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Dolphin & Turtle Research, Mozambique
White sands, coconut palms and the spectacular Indian Ocean stretching as far as the eye can see... This project is as exotic as it sounds. Based in the beach village of Ponto d’Ouro, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourselves in the captivating local Afro-Portuguese culture and assist with the study of marine life and dolphins.
Marine Wildlife Conservation - Dolphin & Turtle Research - Scuba Diving, Ponto d’Ouro - Volunteer Project in Mozambique, Ponta d’Ouro
| Location |
The project is located on the tropical beaches of Ponta d’Ouro near the South African border and Mozambique’s southern town of Maputo |
| Project Length |
4-6 weeks |
| Age Limit |
Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health |
| Project Fee |
£1695 / $3390 (4 weeks)
£2195 / $4390 (6 weeks)
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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: Marine Wildlife Conservation - Dolphin & Turtle Research - Scuba Diving, Ponto d’Ouro, Mozambique.
» photo gallery
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volunteer & travel highlights
» project fee includes & excludes
| » day in the life of a volunteer...
» volunteer support & orientation
| » accommodation & meals
| » getting there
Photos
Mozambique Photos of Marine Wildlife Conservation - Dolphin & Turtle Research - Scuba Diving, Ponto d’Ouro in Africa.
More about the Dolphin & Turtle Research in Mozambique
Dolphins have fascinated man for thousands of years. They are intelligent social creatures that humans can relate to in many ways. People and dolphins interact on a variety of levels and many believe humankind has much to learn from these fascinating underwater mammals.
Dolphins, like many other sea creatures, are threatened due to man’s exploitation of limited ocean resources. Research suggests first-born calves are lost due to high levels of toxins in mothers’ milk as a result of man polluting the oceans. With the increase of port and harbor development globally, the home ranges of dolphins are reduced. Dolphin numbers have declined significantly in the last 5 decades and the ocean mammals are under threat.
The Dolphin Project involves varied conservation and research activities based on the southern coastline of Mozambique. African Impact works in conjunction with our partner organisations to facilitate this research work and provide manpower for much-needed assistance and support.
The Dolphin Project aims to monitor bottle nosed dolphin numbers and behavior, loggerhead turtle nesting activity and coral reef condition in order to make recommendations for improving the conservation of marine biodiversity. It involves field data collection via beach walks, boat surveys, swims and dives on the southern coastline of Mozambique around Ponta d’ Ouro. It also involves assisting with tourist education and general tourism welcoming & interpretation. This programme runs in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Mozambique.
A number of cetaceans occur in the deep waters off this coastline including Sperm whales, Rissos dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, pygmy and false killer whales, common dolphin, spinner dolphin, striped dolphin, spotted dolphin, frasers dolphin, melon-headed whale, minke whale, sei whale, bryde’s whale, and blue whale – these are highly unlikely to be seen. Some cetaceans are found close to the shore but are again very unlikely to be seen, such as the killer whale. The bottle nosed dolphin is the focus of this project and is most easily seen. It is quite likely that volunteers may see hump baked whales, and hump backed dolphins are also in the area but more commonly seen in the Maputo bay.
You will be working with ‘Dolphin Encounters’ at their base camp and will be considered as a member of their staff body whilst you are there.
The main activities you will have the opportunity to get involved in include:
- Beach walks – to locate dolphin pods, record their position and estimate their numbers
- to locate & record turtle nest sites (Nov- Feb only)- to record fishing catch quantities & species;to assess levels of beach traffic
- Boat surveys – to locate dolphin pods, record their position, photograph their dorsal fins and estimate their numbers
- Dolphin swims – assist with data collection of pod location & dolphin numbers
- Reef transect swims – to establish fixed transects, record coral condition and indicator species
- Assist with organising dolphin swims – help make preparations for dolphin swim briefings & launches
- Swim facilitation – assisting on boat trips to find wild dolphins and aid clients in the water with snorkelling equipment on finding dolphins
- Reception work – taking bookings, making sales welcoming guests at the Dolphin Encounters reception
- Awareness and Education – generate awareness about the conservation of dolphins and develop educational materials
You will also be asked to assist with base camp facilitation and management assistance. Activities involved will include:
- Monitoring beach traffic – patrol the beaches with the aim of controlling the ecological hazard of vehicles on the beach
- Reception work – taking bookings, making sales welcoming guests at the Dolphin Encounters reception
- Hands on work – painting signs, updating the research board etc
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Dolphin & Turtle Research, Ponta d’Ouro - Highlights
This volunteer project in Africa includes: Marine Wildlife Conservation - Dolphin & Turtle Research - Scuba Diving, Ponto d’Ouro
- Included in your fee is your PADI open-water scuba diving licence. You will begin the course upon your arrival at the project base in Mozambique. This is a PADI international accredited course and upon completion you will get a certificate permitting you to scuba dive anywhere in the world. Those who are already licensed divers may either do the course as a refresher or do dives for an equivalent value. During the course & dives, you will be introduced to the activities you will be involved in and may get going with some of them. Once the course is completed you will have the time & skills to focus on the project activities.
