BACKROUND OF THE ORGANISATION

The NGO started in 2006 when the need was identified to assist in the local impoverished communities. Many communities, preschools and schools were unable to

provide effective programs due to lack of funding, resources and skill levels. With the assistance of volunteers, these shortcomings were addressed and the NGO slowly grew

into a large organisation that now provides assistance to several communities across Africa. We now also offer several wildlife conservation projects including pre-vet, white

shark and wild cats. Our flagship projects in Cape Town have grown exponentially and we now run 10 highly successful projects where these challenges are being addressed

on a daily basis.

BACKROUND OF THE PROJECT

The Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many orphaned and injured animals. We offer nurturing

care to young orphaned animals, as well as a ‘safe haven’ for injured animals while they recover from their trauma. We are home to animals including elephants, lions, tigers,

cheetahs, the spotted hyena, white lions, and hippo, as well as free range game such as giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, warthogs, impalas, waterbucks, and the red hartebeest.

We are situated in the North West Province; 60 minutes from Johannesburg. With 750 hectares of pristine bushveld and are part of the ‘world heritage site’ - the Cradle of

Humankind. We have a unique eco-system where animals, birds and man live in harmony.

There is a lodge for guests embarking on Tourism activities, a restaurant and a bar – boma for functions, weddings and conferences. Activities on the farm range from game drives,

elephant walks and animal interactions.

Extra information about the Project

Some of the animals on the farm are wild and kept in separate enclosures as they are not able to be released into the wild. The farm acts as a sanctuary for many abused and neglected animals, as well as raises young animals that are rejected by their parents. The farm is unique in its design and activities. We have a passion for all of the animals, and care is taken to ensure the health and safety of all the

fauna and flora within. The current aims of this project include reviving areas of damaged natural plant life, establishing viable populations of indigenous animals that were once poached, and restoring the general area to its original pristine condition. The area is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a history dating back over 200 million years. It is our duty to protect and preserve this history; all volunteer assistance is greatly

appreciated and targeted towards this cause.

At this project, they strive to mAke the most of eAch dAy, giving their best effort to eAch And every AnimAL on the fArm. Volunteers Assist them in mAking this

goAL come to life! The progRAMme is designed to be both edUCATIO NAL And fun. The most imporTAnt Aspect of All is to provide enrichment to both the volunteer And the

AniMALS.

Project Highlights • Help out with looking after our wild cats

• Elephant and lion walks

• Assist animals that once had no hope

• Learn about conservation and Africa’s wild animals

• Live on a wildlife reserve

• Learn and help with the daily running of the farm

• Have a close animal encounter with some of the human tolerant animals

Average Working Day

Volunteer Tasks

All work carried out by the volunteers will have a direct positive impact towards the conservation of the wildlife. Some of the ongoing projects that volunteers might be part of include, but are not

limited to: ● Daily farm duties such as cleaning animal enclosures, feeding the animals and changing the water

● Taking care of the mongoose and the building of their enclosures.

● Anti-poaching fence patrols – Daylight guided walks around the perimeter of the property to check for snares and mark areas of the fence which require fixing

● Bush clearing and alien plant control. This involves the removal of plants that pose a threat to the natural fauna and flora found within the reserve ● Road maintenance (Filling, scraping and levelling) and erosion control

● Animal life improvement project: volunteers can be a part of the improvement of the animals

lives. Whether it's doing day to day cleaning, feeding and walking, to painting the elephant house and building new enclosures. These projects change according to needs of the animals and farm;

you might not help with all of the projects while you are on the program. ● Big Tiger pool repairs

● Big 5 lion enclosure upgrade

● Ecological grass survey and cutting of grass in enclosures, trimming trees, and assisting with the Fencing project to enlarge the farm and provide more grazing for the animals.

Duties that do not directly interact with the animals are still crucial to their well-being. General maintenance

and cleaning of the grounds (for example: cutting grass to ensure there are no ticks, fleas, snakes, and spiders,

and poop scooping); are regular tasks on the farm for the health and safety of all the animals in our care.

As a volunteer, you will be able to experience each of the various jobs on the farm; we rotate the tasks among

the volunteers to ensure each person has an opportunity to both help with farm maintenance and interact with

the animals equally.

MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN

AM Farm Cleaning Cleaning Excursion Hike to Dam & Elephant Off Projects enclosures Enclosures Day Animal Walk

(Plants, & Weeding & Weeding Improvement

Roads, Project (big

Enclosures) Cats)

PM Animal Lion and Lion and Excursion Elephant Walk Off

Improve- Tiger Pools Tiger pools & Day swimming & through

ment & Platform Cub Camp Meat prep for Camps

Project and Repairs reno & predator feed (Excursion

predator Predator s)

feed feeding

Please note that from time to time there can be unavoidable changes to projects. These can be caused by

weather, conservation priorities, materials supply, or because ongoing projects have progressed more

quickly or slowly than originally planned. We ask you to accept the changes – we are sure that you will

enjoy the replacement projects just as much.. This routine is kept as best as possible; however, working

with animals requires a flexible schedule. The above outline is subject to change.

Arrival Day: Wednesday

Project Details

Time: Your flight can land anytime on Wednesday Airport: O R Tambo (JNB) International Airport Orientation: Wednesday - Thursday Project Starts: Friday Departure Day: Friday Departure time: You MUST take a late evening flight out of JNB as the transport will only arrive back to JNB in the late afternoon Min Duration: 2 weeks (incl 2 day Orientation) Min Age: 18 Max Age: (Recommended) - 30

NOTE: We can also collect you at any Hotel or place of accommodation on your arrival day, should it be within close radius of the City centre or Airport

Volunteer Requirements ● Completed Application form

● Basic level of competency in English

● Copy of return flight itinerary ● Medium level of fitness

Packing list

● Casual working clothes for hot and cold days

● Semi formal clothes for functions and for trips to town ● Jackets

● Sunscreen and hat

● Swimsuit and towel

● Personal toiletries and bath towels

● Raincoat

● Insect repellent

● Laptop with own dvd’s if desired

● Pocket money (drinks and souvenirs)

● Flashlight and batteries

● Notebook and pen ● Proof of all inoculations

● First aid kit and personal medication

● Water bottle ● Garden Gloves

PS – The most important things to bring are a sense of humour, patience, an open mind and a positive attitude!

What’s Included?

Airport pick up

2 Day Johannesburg Orientation

Accommodation

Three meals a day (on project)

Weekly transport to town for

shopping

Transport to and from the project

24 hour support and supervision

Donation to the project

Accommodation

Meals

Certificate of appreciation Transport

Transport Volunteers will be met at Johannesburg International

airport and taken to their orientation venue, Homebase

Melville.

On the project start day, you will be transported to the

project by the Orientation team. On your last day, you will

be collected from the project and taken back to the airport

for your departure flight, or alternatively, your next

destination in JNB – ie – your Hotel or Hostel within radius.

NOTES:

● Tea and coffee will be available, all other drinks will be at own expense

● A generous amount of food will always be served. If snacks are desired there are

several grocery stores nearby.

● There are refrigerators available for volunteers’ personal food and soft drinks and

medication if necessary

Important reminder: Participants must advise the NGO of their dietary needs (e.g. if they are vegetarian or have any allergies) prior to their arrival. Participants with very specific dietary needs may be required to supplement their meals at their own expense.

Meals Volunteers will receive 3 meals a day:

Breakfast consists of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, toast and spreads

Lunch is a cooked meal with Salad

Dinner consists of a hot meal such as a traditional South African BBQ (braai). All

dinners will include a meat, starch and vegetable.

Accommodation

The volunteer accommodations are within walking distance from the main area where the meals are served. Volunteer accommodation exists of:

❖ 1 cottage that sleeps up to 6 people

❖ 1 log cabin with 4 bedrooms that each sleep 2 to 3 people. This accommodation has

a lounge and a kitchen ❖ 1 cottage/house with 4 bedrooms each with 2 beds with a lounge and a kitchen

❖ 1 house with 3 large rooms that each sleep 6 people each – dormitory style. This house has a with kitchenette

❖ There is a separate building with communal bathroom facilities.

● All linen will be provided.

● No visitors are permitted to enter the property unless permitted by the project leader

Laundry:

There is laundry on-site. The laundry service costs R50.00 per medium bundle of clothing.

1 Laundry Voucher is included in your package Please note: We are not responsible for any damage to clothes during washing or ironing.

Internet:

Included in the costs is a WIFI 50 mb voucher

Pilansberg Safari (near Sun City) Maropeng – Cradle of Mankind

Monkey Sanctuary Hot Air Ballooning

Monte Casino Bird Park Croc City

Location:

General Information

The farm is located 1 – 2 hours from JNB Airport and roughly 1 hour (50 km) from the

Orientation Venue

● Shops/Grocery Stores: You will receive weekly transport into town so that you can

purchase essentials and food items. Shop runs are R20 per trip.

● ATMS: There are plenty of ATMS in Johannesburg where you will have your orientation.

Once on project you will have the opportunity to withdraw money on your weekly

shopping trip.

Supervision/Co- Ordination: As the nature of the work varies we will place volunteers under the supervision of various

staff members. We will have one member of our team assigned as “team leader” to

facilitate the smooth operation of the volunteers stay and provide guidance where

necessary.

