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| Viewing: Volunteer for Meerkat Research in South Africa |
Package ID: 1626 |
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| Volunteer for Meerkat Research in South Africa |
You can be a part of one of the only meerkat research volunteer projects in South Africa. Based near Lesotho, volunteers live and work on a beautiful game reserve surrounded by wildlife.
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What You'll Experience
Working closely with various colonies of these incredible animals is a truly special experience! Volunteers will experience life as part of a meerkat colony as wild groups of meerkats are habituated to human presence and accept people in their lives as just another part of their landscape.
Meerkats seeking a high point from which to perform sentinel duty will often choose the head of a seated person and this closeness to the cogs of life in nature’s wheel is priceless.
Working with meerkats introduces people to the astonishing diversity of subterranean life that is dug up during a meerkat day of foraging leading to an increased knowledge of the importance of conserving what is left of natural habitats. Being involved in the rich social life of a meerkat family is enormously rewarding.
Duties include:
Data capture
Behavioral observation
Mapping territories
Habituating new groups
Educating the surrounding community on issues that meerkat populations face
At least once a week, we will visit a nearby orphanage to help with maintenance (painting etc) and get to meet and help with the kids.
The Team
You will be hosted by Wendy and Shelton. Two meerkat specialists with extensive experience in meerkat habituation and conservation. Wendy has lived and walked with meerkats for two years in Springbok (South Africa) and the Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana). One of her greatest achievements is the many hours she has served as a meerkat sentinel post! The daily scent marking that she undergos by the dominant male is testimony to the fact that she completely accepted within the meerkat family.
Her research has been documented in “Meerkat Adventures with Nigel Marven” on Animal Planet and in South Africa’s nature program 50/50. She has published two articles on meerkats in Africa Geographic September 2005 (“Meerkats of the Makgadikgadi”) and Diversions September 2006 (“Meerkat Moments”). Shelton Khanyoka has a rich background of habituating wild animals and working with film crews on National Geographic documentary film productions.
Accommodation and Surrounds
The project is currently based at Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve, a beautiful undiscovered piece of nature hidden in the Eastern Free State. Bordering on the Lesotho mountains, and at the base of one of South Africa’s highest mountains, Moolmanshoek is a private game farm home to herds of zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, ostriches and of course- a large density of meerkats. The main house is an original sandstone structure teaming with history and character. Volunteers stay in Wendy’s cosy cottage on the farm property, equipped with braai (barbeque) facilities and a fantastic view of the mountain! Two meals a day are provided (Breakfast and Dinner) and you can help yourself to lunch.
Farm activities include hikes into the mountains, a natural waterslide made up of seven crystal clear pools and visits to ancient cave paintings. The farm is also home to over 200 hundred horses and Wiesman will happily take you on a ride as he has horses to suit all capabilities.
The Free State is well known for its space and scenery. The land is relatively flat, but interspersed with flat-topped mountains and kopjies (rocky hills). There are plenty of gorgeous little towns packed with old antique shops and homely pubs near the farm. The area is full of interesting local communities including a sangoma (witchdoctor) following.
The nearest large town is Ficksburg and you will be able to buy your supplies here on weekly trips.
Necessary Skills
Apart from a positive, open minded enthusiasm you will need to be relatively patient and happy to spend long periods of time in the field. Being moderately physically fit will ensure you enjoy a project to the fullest as there is often manual labour involved.
Work Hours
Work hours will vary with weather and meerkat behavior. Generally we will be up before the sun hits the burrow and spend the morning with the group of meerkats. We may take a packed lunch or return to the base for lunch. In the afternoon we will stay with the group until they go into their burrows for the night.
We work a full week and volunteers will have one day off per week (or two half days off). That means that you will have time to explore the area and catch up on your sun-bathing.
Outdoors work is dependent on weather conditions and if they are not agreeable, we may have to swop off-days to get the work done.
Not included in price
International Flights
Travel Insurance
Visas For South Africa
Alcoholic beverages
Curios
Any costs associated with extra activities
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