At a glance
- Contribute to vital conservation efforts in Botswana, protecting endangered species and preserving their habitat
- Assist experienced researchers with data collection, monitoring animal populations, and contributing to conservation projects
- Enjoy a unique and rewarding experience in a supportive environment tailored to older volunteers
- Witness incredible wildlife such as elephants, lions, and giraffes in their natural environment
- Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Tuli Block and the nearby Limpopo River, on a reserve spanning 20,000 hectares
Is Wildlife Conservation in Botswana right for me?
This programme offers you the opportunity to protect some of the most iconic species in the African bush while learning more about the local culture. Tailored to volunteers over 50, you will join a group of like-minded, mature individuals who share your passion for giving back through travel.
Together, you’ll experience Botswana in an authentic way while contributing to the protection of elephants, lions, and a variety of other native species.
You don't need any experience to join this project as an older volunteer. Conservation workers will support you through your journey, helping you spot and protect endangered animals in Botswana.
You'll follow a structured itinerary with set activities and plenty of time to relax and unwind. Staff will be on hand to help and support you 24/7. They can also recommend trips if you'd like to explore beyond the reserve.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to immerse yourself in Botswana's wilderness. There are few things more rewarding than staying in stunning surroundings while helping to protect vulnerable animals.
What will I do as a wildlife volunteer in Botswana?
Spend two weeks surrounded by iconic African wildlife in the Tuli Block reserve, working alongside conservationists, researchers, and rangers. Your first week will offer a blend of wildlife monitoring and soil erosion prevention and conclude with a weekend of cultural immersion and exploration.
You will continue monitoring the local species during your second week, as well as assist with general reserve maintenance tasks.
You will:
- Track and survey the wildlife
- Set up camera traps
- Join anti-poaching patrols
- Prevent soil erosion
- Help maintain the reserve
Track and survey wildlife
Botswana is home to a vast and diverse range of wildlife, acting as a crucial sanctuary for some of Africa's most iconic species. The country famously has over 130,000 elephants, which represents roughly one-third of the continent's entire population. Working alongside conservationists, you will learn about the different species living in the reserve, track the populations, and monitor their behaviour.
Become a wildlife track identification expert; survey the mammal population at Mopani Dam; engage in a birdwatching session at Jenda Hide; monitor elephant herds at Mopani Dam and Hi-side; and conduct a crocodile census at the Limpopo River.
The data you collect is crucial to the conservation teams to detect shifts in endangered populations and formulate urgent action plans in collaboration with the government.
Set up camera traps
Because many of Africa's most fascinating species are nocturnal or naturally wary of humans, camera traps offer an invaluable, non-invasive window into their hidden world.
Strategically place these motion-activated cameras under the conservationist's guidance and gather the captured footage.
During your second week, you will download and review all footage, giving you a chance to analyse the behaviour of the nocturnal and shy wildlife. This vital footage is then integrated into local research databases, helping conservationists map exact territory.
Join anti-poaching patrols
Illegal poaching for bushmeat remains a widespread threat to the local biodiversity.
You will become an active part of the solution by joining the reserve rangers on vital anti-poaching patrols, sweeping key areas to locate and safely dismantle illegal wire snares
By clearing these hazardous traps from the bush over the course of your stay, your team's efforts will directly protect the ecosystem and save the lives of hundreds of animals.
Prevent soil erosion
Soil erosion is a major threat to habitat stability, often accelerated by heavy seasonal flooding. Left unchecked, erosion degrades soil fertility, increases the risk of severe flash floods, and damages aquatic ecosystems by washing sediment into local rivers.
As a conservation volunteer, you will step in to help prevent this damage. Assist in preparing and installing erosion control materials to stabilise vulnerable areas.
This practical work is a crucial part of the reserve's conservation strategy, helping to keep the landscape stable, healthy, and protected for generations to come.
Maintain the reserve
Botswana’s national motto, Pula! (meaning "let there be rain"), reveals just how deeply water and natural resources are valued in this landscape. Where water is scarce and the environment is fragile, dedicated stewardship is required to keep the ecosystem thriving.
You will support the local team through three vital infrastructure initiatives:
- Reserve Maintenance: Play a direct role in wildlife survival by cleaning crucial waterholes and clearing dust from the solar panels that power the reserve's essential systems.
- Road Maintenance: Help with road repairs and trim back overgrown vegetation to ensure driving tracks remain safe and clear for rangers and research vehicles.
- Clean-up: Participate in a dedicated community clean-up activity at Hi-Side to preserve the natural beauty and environmental health of the area.
Where in Botswana will I work?
The Tuli Block
Located on the banks of the Limpopo River, you’ll find yourself in the very heart of the Botswanan bush. You’ll live on a reserve in Tuli, home to wild elephants, zebras, crocodiles, hyenas, and more.
This reserve spans over 20,000 hectares of vast and unspoiled land. Prepare to explore the untamed African wilderness.
In the evenings, you can connect with staff and fellow travellers around the campfire. You can also explore beyond the campsite with the guidance of local staff.
What are the aims of Wildlife Conservation for over 50s in Botswana?
This project is all about safeguarding Botswana's wildlife and restoring the local environment. Your daily efforts on the reserve will support three main areas of conservation:
- Biodiversity Monitoring: Tracking species like elephants, leopards, and hyenas to help guide regional protection plans.
- Habitat Preservation: Actively counter land degradation through targeted soil erosion management and essential infrastructure care.
- Front-line Defence: Joining rangers on active patrols to remove hidden snares.
Every survey completed and snare removed brings us closer to our long-term goal—creating a legally protected conservation area in partnership with regional national parks.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay: For an off-the-beaten-track adventure, you’ll stay in a shared tent at our Tuli base camp. Prepare to experience the thrill of camping in the African bushveld. The campsite is within walking distance of your placement.
Comfort level: Embrace modest, simple living. The campsite is clean with hot showers and electricity from solar-powered charging stations. There’s no Wi-Fi, so connect with nature and your fellow travelers instead!
Who you’ll live with: You’ll share your tent with other Wildlife Conservation volunteers. By sharing with like-minded travelers, you can bond over your passion for wildlife and form friendships during social activities.
Learn more about our accommodation.
Food
Daily meals: Your program fee includes three meals a day. Out in the bushveld, you can expect basic but satisfying dishes. Be sure to eat enough because you’ll need your energy to explore this vast and rugged landscape.
Dietary requirements: Local staff can cater to a wide range of dietary preferences. We can provide vegetarian, vegan, and halal food. We’ll do our best to ensure you have a wide variety of delicious food, no matter what diet you follow.
Botswanan cuisine: You’ll eat like a local as you sample traditional food from Botswana. The national dish of Botswana is Seswaa. This beef stew uses every part of the cow, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. Cooked low and slow, it gets maximum flavor from the cheapest cuts, making it perfect for celebrations. Staple foods include maize, rice, and porridge.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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