Free time: The project also tries to fit in some weekly fun activities such as: Horse-riding, Movie night

(watching DVD’s of movies filmed at the farm), and Hot chocolate and marshmallow night

(To get to know your fellow volunteers), Bush dinners at the boma every second week,

Night drives and sunrise walks upon request.

Here are some examples of additional activities in the area that volunteers can do during

their free time:

*Note that prices may change over time

Activities

Zip Lining Sterkfontein Caves

Sun City Lesedi – Tribal Dancing and dinner

Aerial Cableway Valpro – Vulture Park

Monte Casino – Evening entertainment Shop Runs including Chameleon Village

Quad Biking Skydiving

NB!! Safety Tips

Water: General Information

Water is safe to drink. However, please be aware that there may be a shortage during

dry season. Use water sparingly and have short showers or baths.

Power: South African electrical power is 240 volts AC. Appliances from North America will burn

out if they are not switched over or have a properly-rated power transformer (not just a

plug converter) attached. Think twice about that hair dryer! South Africa is also prone to

electricity cuts (load shedding) due to short supply. Please turn off lights and heaters

when not in the room. The plug adapter needed for South African plugs are very difficult

to find in your home country, we suggest you buy the adapter in South Africa.

Animals: ● Some animals DO NOT like direct contact. If they do approach you just remain calm

and stand still.

● If you do not feel comfortable in certain places with the animals inform your team

leader for assistance.

● Even if the animals appear tame we MUST still respect them at all times.

● We recommend you get all you get all your inoculations in case

Emergency and Safety: ● All guides on the property are qualified in First Aid and are within 150m of the

volunteer accommodation.

● Volunteers will have access to 24hr support in the case of an emergency. Most of the

farm staff live next door to the volunteer house.

● The nearest hospital is within 20 minutes drive of the lodge.

General: ● Participants must conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner at all times

● Hitchhiking is not permitted at any time and travelling alone in the dark is not

recommended

● Always be aware of your surroundings and don’t leave your belongings unattended

● Never give beggars money - speak to your coordinator if you would like to make

donations

● Do not look like a tourist with your camera around your neck or walk and text

● Do not carry large amount of cash on you that people can see – Cards are accepted in

most places

● Lock your room to ensure all your valuables, passport and money stay safe

● You can only drive from the age of 18, with a valid driving license. International licenses are required for vehicle rental in order to drive in South Africa ● People under 18 years may not drink or buy alcohol ● Drinking alcohol in a public place is illegal (this includes drinking on the beach) ● It is legal to smoke cigarettes in public places, but shopping malls, businesses, public transport and restaurants have no-smoking policies. Smoking is permitted inside places where permission is granted. ● It is illegal to carry, buy or use drugs, including marijuana ● The age of sexual consent is 16, and having sex with anyone under 16 is illegal

Health and Safety

All participants should have informed the NGO of any medical information, including

allergies, prescribed medications, or any known medical condition. It is advisable to

remind your volunteer leaders again during orientation!

Insurance

All participants must have medical, travel and trip cancellation insurance for the duration

of their program. The NGO must receive proof of insurance prior to arrival.

Drugs

The NGO has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs. Offenders will be removed from the

program immediately without refund.

Smoking

No smoking is allowed during project hours.

Alcohol

A responsible level of drinking (for volunteers of legal age) during free time is allowed.

However in these limited situations:

● Alcohol is never to be consumed during project hours or on any Premises.

● Participants are never to be intoxicated during project hours

● No hangovers will be tolerated on project so please keep drinking to off days

Failure to comply will be treated as a serious matter. The NGO reserves the right to

remove a participant from the project without refund if they disregard this policy.

Participants who endanger their safety or the safety of others through irresponsible

drinking of alcohol or negligence may be removed from the program without refund.

Wha t is the differen ce betwe en voluntee ring and regula r touris m ?

In regular touris m the emph asis is on the tourist who expec ts to receive excelle n t servic e on their trip

(great hotel, good food and all excur sio ns wor kin g accor din g to a timetab le). The plac e and local

comm u nity becom es less importan t with the tour ist becom ing the center of attentio n. In VOluntee r touris m

(or “volun tour ism ” ) the emph asis shifts to wor k contr ib ution , goals of the progr am and helpin g the local

comm u nity. It is the success of the progr am and the atmosp her e betwe e n the comm un ity and the

volun teer s that helps make the trip unfor ge ttable – not the level of servic e or the quality of the hotel.

Many programs are underfunded and staffed so inevitably there will be some difficulties; however it is

the overcoming of any challenges which creates a sense of achievement and satisfaction not

found in regular tourism.

