Samara Private Game Reserve in South Africa is a hub of conservation and animal re-introduction efforts in the Great Karoo basin. As a volunteer you will work on ongoing wildlife research and management projects, as well as assist with community development and environmental education programmes. Come and get your hands dirty in a unique South African bush experience!
The volunteer programme offers you the opportunity to experience the incredible and unique landscape of the Great Karoo and contribute to the conservation of this land and the many plants and animals it supports. Samara’s vision is to re-introduce the large diversity of animals that roamed these plains prior to European settlement 200 years ago. By volunteering at Samara you are making a valuable contribution to this ambitious and worthy cause. The programme has been designed with a strong focus on learning and hands-on involvement in the field. All fieldwork and projects are preceded by a background talk so that you have a better understanding of the significance and importance of the work you are doing. There are various ongoing land rehabilitation and wildlife research projects taking place at Samara in collaboration with conservation organisations and universities, and as part of the Samara research team volunteers will have the opportunity to make valuable contributions to these projects. We teach volunteers to be competent in all required field techniques, meaning the data collected can be used by management and affiliated organisations. Samara is also home to the SACT Tracking Academy, run by one of only two Master Trackers in South Africa. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to join the tracker students for a day in the field, seeing how they follow animals and interpret their behavior by the signs they leave behind.
You will leave Samara with a deeper understanding of the bush, as well as useful skills and techniques used in current scientific research, conservation and wildlife management. We also hope you will leave energised by the experience of living so closely with nature.
PROJECTS
The projects you will be involved with at Samara include management and rehabilitation efforts, which involve hands-on reserve work, as well as research projects requiring data collection and analysis. Samara is currently working on several projects in collaboration with The Centre for African Conservation Ecology (ACE) at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth (www.nmmu.ac.za) and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (www.wits.ac.za).
Reserve Management
This forms a large component of your daily activities as a volunteer and you will really get to know your way around all 27 000 hectares of the reserve. Bear in mind that being in reasonable physical shape will make some of these activities a lot easier, but if you’re not in good shape at the beginning of your stay, you will be by the end! Some of the activities you may be involved in during your stay are:
• Animal movement and population demography research – We are developing a database with information on the sex and age ratios of certain animals such as springbok, as well as initiating a project to map the habitat utilisation and movement patterns of various species on the reserve (using GPS).
• Land rehabilitation - Poor farming practices in the past, such as over-stocking and grazing of livestock, have left severe erosion gullies on some parts of the reserve. These areas need to be rehabilitated by means of soil erosion control methods e.g. stone and brush packing and tree planting projects. Volunteers also assist in removing old farm materials such as fence wires from the reserve - these materials can act as snares so their removal is of utmost importance.
• Invasive alien vegetation control.
• Game captures and introductions are periodically scheduled to ensure that the correct sex ratios are maintained and the game stocking level is sustainable in the long-term. Witnessing the suspense and intensity of a large game capture is an amazing experience and a great opportunity to see these beautiful animals up close and personal.
Cheetah Predator-Prey Research Cheetahs are the world’s fastest land animals! The cheetahs introduced at Samara were the first wild cheetahs in this area in 125 years. There are less than 900 cheetah left in the wild in South Africa and Samara has made Cheetah conservation a priority. We are currently investigating the prey preferences of cheetah at Samara, which we will then use to determine how many cheetah the reserve can sustainably support. This information will also be useful to other reserves wanting to introduce cheetah. This research requires tracking radio collared cheetahs from a vehicle and on foot by using telemetry set.
We are also interested in the behavioural response of prey (such as kudu and hartebeest) to the presence/absence of predators such as cheetah. We spend afternoons observing such animals, out of sight, to see how long they spend looking out for predators instead of eating.
