Media Centre for Volunteer in Ghana

Martin - January 2008

Coming to South Africa on the animal conservation study has been a life changing experience for me. Before I arrived I was a little unsure of the true meaning of animal conservation; but with the guidance of the GVI team I have gained a good understanding of a complex situation. This 5 week period has given me many fantastic memories to treasure, not only the stunning wildlife but also the time spent with my fellow volunteers and the fantastic staff. To be thrown together with an incredible bunch of like minded people has been a real privilege. I’ve been lucky to have some amazing sightings of the lions and seeing Zero, the pride male, feeding on a zebra foal certainly brought home the reality of the natural world that I am so detached from back home. Also seeing Lisa, one of the females visit her son Lionel at the boma was incredibly moving. My other choice animal moments include mothers with their young, particularly one of the cheetahs Nyeleti and her cubs. We had a great visual of the cubs playing whilst she watched over them attentively. Stunning. Returning from an afternoon drive and nearing camp, we stumbled upon a female hippo with her very young calf out the water at dusk. Seeing the animals at sunset was the ‘icing on the cake’. I’m certainly going to find it difficult to return to a desk job when I get home but have already made plans to return within a year. Thank you to all of the incredible staff and wonderful friends for making this all happen.