Headline

Daktari is a registered non-profit company located in South Africa close to the Kruger National Park. It is a bush school where the mission is to inspire and educate local underprivileged children to care for their environment through the medium of a wildlife orphanage.

Every Monday we welcome a new group of 8 local under-privileged children for a week. International volunteers give them the opportunity to discover, learn and become passionate about wildlife and conservation, their heritage. The volunteers also supplement their school curriculum in English, maths, sciences, geography, life skills and social issues.

Our goal is to enable today’s local underprivileged children to eventually be able to secure good employment in nature reserves, thereby improving their future quality of life.



During your stay, as a volunteer, you will help the project with:

OPTION 1

Teaching basic subjects to children

8 underprivileged children are collected from their school on Monday and they stay at the project until Friday. A different group is collected each week. You will accompany the Director to the school at least once to see where the children are coming from.

The project tries to enforce the basics in education and to adjust their teaching methods to the level of each child.

The project’s methods are not always conventional but are fun for the children. Many of them do not understand even basic English and their standards are at a very low level.
The project welcomes your diversity, knowledge and innovative ideas. No experience is necessary. Other learning activities include team building games, “thinking games”, bead work incorporating mathematics and self expression, general etiquette and good manners enforced by role play, general education including life skills, and construction projects.



The day to day care of animals

The orphaned wild animals provide the basis for inspiring care and compassion for the environment. To this end the project tries to have animals that can be touched and caressed. This is not always possible.

As a volunteer you will be expected to accompany the children on stabling duties. These tasks include:

* Cleaning and disinfecting animal camps and cages
* Providing fresh food and water for the animals
* Checking the health and condition of the animals
* Compiling newsletter articles for individual animal sponsors
* Research and record keeping of the animals
* Basic first aid for animals

Many animals require extra care and sometimes this may involve working during the night.

Renovation, building and maintenance

The project is continually growing, and sometimes physical work is required. Duties can include:

* Renovating animal camps
* Building new animal camps and cages
* Renovating accommodation
* Painting
* General construction and repairs

There are no specific skills, nor previous animal care experience, required to participate at the project.



OPTION 2

Fundraising, marketing and communication (for volunteer who will stay with a minimum of 3 months)

Volunteers may opt for this department of the project. Only one volunteer in this section at any one time, and you will concentrate on:

* Preparing fundraising proposals
* Compiling funding request
* Seeking additional funding opportunities
* Marketing and advertising
* Forming new contacts (networking)
* Compiling and dissemination of monthly newsletters
* Communication

This experience is basically office bound and most of the work is done on the internet. You may also be involved, if you wish, in the education of children, care of animals and guests, but your primary concern is the marketing and fundraising.

One of the functions of this department can also include the organization of meals, purchases and care of visitors who may very occasionally be staying at the project’s camp.

All volunteers will work 5 days a week, from 7h in the morning until dinner time with a break at lunch time, when you will be able to enjoy the swimming pool. A trip to town is organised every Saturday and you will enjoy meeting up with the local community. Sunday is available for you to rest or to visit the surroundings.

Requirements:

- A minimum of 18 years old, unless accompanied by a parent/carer;

- Having a passion and love for animals;

- Be able to communicate in English.

Project Location:

The project is situated in a beautiful area in the Limpopo province in the North East of South-Africa, on an animal reserve that has 700 hectares of pristine natural habitat and house several natural wild animals.

It lies in the heart of the central Lowveld, just 80 km from the Kruger National Park and has a wonderful all year round climate, many game lodges, game reserves, nature conservancy’s and other tourist attractions in the surrounding.

Accommodations:

Volunteers share a rondavel (round chalet with thatch roof or have a room in the main house. The chalets are rustic but comfortable with toilets and shower (hot and cold water). There is no electricity on the farm but light is provided with solar lamp and power with a generator to charge batteries, cameras and computers. There is access to internet at a minimal fee



Rates:

1 Week 390 GBP

2 Weeks 550 GBP

3 Weeks 790 GBP

4 Weeks 990 GBP

6 Weeks 1390 GBP

8 Weeks 1890 GBP

12 Weeks 2790 GBP

These costs include:

* Transfer return from the Hoedspruit Airport to the project site
* Accommodation
* 3 meals per day, tea, coffee, juice
* Laundry
* A trip to town each week
* A donation to the project
* Training and supervision

These costs do NOT include:

* Travel to and from Hoedspruit, South Africa
* Passport / visa
* Travel insurance, which is compulsory for all participants and a cancellation insurance
* Personal expenses such as telephone bills, Internet, souvenirs, etc.
* Any excursions undertaken by the volunteer

The arrivals for the programme are on Saturdays and the volunteers can stay for 1 week to 6 months.

You will have to book a flight to Johannesburg and then an internal flight to Hoedspruit airport where you will be picked up by the Daktari team.

On arrival you will be shown your room and the facilities. On Sunday the project will have a late breakfast and a general briefing to help you in your confidence and ability to enjoy your experience. Bring your sense of humour!!!

Alternatively, if you can’t volunteer you can make a donation directly into Daktari’s bank account:

Bank: First National Bank, Hoedspruit, South Africa
Swift number: FIRN ZA JJ
Branch Number: 270652
Account Number: Cheque Account (Non-Profit) 62044965129
Name: Daktari Wildlife Orphanage, South Africa

Web page: www.daktaribushschool.org
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it