CONSERVATION EDUCATION THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
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 honoured to be declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.

General Information

St. Lucia is located in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (formerly known as the St Lucia Wetland Park), a beautiful area which is felt by many to be Africa’s premier bush-and-beach destination. St Lucia is a stunning and ecologically diverse area encompassing almost half a million acres, where five different eco-systems join, and where you find savannahs, wetlands, swamps, beaches, and a great wealth of wildlife. The area is home to the Zulu tribe, a group of people with a very lively and colourful culture. St Lucia is a delightful town within walking distance of the beach. This impressive setting offers an opportunity to photograph the phenomonal wildlife in the area, and to help raise awareness in the local community about the importance of conservation.

Creating a Picture

Conservation of nature and wildlife needs the support of the local community.   What is currently needed is a detailed photographic database of the wildlife in the St Lucia area.  Volunteers will work in association with the Green Vision Foundation to create a complete database to be used for educational purposes.  Volunteers will help by taking photographs of as many wildlife species as possible, photographing  large animals such as elephant, buffalo, rhino, 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, and perhaps even published in magazines and/or books. 

This 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.

Conservation Education

The aim of this initiative is to increase awareness of UNESCO’s objectives and methods, as well as conservation efforts in general.  To do this  it is essential to involve and educate St. Lucia’s local community. Volunteers will visit local schools and community centres, and give classes and workshops that educate the local community on the importance of conservation.

In addition, volunteers will accompany local school children and orphans into the bush on field trips. By experiencing the World Heritage Site and its wildlife themselves, the children will learn to appreciate the area they live in, and get a better understanding of educational efforts. It will also provide them with a fun and relaxing day out, something they don’t experience often!

Project Highlights

• Improve photography skills with the help of an experienced wildlife photographer
• Spend many hours in the bush, taking pictures of animals such as rhino, elephant, and leopard
• Help create a photo database for educational purposes
• Teach local South Africans about the essence of conservation
• Immerse yourself in the local Zulu culture

• Make new friends for life!

South Africa Travel Highlights (optional - not included in the project fee)

• Game drives in the beautiful Hluhluwe and Umfolozi National Parks
• Visits to the beach, and snorkling at Cape Vidal
• Whale, dolphin and sea turtle viewing
• Deep sea fishing
• Sunset cruises on the St. Lucia Estuary
• Weekend trips to Kruger National Park or Mozambique

A day in the life of a volunteer (guide only)

"I truly loved this program… all I can really remember is being inordinately happy in Africa. I think the photography project is developing in an extremely positive direction.”
Janet Wu, USA

“I think spending a month photographing the natural beauty of this area has shown me that there are parts of the world that are actually untouched, something that is sometimes hard to believe in America. But what has really had the greatest impact on me is meeting so many people from so many
different walks of life, people with very different priorities and outlooks. I was really moved by all the people who are inspired to make a difference in the world. I think this particular project provides an unbelievable experience for volunteers, I think the program is brilliant. I am so entirely grateful this is
how I spent my summer.”
Anne Rhett, USA

“I LOVED IT ALL!  The experience re-energized me TREMENDOUSLY! It dramatically reminded me of how much I have…and how much I love helping others…meeting new people…new adventures…seeing new places/things.”
Jim Lavin, USA

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 will be provided on arrival at the project from the project coordinator which entails:

• An introduction to St. Lucia and its area
• An introduction to wildlife photography by and experienced wildlife photographer
• An introduction to all the projects and locations
• 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.
• A visit to a rural area to get a good idea of how local people live

Accommodation and Meals

Volunteers will be accommodated at the large and comfortable project house. Situated in the middle of St. Lucia, it is a fully furnished house with a large lounge, satellite television, a barbecue area, a garden, a swimming pool, and a jacuzzi. 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). Bedrooms will be shared with up to four people. The project coordinator is resident in the house and is always available to answer any questions.

Three meals a day are provided. 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.

Getting There

The nearest airport to St. Lucia is Richards Bay Airport, which is about a fourty five minutes drive from St. Lucia. You will be met at the airport by one of our project staff and transferred to the project. There are daily flights from Johannesburg Airport to Richards Bay through www.flysax.com

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

Project Fees

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