Voluntary Work
Creating a photographic database
The photo database is a vital part of the education of the local communities. Your aim should be to take photographs of as many different species as possible, from the largest mammals (such as buffalo and rhino) down to the smallest reptiles and insects. To put this a little more in perspective, there are more than five hundred species of birds in the park, and it’ll be your task to capture on film as many as these as possible! All the best pictures will become part of the database.
To further assist you, you will have the support and guidance of our wildlife photographer, who will teach you about wildlife photography and conduct a short course each month for you.
Conservation Education
Visiting the local schools, you and your fellow volunteers will give workshops and classes about the reasoning behind and the methods of conservation and also educating them on the local wildlife. The aim of this is to increase awareness of UNESCO’s methods and objectives and about conservation in general. Involving the local community and educating them about this is essential.
For those worried about taking on this task, you will have comprehensive briefing on teaching during your initial orientation session as well as extensive training throughout your time on the programme from the project staff. You will also be able to use your photographs to help make the classes easier and more interactive.
To allow the children to truly appreciate their World Heritage surroundings and the wildlife living in their neighbourhood and to justify what you have been teaching them, you will be able to take the children on field trips out into the bush.
It will help them to better understand all your educational efforts in a fun and relaxed way, which is something that they do not experience very often.
What’s Included in the Programme
- The project fee entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. It facilitates funding for items such as educational materials.
- Transport between Richard’s Bay Airport and St. Lucia
- Orientation programme, including a photography course by an experienced wildlife photographer
- All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay
- All accommodation
- Three meals a day at the volunteer house (except the weekends where breakfast will be provided however volunteers like to eat out Saturday and Sunday)
- Laundry service during your stay
- 24 hour support number and contact for emergencies
What’s Not Included in the Programme
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement
- Flights
- All transport by air or bus to Richard’s Bay Airport
- E-mail/Internet and telephone calls
- Lunch and dinner at the weekends
- All visas for border crossings
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in St. Lucia
Prices and Durations
South Africa Wildlife Photography & Conservation - 4 weeks £1,959
