Elephants Group Trip 🐘

Requirements:

✔ Intermediate English

✔ Over 18 years old

✔ Accepts Solo & Couples

What the volunteer has to do?

25 hours per week of the following:

✔ Research Lab

✔ Filling Data

✔ Observing Elephants 

• Sunday:
Arriving at George Airport in South Africa, and from there a private bus that belongs to the reserve will take us to buy food and necessities from the supermarket, then directly we're off to the reserve.

• Monday - Friday Morning:
Volunteering with Elephants;
The working day starts at 7:00 and ends at 17:30. Throughout the week, there are only four and a half days of work (work on Fridays until 10:30).

During the volunteering period, you will participate in all behind-the-scenes activities in each wildlife reserve, including:

✔ Assisting in elephant care; preparing and feeding animal meals, and building animal toys.
✔ General maintenance; repairing and painting the reserve, among other tasks.
✔ Cleaning the reserve and sleeping areas for the elephants.
✔ Participating in scientific research on the behavior and nature of elephants, managed by the reserve. Also, assisting in funding the research by making paper from elephant dung (XD).

The elephants you will work closely with are a herd consisting of 10 elephants. Certainly, no prior experience is needed. The tasks assigned to you will be supervised by a staff member from the reserve and a comprehensive explanation will be provided.

• On Monday and Thursday, there are spiritual sessions or there might be any other activity.

• Friday:
Bungee jumping, and a one-night tour and stay at Tenikwa Wildlife Centre:

✔ A guided tour about the reserve and its animals (lions, tigers, cheetahs, etc.).
✔ Preparing dinner for lions and various wild cats and assisting in reserve tasks.
✔ Dinner meal at the reserve for volunteers.
✔ Sleeping at the reserve in front of the lion enclosure.

• Saturday:
Breakfast in Tenikwa Wildlife Centre and then shopping at Plettenberg Bay.

• Sunday:
Going to George Airport with the reserve team and from the airport coming back home.

✔ Over 18 years old.
✔ Intermediate English proficiency for communication (you will need to interact and speak with officials on a daily basis).
✔ Social engagement.
✔ Full respect and always listening to Lana.
✔ Commitment to volunteering schedules at the reserve.
✔ Respect for reserve team and listening to them.
✔ Adherence to the reserve's rules.
✔ Seriousness and dedication to work.
✔ Commitment to the program and event schedules.
✔ Acceptance of others and adaptation to circumstances (sleeping arrangements, culture, weather conditions, type of work).
✔ Ability to work in all conditions - working with elephants is an outdoor and sometimes physically demanding activity, so be prepared for any weather conditions. A large part of our work involves a lot of walking, so some physical fitness is required.
✔ Love for animals, eagerness to learn about elephants.
✔ Respect for participants and volunteers, whether local or international.
✔ Acceptance of cultural differences, freedom, and lifestyles of the volunteers, whether local or international.
✔ Enthusiasm, dedication, and energy to participate in all activities or work, and of course, love for elephants and wildlife and a spirit of giving.
✔ Representing Palestine.
✔ Excellent representation of HomeAwe and maintaining a good reputation.
✔ It is the participant's responsibility to know all the details related to Visa (entry permit) and Passport before registering.
✔ If your Passport does not allow you to travel to South Africa without a visa, of course, you cannot register and participate unless you are able to obtain a Visa.

Important Note: Not complying to these conditions or causing problems within the group or at the reserve will require the participant to leave the reserve at their own responsibility and expense. There will be no possibility of refunding the participation fees.
You will be banned from entering the reserve and legally you will be expelled from the reserve or even participating with HomeAwe indefinitely.

Included:

✔ Airport PickUp & DropOff
✔ Free Use of Kitchen (we will buy our own groceries & cook for together)
✔ Bed in a Shared Room
✔ 1 Work T-shirts & 1 Jacket on Arrival

❌ Food
❌ Flights Tickets
❌ Travel/Health Insurance

• Friday:
Bungee jumping, and a one-night tour and stay at Tenikwa Wildlife Centre:

✔ A guided tour about the reserve and its animals (lions, tigers, cheetahs, etc.).
✔ Preparing dinner for lions and various wild cats and assisting in reserve tasks.
✔ Dinner meal at the reserve for volunteers.
✔ Sleeping at the reserve in front of the lion enclosure.

• Saturday:
Breakfast in Tenikwa Wildlife Centre and then shopping at Plettenberg Bay.

Volunteers will stay in a building called "The BunkHouse", located within the reserve. It is close to the elephant sleeping areas and the rooms of the team responsible for volunteers and the elephants. The area is very safe and surrounded by an electric fence.
In The BunkHouse, there are 5 rooms, each with 2-3 beds (shared rooms) and each room has its own bathroom and a large wardrobe. There is a shared kitchen and living room (with a TV), as well as a barbeque area overlooking the park. WiFi is available in all rooms.

• Shared rooms and bathrooms - males in a shared accommodation and females in another shared accommodation.

It's important to mention that the fees does not cover or include the meals. Volunteers are responsible for purchasing food supplies and preparing them. The staff will accompany you to purchase these supplies.
You can also choose to dine at the park's restaurant (8:30-17:00).

• Summer Months: December - March
• Autumn Months: April - May
• Winter Months: June - August
• Spring Months: September - November

The weather in South Africa is European, as in the evening hours, you may need a jacket even in the summer months.

25/08/2024 - 01/09/2024 => SOLD OUT
01/09/2024 - 08/09/2024 => SOLD OUT

 1. Sign Up through the program's link down below

2. After you Sign Up, you'll receive an email that has a link to pay the Program fees.
Note: If you don’t pay the program fees immediately, then you will not be accepted and no one will contact you.

3. Once we receive the payment from you then we will contact you and arrange a personal meeting with you for introduction and further explanation of details.

• What is the cost of a flight ticket from Palestine?
$800-$1200 depending on the booking period (the earlier the booking, the better and cheaper).

• How do I get to the reserve?
Fly by airplane from your country to Johannesburg, South Africa and from there, take another flight to George city. From George Airport, the person in charge of volunteers will come to pick us up. The volunteering cost includes transportation from the airport to the reserve and back.

• How much pocket money should you bring to this trip?
$200-$500 (depends on you).
Cooking is cheaper than eating out, of course. It's preferable to prepare food together as a group - participating with everyone in transportation, activities, and purchases.

• Am I obligated to get vaccinations?
Vaccination is not legally mandatory, but highly recommended!
You don't need to know the type of vaccination before going to the clinic; just inform them that you are going to The Garden Route in South Africa and they will provide you with the necessary vaccinations.