FAQs

In terms of your experience as a traveller, safaris are typically focussed on sight-seeing expeditions. Conservation travel, on the other hand, is a lot more immersive, involved and hands-on. Unlike a safari, you’ll have the chance to work closely with wildlife and conservation professionals on real projects and initiatives.

Another important distinction comes from motives of these two kinds of trip. Safari companies are primarily motivated by profits. This means they don’t always work in the best interests of the wildlife. Whereas the goal of conservation travel is always to improve the lives and habitats of Africa’s wildlife and communities. Travel is a critical part of our conservation strategy, but there is a much bigger goal in our sights which steers our actions in a positive direction.

We have a careful independent selection process that ensures we only work with sustainable, long-term projects where they can prove a lasting, positive impact on wildlife and local communities.

We also ensure that every project we work with has a genuine role and support network for our travellers.

To ensure they’re maintaining the standards which led us to select them in the first place, our team visits each project on a regular basis and we also hold an annual review.

We often work with vulnerable environments and sensitive communities. So we are extremely careful to ensure we have a positive impact. We continuously evaluate our social, economic and environmental footprint and identify ways to improve our relationship with each project and initiative we work with.

Yes. We are the only organisation of our kind that has been offered membership of ABTA, one of the world’s most recognised quality standards for travel. Find us at abta.com/abta-member-search (our membership number is Y6702). 

We comply with the UK Package Travel Regulations, which set out strict standards of how we must operate in order to protect our travellers. These regulations apply to all our travellers, wherever they come from in the world.

Your trip will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL. This means that in the unlikely event we were to go out of business, you will be entitled to a refund of the package price. If you have already started your trip, then your transport home will be covered. It also means that you are guaranteed a full refund if you decide not to travel when the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to your destination.

We are also full members of the Year Out Group, an association of leading UK organisations that promotes the benefits of a well-structured gap year and adheres to specified codes of practice. We also have our own Code of Conduct covering things like participation, behaviour and alcohol consumption that we expect all our participants to adhere to.

We create experiences for wildlife enthusiasts aged between 16 and 70+. This means there’s usually a good mix of age groups at all our locations.

If you’d like to be paired with other travellers of a similar age, please contact us and we’ll advise you about times and destinations where this is possible.

Please bear in mind that if you’re under 18 years old at the time of travel, you will need to carry some documents with you. We’ll advise you but please be aware you will need to allow enough time to get this organised).

We use Rhino Ratings on each experience page to give you an idea of how strenuous they are. If you’re worried about whether you’ll be able to meet the physical demands of your preferred project, we’ll be happy to chat to you about the requirements in more detail.

No. It’s all about your love of wildlife and your desire to learn and make a positive difference, but we can tailor your trip to match your specific skills if you would like!

While some people travel with a friend, family member, or as part of a small group, the majority travel on their own.

If you’re concerned about travelling by yourself, you may find it reassuring to know that our experiences really bring together people with shared interests and passions. In fact, almost all of our travellers return home with a whole group of new friends.

Absolutely. In fact, our very first travellers in 1999 were a group of gap year students. Aside from being an amazing opportunity and a thrilling adventure, our experiences can really make your university or job application stand out. After all, how many people do you know who have bottle-fed an orphaned rhino or tracked a lion through the bush at night?

If your university or college has an internship programme or accredited module, you may also be able to use your volunteering experience towards your credits. Staff in Africa can sign off on any procedures and time you have completed. If you’d like to know more, please check with your university or college or contact us.

If you have any requests related to age, such as to travel with people of a similar age to you or to stay in a private room, please get in touch. We always do our best to accommodate these kind of requests. Just please bear in mind that this may depend on your choice of experience, dates and availability. If you would like to know more about the physical requirements of each experience, meanwhile, please refer to our Rhino Ratings.

Yes. Whether you’re looking for a fresh perspective, a change of direction, or a new sense of purpose in your life, becoming part of an African wildlife conservation project can be a profound – even life-changing – experience.

Our sabbatical experiences also give you the chance to learn new skills which you can use in your career. All while making a lasting contribution to the survival of Africa’s wildlife.

If you have any requests related to age, such as to travel with people of a similar age to you or to stay in a private room, please get in touch. We always do our best to accommodate these kind of requests. Just please bear in mind that this may depend on your choice of experience, dates and availability. If you would like to know more about the physical requirements of each experience, meanwhile, please refer to our Rhino Ratings.

