Volunteer Africa St Lucia photography course South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AND CONSERVATION
St LUCIA, GREATER St LUCIA WETLAND PARK, SOUTH AFRICA

The conservation through photography project will allow volunteers to gain an intimate knowledge and feel for the wildlife of this spectacular area. Photographs taken by volunteers will not only provide them with beautiful images to accompany their amazing memories of their experience but will also aid in the education and involvement of the local community, an essential part of continued conservation efforts in the region. Volunteers will be based in St Lucia, heart of the energetic Zulu community. St Lucia is set in one of the most diverse areas on the planet. Five separate ecosystems make this a truly unique region; in 1999 the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park was honored to be declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.

Location:

St LUCIA, GREATER St LUCIA WETLAND PARK, SOUTH AFRICA

Dates:

Volunteers arrive on a Sunday, the course begins on Tuesday. 2010 arrival dates: - 7 February, 7 March, 4 Aprill, 2 May, 30 May, 27 June, 25 July, 22 August, 19 September, 17 October, 14 November.

Fees:

£1,645 - 4 weeks

Payment:

£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure

Reference:

AV036

Highlights

An opportunity to improve your photography skills through a course taught by an experienced wildlife photographer
Spend many hours in the bush, taking pictures of animals such as rhino, elephant and possibly even leopard
Help to create a photographic database to aid awareness and for educational purposes
Teach local South Africans about the importance of conservation
Get involved in local conservation projects
Immerse yourself in the Zulu culture
Make friends for life

General Information

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park owes its amazing diversity to its position in a large tidal estuary. This creates an environment that varies throughout the seasons with changes in temperature and salinity. Its coastal vantage also means it is a stopping off point for various migrations including that of the Humpback Whale. Five separate ecosystems meet in this protected area measuring over 3,200 km2 and covering 280 km of coastline.

The Wetland Park may be the third largest of the South African parks but it actually contains the most species due to its amazing diversity. As well as the coelacanth, the park is home to the largest population of hippopotami in South Africa, a large population of Nile Crocodiles, over 500 hundred different species of bird, elephants that were reintroduced in 2001 and two different species of sea turtle use the beaches of the region as hatching grounds.

Photography Project

An enthusiasm for photography is essential for this project and although photographic experience and knowledge is helpful, it is not necessary. Volunteers are asked to bring their own photographic equipment including a digital SLR camera with 18-55 mm lens, battery charger and 2 GB memory card.

Pictures of the Month/Year

Every month a panel of professional wildlife photographers will select the best picture, which will be framed and put on the picture wall at the volunteer house. At the end of the year the same jury will select a "picture of the year" with a prize being awarded to the winning photographer.

Picture Database

In order to preserve nature and wildlife, it is essential to get local communities involved. The current educational syllabus lacks a detailed photographic database of the wildlife in the St. Lucia area. In association with the Green Vision Foundation, this project aims to create a complete database that can be used for educational purposes. Volunteers will contribute by taking photographs of as many wildlife species as possible. There will be opportunities to photograph large animals such as elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, as well as smaller creatures such as chameleons, insects, and some of the 521 bird species that call this World Heritage Site home. The best pictures will be included in the database. The project is a unique opportunity to encounter some of Africa's most beautiful animals on a daily basis, to improve photography skills, as well as to contribute to conservational efforts.

Community and Medical Project Database

In order that the fantastic work being done by volunteers on other projects can be recorded, volunteers will sometimes be given the opportunity to join another project for a half day in order to capture images of these volunteers at work. This is an excellent opportunity to practice different types of photography and will provide a visual database of progress. Volunteers can, of course, join in the games with the children - or even do some painting or building!

Conservation Education

To enhance awareness of UNESCO's objectives and methods, as well as conservational efforts in general, it is vital to involve and educate St. Lucia's local community. Volunteers will visit local schools giving lessons and workshops on the reasons for, and methods of, conservation. A conservation education syllabus is followed together with the use of the photography database.

There may also be the opportunity to take local school children and orphans into the bush on field trips as by experiencing the World Heritage Site and its wildlife for themselves the children will better learn to appreciate the area in which they live, and get a better understanding of why conservation is necessary. It will also give them a fun and relaxing day out; something they don't often experience!

Volunteers will also get involved in activities that will broaden their knowledge and experience of conservation, perhaps the regeneration of an area back to its natural state, or planting indigenous trees or working on conservation at a local crocodile centre.

