BACKROUND OF THE PROJECT

Our course is designed for students interested in animals, wanting to apply to vet school, or first year vet students looking to explore or enter the professional fields of veterinary science, animal welfare and animal management. Categorized into three distinct learning areas, we provide a theoretical and hands on

approach to learning as it applies to African Wildlife, agricultural livestock and domestic animals.

Achieving our objectives require you to experience and interact with wildlife in a game reserve context, livestock within the farming context and domestic animals within South Africa’s rural village context,

where many animals live under difficult conditions.

Project

The course is managed by Dennis Taylor.

o BSc Botany and Zoology, Dip Agricultural Management

o FGASA Field Guiding Level 3 with Special Knowledge and Skills -Dangerous

Animals.

o 15 years in conservation management

o Accredited trainer for the Field Guide Association South Africa (FGASA)

Project More information about the project

The diversity of practical, informative & theoretical work is demand driven, but with the

objective for you to receive maximum exposure within the three sectors.

African Wildlife – participants on our program will spend around one third of their time in wildlife environments (commercial and non commercial game reserves). Through lecture based

learning and practical interactions you will be exposed to the following: Five Freedoms of Animals, Health & Safety, Immobilisation and Tranquilisation of animals, Game

Capture*, Animal management, Threats to wildlife, Toxic and venomous animals, Animal Health and Nutrition, Exotic pet & health Care

*every effort is made for you to experience (1.) at least two game captures, but as this is seasonal and

demand driven, the project cannot guarantee this activity of the success of this activity.

Large Animals (Such as Agricultural Livestock) – You will visit a range of livestock farms and

rural areas where the work focuses on large animals (cows, sheep, goats and at times horses).

Our aim is to give maxi-mum “hands-on” working experience as it relates to large animals / livestock wellbeing. Through lecture based learning and practical interactions you will be

exposed to the following: Health & Safety, Basic Animal Health & Animal Behaviour, Immobilisation, Tranquilisation &

inoculation of animals, Animal management, Animal Health and Nutrition

Small Animals (Such as Domestic Animals) – participants will undertake visits to rural villages and township settlements and participate at the newly established Veterinary Clinic in Chintsa

to undertake “hands on” practical work with a broad range of small animals. In the South African

context, these animals are very often classified as “vulnerable” and live under extremely difficult circumstances. As a result they are a high priority for our work. As volunteers, it is also

the environment in which you can contribute most effectively to animal welfare in South Africa.

Through information sharing, lecture based learning and practical interactions you will be exposed to the following:

General disease in small animals - Handling small animals, Safety and use of veterinary equipment & over counter medicines, Wound care - Community Support Services &

Understanding animal management in the South African context

Project Highlights Make a genuine contribution to African animals whilst improving your own veterinary knowledge Working hands-on with animals in a way unlike anything you can do at home! Explore this stunning area of the country, meeting local people and getting to know a completely different way of life Learn from our knowledgeable team and time with a vet for specialist work

Project

Volunteer Tasks

Arrival Day: Monday

Project Details

Time: Recommended arrival time is 11:30am Airport: East London Airport Departure Day: Monday Departure time: Your flight can depart anytime on Monday Min Age: 18 Max Age: N/A – Good physical and mental health

NOTE:

We can also collect you at any Hotel or place of accommodation on your arrival day, should it be within close radius of the City centre or Airport. This project is closed in the months of December, January and February

Volunteer Requirements

• Completed Application form

• Basic level of competency in English

• Good physical and mental health

• Love for Animals, Nature & the outdoors ☺

Packing list

• 2 or 3 Shorts, Jacket, Tracksuit, Pullover, Long Pants, T – Shirts, Long sleeve shirts, Raincoat • Smart set of clothes, Cold – Weather Jacket (some regions work is done in can become freezing) • Shoes - Working Shoes (sneakers, hiking boots), Sandals or Flip flops for weekends. • Swimwear, Sunscreen, Hat & Sunglasses, Sarong

• Insect Repellent

• Toiletries – Make up, Toothbrush & Toothpaste, shower gel, Shampoo/Conditioner, Towel

• First Aid Kit - Anti-diarrheal meds, anti-inflammatory meds, anti-histamines, paracetamol/aspirin,

anti-bacterial ointment, bandages, plasters and tweezers

• Lightweight travel Sleeping bag and small rucksack

• Working Gloves, Flashlight, Power Adapter, Water Bottle, Books & Games

• Camera, Charger, Alarm Clock

*If you wear glasses or contacts, it is also advisable to bring a spare pair.

