Botswana – Safari Volunteer Program

Volunteer in the wild heart of Botswana’s Central Tuli Block with this Wildlife Conservation program. This project invites you to dive into an adventure that marries the thrill of being close to Africa’s majestic wildlife with the noble cause of conservation. Set against a backdrop of stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, volunteers contribute to significant conservation efforts while experiencing the untamed beauty of Botswana. It’s an opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime in a sanctuary brimming with elephants, leopards, and other iconic species.

 

Program Highlights:

  • Unique close-to-nature opportunity to volunteer in the heart of Africa’s wilderness, contributing to wildlife and habitat preservation.
  • The main goal of the program is to partner with adjacent reserves and parks to create a larger protected area.
  • A rich array of volunteer tasks, including wildlife research, conservation projects, and wildlife observation.
  • Engage in unique experiences such as sleep-outs under the stars and discovering the African bush.
  • Weekly braai (BBQ), game drives, and guided activities to immerse in local culture and nature.

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment): 

Arrival Day, Sunday: Upon your arrival at Johannesburg International Airport (JNB), the South African team will be there to welcome you. This day is designed for you to settle in before your adventure begins, offering a soft landing into South Africa’s vibrant culture.

Day 2, Monday, Transfer to project site: This day begins with a flight from Johannesburg airport to Polokwane airport. A driver will accompany you from the airport to the Botswana border – a 4 hour shuttle drive away. At the border, you’ll be met by the project team to transfer to the project in the Central Tuli Block of Botswana.

Days 3-7 – Volunteer Week: Once in the Central Tuli Block of Botswana, here is where your contribution to wildlife conservation begins. Mornings and late afternoons are filled with diverse activities such as wildlife monitoring, data collection, and habitat restoration, tailored to avoid the midday heat. You’ll engage in meaningful work alongside experienced conservationists, contributing directly to the project’s goals while learning about local wildlife and ecosystems.

Weekend: The weekends offer a breather from the week’s tasks, allowing time for relaxation, reflection, and exploration of the local area. This is your chance to immerse yourself further into the natural beauty and cultural richness of Botswana, with optional activities or simply enjoying downtime at the camp.

Remaining Weeks: Your schedule will follow a consistent pattern of conservation activities from Monday to Friday, building on the previous week’s experiences, with weekends open for discovering the surrounding region.

Departure Day: On Monday a shuttle will take you from the project site to Polokwane Airport. Your return flight from Polokwane to Johannesburg is included. You’re encouraged to plan for a late evening flight out of Johannesburg.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Central Tuli Block, Botswana

Project length Project length: Minimum of 1 week – 12 weeks plus a 2-day orientation in Johannesburg.

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg (JNB).

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work: Wildlife conservation, research, and community projects

Age Age:  18+

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: 2-15 international volunteers

 

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared safari tents with bunk beds.

Food Food: Three meals per day are provided

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers: Airport pickup and drop-off transfers from Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) are included, along with round-trip domestic flights between JNB and Polokwane Airport (POL).

Orientation Orientation: All necessary training and introductions are provided upon arrival

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

International flights to Johannesburg, entry visas for South Africa and Botswana (if applicable), travel health insurance, personal expenses, and optional excursions are not included.

The Central Tuli Block in Botswana is a sanctuary that has undergone a transformation from mixed-use land to a haven for Africa’s iconic wildlife. Thanks to concerted rewilding efforts by private conservationists, it now provides an authentic wilderness experience. The area’s vast landscapes, teeming with elephants, leopards, and other wildlife, are a testament to successful conservation practices. Volunteers at this project contribute to the ongoing preservation of this vital ecosystem, playing a role in the broader efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity in Southern Africa.

​This Wildlife Conservation program operates at the intersection of adventure and conservation, offering participants a chance to immerse themselves in Botswana’s unparalleled natural beauty while contributing to meaningful conservation efforts. The project is dedicated to creating a contiguous wildlife corridor and enhancing biodiversity, ensuring the survival of many species.

Volunteers engage in a variety of tasks aimed at conservation and research, including wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, and community projects. The work is designed to support the project’s ultimate goal of ecosystem preservation and expansion, offering hands-on experience in conservation efforts.

 

Volunteer tasks may include:  

  • Conduct mammal and bird surveys.
  • Study animal migration patterns and develop elephant identikits.
  • Monitor camera traps for nocturnal wildlife activities.
  • Engage in fence repair, waterhole construction, and soil erosion control projects.
  • Wildlife observation, including tracking and identifying species in their natural habitats.
  • Participate in sleep-outs under the African sky for a unique wilderness experience.
  • Learn species identification, engage in conservation debates, and more.

Internet icon Internet: WiFi is not available. We recommend purchasing a local SIM card.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities are available.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers stay in 2-6 person fully-equipt safari tents with bunk beds and shared ablutions, featuring a common area for relaxation and a boma for fireside evenings.

Food icon Food: Three daily meals provided, including breakfast (self-service), and substantial home-cooked lunches and dinners, with a weekly BBQ referred to locally as a Braai. Gluten-free diets cannot be fully catered for due to the remote location. We recommend bringing items like gluten-free flour mix and snacks for the chef to bake gluten-free bread and pizzas.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Good level of English
  • Motivation for conservation and data collection
  • Love for a tenting and a close-to-nature lifestyle
  • Vaccinations – please consult a doctor before departure
  • Flexible attitude and hard-working
  • Travel medical insurance including medical evacuation
  • Medium level of fitness.

In the heart of Botswana, the Central Tuli Block emerges as a magnificent beacon of wilderness and biodiversity, offering a serene backdrop for the Wildlife Conservation program. This area has undergone a significant transformation from a mixed-use landscape to a dedicated wildlife sanctuary, thanks to the diligent efforts of private conservationists. It now stands as a haven for some of Africa’s most iconic species, including elephants, leopards, and numerous bird species. The sanctuary’s objective is not just to protect these magnificent creatures but also to provide an authentic wilderness experience for volunteers and visitors alike, thereby contributing to the overarching conservation goals of the region.

The Central Tuli Block is characterized by its vast, untamed landscapes that offer an unparalleled immersion into the natural world. Volunteers participating in the program are treated to an environment that is as challenging as it is rewarding, with opportunities to engage in wildlife research, conservation projects, and educational initiatives that have a tangible impact on the ground. The area’s rich biodiversity, combined with the dramatic beauty of its rock formations, riverine forests, and extensive savannah plains, creates a setting that is not just a backdrop for conservation work but also a classroom for learning about ecological balance, sustainability, and the critical importance of preserving natural habitats for future generations.

Volunteer Experiences

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