African Wildlife Photography And Conservation Highlights

The highlights

• Improve your wildlife photography skills in a 3 day intensive course taught by an award winning professional photographer
• Spend many hours in the bush, taking pictures of the Big 5 on game drives
• Learn and photograph smaller species of flora and fauna
• Help to create a photo database for awareness and educational purposes
• Help raise awareness in the local community about the importance of conservation
• Immerse yourself in the local Zulu culture
• Make friends for life

Optional activities and excursions

It would be unforgiveable to be living in such stunning scenery without exploring your surroundings! Here are some of the highlights for you to do in your spare time at weekends. These are not included in your volunteering fee, but our coordinators are able to assist you with making the necessary booking arrangements:

• 4 day photographic workshop in the Drakensberg Mountains (R4600)
• Weekend trips to swim with Dolphins in Mozambique (R3 200)
• Visit the rugged scenery of Swaziland and experience the cultural heritage (R3 000)
• Game drives to the Tembe Elephant park, home to the largest Tuskers in Southern Africa and living with the Tonga people (R1950)
• Weekend trips to the seaside town of St Lucia to do Whale Watching (seasonal), to spend time on the beach or take a boat trip to see Hippos and Crocodiles up close R300).
(N.B Prices are a rough guideline and are likely to fluctuate)

Where will I sleep?

During your placement you will stay in comfortable twin cabins set in the Game Reserve overlooking a water hole commonly visited by the animals in the park. There is a large communal thatched building with areas to dine, relax, watch the animals or to take a dip in the swimming pool. The accommodation is staffed with cooks and cleaners and all bed linen is provided. You can spend the evenings sat around a fire under the stunning African sky or chatting on the viewing deck to see what animals visit the area as night falls.

How do I get there and travel around?

The nearest airport to the Game Reserve is Durban. There are daily flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Durban and these can be booked on:

www.flightsite.com; www.kulula.co.za; www.1time.co.za; www.flysaa.com; www.flymango.co.za;

You will be met as you enter the terminal building and driven for 3 hours back to the reserve. Whilst on your project you will be transported by our team and park rangers and guides.

Note: You will be picked up from the airport at 1.30p.m on the Sunday before the photography training course starts, if you are unable to arrive before this time please organize your flight to arrive on the Saturday. We will be happy to recommend overnight accommodation if required.

What does the cost include?

• A contribution to the Thanda foundation which acts as a conduit for the raising of funds for community development projects as well as for conservation research initiatives.
• Funding educational materials for the schools and tools for conservation work.
• Return transport between Durban Airport and Thanda Game Reserve.
• Orientation program, including a photography course administered by an experienced photographer.
• All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay.
• Full board and lodging, which includes 3 meals a day at our volunteer house.
• Assistance at your projects by African Impact staff and volunteer coordinators
• Laundry service available at a cost - R60 for 15 items

A day in the life

Here is an example of the activities you may do as a wildlife photography volunteer on a typical day. Please note that your itineraries may differ from this, depending on your own experience and the number of other volunteers on the placement at the same time; this is simply to give an example:

• 05:30 - Get up and get ready for your morning drive
• 06:00 – Depending on the schedule you will head off to the photography area for that day on a game drive to capture photographs of the wildlife, landscapes or people around the area
• 09:30 – Return for breakfast and to edit your photographs
• 12:30 – Lunchbreak.
• 14.00 - Start of your afternoon projects. You may be working on adding your new pictures to the database, or you may work on a conservation activity or education in the local community
• 18.30 - Dinner at your volunteer house. After dinner, you may be presenting your top 5 images to the other volunteers