Wildlife Conservation Experience
Volunteer With Us!
Goliath Training has partnered with Rhino Revolution to offer you an incredible volunteering opportunity.
Join us to gain first hand experience of the realities of wildlife conservation in South Africa. This volunteering programme is an immersive wildlife conservation experience set against a backdrop of protecting rhinos. Get your hands dirty whilst experienceing the magic of the African Savanna.
Volunteers will contribute to valuable wildlife research and conservation initiatives by participating in data collection, animal tracking and behavioural monitoring on daily game drives and bush walks.
What to Expect
Volunteers will be involved with various projects including:
Large Mammal Monitoring and Data Collection focusing on elephants, lions, brown hyaenas, spotted hyaenas, leopard, cheetah and wild dog
Reserve Maintenance and Habitat Conservation involving snare removal, habitat restoration, removal of alien plant species, reserve road maintenance and more
Study Mega-Herbivores and their Environmental Impact studies into the impact that Elephants and Hippo have on the ecosystems around them and how these studies help us to protect rhinos
Dung Beetle Research study the microfauna responsible for recycling in the bush, with the chance to discover new species
Wild Rhino Tracking Experience volunteers will be taken on day trips to reserves with wild rhino populations and will get the chance to follow them on foot learning about their daily routines
Volunteers will experience a day in the life of a rhino monitor and will be taught about rhino conservation, the history, today’s challenges, and possible solutions. To round off their stay volunteers will get to meet Vulcan, Rhino Revolution’s very own anti-poaching pup, and learn about the elite anti-poaching units with their canine companions who help to keep wild rhinos safe.
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The programme is a collaboration with Rhino Revolution and 30% of the programme fee will be donated to Rhino Revolution to support their work.
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Our Wildlife Conservation Experience will take you on a journey from the heart of the Lowveld to the Northern reaches of Limpopo, with a chance to experience at least three different nature reserves throughout the two weeks.
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Starting and ending in the Lowveld, 2 days will be spent in the central hub of Rhino Revolution's activities.

The principal reserve for the programme is in the north of Limpopo, a stunning 28,000+ hectare wilderness area with no other commercial operations currently running on it. It is situated close to Mapungubwe National Park (a World Heritage Site) and is home to Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Spotted hyaena, Brown hyaena, Bat Eared Foxes, Aardvark, Hippo, Crocodile, Giraffe, Eland, Zebra as well as a wealth of other general game, hugely diverse birdlife and many, many more species besides!
Unlike most reserves these animals are not regularly interrupted by commercial safari activities and so volunteers will get to observe truly wild behaviour and responses - an unparalleled learning opportunity.
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Day trips during the programme will give volunteers access to Mapungubwe National Park - a transfrontier park, key to conservation efforts and rich in South Africa's cultural history.
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Volunteers will spend time on at least three different reserves whilst they are introduced to the complex challenges of protecting rhinos and how the challenges vary between private reserves and national parks.
Rhino Revolution
Rhino Revolution is a small NGO based in the town of Hoedspruit in the South African Lowveld.
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We have partnered with Rhino Revolution to allow volunteers to make a meaningful contribution to Rhino conservation. 30% of your programme fee will be donated to Rhino Revolution and will be used to support their conservation initiatives.
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Key projects include:
- The Ubuntu Project : rhino breeding projects focused on breeding rhinos in the wild; increasing the wild rhino population and creating community ownership
- Rhino Relocations : funding the relocation of rhinos to suitable areas once adequate anti-poaching measures are in place
- Horn Trimmings : Horn trimmings have been shown to have a major reduction on poaching incidents in an area when combined with other anti-poaching measures
- Anti-poaching : assiting with measures on a number of reserves with free-roaming rhino populations. Contributions include supporting security cameras, funding K9 units, and backing community projects. These efforts ensure the safety of the rhino population by patrolling and preventing suspicious activities
- Community Education and Engagement : aimed at empowering the local communities that surround wilderness areas and inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow. Community education includes lessons on conservation and natural sciences as well as trips giving learners first hand experience with endemic wildlife - often the first opportunity they have ever had
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For full details about Rhino Revolution's work click here to visit their website
What to Expect
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Rhino Revolution
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Where Will You Stay?
The accommodation boasts a private waterhole, stunning vistas over the reserve, communal kitchen, comfortable social space, with free Wifi, a lecture area, ablutions and braai areas. The shared twin rooms are air-conditioned and serviced daily. Volunteers will join a rota for meal preparation but are well-cared for by a dedicated housekeeping team who take care of all cleaning up and care of the facilities themselves.
Course Facilitators
Your programme will be run by our team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to ensuring volunteers receive the highest quality experience available.
Vaughan Jessnitz: Vaughan has over 15 years of experience as a researcher, professional field guide, professional trails guide and field guide trainer. Vaughan is an Entomologist and a Cybertracker Track and Sign Specialist with years of practical field experience under his belt, from work with large predators through to specialised research into dung beetles and butterflies. With his wealth of experience participants are sure to have an active learning experience and a unique insight into wildlife conservation. Vaughan is well known for his professional and fun facilitation style and there are few others in the industry with his expert knowledge of the insect fauna of the region or his hands on experience with large predator research.
Sophie Barrett: Sophie has been working as a professional field guide, lead trails guide and field guide trainer for the last 9 years and is also a Cybertracker Track and Sign Specialist. A passionate conservationist she has been a member of the Rhino Revolution team since 2018 and has been actively involved with field research into Temminck’s Ground Pangolin and both Black and White Rhino as well as assisting Vaughan with research projects into dung beetles and butterflies. Sophie has an insatiable curiosity which is evident in all the programmes she facilitates.
Included in the Course
The programme fee includes:
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15 days of practical Wildlife Conservation Experience
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A day in the life of a Rhino Monitor
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Meet and greet Vulcan - Rhino Revolution's canine hero
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Rhino Trailing Experience
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Project transport, equipment and resources
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Access to wilderness area Nature Reserves and all associated conservation levies
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Great food (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
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Shared, air-conditioned accommodation
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A donation to Rhino Revolution (30%)
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Secure onsite parking facilities
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What to Bring:
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Good, comfortable hiking shoes
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Camera & binoculars
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Good quality head torch
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Comfortable day backpack which can hold at least 3L of water
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Neutral coloured bush clothing (the days are usually quite warm-hot, evenings can get cool)
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Books/pens/laptops etc for taking notes & editing photos etc
Contact us at info@goliathtraining.org for further information, available dates and bookings