With an exciting orientation program, all transfers, meals and stunning accommodation set amongst lagoon dune forest and African bush, this project offers volunteers an amazing South African experience.

The Inkwenkwezi Conservation Initiative offers volunteers a unique conservation opportunity to experience life on one of the Eastern Cape’s premier wildlife reserves. This unique game reserve overlooks the Indian Ocean and is home to the Big 5 (Elephants, Lions, Rhino, Buffalo & Leopard)

Inkwenkwezi is an extraordinary and exciting conservation project, at the forefront of numerous species re-introductions and conservation drives. The unique and diverse landscape allows for a range of African game – including rhino, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest and Eastern Cape kudu, as well as the African lion.

The reserve is well stocked with various programs for monitoring and assessing the game. As a volunteer you will be an integral part of the Inkwenkwezi team, led by committed and qualified game rangers.

As a volunteer, you will also be actively involved in the reserves lion cub rearing program and will have up close and personal interactions with the reserves trained elephants, Mooketsi and Ramadiba.

This program will educate participating volunteers in sound conservation principles, providing them with a varied and stimulating practical experience. Some unique components of the program include:

- Bush walks and game drives: species identification and interpretation
- Camping out in the African bush
- Preparing a catalogue of the birds, numbers and breeding status in the reserve
- Fence patrols for snares and other threats to wildlife
- Game counts, mammal research and monitoring
- Alien vegetation control
- Veld monitoring, grazing/browsing capacity assessments.

During your stay you will also have opportunities to:

- Explore our rivers in canoes
- Abseil down cliffs
- Spend time on white sandy beaches while learning about coastal systems and ecology
- Become involved in the local communities enhancing your personal understanding of not only the wilderness, but also the cultural diversity of South Africa
- Develop understanding of the ocean and coastal dynamics during which time you can also learn to surf

Other activities that volunteers may have the opportunity to experience:

- Capturing of wild animals when required by the reserve
- Game introduction: when available. There is an ongoing program for the introduction of additional game including elephant, hippo and cheetah
- Building of bomas (enclosures for newly introduced animals)

What's included?

• Cape Town Airport collection and drop-off.
• A Welcome Pack complete with many useful items that will help you settle in, and an opportunity to let your
  family or friends know you have arrived safely.
• An embroidered AVIVA Fleece.
• Accommodation at one of our AVIVA Houses in Cape Town before and after your project, with self-service
  breakfasts.
• Return flights between Cape Town and the Eastern Cape to join your project.
• A comprehensive welcome brief from a member of the on-site team.
• Accommodation at Buccaneers Backpackers during project orientation - A cottage set amongst dune forest overlooking a lagoon bordering the Indian Ocean.
• Project orientation activities during your stay.
• Transfers to and from Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve.
• Accommodation at Inkwenkwezi - A permanent tented safari camp in the African bush.
• All your meals at Buccaneers and Inkwenkwezi.
• Advice and support from our experienced team during your stay.
• Our booking service for all attractions and events.
• An attractive certificate recognising your contribution to the Inkwenkwezi Conservation Initiative.

If you are adding the optional Cape Town Week, the following will also be included:

• An extra 7 nights’ accommodation at one of our AVIVA Houses in Cape Town with self-service breakfasts.
• A full-day Peninsula tour which includes lunch, visits to Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Point, Simon's Town, Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and much more. An incredible day rich with history and some of the world’s most beautiful scenery.
• A half-day Cultural tour, a fascinating introduction to South Africa’s recent political history before and after Apartheid, includes highlights of Khayelitsha, South Africa’s second largest township after Soweto.
• A full-day tour to the Cape Winelands including the Paarl, Franschoek and Stellenbosch regions. Wine tastings and lunch included.
• Advice and support from our experienced team during your stay.
• Our booking service for attractions, events and tours.
• If required, extra nights can be added to your stay to meet your flight dates for only R120 per night. This may help you to take advantage of any cheaper flights that arrive in Cape Town before your planned arrival date.