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This placement would suit... Practically-minded people who enjoy working outdoors and have a love of the natural environment. Volunteers with general handyman skills are encouraged, and good teamplayers who don't mind getting their hands dirty. This is an all-round placement and would not suit people looking for specific conservation experience or who want to work regularly with flora and fauna
 Five rivers, four lakes, two estuaries and 28 km of Southern Cape coastline ... an idyllic environment
The Wilderness, with its landscape of lakes, forests and seashore, is one of the finest National Parks in the country and ranks up there with the best in the world. There is easy access to many of the country's most beautiful beaches and nature parks and lots of flamboyant flora and fascinating fauna.
This makes it an ideal educational location for the 60+ schools that go there on day-out field trips, and your work would include helping to educate these children on aspects of environmental care.
About Wilderness
he beach at Wilderness, the Touw River lagoon and the lakes provide ideal opportunities for bathing, rowing, fishing and boating, as well as water skiing on Island Lake and Swartvlei. Various nature trails traverse the lakes, the beach and the indigenous forest and a 1 km boardwalk alongside the Touw River offers an ideal opportunity for birdwatching.
Often incompatible elsewhere, conservation and recreation enjoy a harmonious relationship at the park. Watersports are a major feature of the region. Rondevlei and Swartvlei are best for fishing, and on the Touw River and the Serpentine, canoeists can paddle for miles upstream.
All these facilities make it a very popular destination for tourists from around the country and around the world, most of whom come for the peace and tranquillity associated with "getting back to nature". You'll be a part of this community, but you'll have the unique opportunity to see it "from the inside", living and working behind the scenes to maintain the National Park's natural environment. There is also safe swimming in the river to cool off at the end of your work day - sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?
The Wilderness is 15 km from George and lies between the ocean and the mountains. Is is within easy reach of the airport at George and lies on the N2 Garden Route highway between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The Outeniqua Mountains are impressive with river gorges cutting sharply through them - it is home to many species of flora and fauna. If you love nature and peace and tranquility then you will certain love The Wilderness!
 Your work
You will help the Rangers in the maintenance of waterways, wetlands and beaches, as well as repairing and maintaining the tourist accommodation. There are several invasive alien plant species that need to be removed regularly and this is done manually with rare use of herbicides.
- You'll go on regular patrols to check the park property condition - this is mainly done at weekends and you may be required to work 2 or 3 weekends in a 3-month period, taking days off during the week in lieu.
- Maintenance and replacement of fences around dune systems to encourage rehabilitation, as well as around Park boundaries and dwellings.
- Help will also be required with administration as well as with other aspects of the many facilities on site.
- Other miscellaneous tasks may include sea-horse rescue in the lagoons after breaching of the river mouths into the ocean.
- Observing and helping the Rangers combat illegal fishing, whether accidental or through poaching, and the effects that it has on the Nature Park habitats.
- You would also help to ensure that the waterways and trails remain free of litter and alien vegetation along the shoreline and on public picnic sites.
- And generally helping the Wardens in their day-to-day work and in educating the public on the importance of protecting the environment.
- The Wilderness plays host to groups of children from over 60 schools who come to the Park on field trips to learn about the environment. Some of your work will including planning, structuring and implementing the children's day out, making it an interesting and exciting learning experience for them. On these days, you may take the children out in Indian-type canoes on the waterways, telling them about the marine life and flora that they encounter. Other aspects of their field trip will include guiding the children on walks and hikes, with the help of the Park Rangers, and again telling them about the different species of flora along the way.
 Accommodation
Your accommodation will depend on what is available at the time of your placement. You could stay on-site in the Wilderness National Park itself, or your could stay in a house in Rondvlei, which is about 20 or 25 km from the Wilderness. You may have a room to yourself or you may share with other volunteers. This accommodation is remote and previous volunteers have hired a car for periods of time in order to enable them to get into town to socialize and generally to have their independence.
Transport to and from the Wilderness Park will be provided daily.
Food is not provided in this placement so you will need to fend and cook for yourself; however, you will be a given a budget to pay for supplies. You will have regular opportunities to shop for food to replenish your stocks and you can experiment with the different South African brands and types of food that are available. Quality of food in South Africa is extremely high and very varied and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the wide range of choice on the shelves.
Sitting around a barbecue in peace and quiet while eating, drinking wine and listening to music is a very typical South African pastime and will be one of the things you remember most about your time in South Africa.
Travellers' placements are very flexible & can be combined with any other Travellers placement & tailor made to your own requirements!
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0845 344 7585 |
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