We think it’s time to move away from the stereotypical portrayal of a ‘traveller’ as someone in their teens or twenties. In the real world, many of the travellers we work with are in their 50s, 60s and 70s. And in all the years we’ve been helping people fulfil their dreams of working with wildlife in Africa, we’ve never found a person’s age is any kind of indicator of their dedication, fitness or passion. 

That’s why we welcome travellers of all ages to take part in all our experiences. After all, wildlife conservation matters to everyone so why shouldn’t everyone be involved in helping to protect Africa’s animals?

If you do have any requests related to age, such as to travel with people of a similar age to you or to stay in a private room, please get in touch. We always do our best to accommodate these kind of requests. Just please bear in mind that this may depend on your choice of experience, dates and availability. If you would like to know more about the physical requirements of each experience, meanwhile, please refer to our Rhino Ratings.

Yes. We are the only organisation of our kind that has been offered membership of ABTA, one of the world’s most recognised quality standards for travel. Find us at abta.com/abta-member-search (our membership number is Y6702). 

We comply with the UK Package Travel Regulations, which set out strict standards of how we must operate in order to protect our travellers. These regulations apply to all our travellers, wherever they come from in the world.

Your trip will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL. This means that in the unlikely event we were to go out of business, you will be entitled to a refund of the package price. If you have already started your trip, then your transport home will be covered. It also means that you are guaranteed a full refund if you decide not to travel when the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to your destination.

We are also full members of the Year Out Group, an association of leading UK organisations that promotes the benefits of a well-structured gap year and adheres to specified codes of practice. We also have our own Code of Conduct covering things like participation, behaviour and alcohol consumption that we expect all our participants to adhere to.

Our accommodation varies from location to location but, in general, you could describe it as basic yet comfortable. We’ll discuss the details of your accommodation with you during our telephone consultation, after which we can also provide you with photos and other information.

Some of our locations in Africa have internet and WiFi. But please don’t expect the same levels of connectivity as you enjoy at home. Even where internet is available, the service can often be quite slow and intermittent.

If you bring an unlocked mobile phone, you can get a South African SIM card when you arrive at Johannesburg airport. We’ll even take you to a nearby phone shop so you don’t have to search for one when you arrive. However, please bear in mind that most projects are in remote locations where mobile phone signal can be limited. We can discuss further in your consultation.

We are able to cater for most dietary requirements.

If you have any diet-related questions you’d like to discuss with us, please get in touch to chat about your options.

To give you an indication of how physically demanding our experiences are, we created the rhino rating system. Towards the top of each experience page, you’ll see a crash of rhino (our favourite collective noun from the animal kingdom) which scores the experience on a scale of one to five.

The basic rule: the more rhino you see, the more challenging the experience will be.

1 rhino: This project is suitable for all levels of fitness and physical ability. The work is not physically demanding.

2 rhino: This project is suitable for all levels of fitness and physical ability. The work is not overly physically demanding, but you can expect to be on your feet for several hours a day. 

3 rhino: This project is suitable for anyone with average levels of fitness and physical ability. You should be able to walk for up to two hours, lift weights of up to 10kg and be physically active throughout the day. 

4 rhino: This project is suitable for participants with average health and fitness. You should be able to walk for several hours in uneven terrain, be physically active throughout the day and lift weights of 10kg. 

5 rhino: This project is only suitable for participants with good health and a level of fitness. The activities can be physically demanding and you’ll often be on the go from dawn to dusk.

Our website is like an encyclopedia of southern Africa’s most exciting wildlife conservation projects. But sometimes there’s just no substitute for talking to someone who’s been there and done it.

Our staff are not only experienced in travel management but also carry zoological and conservation-related qualifications. We regularly travel to each project so that we always have up-to-date information for you and can discuss your options based on our own first-hand experience.

So if you need help finding the right experience for you, get in touch with us by phone, email or via our online application form.

That’s really up to you. Our shortest experiences can be completed in just five days. Some locations ask that you stay for at least two weeks. But many of our travellers choose to stay for a lot longer than this, up to many months, and often at multiple projects.

Absolutely. Most of our travellers do this as they often visit more than one project. If you choose to move between different conservation projects, we can also arrange your transfers.

