Big 5 Conservation Volunteer Highlights

The Big 5 Conservation project in South Africa has been built on the principle of Conservation Through Community and volunteers help play a vital role in achieving this. 

Conservation Impact

Volunteers are at the heart of wildlife conservation, from species tracking and monitoring to habitat restoration.

One of the key conservation efforts has been rhino monitoring surveys, helping to ensure these magnificent animals remain safe within the reserve. 

Some of the shy animals on the reserve are rarely directly observed in the field, so volunteers play a crucial role in camera trap monitoring, gathering valuable data on animal behaviour and movements of endangered species and elusive mammals like brown hyenas and aardvark. 

Another essential tool for wildlife research is tracking collars, which volunteers have helped fit on lions, rhinos, and cheetahs, providing critical insights for conservation efforts.

The reserve has recently increased in size and the elephants are among the many species benefiting from increased space. A long-term study which was launched in 2023 is helping to understand elephant movements, social dynamics, and feeding patterns, ensuring their well-being while contributing to broader conservation knowledge.

Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, data collected during 2024 included:

• 3,628 elephant sightings recorded
• 472 research hours logged
• 199 dung samples analysed

While land expansion is a huge step forward, it comes with challenges. One of the biggest being invasive alien plant species that disrupt the ecosystem. To restore balance, volunteers have removed 6,275 invasive plants and cleared four trailer loads of prickly pear this year. Thank you for your hard work!

Community Engagement

Volunteers have made a lasting impact, enriching local communities and creating brighter futures. Through school visits, children not only learn new skills but also gain knowledge about wildlife, conservation, and the environment. It is heartwarming that volunteers often leave just as inspired as the students after their lessons.

Creating safe and functional learning spaces is just as important as education itself. To support this, volunteers have:

• Painted ECD (Early Childhood Development) centres
• Installed windows at schools
• Donated food, toys, and school supplies

This has sparked renewed enthusiasm in both children and their educators. 

Volunteers have helped to maintain community vegetable gardens which provide fresh vegetables to vulnerable households, ensuring fresh food for families in need. Volunteers have also supported soup kitchens, helping to feed young children who are the future conservationists of South Africa.

In addition to supporting education and food security, volunteers contribute in various other ways, from assisting with sports sessions in the community to helping with domestic animal care. Their efforts, whether assisting with coaching rugby and soccer or providing care for pets, bring valuable support and enthusiasm to local families.

Volunteer Spotlight

There has been some incredible feedback:

"What an experience, a truly eye opening two weeks spent here. An amazing crew, friendly, talented and understanding. The reserve is beautiful and each and every animal within it. The people within the community are so full of light and love, it really makes you grateful for what you have. Will definitely be coming again!" – Emily (UK)

"Thank you so much for everything! The three weeks have been an amazing experience. I am so grateful for all the kind and inspiring people I met. I have learned so much from all of you. Everyday has been great. I have just been happy with you. I loved spending time in the community and the reserve. It was great to see all of the animals and getting in touch with the community of events like the Rhino Run. Everybody is doing such a good job here!" – Zoe (Germany)

Why not experience all this for yourself? 

Make a difference with hands-on conservation work while supporting local communities, with your time and energy directly impacting wildlife protection. Head to our project page to find out more - https://www.podvolunteer.org/projects/big-5-conservation.