Will there be any surprises?

Volunteer tourism can be unpredictable! While the NGO does the utmost to stick to timetables and examples

of type of work needed by the volunteer, there are many factors that can impact these plans. For example,

the weather and seasons, local holidays, mood of the wildlife and immediate needs of the programs.

The information you will receive from the program is important and valuable however things can change

and we urge you to use it as a guideline and expect the unexpected – this is what makes volunteer tourism so

diverse and exciting. It is important that you arrive with a flexible attitude and remember that just by being

at the project you will be contributing to its running, growth and success. Many of these programs are in

cultures very different than yours and as such the type and length of work given may or may not seem

important to you but it will be for the program.

The first few days

These are the most important and can be the most difficult ones. You have just arrived off a long flight in a

strange location and are living with new people. Even if the first impression might not be as you had

expected. Please give yourself a couple of days to acclimatize and give the project the help it needs.

Volunteer work – some examples

It is important to realize that not all the work will be easy or 'romantic'. A lot of the time

you will need to roll up your sleeves and get dirty with tasks such as:

● Animal projects: working with raw meat, cage cleaning, removing ticks, etc.

● Environmental projects: manual labor, carrying heavy items, getting dirty, working in the rain, etc.

● Humanitarian projects: cleaning up after the kids, kitchen duty, changing diapers, wiping runny noses,

etc.

● Building projects: mixing concrete manually, picking up garbage off site, removing

vegetation, etc.

Keep a positive attitude and note that even ‘boring’ tasks contribute and are also very

important to the program. Also remember ‘boring’ tasks are not given to you on purpose

but they form a part of the overall volunteer experience as it takes care of the needs of the

overall project.

Sticking to a timetable

Each program asks its volunteers to stick to a timetable which helps the program run smoothly. Please

follow the instructions from the program managers. However, please note that volunteer programs are

usually underfunded and understaffed which can lead to multiple changes in the program timetable.

Volunteer work needs to be flexible for various reasons and should not be seen as a nine to five office

job even if some changes do not make sense to the volunteer. Flexibility and an 'expect the unexpected

attitude' are needed – however never forget that by volunteering you are contributing immensely to the

program.

Important points to read

If there are any problems during the

program please speak to the volunteer

leader. It is important to initially raise and

discuss the issue in the program as most

can be solved in this manner. The

organisation and projects rely on each

and every volunteer, if you leave the

program in the middle (or leave unhappy

and disgruntled) it could seriously

damage the hard work being undertaken.

Before you leave for project

Please look after yourselves and listen to the Leaders and the program staff you are visiting. Drink lots of

fluids and remember your sunscreen. Volunteer trips are what you make of them and coming with an

open mind and listening to the program managers/Leaders will help you experience an unforgettable

trip. Please also remember that this is an English speaking project. In order to be inclusive and for

everyone to have a positive experience, we ask that volunteers speak English at all times.

The Volunteer Leader

Most programs will have a volunteer leader. This person is usually a volunteer who is on a long term

contract or has volunteered on the same project in the past. The volunteer leader can be of great

assistance when a problem arises though please approach them at a convenient time outside of busy

working hours. It is important that you listen to the volunteer leader and cooperate with them.

Culture shock

The volunteers you will be working with come from all over the world and may be from different

religious and ethnic backgrounds. Volunteering is also a cultural experience where you can learn

about different cultures, please be both tolerant and patient. Do not be shy in sharing your

experiences, recipes, songs and traditions it will just add to the overall group cohesion. For

example, children may be raised in ways that are very different to what you are used to. If you are

ever unsure about a certain issues, please feel free to discuss it with your volunteer leader.

Extra expenses

Please take into account additional expenses like tours, trips, telephone, restaurants and bars. It is a

good idea to have different types of payment available to you like: cash, credit cards, debit cards and

traveller's cheques.

Approaching us directly will help us to resolve the issues for future volunteers or for the

sustainability of the project. We want to make it an unforgettable experience for you and

all others. We also want our projects to continue receiving the much needed volunteers –

we can only help if we know what the concerns are!

Important points to read

It is strongly recommended that all participants read and print out areas of

interest from the websites and reference materials listed below as these will

provide valuable background information and help to put project goals and

activities into context.

● Website: www.freepackers.fr ● Instagram: www.instagram.com/freepackers/ ● Facebook: www.facebook.com/freepackers/

● Email: reservations@freepackers.com

● Phone: +33631961240

The more positive you are, the more

positive your memories will be! Your

time on project will be over sooner than

you know, what would you like to think

back on later in your life?

References and Suggested Readings