Tarif à partir de calculé en fonction de la saison indiquée.