Ecological Reserve uMkhanyakude District Municipality, South Africa

5.0
(16 reviews)16

Help save the last hippos on Lake Sibaya!

Top Host
This host receives lots of worldpackers and has a high average rating, being recognized by the community as a Top Host.
Help a sustainable project
13 travelers confirmed that this host is actively contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone!
Higher chance of approval
This host has recently approved volunteers and is looking for more applications.
Connect with nature
16 travelers recommend this experience for reconnecting with nature
Expand your environmental consciousness
14 travelers felt they returned from this experience with a greater environmental consciousness
Accepts couples and pairs of volunteers
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What you offer

20h

Hours per week
Help out and collaborate with your host only a few hours per week.
Painting & Decorating
Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing
Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Animal Care
Help look after and take care of animals.
Additional Fee
This host charges a fee in addition to the cost of the Worldpackers annual plan.

Additional fee required

This host charges an additional fee to the cost of the Worldpackers annual plan for the sustainability of the project and the quality of the experience for volunteers. Learn more.

Amount

US$ 85

Per week

Fee pays for

  • Benefits for travelers
  • Materials for volunteer activities

Description

Contribution is for daily living cost such as meals, accommodation, transport

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What you get

3

Days off per week
Have some time off for yourself, go explore the city or rest for a while.
Private Room
You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Tent
You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.
Breakfast
You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch
You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner
You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Basic Internet Access
Basic speed internet for you to work remotely
Use our equipped kitchen
Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Discounts on Restaurants
Get discounts at nearby restaurants.
Discounts on Tours
Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.
Discounts on Accommodation
Get discounts for your stay in other hostels.
Free Tours
We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Free Hiking Tours
We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Get free drinks or beverages.
Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.
Free Parties
Get free entrance for the best parties in town.
Pub Crawls
Be a part of our pub crawls at local bars!
Language lessons
Take free language classes at our place.
Pick Up
We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Certificate
Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.
Support
Get help from the Worldpackers support team in case you need it, at any point of your trip.
Verified Host
This host has been verified by our team before joining the community.
WP Safeguard
Did something not go as planned? Contact our team.
Learn more
Learn more

Availability

Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Stay at least
2 weeks
Stay up to
12 weeks

The Experience

Our project is located in a remote part of South Africa on the Elephant Coast , bordering the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park, an UNESCO World Heritage site for biodiversity and natural beauty. Our camp is next to Lake Sibaya, South Africa's biggest fresh water lake, filled with hippo and crocodile. At the moment we are updating the species list, this is a continuous project with the aim to compile detailed species list .Training is provided.

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Requirements

  • Fluent English or Beginner English
  • Between 20 and 35 years old
  • Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
  • Be from outside South Africa

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Talk to those who have lived the experience

In our community, you can talk to worldpackers who have already collaborated with this host and get your questions answered directly.

You can ask things like:

  • a) How was your experience with this host?
  • b) How was your day-to-day routine?
  • c) How much did you spend on this trip?

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16 Reviews

5.0

Host & Team

5.0

Hours & Tasks

5.0

Ecological Reserve

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

How this experience will transform you

  • 16 Get in touch with nature
  • 14 Developing environmental awareness
  • 11 Meeting international travelers
  • 11 Meeting locals
  • 11 Learning about sustainability
  • 9 Immersing in the local culture

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

  • 13 15. Life on land
  • 5 13. Climate action
  • 5 14. Life below water
  • 1 7. Affordable and clean energy

Netherlands

5

Lake the reserve became like a second home for me. Pieter and Cam are amazing hosts and the place is beautiful!!! The task of identifying species is very chill and easy, which makes the experience really enjoyable. I discovered a lot of plants and animals that I did not know existed, so that was really cool. The location is an experience. The rooms scattered around the property, the beautiful outdoor shower and the endless amount of fruit and nut trees you keep discovering are great. Besides that, the occasional gamedrive and beach trip complete te experience. I woul definitely come again!!!

16 days ago

Brazil

5

I spent four weeks in this real immersion in nature, with wonderful people and learning about the ecosystem of the place. Thank you for the experience ✨️

about 1 month ago

Austria

5

Loved the Location, the purpose & the people! Live becomes slow here but time flies fast. I will miss this special place :)

3 months ago

Germany

5

I spend three lovely weeks with Pieter and the other locals and volunteers at the Winterdodgers Camp and enjoyed it a lot. It is a very relaxed place where you can spend lots of time however you want. During the day I did many walks in the nature with the people there and learned so much about it. So if you're interested in South African wildlife, ecology and biodiversity I would highly recommend this place :)

4 months ago

United States

5

I had a wonderful experience being a part of this project. It was in a beautiful and remote location with stunning landscapes and so much to discover. The volunteer work was to go on walks everyday and identify different plant, insect, and animal species that you find in the area. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, learned so so much, and even might've found a new career path. Peter was great and very helpful whenever I had questions and I would highly recommend this experience!

5 months ago

View all

About the host

  • • Recently Online

Hosted by Pieter

Top Host
This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.
Response Rate
This host usually answers to 90% of the messages
Response Time
This host usually writes back in 1 day

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