The conservation education ceases during school holidays. During these periods volunteers may be involved in organising field trips and other practical activities for the children.

School Term Dates for 2010:

Term 1: 13 January to 26 March
Term 2: 12 April to 9 June
Term 3: 13 July to 23 September
Term 4: 4 October to 10 December

Weekend activities

These are not included in the project fee but can be paid for at the project:

Game drives into the beautiful Hluhluwe and Umfolozi National Parks - approximately £58/$100
Visits to the beach, and snorkling at Cape Vidal
Whale, dolphin and sea turtle viewing (seasonal) - approximately £60/$100
Hippo and crocodile cruises ont he St Lucia Estuary - approximately £60/$100
Weekend trips to the stunning Phinda Private Game Reserve, Kosi Bay or Mozambique (Mozambique dolphin swim - overnight - approximately £160/$278

A day in the life of a volunteer

7.00am	Get up, eat breakfast and start getting ready to depart for the project**
8.30am	Head off to the photography area for the day and start taking photographs of wildlife. Each day will have a structured focus for the photography - possibly on different animals
12.00pm	Lunch break: volunteers will be picked up and taken to the volunteer house, where lunch will be waiting.
2.00pm	Start of the afternoon projects: this may involve adding new pictures to the database, or perhaps working on a conservation activity with local children.
4.30pm	End of the working day** when volunteers will be picked up from their project and taken home, to evaluate the day and discuss the schedule for the next day.
6.00pm	Dinner at the volunteer house – possibly followed by a few drinks in one of the local bars.

** Morning times and end of day times will vary depending on the area being visited and the best conditions for photography. For example, a day game drive will start much earlier - perhaps at 5.00 am.

This is a typical day but itineraries may differ depending upon the experience and number of volunteers on the project at the same time. This is just an example.

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 volunteers upon booking their placement and further advice and information will be provided via telephone and email before departure. A full orientation programme will be provided on arrival at the project from the project coordinator which entails:

Overview of the aims of the project and the role of volunteers
An introduction to St. Lucia and the surrounding area
An introduction to all the projects – getting to see where other volunteers are working as well as your own location
A basic language course – to learn some basic words and sentences in Zulu, the local language in St. Lucia, so that volunteers can communicate with people in their own language. In addition volunteers will learn some of the local cultural nuances.

Accommodation and Meals

Volunteers will be accommodated at the large and comfortable project house. Situated in the middle of St. Lucia, it is fully furnished with a large lounge, satellite television, a barbecue area, a garden and a swimming pool. The house is staffed with cooks and laundry/cleaning ladies. All bedding is provided although a sleeping bag can sometimes be useful in the colder months (June – September) or if out on excursion. Volunteers should take their own towels. Bedrooms will be shared with up to four people. Members of the project staff will be resident at the house and are always available to answer any questions. It has been found that volunteers living and working together closely with their volunteer co-ordinators is the best way to ensure safety and for this reason volunteers are expected to stay only in the accommodation provided and are not permitted to spend nights away in the town or nearby villages unless they are on pre-arranged excursions.

This accommodation is also home to volunteers on the St Lucia Medical Assistance and Orphan Care and HIV/AIDS Awareness projects and all volunteers will work together on the afternoon community projects.

Three meals a day are provided except for Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch when the cook has time off. Volunteers are then able to sample the local restaurants for dinner and there is a small supermarket or cafe for lunch. Dinner is about £5 - £7 so please allow for this in your budget.

Breakfast is on a help-yourself basis and usually consists of cereals/porridge, toast, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner are full meals, and will be cooked by one of our chefs at the volunteer house. When volunteers leave early in the morning, which is often the best time for pictures, a packed breakfast will be provided.

Getting There

Volunteers should fly into Richards Bay Airport, a forty five minute drive from St. Lucia, where they will be met by a member of the project staff and transferred to the project. Volunteers should ensure that they book their flights to arrive 1-2 days before the photography training course starts on the Sunday.

(There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport - for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel)
Let Amanzi Travel arrange your flights for you

Fees

What is included

A contribution to the project itself including funding for educational materials and tools for conservation work
Transfer from Richards Bay Airport and daily project transfers
3 day photography course taught by an experienced wildlife photographer and an induction to the project
Orientation programme
Laundry and domestic services
All accommodation including 3 meals a day at the volunteer house (excluding Sundays)