Help protect South Africa’s amazing wildlife!
How you can help
- Daily feeding of game
- Monitoring breeding stock
- Assisting in general wellbeing of the animals
- Helping to medicate any sick animals
- General maintenance of the farm including fencing and poaching prevention
Why your help is needed
The ranch that volunteers work in is a not-for profit South African Natural Heritage
Site that supports the proactive breeding of rare Sable and Roan Antelope. In order
for it to continue its vital conservation work, it is essential that it is run efficiently
and that the game is monitored and well looked after. Volunteers therefore get involved
in a wide variety of activities ranging from daily feeding and counting of game,
tracking and monitoring different animals on the ranch and helping out with the
research and breeding programmes.
In addition to sable and antelope, the reserve boasts over 2,500 head of game, including
leopard, buffalo, black and white rhino, giraffe, hippo, eland and kudu.
How long can I go for? Placements last either 18 or 32 days and
include a 4-day arrival orientation.
Working hours: 6 hours a day, 5 days a week
Eligibility: British/Irish, 18+ Volunteers must have a love of
wildlife and be willing to get their hands dirty!
Wildlife facts
Check out our top 10 facts about Sable antelopes here!
The Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger)
Sable Antelope, arguably the most graceful creatures on earth, are often hunted
for their unique and attractive horns. There are four subspecies of Sable Antelope
and most are considered vulnerable to extinction. Sable are currently estimated
to number ca. 75,000, and population trends are more or less stable in protected
areas, increasing on private land and decreasing elsewhere.
The Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus)
Named for its colour, the Roan is reddish grey to reddish brown, with a striking
black-and-white facial mask. It is the second largest African antelope, distributed
throughout the continent in sub-Saharan savannah habitat. Numbers are estimated
to be 76,000, 60% of which are in protected areas. The population is threatened
by poaching and loss of habitat (as a result of expansion of settlement). This trend
will only be reversed if more of the surviving populations receive adequate protection
and management.