SIYAFUNDA WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER
MAIN CAMP VOLUNTEER OR ENDANGERED SPECIES CAMP VOLUNTEER
The Greater Makalali Reserve is a vast Big 5 nature reserve covering an area of 25000 hectares. Situated in the Lowveld area, the home of nature conservation in South Africa, your work is vital for accurate management of the animals within the reserve. The data collected is also made available to students and researchers that we host, as well as several national conservation projects, including the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).
Whether on a monitoring drive, on foot, or observing the wildlife at a waterhole, all your work will be done under the guidance of our qualified rangers. As each activity has a pre-determined objective, you don’t just get to view the animals, you get to live with them for a little while. There’s nothing quite like sitting in the dark next to a lazing lion waiting for it to start its nightly call or being surrounded by a herd of elephants and being able to spend time observing their individual traits and family dynamics.
At the end of the day, you return to the camp to share your experiences over dinner around the open fire and then fall asleep to the sounds of the bush. Join us for the experience of a lifetime!
In 2014, the reserve was officially classified as a Nature Reserve. This means that the land is protected as a conservation area, securing a safe haven for the wildlife for all future generations. Another landmark for 2015 is the reintroduction of black rhino, the first to roam this land in decades.
At siyafunda the conservation initiative is split into two key components:
Monitoring - data collection for long term analysis pertaining to animal movement patterns, reproductive behaviour, grouping/association patterns and predator/prey interaction of all big game daily.
Research - the analysis of data collected during monitoring episodes over the long term to assist in the decision-making processes and challenges associated with management of enclosed game reserves.
With the data that volunteers help to collect we hope to make a management model which can be applied to other conservation areas.
What is your role as a volunteer?
As a volunteer with Siyafunda you are joining the team at the ‘coal face’ of conservation on Makalali Nature Reserve, acting as an assistant field ranger, helping meet all the challenges faced daily managing the reserve and the animals that call it home.
You may be involved in ensuring the day to day health and wellbeing of the wildlife, research and monitoring, game capture and introductions, population management, burning programmes, infrastructure and equipment maintenance, environmental education and local community relations, liason and involvement.
Volunteering at Siyafunda’s Main Camp
Elephant Montitoring
Elephants were introduced to Makalali in 1994 and 1996 and was the first reserve to have intact family groups relocated to it. The reserve was also the first to take part in the Elephant Contraception Programme to regulate its total elephant population.
Our monitoring of the elephants involves recording their movements to determine daily and seasonal ranging patterns. We also observe and record long term behavioural aspects, focusing primarily on herd/bull associations and sexual behaviours. Elephants are a key-stone species and require constant information collection for effective management decision making.
Lion Monitoring
The monitoring of our lion population is done to assess their movements, behaviour and predator/prey interactions. Lions are also considered a key-stone species and within restricted wild environments, require constant monitoring to assist with management interventions when required.
Interventions are made to vary genetic diversity within the population and to control population size. Makalali has participated with various population control methods and research.
Buffalo Monitoring
The buffalo were contained within a 400-hectare breeding camp from 2009-2019 when they were released into the greater reserve. Having started with only 8 individuals, the population had grown to 53 by 2019. This was the first time in over 100years that buffalo were free roaming in this area. They are monitored closely for predator interactions.
Hyena Monitoring
Makalali reserve is host of both species of hyene: brown & spotted. The spotted hyena are superior in numbers and are a very important species for the effective functioning of this eco-system. They provide the clean up of carcasses as well as being effective hunters. Den sites, activity and ID specific individuals are used to track interaction and behaviour. The ratio of scavenging to hunting and the impact of this on prey species is also monitored.
The brown hyena is very rare and sighting of them are extremely exciting.
Habitat Conservation
Volunteers also assist with identifying and monitoring stands of alien and invasive vegetation within the river and across the reserve. Volunteers will participate in the mechanical removal and chemical control of these species as well as the follow up monitoring of problem areas.
Habitat Rehabilitation
You’ll also have the opportunity to assist in ongoing habitat rehabilitation initiatives in the reserve, including erosion control, the construction of rock gabions, brush-packing and re-seeding.
Endangered Species Camp Volunteer
Rhino Monitoring
With a constant threat of poaching, monitoring these animals is crucial for the future of the species. Rhinos are monitored to ascertain their movement around the reserve and interaction with each other. This is done mostly on foot due to their secretive nature. This also forms part of the anti-poaching methods in place, working closely with the reserve management and anti-poaching teams to ensure 100% sighting and safe guarding of the rhino. Siyafunda projects also work closely with the Rhino Protection Trust to raise awareness and funds to support efforts to save these animals.
Leopard Monitoring
The locations of the leopards are closely monitored to determine territory extent as well as creating and updating ID kits to monitor individuals and determine population size. As with all predators, prey selection and reproductive behaviour is also monitored.
In 2014, Siyafunda teamed up with the Panthera Leopard Research Project, who are monitoring and determining the leopard population in the area. Working in conjunction with the Endangered Species Project you may assist with the setting and monitoring of camera traps during the key months of February and March.
Cheetah Monitoring
As cheetah are one of Africa’s most endangered large predators, the entire population is monitored on the reserve. By tracking the cheetah on foot, we can observe their utilisation of the area, prey selection and reproductive behaviour. By combining this with data collected on other predators we can track the effects on distribution patterns of the cheetah by the presence of lions, hyena and leopards.
Wild Dog Monitoring
Mid 2019 Makalali recieved 4 African Wild Dogs, each fitted with tracking collars. Siyafunda has been monitoring them as they adapt to their new home.
Game Drives & Walks
As a volunteer you’ll have the opportunity to monitor key species both on game drives and on foot. Game drives are a great way to cover distance within the reserve to see larger African wildlife, observe their behaviour, movements and habitats. You may also encounter nocturnal animals on night drives.
Monitoring walks also allow you to literally follow in the footsteps of the animals you are tracking. You’ll learn how to identify the tracks of the animals you are monitoring.
CAMP
Main Camp
If you choose to join Siyafunda’s main camp, you’ll be located at the heart if the reserve with all the wildlife on your doorstep. There are twin share rooms with shared bathrooms and all meals are prepared by the group. In the evenings, while sitting around the open fire, you can listen to the nightly calls of the lions and sounds of the bush while doing some star gazing and
nightly calls of the lions and sounds of the bush while doing some star gazing and sharing stories of your day. The Siyafunda Main Camp has electricity and hot running water (solar panels: on overcast days it can sometimes run out)
Internet / WIFI at the base: R100 per week is charged to connect using your own computer, smartphone or tablet
Reasonable cell reception at camp. You can easily buy a south-African SIM card (MTN is best) at the airport or in Hoedspruit.
Comfortable lounge area: library with books and magazines, TV, DVD and VCR players, Swimming Pool, volleyball,
Braai / BBQ area
Siyafunda Endangered Species Camp
Your home during your stay will be in our eco-friendly tented camp set amongst the trees which
overlooks a water course. There are large, comfortable twin share tents set on raised platforms, ensuring each has each has its own unique view of the African bush!
There are shared ablution facilities with flushing toilets and bush showers. All meals are cooked by the group. Your evenings will be spent hearing tales from your experienced ranger, listening to the sounds of the bush, before you fall asleep under the African sky.