PS – The most important things to bring are a sense of humour, patience, an open mind and a positive attitude!

NOTE:

Important Reminder: Participants must advise the NGO of their dietary needs (e.g. if they are

vegetarian or have any allergies) prior to their departure. Participants with very specific dietary needs

may be required to supplement their meals at their own expense.

Meals Breakfast - Self catering – Fruit, cereal, yoghurt, toast

Lunch – Self Catering - Sandwich of cold meat, salad, fruit

Dinner - hot meal will be served every night. These range from a traditional BBQ,

stews, casseroles, fresh vegetable etc

Accommodation The accommodation is based in the coastal town of Chintsa on South Africa’s beautiful

Wild Coast. Accommodation is shared and there are two “Vet Houses” situated a few

minutes’ walk from the beach. Due to the nature of these projects, you will work

between various reserves, farms and rural villages and are mobilized to where the

work is. At times you may spend nights away and can expect to stay in a variety of

accommodation when “in the field”. This accommodation will always be comfortable

and safe and could include work based tented camps, bush cottages, farm houses, rural

backpackers and occasionally lodges. The accommodation will have basic amenities

such as Communal kitchen & living area, Electricity, Hot & cold running water, bath /

shower room facilities, and all bedding and linen.

Accommodation, if in the wilderness / bush / rural areas, can be basic and lack some of

the mod-cons you may be used too, but every effort is made to ensure the experience is

enriching.

Laundry:

There is a washing machine available for volunteers use. You are responsible to purchase your

own detergent.

Internet:

There is Wifi at the volunteer houses. We recommend you purchase a South African Sim card and load data on it which will allow you to have access to the internet. You can do this in

Johannesberg. To make a call in South Africa, make sure your cell phone plan allows you to do so, and dial 00 before the country code of the number you are calling.

TAKE A WILD COAST ADVENTURE

Visit CAPE TOWN

Location: General Information

The project is based in the seaside village of Chintsa East, and this will be the base during your stay.

Volunteers go where they are needed on this project, so you could come back to the base house in

the evenings, or you could be camping under the stars on a game reserve somewhere when you

need to relocate a herd of giraffe early in the morning. There are various lodges and campsites that

are frequently used on this project.

● Shops/Grocery Stores: You can request a trip to East London whilst on the project which will be at

your own cost.

● ATMS: There are no banks in Chintsa and the ATMS around do not always have money. We

recommend you draw money out when in Johannesburg.

● Credit Cards: Credit cards are accepted at the local shop, restaurants and pubs.

Baggage: Bags must be collected in JNB or CPT to pass through customs. Do not send them direct to East

London because you will encounter problems. RECOMMENDED - A full change of clothes in your

carry on luggage which are appropriate for working with animals (late luggage is not unusual); farm boots.

Supervision / Co-ordination As the nature of the work varies we will place volunteers under the supervision of various staff members, as will be explained in the itinerary. We will have one member of our team assigned as

“team leader” to facilitate the smooth operation of the volunteers stay and provide guidance where

necessary.

Free time: Evenings and weekends are “free time”, which allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of our coast

and interior. Trips to the famous Buccaneers Backpackers or overnight stays in a rural village can be

arranged upon request. There is also the option to spend weekends at nearby destinations such as Hogsback and even explore as far as Cape Town. VA32 management are available to assist with all

excursions and planned trips—please note that these are not included in the cost of the program.

Below is a list of other activities you could arrange:

Activity

BUNGEE JUMPING

QUAD BIKING

SURF SCHOOL

Please note that these are local costs which would need to be booked and paid directly to the project.

Prices may change over time without notice. Transport fees may apply.

