Wildlife Caretaker in South Africa
Highlights
- Assist with the daily care of the animals, including feeding, enrichments and monitoring
- Maintain and clean the animal enclosures within the park
- Care for a diverse array of wildlife from wild cats, primates, other small to medium mammals and birds.
- Volunteers with relevant interests may assist the wildlife manager and local private veterinary doctor if the need arises.
- Take day trips into the famous Kruger National Park to view the Big 5 and other wildlife on your weekends off.
Overview
Volunteer as a Wildlife Caretaker at a wildlife sanctuary for indigenous and exotic animals offering them a safe haven for the rest of their natural lives. You'll get to know each animal's unique personality and history while working alongside a passionate team of animal lovers providing daily care.
The wildlife park spans 14 hectares, featuring numerous enclosures. These animals- unable to be released back into the wild- are cared for due to various reasons such as being too accustomed to human contact, rescued from the trophy hunting industry, living with old injuries that hinder survival in the wild, or being exotic species not native to South Africa.
- 3 meals a day, shared accommodation, meeting you Kruger Mpumalanga International airport, airport collection and drop-off, pre-departure support, in-country team, 24- emergency help and more.
- Flights, visas, travel insurance and spending money.
Important Information
Due to past trauma when rescued, some of the animals are off limits to the public as they do not like people. Volunteers will have access to these areas closed to the public.
You will find a variety of birds of prey, garden birds and exotic birds from other continents like owls, kites, hawks, hornbills, vultures, cranes, ostriches, and emus.
The animal enclosures and camps accommodate Lions, Leopards, Tigers, Serval cats, Caracal, Pumas, Cheetahs, Bobcats, Black-footed cats, Ocelots, Geoffroy’s cat, African Wild cats, Lynx, African wild dogs, Ferrets, Warthogs, Honey badgers, Porcupine, Polecats, Nile crocodiles, Genets, Wolves, Baboons, Capuchin monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Fennec foxes, Racoons, Coatis, various species of Mongoose, and Meerkats.
Your volunteer duties may include:
Animal Care (food preparation, feeding, enrichments, monitoring behaviour and health)
Enclosure Maintenance
Educational programs
Veterinary and other special projects at the time
Rough daily schedule:
Wake up, have a quick shower, clean your teeth and grab a quick coffee or tea in your room.
07h00 to 08h30 is time for the early morning feeding of the animals.
09h00 is time for breakfast up at the dining room of the restaurant.
10h00 is the daily briefing with your volunteer coordinator at the restaurant to plan the day’s schedule.
10h00 to 12h30 is the morning volunteer duties schedule.
12h30 to 13h30 is time to break for your lunch at the restaurant dining room.
13h30 to 16h00 is the afternoon volunteer duties and late feeding schedule for many of the animals.
16h00 back to your room to freshen up and relax- or chat to the others up in the dining room at the restaurant.
17h30 to 18h00 is time for dinner up at the restaurant dining room. The restaurant closes at 20h00 so by then it is time to go back to your room and watch a little TV, chat to other volunteers and staff members who stay onsite and are still up for socialising.