Only 840€ per week!
Cheetah Conservation
Cape Town - South Africa
Help prevent the further decline of the Cheetah population with a passionate local team in Cape Town.
Work closely with a local organization who rehabilitate captive born and bred Cheetahs and release them back into the wild. Get an incredible opportunity to learn about this amazing species while supporting their survival on the face of the planet.
Program
Living
Cape Town
South Africa
Program Description
You will work with a local organization who is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of Cheetah in South Africa. While in your program, you will be able to contribute to this immense endeavour and you will also learn about the species and contribute to the conservation practices.
During your program will be involved in various activities of the project site including,
- Food preparation & feeding (Please keep in mind you will work with raw meat)
- Cleaning of camps & refilling of the water bowls
- Creating enrichment for the animals
- Educating the public by assisting staff with certain tours
- Carrying out own guided tours (If English level is sufficient)
- Take part in group activities
- Maintenance and inspection of camps
If you stay a minimum of 4 weeks at the project, you will have the unique opportunity to participate in the releasing program which is done in partnership with a local reserve.
By releasing new bloodlines of cheetahs into the protected wild, it helps to increase the genetic lineages to effectively strengthen the wild Cheetah population. The whole process is strictly regulated and is done with a lot of research.
Cheetah Release Program
You will help the local team to release cheetahs who are rehabilitated and ready to go back to the wild. You will be able to take part in this program if you gain sufficient knowledge and training at the project. This is suited for participants who stay for more than 4 weeks with the Cheetah conservation program. The project team will decide who is participating in the releasing events and that will be solely based on your performance and learning during your program. There are no additional costs for this part of the program, you will only be liable to pay for your transport (either flight or bus) to get to the reserve.
If you stay for more than 4 weeks, you are eligible to attend the Release program. However, the Cheetah Release activity is optional and can only be offered depending on the requirements of the conservation project. It may not be available throughout the year.
Aims & Objectives
The project aims to rehabilitate captive-raised cheetahs who are unrelated to animals in the Cheetah Metapopulation and release them back into the wild (protected areas) once they are deemed to be fit for survival.
Schedule
Monday to Friday
Typical working hours at the project are from 05:00 AM – 17:00 PM and your daily tasks and responsibilities will include.
- Key Species Monitoring
- Cheetah Conservation
- Road and dam maintenance
- Bush clearing
- Foundation Support
- Town trip / Off / Game Drive
- Boma maintenance
- Fence maintenance
- Spekboom Planting
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: 18
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Intermediate
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: On Signup
Resume copy required: On Signup
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
- Must be physically able and fit to complete all required tasks
Additional Equipment
- Small daypack
- Work gloves x 2
- Torch with extra batteries
- Towel
- Personal toiletries/medications
- Books
- Camera/film
- Warm clothes for cold nights
- Light clothes for hot days
- Hiking boots
- Underwear/socks
- Sunglasses/sunhat
Location
Cape Town, the famous port city of South Africa, lies at the foot of Table Mountain. Even though a small city, Cape Town boasts of dynamic culture and nature. Best things to do in Cape Town include riding the cable cars to the top of the mountains to get a glimpse of the port city below, hiking, exploring the shopping malls and aquariums and even checking out a penguin colony. Cape Town also tressures its Dutch heritage and the remains of the era are still visible in the city.
About the Accommodation
The accommodation comprises of dorm rooms, with shared bathrooms. There is a dining room and lounge as well as an outside BBQ area with swimming pool.
Food Arrangements
All 3 meals daily are provided as part of our service but there are also two ‘mini’ kitchens for you to store and prepare your own food if you wish.
Facilities
You can find several services nearby such as Supermarket, ATM, Laundry and Restaurants.
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
The city has all of the amenities one would expect of a major city including cinemas, casino, bowling, bars, restaurants and much more.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Quick Facts
Name: Republic of South Africa
Population: 55 million
Capital: Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial), Pretoria (executive)
Language: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, Swati, Ndebele
Currency: South African Rand
Time zone: UTC +2
Country Information
South Africa is a vast country with an incredible variety in landscapes, people, traditions, languages, cuisines and more. The country is often referred to as the “Rainbow Nation” due to its population diversity. The country is also renowned for its wines, so make sure not to miss these while you are here!
While big cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg can look quite first worldly, most of the country has remained underdeveloped. This is a perfect example of the economic inequality that exists in the country.
South Africa is an ideal destination for those interested in nature and it is incredibly varied in terms of landscapes. The country boasts a large number of National Parks such as Kruger, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is located in the desert, Addo Elephant National Park, Simangaliso Wetland Park and many more. It is also a great place to spot the “Big Five” (African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and White/Black rhinoceros) as well as a wide range of other species.
All in all, South Africa is an ideal place to start if you wish to travel in southern Africa and get a good insight into the region.
Climate
The climate in South Africa ranges from area to area. The southwestern corner of the country receives a Mediterranean climate, the northeastern regions are subtropical, the interior plateau is quite temperate and even a small area in the northwest has a desert climate.
Winter: South Africa is situated at a high altitude and during winters, temperatures can get very low. The coldest months are June, July and August.
Summer: During the summer months, most of the country receives rainfall and thunderstorms during the afternoon are not uncommon. Rain is heavier and more frequent in the eastern part of the country than in the west. The only exception to this rule is the Western Cape area, where rain is more common during the winter.
Culture
South Africa is often dubbed the “Rainbow Nation” due to its multicultural diversity. While 80% of the population is made up of Black South Africans, they all belong to different ethnic groups. A large number of Afrikaans (descendants of Dutch settlers) reside here, as well as many British descendants. Moreover, in the 1600s, Germans, Portuguese and French Huguenots brought in a large number of slaves from India and what is now Indonesia. Islamic and Hindu traditions are also a huge part of daily life in South Africa.
South Africa is so diverse that there are eleven officially recognized languages in the country, English being one of them. Another one of the official languages is Afrikaans, which is derived from Dutch.
Gastronomy
The food in South Africa is one of the highlights of most visitor’s time in the country. A great variety of restaurants serve both modern and traditional food. It is almost impossible to write about the cuisine of South Africa in brief as it is incredibly varied due to its multicultural sources. The diversity of its dishes is a great reflection of the cultural differences in the country. To summarize a bit, let’s divide it into two categories:
Traditional cookery
Traditional cookery is mostly prepared by indigenous people and traces back to the precolonial period. The food is generally cooked over an open fire and meat is one of the main ingredients, either stewed or grilled. Typical dishes include morogo, chakalaka, amadumbe and don’t forget to try tripe, a traditional treat that is considered a regional delicacy in the Cape.
Settlers cookery
This was introduced during and after the colonization periods. A popular style of South African cuisine is called “Cape Dutch” and is characterized by its use of spices. A famous dish, which is often regarded as the national dish, is babotie. It consists of spiced minced meat baked with an egg topping.
Transportation
Plane
South Africa is well developed in terms of inland air travel, with airports in all major cities. Numerous domestic airlines operate within the country and it is often the fastest way to get around albeit not the cheapest.
Bus
Bus is a great alternative to get around the country, although distances are often great. Major companies such as Greyhound and Intercape Mainliner operate between major cities with stops along the way.
Another option for you is Baz Bus, which offers a hop-on-hop-off service along popular tourist routes from one major city to another major city. It will also pick you up and drop you off at many accommodation options (including hostels and guest houses).
Train
Trains are a another alternative to travel around the country, with a national rail available. Budget options are available as well.