HORSE RIDING

ADDO ELEPHANT RESERVE

NB!! Safety Tips

Water: General Information

Water is safe to drink. However, please be aware that there may be a shortage during

dry season. Use water sparingly and have short showers or baths.

Power: South African electrical power is 240 volts AC. Appliances from North America will burn

out if they are not switched over or have a properly-rated power transformer (not just a

plug converter) attached. Think twice about that hair dryer! South Africa is also prone to

electricity cuts (load shedding) due to short supply. Please turn off lights and heaters

when not in the room. The plug adapter needed for South Africa plugs is very difficult to

find in your home country, we suggest you buy the adapter in South Africa.

Animals: ● Some animals DO NOT like direct contact. If they do approach you just remain calm

and stand still.

● If you do not feel comfortable in certain places with the animals inform your team

leader for assistance.

● Even if the animals appear tame we MUST still respect them at all times.

● We recommend you get all you get all your inoculations in case

General: ● Participants must conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner at all times

● Hitchhiking is not permitted at any time and travelling alone in the dark is not

recommended

● Always be aware of your surroundings and don’t leave your belongings unattended

● Never give beggars money - speak to your coordinator if you would like to make

donations

● Do not look like a tourist with your camera around your neck or walk and text

● Do not carry large amount of cash on you that people can see – Cards are accepted in

most places

● Lock your room to ensure all your valuables, passport and money stay safe

● You can only drive from the age of 18, with a valid driving license. International licenses are required for vehicle rental in order to drive in South Africa ● People under 18 years may not drink or buy alcohol ● Drinking alcohol in a public place is illegal (this includes drinking on the beach)

● It is legal to smoke cigarettes in public places, but shopping malls, businesses, public transport and restaurants have no-smoking policies. Smoking is permitted inside places where permission is granted. ● It is illegal to carry, buy or use drugs, including marijuana ● The age of sexual consent is 16, and having sex with anyone under 16 is illegal

Health and Safety

All participants should have informed the NGO of any medical information, including

allergies, prescribed medications, or any known medical condition. It is advisable to

remind your volunteer leaders again during orientation!

Insurance

All participants must have medical, travel and trip cancellation insurance for the duration

of their program. The NGO must receive proof of insurance prior to arrival.

Drugs

The NGO has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs. Offenders will be removed from

the program immediately without refund.

Smoking

No smoking is allowed during project hours.

Alcohol

A responsible level of drinking (for volunteers of legal age) during free time is allowed.

However in these limited situations:

● Alcohol is never to be consumed during project hours or on any Premises.

● Participants are never to be intoxicated during project hours

● No hangovers will be tolerated on project so please keep drinking to off days

Failure to comply will be treated as a serious matter. The NGO reserves the right to

remove a participant from the project without refund if they disregard this policy.

Participants who endanger their safety or the safety of others through irresponsible

drinking of alcohol or negligence may be removed from the program without refund.

Wha t is the differen ce betwe en voluntee ring and regula r touris m ?

In regular touris m the emph asis is on the tourist who expec ts to receive excelle n t servic e on their trip

(great hotel, good food and all excur sio ns wor kin g accor din g to a timetab le). The plac e and local

comm u nity becom es less importan t with the tour ist becom ing the center of attentio n. In VOluntee r touris m

(or “volun tour ism ” ) the emph asis shifts to wor k contr ib ution , goals of the progr am and helpin g the local

comm u nity. It is the success of the progr am and the atmosp her e betwe e n the comm un ity and the

volun teer s that helps make the trip unfor ge ttable – not the level of servic e or the quality of the hotel.

Many programs are underfunded and staffed so inevitably there will be some difficulties; however it is

the overcoming of any challenges which creates a sense of achievement and satisfaction not

found in regular tourism.

Will there be any surprises?

Volunteer tourism can be unpredictable! While the NGO does the utmost to stick to timetables and examples of

type of work needed by the volunteer, there are many factors that can impact these plans. For example, the

weather and seasons, local holidays, mood of the wildlife and immediate needs of the programs.