Due to the small size of some conservation projects and initiatives we work with, availability on our experiences can be fairly limited. You may also need to organise a tourist visa which could take up to eight weeks to arrive.

For these reasons, we recommend you get in touch with us as soon as you’re interested in travelling.

Yes. We are the only organisation of our kind that has been offered membership of ABTA, one of the world’s most recognised quality standards for travel. Find us at abta.com/abta-member-search (our membership number is Y6702). 

We comply with the UK Package Travel Regulations, which set out strict standards of how we must operate in order to protect our travellers. These regulations apply to all our travellers, wherever they come from in the world.

Your trip will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL. This means that in the unlikely event we were to go out of business, you will be entitled to a refund of the package price. If you have already started your trip, then your transport home will be covered. It also means that you are guaranteed a full refund if you decide not to travel when the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to your destination.

We are also full members of the Year Out Group, an association of leading UK organisations that promotes the benefits of a well-structured gap year and adheres to specified codes of practice. We also have our own Code of Conduct covering things like participation, behaviour and alcohol consumption that we expect all our participants to adhere to.

We want every traveller to enjoy a hugely memorable and rewarding time in Africa. So before booking, we take the time to find out a little about what you want and discuss your options. Here’s how it works:

1. Your journey to Africa starts with our online application form. This is your chance to tell about yourself and what you want from your African experience. To open the form, just click the "Apply Now" link in the upper right corner of any page.
2. Then the most important bit – we’ll speak with you and help you plan your trip. During this conversation, one of our conservation travel experts will answer all your questions, talk to you about your options, and even make personal recommendations based on your ambitions.
3. Following our communication, we’ll send you a unique plan for your trip which outlines everything discussed.
4. When you’re ready, we ask you to confirm your booking by sending us a signed confirmation and a deposit of GBP 295 / USD 400 / CAD 500 / AUD 500 / EUR 350.

No. We’ll ensure you’re matched to an experience that suits your interests and ambitions. But you do not need any specific qualifications or past experience.

Once you’ve confirmed your booking, you can start organising your trip. Here are a few things to put on your to-do list:

• Check if you need a visa. You may well require a visa to travel to, and between countries within, southern Africa. This will depend on the nationality of your passport and the country (or countries) you're travelling to. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to check your visa requirements and arrange all the necessary paperwork before travelling, as we cannot take any responsibility for you not being able to enter the country. The following website is a good resource to find out whether you will need a visa for your specific destination country: IATA Travel Centre.
• Visit a doctor or travel nurse for advice on vaccinations ideally eight weeks before you depart.
• Make sure you arrange your flights and send us your flight travel insurance details before you depart.
• If you’re under 18 years old at the time of travel, you will need to carry some documents with you. These need to be officially certified within three months of travel (we’ll advise you but please be aware you will need to allow enough time to get this organised).
• Remember to make your final payment to us. This is due eight weeks before you travel.
• And last but not least… pack! To make things a bit easier, we’ll send you a recommended kit list for your experience.

Our experiences start from a weekly cost of GBP 686, USD 871, EUR 816, AUD 1316, CAD 1200. Most travellers like to combine multiple projects to create a tailor-made trip. The combined price of projects is cheaper than the individual projects added up online.

All prices include your accommodation at the conservation project, all your meals, transport to and from Johannesburg and vital financial support to your host conservation projects.

You can find out more about the prices on the specific project pages on our website, or you can speak with us.

Wildlife conservation in southern Africa isn’t government funded. So projects rely on travellers like you, not just for your time and effort, but also for the vital financial support you provide.

Over the years, the financial support of our travellers has empowered the conservation projects we work with in many different ways. We’ve sponsored new equipment, invested in new facilities and provided interest-free loans to help broaden their impact.

During your time in Africa, you’ll see exactly where your money goes: enabling the conservation work you’re involved in and having a direct benefit on the wildlife, communities and ecosystems of southern Africa.

As an independent conservation travel company, we only support projects with a proven track record. And we prioritise those that have little or no other source of funding. So you can rest assured your money is going where it’s needed most.

Yes. To secure your booking there’s an initial deposit of GBP 295 / USD 400 / CAD 500 / AUD 500 / EUR 350 / ZAR 3,500. This amount is then deducted from your final payment.

