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Elephant, Lion & Leopard Research in Botswana, Botswana This is raw Africa… Join highly experienced elephant and leopard researchers in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve, which borders on the Limpopo River in Southern Africa. Mashatu’s 80,000acres of vast arid lands offers some of Africa’s best game viewing which you will have the opportunity to experience whilst out assisting the researchers on this wildlife conservation project. Wildlife Conservation - Elephant & Leopard Research - Game Viewing Safari, Mashatu - Volunteer Project in Botswana, Mashatu Game Reserve Location Mashatu Game Reserve, in the vast game area of the Northern Tuli Wildlife Conservation region Project Length 1-4 weeks (not available in Jan) Age Limit Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health Project Fee £775 / $1550 (1 week) £1550 / $3100 (2 weeks) £2325 / $4650(3 weeks) Volunteer Project Information The following links will jump you to different sections on this page, which provide all the information you will need for this Africa volunteer project: Wildlife Conservation - Elephant & Leopard Research - Game Viewing Safari, Mashatu, Botswana. » photo gallery | » more about this project | » volunteer & travel highlights » project fee includes & excludes | » day in the life of a volunteer... » volunteer support & orientation | » accommodation & meals | » getting there Photos Botswana Photos of Wildlife Conservation - Elephant & Leopard Research - Game Viewing Safari, Mashatu in Africa.   More about the Elephant, Lion & Leopard Research in Botswana in Botswana Be more than a tourist on an African safari… be a wildlife conservationist. Assist experienced researchers in their wildlife conservation work within this exclusive wildlife reserve. Elephants… With Jeanetta Selier, who has been researching the elephant populations in the Mashatu Reserve area for over 6 years, volunteers will learn how to identify the reserve’s resident elephants, and will be supplied with data sheets that they will complete whilst observing the various herds. The Central Limpopo Valley elephant population occurs in three different countries namely Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Management of the elephant population is different in the three countries according to their respective government policies. Planning is currently underway for a Tans Frontier Wildlife Conservation Area in the region. It is therefore of critical importance to establish information such as: • The current range of the elephants • The size, age structure, social structure and sex ratios of the population • Their movement patterns and what factors determine these • What interactions between people and elephants are, what conflicts arise because of this interaction, and how to resolve these • Determine how climate change will influence the long term dynamics of the central Limpopo Valley system and wildlife conservation in the area Tuli Predator Project: Volunteers will join Andrei Snyman, Mashatu’s leopard and general predator researcher, and participate in tracking through telemetry, and in studying leopard behaviour. The results of this predator study will be used in the future to promote better management of leopards and other large predators in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. The use of satellite collars will also shed new light on their movements within their home ranges, behaviour, reproduction, population density and general population dynamics. The project starts in July 2007, where 4 leopards and 1 lion need to be captured in order to fit VHF radio collars. This will enable the wildlife conservation researcher to monitor and observe the study animals on a daily basis. Background & Objectives of Wildlife Conservation Project Lion Research Currently, only a few scientific studies have examined the extent to which hunting affects lions, and the long-term management implications from an economic perspective have yet to be fully understood. Social factors are probably the most influential to lion group dynamics, but there are environmental patterns and processes that influence the distribution of groups through space and time. Lions are highly social animals that live in fission-fusion groups and are thus very susceptible to population disturbances such as hunting or poaching. The purpose of this lion research project is to investigate the changes in lion population dynamics in response to both legal and illegal consumptive utilization. Leopards The other part of the Northern Tuli Predator Project is to look into the secretive lives of leopards regarding their home ranges, behaviour and population density in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Leopards are very secretive and elusive cats and are therefore difficult animals to study. Their excellent camouflage and nocturnal habits contributes to the difficulty of obtaining reliable information regarding their behaviour, home ranges, reproduction and population density. This is a long-term project started in 2004 by Villiers Steyn and ongoing. The next phase in the project aims to better understand the behaviour aspects, home range sizes and densities of leopards in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Significance of the Predator Project This predator study will provide valuable information for wildlife conservation and management purposes regarding hunted lion populations and their future, and it will also build on the foundation of better understanding leopard behaviour especially determining their population density in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. African Safari: Volunteers will also have the opportunity to participate in the various adventure activities such as horse trails (only experienced riders), walking wildlife safaris, mountain biking and African safari game drives offered at Mashatu, at an additional charge. Throughout your days with the wildlife researchers you will be exposed to the glorious varieties of the abundant game species within the Mashatu Reserve area – a true African safari. PAST VOLUNTEER ACCOUNT “I’ve seen, done and learned a number of fascinating things since my arrival here. On the tragic side I’ve been testament to the killing of two elephants, euthanized after falling victim to an embittered farmer’s rifle and a desperate poacher’s snare. And on the majestic side I’ve witnessed under a moonlit midnight sky the roosting of over a million Red-billed Quelea, a spectacle more tremendous, more powerful, than any predator sighting could ever be. I’ve learned about the daily life, the struggles and habits and nuances, of elephant herds and leopard families. I’ve seen giraffes running and cheetahs napping, heard hyenas whooping at night and felt the generous warmth of the Southern African sun at dawn, rising through the stone cold morning to bask Mopane covered hillsides in a softly glowing hue. But certainly Jeanetta or Bashi could tell you more about all of that than I ever could. And besides, I’ve learned something in addition to all of the facts and figures and hypotheses and idiosyncrasies of the bush, something that everyone else here already