What do you do on Wildlife conservation projects

January 14, 2016 By Xtreme Gap

With multiple wildlife conservation projects in Africa, like our Wildlife conservation experience it can lead you on to wonder what you do during your time on these programs.

Well generally you learn about Africa’s wildlife, ecosystems and nature but it’s how you learn about this that is really interesting. Because you go out on the reserve every single day, with a trained ranger to go and study the animals and learn all about them.

There is scientific study involved in it, but not always. Sometimes you just go out for a drive in the specially adapted game Ranger vehicles to have a look around and see what you see.En route the guide will tell you all there is to know about the wildlife. What you do day-to-day really changes depending on the needs of the reserve. You might be tasked with mending fences, relocating animals doing game counts all kinds of things. No matter what you do end up doing, your contribution will be very helpful in maintaining the reserves, and the balance of the ecosystem throughout.

What you do day-to-day really changes depending on the needs of the reserve. You might be tasked with mending fences, relocating animals doing game counts all kinds of things. No matter what you do end up doing, your contribution will be very helpful in maintaining the reserves, and the balance of the ecosystem throughout.

We were fortunate to go out with the Xtreme Gap Year group on the reserve and shadow them on a daily activity. It was really exciting, because it was the first day for a new group who had freshly arrived the reserve the evening before. Due to their remote nature of wildlife conservation projects, it can take a little bit of time to get used to your new surroundings. Especially when you are aware of the fact that you are in the heart of the African bush. All of our wildlife conservation

Due to their remote nature of wildlife conservation projects, it can take a little bit of time to get used to your new surroundings. Especially when you are aware of the fact that you are in the heart of the African bush. All of our wildlife conservation projects, are located inside the game reserves. That means the wild animals, are free to roam around the compound where you are based.

It’s not unusual, for our volunteers to be enjoying a barbecue in the evening, and the smell of the meat to attract hyenas and lion right up to the fence!

At this point, you are certainly very glad that there is a fence, but to be so close to these animals is such a privilege.

Private game reserves, in South Africa, can cover huge distances. Generally speaking, most are converted farmlands, which have been returned, or are in the process of being returned back to their natural state. The owners of the reserves have imported stocks of wild animals, but these have to be monitored to ensure that there is the correct balance of predator and prey within the ecosystem. Usually wildlife conservation projects employ volunteers to go out and do the game counts, usually done by specialist vehicle. Sometimes you are out on foot, always with a qualified ranger guide, who would be appropriately armed just in case.

You get very active on wildlife conservation projects. It can involve physical labor, like mending fences, and long hours because you get up early before the sun has come up to get the best of the game viewing.

As each reserve is different, if you want a genuine insight into what it’s like on a game reserve, contact a travel adviser at Xtreme Gap Year we will happily give you further information as to what you can do.

You can see more wildlife conservation projects here.