Big 5 Wild and Endangered Species Program

Your flight can arrive anytime on Sunday. Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up from the airport and transferred to Sunrock Guesthouse. Relax, settle in, and enjoy a welcome dinner.

There are two options to get to the project from JNB. You can either choose Road Transfers Only or Fly Transfer.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport shuttle departure point (this is for both road transfers only and fly transfer options).

Road Transfers Only
Shuttle Departure: 07:00 from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
Arrival at Hoedspruit (HDS) around 13:45
Duration: 6-7 hours, including two comfort stops
Pickup at HDS: A member of the volunteer team will met you and transfer you to the project site.

Fly Transfer
The shuttle from Sunrock Guesthouse runs every 30 minutes, ensuring a smooth transfer to your next flight.
You will board your domestic flight from Johannesburg (JNB) to Hoedspruit (HDS).
Pickup at HDS: A member of the volunteer team will meet you and transfer you to the project site.

Elephant Monitoring
Makalali introduced elephants in 1994 and 1996 and was the first reserve to have intact family groups relocated to it. The reserve was also the first to take part in the Elephant Contraception Program, headed by Audrey Delsink from the Humane Society International, in order to regulate its total elephant population. Makalali understands the importance of alternative population controls other than culling and translocation. The program started in 2000 and is the longest running of its kind; it is the benchmark on which all other similar projects are based. This is a pioneering study and it is important that we continue to monitor the elephant herds as Makalali has the most extensive and longest continuing database of elephants on contraception in the world.

Our monitoring of the elephants involves recording their movements to determine daily and seasonal ranging patterns. We also observe and record long term behavioural aspects, focusing primarily on herd/bull associations and sexual behaviours. Elephants are a key-stone species and require constant information collection for effective management decision making.

Lion Monitoring
The monitoring of our lion population is done to assess their movements, behaviour and predator-prey interactions. Lions, like elephants, are key-stone species and, within restricted wild environments, require constant monitoring to assist with management interventions when required. Interventions are done to vary genetic diversity within the population and to control population size. Makalali has participated with various population control methods and research. Contraception of lions has been used and studied within this reserve. Lions are prolific breeders and between 1995 and 2007, 89 lions were born at Makalali. Numbers however need to be kept between 20 and 30.

Hyena Monitoring
Makakali reserve is host to both species of Hyena; brown and spotted. The Spotted hyena are superior in numbers and are a very important species for the effective functioning of this eco-system. They provide the cleaning up of carcasses, as well as being effective hunters. We monitor den sites and activity and ID specific individuals to track interaction and behaviour. We also monitor the ratio of scavenging to hunting and how this impacts on the prey species.

The brown hyena are very rare and sightings of them are met with great excitement.

Leopard Monitoring
We closely monitor the locations of leopards to determine territory extent as well as creating and updating ID kits to monitor individuals and determine total population size. As with all predators, we also monitor prey selection and reproductive behaviour to effectively assist the reserve management.

In 2014, Siyafunda teamed up with the Panthera Leopard Research Project, who are monitoring and determining the leopard population in the area. This project is planned to continue for the next 10 years. Working in conjunction with the Endangered Species Project you will assist with the setting and monitoring of camera traps during the key months of February and March.

Buffalo Monitoring
Makalali Game Reserve has not had free roaming buffalo on the land for over 100 years. In 2009 the reserve re-introduced 8 disease free buffalo into a 400 hectare breeding camp, 10 years later in 2019 the population has grown to 52 buffalo. They were released into the open system in June 2019. Siyafunda will be monitoring the buffalo very closely as they integrate into the larger reserve and will be interacting for the first time with predators. It is an exciting and nerve racking development. Greater Makalali now has free-roaming big 5.

Camera Trap Projects & Habitat Work
Siyafunda deploys camera traps through out the reserve to monitor leopards and the other more secretive animals that in habit Makalali Nature Reserve. We work with Panthera.org and Minnesota University for these two camera trap projects.

Habitat Rehabilitation
Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist in ongoing habitat rehabilitation initiatives in the reserve, including erosion control, the construction of rock gabions, brush-packing and re-seeding.

Monday
Project start day. Town trip to pick up volunteers and restock on supplies.

Tuesday
Early start on a set-route drive as part of the game counting program to determine populations of general game. In the afternoon, depart for a monitoring drive to locate one of the projects key species of interest; lion, elephant, leopard or hyena.

Wednesday
Waterhole monitoring in the morning to determine species utilization of the area. Set off for a drive in the afternoon to the breeding boma to monitor the buffalo, Livingstone eland and nyala.

Thursday
Habitat work; you could be busy with exotic plant removal, erosion control or bush clearing. In the afternoon or evening, head out on hyena monitoring and night patrol.

Friday
Early morning start, go out to locate elephants as part of the ongoing research into the elephant contraception program. The afternoon set out to monitor bird species on the way to a sleep out under the stars with the Endangered Species project.

Saturday
Habitat work in the morning, followed by an afternoon monitoring drive focusing on the lion population. On return in the evening, you may head out to the local pub or have a typical South African braai (BBQ).

In between activities, volunteers will receive a series of presentations on the work of the project, or how to approach dangerous game on foot, or possibly even a presentation on Rhino Poaching lesson. This time will also be used to transfer all data collected onto the computers and compile the weekly research report, as well as helping out with vehicle checks and cleaning.

Please note that from time to time there can be unavoidable changes to projects. These can be caused by weather, conservation priorities, materials supply, or because ongoing projects have progressed more quickly or slowly than originally planned. We ask you to accept the changes - we are sure that you will enjoy the replacement projects just as much. This routine is stuck to as best as possible; however, working with animals requires a flexible schedule. The above outline is subject to change

Sunday
Either an outing will be planned or it will be a free day for volunteers to relax or head out on their own tour. When you have free time, it’s not recommended to stay at the camp because the rangers have their off duty.

As the nature of the work varies we will place volunteers under the supervision of various staff members / Rangers to facilitate the smooth operation of the volunteers stay and provide guidance where necessary.

Airport pick-up
1 nights accommodation at Sun Rock Guest House or similar (including Welcome Dinner and breakfast)
Return transfers between Johannesburg and the project (either Road Transfers Only or Flight Transfer)
Accommodation
Three meals a day (on project)
24-hour support and supervision
Donation to the project
Certificate of appreciation

Minimum age of 18
CV/Resumé
Basic level of competency in English
Medium level of fitness
Acceptance subject to availability

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.