You can pay your deposit and full travel prices to us in GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, CAD or ZAR.

For all currencies, you can pay via bank transfer (we’ll send you details in your Booking Pack). For all currencies except South African Rand, you can pay online or over the phone by debit / credit card, Visa or Mastercard.

We are unable to accept American Express, Discover Card or Diners Club Card.

After paying your initial deposit, there is then nothing to pay until eight weeks before departure. On booking, you will receive a statement which will detail the exact date your final payment is due.

We ask that you take out travel insurance that covers the wildlife activities you will undertake during your trip, as well as emergency treatment, airlift evacuation and repatriation. If you want, we can arrange insurance that provides this level of cover for you.

You may also need to arrange a visa that allows you to travel and make sure you’re up to date with all the necessary vaccinations. Depending on your nationality, you may have to pay for these precautions.

Sometimes circumstances change and prevent you from travelling. Since we book your placement long before your departure, we incur costs if you have to cancel. Please see our terms and conditions for full and definitive information on cancellation. Here is a brief outline of the cancellation charges:

• More than 8 weeks before departure – cancellation charge is your deposit plus any costs we may have incurred booking flights for you
• 8 to 4 weeks before departure – cancellation charge is 50% of your total package price
• Less than 4 weeks before departure – cancellation charge is 100% of your total package price

If the cancellation charge is greater than the amount you have paid to us prior to cancellation, the balance becomes a debt owed by you to us.

You may be able to recover your losses resulting from cancellation if you cancel for a reason covered by your insurance policy.

Our prices include transport, accommodation and food. So there’s no need to bring extra money if you don’t want to. But you may want to spend a little on gifts and mementos, snacks and toiletries. Around GBP 20 a week should be more than enough to cover all this.

Some projects also offer a wide range of optional excursions which you can book during your stay for an additional cost. Our team will advise you before you travel on what these are and will give you an indication of cost.

Most shops do accept card payments using a VISA and Mastercard.

You’ll find ATMs in most towns and petrol stations in South Africa where you can withdraw cash using a VISA and Mastercard.

For placements in Zimbabwe, you’ll need to bring all your spending money in US dollars cash. This is because there is no option to withdraw cash in Zimbabwe and limited options to pay by card. Our team will advise you before you travel how much money you’ll need to bring.

Yes. We are the only organisation of our kind that has been offered membership of ABTA, one of the world’s most recognised quality standards for travel. Find us at abta.com/abta-member-search (our membership number is Y6702). 

We comply with the UK Package Travel Regulations, which set out strict standards of how we must operate in order to protect our travellers. These regulations apply to all our travellers, wherever they come from in the world.

Your trip will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL. This means that in the unlikely event we were to go out of business, you will be entitled to a refund of the package price. If you have already started your trip, then your transport home will be covered. It also means that you are guaranteed a full refund if you decide not to travel when the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to your destination.

We are also full members of the Year Out Group, an association of leading UK organisations that promotes the benefits of a well-structured gap year and adheres to specified codes of practice. We also have our own Code of Conduct covering things like participation, behaviour and alcohol consumption that we expect all our participants to adhere to.

Fundraising is a great way to make the cost of your African adventure more manageable. It can also be a fun way to kick-start your conservation challenge.

To help you on your fundraising journey, we’ve teamed up with FundMyTravel who offer an online platform where you can create a fundraising campaign page, add a video, and tell your story!

Find out more on the FundMyTravel website.

Yes, we can arrange all of your in-country flights to and from projects as required, but we cannot book your international flights.

Yes, international flights must be arranged by you.

All we ask is that you talk to us about suitable flight times when arranging your flights. Our team on the ground in South Africa will meet you and any other conservation travellers at Johannesburg airport. So when arranging your air travel, you need to look for flights that tie in with these group meetings and transfer times in Johannesburg (we’ll tell you when these are).

From Johannesburg, your transfer to your project is taken care of and included in your placement.

Yes. When you land in Johannesburg, one of our team members will be waiting in the arrivals hall to meet you. They’ll talk you through everything you need to know and answer any questions you may have before personally seeing you to your connecting journey. If you have any luggage problems, we’ll also assist you with resolving them.

After your trip, we’ll also meet you back in Johannesburg to hear all about your time in Africa and wish you a warm farewell.

