South Africa Cheetah Rehabilitation Project Gap Year Career Break volunteer in africa

SOUTH AFRICA CHEETAH REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
PARYS, SOUTH AFRICA

Just over an hour away from the bustling city of Johannesburg you will be greeted by sweeping savannah plains and the smell of the African bush as you enter the Cheetah Breeding and Reintroduction Centre near Parys, South Africa. More than just a cheetah sanctuary, this project enables you to play a vital role in rearing, teaching, and rehabilitating young cheetahs, helping to save and sustain this incredible species. Other skills such as game counts, reserve maintenance, and boundary patrols can be learnt, giving you an all-encompassing insight into Africa, its environment and wildlife.

Location:

PARYS, SOUTH AFRICA

Dates:

Any date throughout the year

Fees:

£1,445 - 4 weeks

Payment:

£180 deposit at time of booking – balance of project fee due 8 weeks before departure

Reference:

AV014

General Information

The cheetah breeding and reintroduction centre is based near Parys, just 100 km south of Johannesburg. It is situated in a 1000-hectare reserve bordering the Vaal River, home to a large number of antelope species as well as white rhino, giraffe, and zebra. In 2001, work with captive-bred cheetahs began, and during the past three years 16 young cheetahs have been successfully bred and raised, ready for release. More needs to be done to counteract the rapidly declining numbers of cheetah in the wild, and the centre aims to do this with their three-phase project, which will see cheetahs released into managed environments that closely resemble their natural habitat.

You are invited to join us in our endeavours to help work with the cheetahs and save this incredible species. The volunteer programme is designed to introduce you to the fascinating world of African wildlife as well as the animals which inhabit it, and to work closely in all aspects of reserve management. It is also possible to work on the reintroduction project, where you will be actively helping in reintroducing cheetahs back into their natural habitat. You will be playing a vital role in raising and teaching the cheetahs (from the age of three months) to prepare them to hunt for themselves, so that the ultimate goal of contributing to the increasing numbers of free-roaming cheetahs can again be realized.

Volunteers will get a large amount of hands on experience with the cheetahs each day. Volunteers are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the cheetah enclosures, exercising them and feeding them. It may even be possible to help hand rear cubs from the age of 3 months. Volunteers will spend a lot of time in the African bush, learning first hand about the wildlife and working on the reserve where the animals roam. There will also be informal lectures on a wider variety of topics, such as animal and plant identification, tracking, astronomy, conservation etc. Volunteers may also get the opportunity to work with the vet when he darts and examines the animals when necessary.

Highlights of the project

Working and interacting with our resident cheetahs every day
Helping to raise our young cheetah cubs (should there be any when you arrive)
Making a difference in the lives of many different species through the maintenance and improvement of the reserve
Exploring and discovering the African bush
You may even have the chance to help the wildlife vet in darting, capturing, and examining the animals
Making friends both with the local community and your fellow volunteers

A day in the life of a volunteer:

7.00am	Cleaning the cheetah enclosures and running the cheetahs to exercise them and to provide stimulation
8.30am	Breakfast
9.15am	Volunteer meeting
9.30am	Morning duties, which could be a game count, a boundary patrol, or the removal of alien invader plant species
1.00pm	Lunch
2.00pm	Afternoon duties, which could include reserve maintenance, working with cheetahs, or creating firebreaks
4.00pm	Cheetah feeding
5.00pm	Free time to socialise and eat dinner. We may also do night drives or other activities during this time

Volunteers should be prepared for the daily programme to change at short notice to meet the needs of the project. Activities may vary depending upon the experience of the volunteers on the project.

Additional activities (£15 for all three activities in one day)

Abseiling
River Rafting
Quad Biking

The following are about 2 hours drive from the reserve and will therefore include an additional £30 for the transfers:

Apartheid Museum - £4 pp
Elephant Sanctuary - £45 pp (includes walking with the elephants and lunch)
Rhino and Lion Lodge - £8 pp
Gold Reef City Theme Park - £8 pp
Lesedi Cultural Village - £25 (includes a tour and lunch)
Vredefort Dome Tour - £15 pp, half day/ £35 pp, full day
Sterkfontein Caves - £4 pp
Arts and Crafts/ Curio market

Support

Support and advice is available from your Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.

Find out more about Amanzi Travel support

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all our volunteers upon booking their trip and further advice and information will be provided via telephone and email before departure. A full orientation will be provided when you arrive at the project by the local support team including information on the current status of the projects and familiarizing you with the local surroundings.

Accommodation and Meals

You will be staying in a specially designed volunteer house, which is situated near one of the reserve’s rivers. It is very comfortable and cleaned on a regular basis. There is a games room, and several areas to relax and socialise in, such as an outdoor braai (BBQ) area. There is also a swimming pool and sun loungers. The closest town is Parys, 18km away.

Meals

You will receive 3 meals a day at the volunteer house where you are staying.

Getting There

Fly into Johannesburg International Airport where you will be met by la member of staff and taken to the project base.
(There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport - for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel)

Let Amanzi Travel help you arrange your flights

Project Fees

What is included

Airport transfers from Johannesburg Airport
Full on site orientation and support from project staff
Daily transport to and from project if required
All accommodation including three meals a day
Laundry service
All wildlife and conservation education during your stay. If there are talks or lectures organised during your stay you will be welcome to attend at no additional cost
The additional activities we offer during your stay, such as a visit to Kruger National Park and camping out under the stars
Program Fee – This is the large bulk of the program cost and finances all aspects of the cheetah breeding and reintroduction work