The information you will receive from the program is important and valuable however things can change

and we urge you to use it as a guideline and expect the unexpected – this is what makes volunteer tourism so

diverse and exciting. It is important that you arrive with a flexible attitude and remember that just by being

at the project you will be contributing to its running, growth and success. Many of these programs are in

cultures very different than yours and as such the type and length of work given may or may not seem

important to you but it will be for the program.

The first few days

These are the most important and can be the most difficult ones. You have just arrived off a long flight in a

strange location and are living with new people. Even if the first impression might not be as you had

expected. Please give yourself a couple of days to acclimatize and give the project the help it needs.

Volunteer work – some examples

It is important to realize that not all the work will be easy or 'romantic'. A lot of the time

you will need to roll up your sleeves and get dirty with tasks such as:

● Animal projects: working with raw meat, cage cleaning, removing ticks, etc.

● Environmental projects: manual labor, carrying heavy items, getting dirty, working in the rain, etc.

● Humanitarian projects: cleaning up after the kids, kitchen duty, changing diapers, wiping runny noses,

etc.

● Building projects: mixing concrete manually, picking up garbage off site, removing

vegetation, etc.

Keep a positive attitude and note that even ‘boring’ tasks contribute and are also very

important to the program. Also remember ‘boring’ tasks are not given to you on purpose

but they form a part of the overall volunteer experience as it takes care of the needs of the

overall project.

Sticking to a timetable

Each program asks its volunteers to stick to a timetable which helps the program run smoothly. Please

follow the instructions from the program managers. However, please note that volunteer programs are

usually underfunded and understaffed which can lead to multiple changes in the program timetable.

Volunteer work needs to be flexible for various reasons and should not be seen as a nine to five office

job even if some changes do not make sense to the volunteer. Flexibility and an 'expect the unexpected

attitude' are needed – however never forget that by volunteering you are contributing immensely to the

program.

If there are any problems during the

program please speak to the volunteer

leader. It is important to initially raise and

discuss the issue in the program as most

can be solved in this manner. The

organisation and projects rely on each

and every volunteer, if you leave the

program in the middle (or leave unhappy

and disgruntled) it could seriously

damage the hard work being undertaken.

Before you leave for project

Please look after yourselves and listen to the Leaders and the program staff you are visiting. Drink lots of

fluids and remember your sunscreen. Volunteer trips are what you make of them and coming with an

open mind and listening to the program managers/Leaders will help you experience an unforgettable

trip. Please also remember that this is an English speaking project. In order to be inclusive and for

everyone to have a positive experience, we ask that volunteers speak English at all times.

The Volunteer Leader

Most programs will have a volunteer leader. This person is usually a volunteer who is on a long term

contract or has volunteered on the same project in the past. The volunteer leader can be of great

assistance when a problem arises though please approach them at a convenient time outside of busy

working hours. It is important that you listen to the volunteer leader and cooperate with them.

Culture shock

The volunteers you will be working with come from all over the world and may be from different

religious and ethnic backgrounds. Volunteering is also a cultural experience where you can learn

about different cultures, please be both tolerant and patient. Do not be shy in sharing your

experiences, recipes, songs and traditions it will just add to the overall group cohesion. For

example, children may be raised in ways that are very different to what you are used to. If you are

ever unsure about a certain issues, please feel free to discuss it with your volunteer leader.

Extra expenses

Please take into account additional expenses like tours, trips, telephone, restaurants and bars. It is a

good idea to have different types of payment available to you like: cash, credit cards, debit cards and

traveller's cheques.

Approaching us directly will help us to resolve the issues for future volunteers or for the

sustainability of the project. We want to make it an unforgettable experience for you and

all others. We also want our projects to continue receiving the much needed volunteers –

we can only help if we know what the concerns are!

It is strongly recommended that all participants read and print out areas of

interest from the websites and reference materials listed below as these will

provide valuable background information and help to put project goals and

activities into context.

● Website: www.freepackers.fr ● Instagram: www.instagram.com/freepackers/

● Facebook: www.facebook.com/freepackers/

● Email: reservations@freepackers.com

● Phone: +33631961240

The more positive you are, the more

positive your memories will be! Your

time on project will be over sooner than

you know, what would you like to think

back on later in your life?