- Data Capture – collect data on dolphin numbers, behaviour, identification, geographic location and home ranges. This data is then processed into an electronic database
- Monitor beach traffic – patrol the beaches with the aim of controlling the ecological hazard of vehicles on the beach
- Fish catch patrol – monitor fishermen’s daily catch with aim of recording and assessing the affect of unrestricted fishing in the area
- Dolphin swim briefing – conduct swim briefing and demonstration to clients prior to dolphin tour
- Swim facilitation – assisting on boat trips to find wild dolphins and aid clients in the water with snorkeling equipment on finding dolphins
- Awareness and Education – generate awareness about the conservation of dolphins and develop educational materials
Mozambique Travel Highlights
- Enjoy a taste of the wonders of Swaziland when you join the programme for your orientation in Mlilwane near the Swazi border and before transferring by road to Ponto d’Ouro
- Based in Ponta d’Ouro, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourselves in the captivating local Afro-Portuguese culture and cuisine – the remnants of colonial days gone by…
- In the Northern provinces of the country, Vilanculos and Inhassoro are two intriguing towns that form the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago. The islands of Benguera, Margeruqe and Bazaruto make up a World Heritage Site and a dugong conservation area
- Paradise Island lives up to its name and her shores are home to some fascinating historical relics and ancient structures
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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, project facilitation and development, etc.
- 4-6 day official PADI open-water scuba diving course
- Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day which you prepare together with other volunteers
- Access to facilities for doing your own hand washing
- Assistance in your projects by various Dolphin Encountours staff and volunteer coordinators. Full support from African Impact, our partner organisations and coordinators throughout your time on your placement
- Orientation in Swaziland at the project headquarters
Project Fee Excludes
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement, which should include cover for repatriation
- All transport by air or bus to the project base in Swaziland, and the GBP200 transfer to Ponto d’Ouro after your orientation in Swaziland
- 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
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Ponto d’Ouro e.g. tours with other project volunteers into surrounding areas or neighbouring countries, etc
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Day in the life...
This is a typical day in the life of a volunteer working on the
Dolphin & Turtle Research
project:
- 06h30 - 08h30 Join the researcher and Dolphin Encountour clients on a ‘Dolphin Encountour’ – swim with wild dolphins, which involves assisting the clients and researchers whilst out on the water.
- 08h30 - 09h30 Clean project equipment after boat launch.
- 09h30 - 10h30 Make yourselves breakfast of cereals, tea, coffee, etc.
- 10h30 - 13h00 Data capture, research dives, or camp duties.
- 13h00 - 14h00 Break and lunch, socialise, relax on the beach or head back to the beach house for lunch.
- 14h00 - 17h00 Carry out a rocky shore transect, do a turtle nest beach walk or conduct a beach litter survey (dependent on the time of year).
- 17h00 - 18h30 Break – take a surf lesson or just chill on the beach!
- 18h30 Dinner back at the beach house and once a week a presentation by the project researcher, or a trip to one of the local pubs, or maybe a night beach walk to look for turtles laying eggs.
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Volunteer Support
Throughout your stay at your placement you will have the support and guidance of experienced field-workers and Dolphin Encounters coordinators. They are part of our greater African Impact support team, and will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance.
Volunteer Orientation
Your orientation will take place at our project base in the Ezulwini Valley in Swaziland. The orientation will entail a further introduction to staff, background information and a deeper insight into the project and the work that you will be doing.
Upon your arrival in Ponta D’Ouro you will get settled in and then begin your PADI open-water diving course. This will take 4-6 days depending on the weather and underwater conditions.
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Accommodation
Volunteers will be staying in a house located 10 minutes walk from the Dolphin Encountours Camp. The volunteers share two dormitory rooms. There are electric lights and plugs in all the rooms. Bed, mattress, sheet and pillow will be provided (a sleeping bag is essential and also recommended for optional independent travel).
Volunteers will share ablution facilities (hot water) and kitchen facilities with each other. You will need to do your laundry by hand.
Meals
Basic food for three meals a day will be provided but volunteers all cook their own meals. Pots, cooking equipment and eating utensils are provided. Camp staff purchases your food supplies for you on a weekly basis. The base camp is situated on the beach at the Dolphin Encounters base and shops are within easy walking distance.
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Getting There
The project is located on the tropical beaches of Ponta d’Ouro near the South African border and Mozambique’s southern town of Maputo.
Fly into Johannesburg, and catch a connecting flight to Manzini International Airport in Swaziland. Here you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to the Lodge for your orientation. The following day you will be transferred with the researcher to the project site in Mozambique.
Flights to and from Swaziland are not included in your fee. Your travel dates will determine if you have to pay extra for the transfer from Swaziland to Ponta d’Ouro.
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Make an Enquiry
Volunteer Project in Mozambique - Marine Wildlife Conservation - Dolphin & Turtle Research - Scuba Diving, Ponto d’Ouro
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