Aardvark Project Aardvark are secretive, nocturnal animals that play a very important role in arid eco-systems. The countless burrows they dig are a prominent feature of the Karoo landscape and provide important refuges not only for animals such as porcupines, bushpigs, warthogs, shelducks, springhares and more, but also provide ideal microhabitats for seed germination. Very little is however known about this peculiar animal. In April 2011 we are initiating an Aardvark behavioural physiology research project in collaboration with Wits University, Johannesburg. A small number of Aardvark will be implanted with GPS, activity and body temperature loggers. The information obtained from these internal loggers, combined with behavioural observations, will help us understand more about Aardvark behavioural adaptations to surviving the extreme environmental conditions of the Karoo.
Tracking Academy
The Tracker Academy, a training division of the SA College for Tourism which operates under the auspices of Peace Parks Foundation, is housed at Samara. The one year full-time intensive tracking course, taught by three experienced trainers, is the first of its kind in Southern Africa. The course focuses on developing tracking competency, conservation and life-skills, including literacy and positive health. Samara makes its land available free of charge to the Academy for all its semi-arid practical training sessions, and as part of its charitable donation to the Academy also provides it with accommodation for the trainees as well as indoor training facilities.
Vervet Monkey Research
These small primates belong to a group of monkeys more commonly associated with the forests of tropical Africa. Yet, not only do they survive in the harsh Karoo environment, they positively thrive! This has drawn scientists from around the world to Samara to investigate the key adaptations these monkeys have made to survive in an environment not commonly associated with them. As a volunteer, you will be given the opportunity to learn about their research and accompany the scientists in the field, getting up close and personal with these intriguing little monkeys.
Community Outreach
Conservation also means acknowledging the people who have lived in this area for generations. The majority of Samara staff are employed from the local community. We have developed a relationship with the Vuyani Safe Haven in Graaff Reinet, which cares for girls and boys up to the age of 14 who cannot live at home or who have been removed from their parents by the Courts or social workers. We organise environmental days for the children at Samara, and volunteers are also welcome to donate any new or used clothing, stationery, cash etc. to the Haven. Visit their website at http://vuyanisafehaven.co.za/ It is now possible to volunteer at Vuyani as part of your programme!
It is possible to volunteer from a few days to a few months. Please see the information pack to learn more. This is a wonderful opportunity to have an holistic trip where you contribute to both conservation and the community.
Click here to download the Vuyani Volunteer Programme Information Pack.
Click here to meet the Vuyani Children. Download the Vuyani Application Form.
Other Activities
• Hiking and camping. The mountainous landscape of Samara is ideal for hiking and camping! Spending time disconnected from society and without our everyday luxuries is a very liberating experience and one of the best ways to get to know the bush.
• Educational talks by the reserve manager, rangers and researchers.
• Creating a nursery of plants important for the rehabilitation of the land, which can later be planted on the reserve.
• It is possible to see a portion of the surrounding area on weekends, and through a local tour guide you can take a trip to the ocean, the Addo Elephant National Park, go river rafting or enjoy a cultural tour.
ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES
During your stay you will be living in our volunteer camp. The rooms are comfortable and may be single or shared with one other volunteer, depending on numbers (we have facilities for a maximum of eight students). We happily cater for couples or friends travelling together. There is a fully equipped communal kitchen and meals are cooked by volunteers and co-ordinators in teams. We have a homely relaxing area with couches, limited internet and TV, as well as an outside braai (barbeque) and fire pit overlooking the mountains, where we spend many evenings relaxing and socialising after a day in the field. In summer volunteers are able to swim in the nearby dams and river pools.
Monday to Friday are working days at Samara. The activity times differ in summer and winter but usually consist of a morning and afternoon activity. Weekends are free time where volunteers can relax and recuperate, visit the local town or organise trips to our beautiful east coast (approximately 2½ hours from Samara), where there are endless beaches and fun coastal towns.
The volunteer project is run by Alwyn and Hayley, a young South African couple who are passionate about nature and love to share this passion with others. They both have Honours degrees in Zoology and Environmental Science from the University of Cape Town and are always open to new research ideas. The co-ordinators live at the volunteer camp and are there to make your stay comfortable, interesting and enjoyable.
READ ABOUT US ON THIS TRAVEL BLOG Volunteer Testimonials Download Volunteer programme here