This service is included for all our travellers, even if you arrive in South Africa before the start date of your volunteering experience.

Transfers to most of our locations are done by road. We use accredited travel and transfer partners with shuttle vehicles. For your safety, we don’t schedule road transfers at night.

For projects based outside of South Africa or a long distance from Johannesburg, we’ll see you onto a short-haul connecting flight followed by a pickup and transfer at the other end.

At the end of your trip our team will also meet you from your transfer or flight back at Johannesburg airport and ensure you are safely checked in for your flight home or any onward travel.

Yes. We want to make sure your experience in Africa is memorable for all the right reasons. So we ask that you take out travel insurance that covers the wildlife activities you will undertake during your placement, as well as emergency treatment, airlift evacuation and repatriation.

To make things simple, we can arrange insurance that provides this level of cover for you. We use a trusted independent supplier of comprehensive policies who, in our experience, excels in both service and value. Or if you’d rather, you can choose another policy or use an existing cover if you already have an annual policy.

Please be aware that we will not allow you to travel unless you have sent us your travel insurance details.

You should seek personal advice from a healthcare professional ideally eight weeks before you travel. When you make your appointment, explain that it is for travel vaccinations as there may be a particular doctor or nurse you need to see. If you’ve already booked your experience, we’ll inform you which region of southern Africa you’ll be living in so you can pass this information onto your doctor or nurse.

Yes. We are the only organisation of our kind that has been offered membership of ABTA, one of the world’s most recognised quality standards for travel. Find us at abta.com/abta-member-search (our membership number is Y6702). 

We comply with the UK Package Travel Regulations, which set out strict standards of how we must operate in order to protect our travellers. These regulations apply to all our travellers, wherever they come from in the world.

Your trip will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL. This means that in the unlikely event we were to go out of business, you will be entitled to a refund of the package price. If you have already started your trip, then your transport home will be covered. It also means that you are guaranteed a full refund if you decide not to travel when the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to your destination.

Working with wild animals will always carry a small amount of risk. And it’s important you understand this before travelling with us and maintain respect for Africa’s wildlife at all times.

You’ll also undergo a comprehensive safety briefing when you arrive to prepare you for working with potentially dangerous animals.

In spite of the inherent dangers of working with wild animals, thanks to our experienced staff and safety protocols, we have an exemplary track record.

Nothing matters more to us than the safety of our travellers. So we have a team on the ground in Africa who personally meet you in Johannesburg, see you onto your transfer and provide around-the-clock support should you ever need it.

While staying on conservation projects, you’ll be the guests of experienced project coordinators. So as long as you stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary risks, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about while travelling in southern Africa.

We keep in regular contact with relevant embassies and foreign offices to ensure we give you the most up-to-date information and travel advice regarding our locations.

Should any unforeseen situation arise that warrants your removal from a country or specific region for safety reasons, we’ll do so immediately.

We take every possible precaution to ensure the safety of our travellers at all times. This even stretches to being fully prepared for events that could arise beyond our control. For this reason, we have created detailed emergency response procedures for every location that our travellers visit.

We regularly review and update these procedures to ensure our emergency response is always up to date. Likewise, our team members record every incident, no matter how small, and carry out an assessment of our response to ensure our procedures are followed and identify potential areas for improvement.

Thanks to our experienced staff and safety procedures, we have an exemplary track record.

Our experienced support team are on hand for you from the moment you arrive in Africa. And if an issue should arise, we’re there on the ground with you to resolve it, swiftly and professionally.

You can get in touch with us at any time by phone, email or – if there’s an urgent situation – by satellite telephone. We keep detailed information on each traveller and so we’re always up to speed the moment you need us.

You’ll be given a dedicated mobile number for our in-country support team in your Departure Pack information and again on your arrival in South Africa.

You may well require a visa to travel to, and between countries within, southern Africa. This will depend on the nationality of your passport and the country (or countries) you're travelling to. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to check your visa requirements and arrange all the necessary paperwork before travelling, as we cannot take any responsibility for you not being able to enter the country.

For information about visas for South Africa go to the South African government’s home affairs website – visa page.

The following website is a good resource to find out whether you will need a visa for your specific destination country: IATA Travel Centre.

If you’re under 18 years old at the time of travel, you will need to carry some documents with you. We’ll advise you but please be aware you will need to allow enough time to get this organised).