knows, but knows so well that it has retreated from their conscious to their subconscious, knows so well that it is barely ever even mentioned on the terrace before dinner. The one thing that I’ve learned, the thing that I find most interesting and most amazing, is something that can be spotted every day in the youthful enthusiasm of Villiers’ eyes, the eternal satisfaction in Paul’s smile. Mashatu, the bush, never stops. It never stops inspiring, bewildering, fascinating, enthralling, captivating and beckoning.” [Account by David Morinelli, Mashatu Wildlife Conservation & African Safari Volunteer] » back to top Elephant, Lion & Leopard Research in Botswana, Mashatu Game Reserve - Highlights This volunteer project in Africa includes: Wildlife Conservation - Elephant & Leopard Research - Game Viewing Safari, Mashatu Experience some of Africa’s best game viewing, particularly elephant and leopard sightings which are of a quality unique to Mashatu Be privy to what goes on with large-scale wildlife conservation, management and research on this exclusive private Reserve Increase your knowledge of the African bush and the fascinating wildlife that inhabit Botswana’s vast game areas, and be directly involved in offering support to this noble African conservation and research effort Be involved in fascinating DATA collection and monitoring of radio-collared elephants or leopards Botswana Travel Highlights Landlocked Botswana offers any traveller very real bush experiences, including vast wildlife reserves such as Chobe National Park – home to some of Africa’s largest herds of elephants The Makgadikgadi Pan – the World’s largest dry lakebed Makori Safaris involve traversing the intriguing Okavango Delta whilst being poled by local boatmen through tranquil waterways The Chobe area in Northern Botswana is also a reasonable distance from neighbouring Zimbabwe and day trips to the magnificent Victoria Falls » back to top Project Fee Includes Project Fee: this entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as research materials, equipment, supplies, etc. Transfer from the Botswana border to the Reserve by Land Rover (40 min drive) Orientation and introductions to research work upon your arrival All daily transportation within your respective research areas Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at your respective camps Assistance in your projects by various Mashatu staff and volunteer coordinators. Full support from African Impact and your coordinator throughout your time at your Mashatu placement Project Fee Excludes Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement (expected to include cover for repatriation) Transport from nearest international airport to Mashatu base near the Botswana border All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other) Email/Internet and telephone calls Soft drinks, wines and spirits All visas for border crossings Laundry services (these are reasonably priced at your camp) Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary at Mashatu and within Botswana » back to top Day in the life... This is a typical day in the life of a volunteer working on the Elephant, Lion & Leopard Research in Botswana project: It is important to remember that the movements of the animals dictate your schedule, so every day is different, and it is never guaranteed that you will follow a specific routine. Your day might go something like this… 6.00am – Join the wildlife researchers at the Land Rovers, and gladly accept the hot water bottle and blanket that are waiting for you before you drive out into the reserve with the sun rising over the plains 6.00am onwards – Assist Jeanetta the Elephant researcher with the identification and monitoring of some of the resident Elephant herds. She will instruct you on how to identify and sex various Elephants 8.00am – Coffee break. Take in the early morning bush sights and sounds with a cup of steaming coffee and homemade rusks. Then continue on your journey of exploration through the Reserve. Enjoy sightings of giraffe, herds of elephants, leopard, kudu, impala and other creatures of the bush 10.00am – Breakfast 10.00am – 3.00pm – Read up on local wildlife, have a relaxing read and swim and escape the oppressive mid-day heat. You may also be asked to assist Jeanetta and Villiers with any data entry or research administration that they are currently working on. 3.00pm – Take tea on the terrace, and enjoy a feast that will overwhelm any imagination before setting off into the Reserve again to discover what dusk will reveal to you. 6.00pm – Stop for sundowners. Be awed by the glorious sight of the African Sun descending over the horizon in a blaze of glory whilst enjoying snacks and refreshments. Continue your game viewing and wildlife research by spotlight as the light fades and the African night sets in 7.30pm – Return to camp to freshen up. Meet other guests, guides and researchers at the main dining area for a dinner that will please any palate » back to top Volunteer Support Throughout your stay at your placement in Mashatu you will have the support and guidance of experienced researchers and Mashatu staff. They are part of our greater African Impact support team, and will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance. Volunteer Orientation Volunteers’ introduction to Mashatu and orientation upon arrival Introduction to all senior camp staff including Guides, Heads of departments, Researchers and Assistants Familiarization of the Safari camp and research areas Introduction to current research work that is being done, and instructions on how to carry out research work that will be of assistance to the programme Issuing of the basic tools you require to carry out your duties Volunteers will learn how to identify the various elephants, as well as to age and sex the individuals and carry out data collections Volunteers will learn how to assist Villiers in his use of the leopard collaring equipment and how to make relevant observations and record data » back to top Accommodation Volunteers will be accommodated in very comfortable guides’ accommodation at Mashatu Main Camp. You will in a way become part of the staff body, taking meals with the guides and management, and assisting your researchers with client hosting where necessary. Volunteers should be prepared for shared accommodation. Meals You will enjoy 3 meals a day at Main Camp in the guides’ and management quarters » back to top Getting There Mashatu Game Reserve, in the vast game area of the Northern Tuli Wildlife Conservation region. Fly into Johannesburg International Airport, and transfer by air charter or road to the Mashatu base at the Botswana border Fly into Gaborone (Botswana) and transfer by air charter or road to the Mashatu base at the Botswana border The above air charter or road transfers will be organised for you by African Impact, and charged to you at their respective costs. You will then be transferred from the base into the Reserve by Land Rover » back to top Make an Enquiry Volunteer Project in Botswana - Wildlife Conservation - Elephant & Leopard Research - Game Viewing Safari, Mashatu     print this page | bookmark this page (CTRL-D) | send to a friend back to top