Learn new skills and play a part in the long term conservation of South African national parks

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Interns on this fantastic program in South Africa will undergo a comprehensive two week training placement, delivered by industry specialists, in the world famous Kruger National Park.

You will then be placed in one of the spectacular national parks around the country, all renowned for their incredible wildlife and landscapes. Here you will gain high-profile environmental education and conservation experience working in the ‘People and Conservation’ department. This department aims to encourage and educate visitors to the parks, particular neighbouring communities and young people.

During your time in South Africa you will meet up with your fellow interns to share your experiences and enjoy a 5 day tour of some of the national parks.

Life on the Program

You will be assigned to the resident People & Conservation officer at the park you are placed in and these placements are allocated depending on your skills, experience and the needs and requirements of the park at the time. The projects you will be involved with vary in each park.

Depending on your allocated park, you will live within beautiful landscapes from wild savannahs to mountains and coastal plateaus. You will have basic accommodation in the parks, which have shared facilities with other park staff. The majority of the accommodation has electricity and running water. You buy and prepare your own food.

Program Details

The ‘People and conservation’ department focuses on three main areas;

Community Based Conservation

Historically communication between parks and local communities has not been good. The department aims to promote conservation to local communities and improve park access. Local people are also invited to discuss and cooperate in future policies.

Environmental Education

Teaching visitors is a priority for the department. Methods vary depending on the visitors and the park but may involve; presentations, talks, interpretive displays, guided walks and game drives.

Cultural Heritage

Many national parks are home to cultural heritage sites, (rock art, sacred grounds), and these play a major role in reviving indigenous knowledge and oral history. These sites need to be conserved and managed and shared with local communities.

Volunteer Testimonials

The 2 weeks in Kruger Park was fantastic. I then transferred to my new home: Namaqua National Park. It's just wonderful here! Love the scenery, the amazing sunsets every evening, the gazing at the...

Kristel Ottoy, Belgium

The 2 weeks in Kruger Park was fantastic. I then transferred to my new home: Namaqua National Park. It's just wonderful here! Love the scenery, the amazing sunsets every evening, the gazing at the stars, the silence when you wake up in the morning and have your first cup of coffee...

We just started up a cultural heritage program and hope to promote tourism in the local communities. Water week is coming up so we’re visiting some schools and next week we take some young people on Imbewu camp to give them a real wilderness experience.

During my time in Bontebok we had a controlled burn, two game counts and a three-day game capture. As for People & Conservation work – we reached 1000+ students mostly in school visits but there...

Kim Rozell, USA

During my time in Bontebok we had a controlled burn, two game counts and a three-day game capture. As for People & Conservation work – we reached 1000+ students mostly in school visits but there were park visits, exhibitions and municipal programs as well. And always there was time to dash out of the office to watch birds, gawk at the mountain zebra or catch the bontebok just grazing.

I completely fell in love with the freedom of movement allowed in a non-predator park, and with daily encounters with the wildlife. The Bontebok staff is like a family.