“Once you have booked a placement, I will be on hand to look after any questions you may have in the run up to your placement and ensure you receive your placement details and departure packs before you embark on your experience of a lifetime.

Having travelled extensively over the past 20 years, I have been fortunate to have seen many fascinating and exciting countries including colourful and vibrant India, the wonderful orangutans of Borneo and the amazing marine life of Mexico. Each destination can often be life changing and when I look back on my travels it never fails to bring a smile to my face and desire to reach out and explore another territory. Travel is in my heart and soul and I am equally passionate about the experience of each volunteer.”

“When applying or booking a placement worldwide, I will chat through your placement with you and ensure we provide you with all the information you need to decide on the best placement for you.

When I was 17 I had the amazing opportunity to attend an international school in Swaziland for 2 years. The entire time was a huge eye opener exposing me to lives and environments that were so different to how I had grown up. One thing that blew me away was the breathtaking beauty of Africa - those sweeping big bush landscapes, the warm colours, searing sunsets - and of course Africa's wildlife. I could spend hours watching the slow motion of giraffes or the brilliance of colourful little lizards scuttling over warm rocks. And absolutely nothing beats sleeping out in the bush and hearing the sounds of nocturnal wildlife coming to life! By the time I graduated I was too deeply in love with Africa to go back home - so I stayed on for another few years and worked. I eventually moved on to work and study in Asia, Australia and Europe, but it is true what they say about first love...In joining ACE I now get to contribute to preserving the wildlife and habitats that captivated me so much - and I have the opportunity to help other people go to Africa for their very own life-changing experience!”

“If you are joining ACE from the United States or Canada I will look after you start to finish - from answering your initial questions to arranging your placement and helping you organise your trip.

I have always been passionate about wildlife conservation and fascinated by animal behavior, but my first trip to Africa really changed my life. I will never forget the first African animal I saw in the wild - a huge bull elephant standing in a field of wildflowers - and the impact that sighting had on me. When I returned home, I wanted to find ways to give back to Africa and work to protect wildlife and the natural world. I became involved in conservation projects both at home and internationally. I volunteer with a behavioral observation team at my local zoo, where I’ve worked on projects with elephants, chimps, and river otters, and helped with fundraising events for international conservation initiatives. I’ve also worked as a volunteer on scientific research projects with brown hyenas in South Africa and gray whales in California. I love to travel and have been lucky enough to explore many places. I’m continually drawn back to the incredible wildlife and warm people of Africa, though - I’ve traveled to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Botswana, and I count the time I spent with mountain gorillas in Rwanda as one of the highlights of my life. I am thrilled to be a part of the ACE team, where I can help others have their own life-changing experience in Africa!”

I work with the projects and team in southern Africa to ensure African Conservation Experience fulfils our missions and conservation goals, while ensuring that ACE continue to meet strict operating guidelines to ensure a sustainable approach to conservation and the highest standards of safety for our volunteers.

“Prior to joining ACE in 2005, I worked with both domesticated and wild animals following completion of my BSc in Zoology. Through my conservation career, I have been privileged to work with the stunning wildlife of southern Africa, okapis and a group of Western Lowland Gorillas and hold several memorable encounters including sitting among a herd of elephants in the depths of the African bush and being surrounded by the low grumblings of a happy gorrila group. Conservation and travel is a passion of mine, and I have been lucky enough to be involved in conservation projects worldwide. Joining a local team in Honduras, working on reforestation of a cloud forest, inspired my interest in sustainable approaches in local communities to promote development both environmentally and economically. I have first hand experience of the often challenging and intensely rewarding experience of volunteering in southern Africa and am passionate about ensuring we can provide this opportunity for others!”

“I meet each and every volunteer when you arrive in South Africa and introduce you to our beautiful country and the fantastic experience you are about to undertake. You may also meet little Lemon, my terrier and ACE's transfer buddy!

I was born and have lived my whole life in South Africa. I started my career in conservation by doing a volunteer placement on a small island in the Indian Ocean. I was so taken with what I had experienced there that I decided to follow a career in conservation. I enrolled to do a three year course in Conservation at the Tshwane University in South Africa. After completion I worked in the field for eight years, during which time I was privileged to work in some of the wildest areas in southern Africa. During this time I started a degree majoring in Psychology. I met the founder of ACE, Rob Harris, in 2000. After being ignited by his ideas I founded the Garonga ACE project, which I personally coordinated for three years. Since 2003 I have been employed by ACE as the Operations Manager of the projects in southern Africa. I live on a small farm to the west of Johannesburg where I pursue my personal interests in horse training and organic small scale farming.”

• Brian and Jenny Jones, Moholoholo
• Stuart and Anneline Quinn, Tuli & Tracking Course
• Marinus & Ida Smith, Game Capture
• Stuart Quinn, Nholwasi
• Dr Pete Roger, Dr Hein Muller, Dr Chap Masterson, Dr Neil Kriel, Shimongwe
• Vic Cockroft, DWRC
• Anthony Peniston, Zingela & Hanchi
• Tarryne Dickinson and JR, Phinda
• Petronel Niewoud, Khulula
• Kevin and Nicky Wilson, Mpumelelo Wildlife Orphanage and Research Project
• Henny van Deventer, Game Ranger Course
• Stuart and Anneline Quinn, Tutuka

Rob was born and grew up in South Africa and has always had a keen interest in wildlife and conservation but with a career in civil engineering and the construction industry did not have much opportunity to fulfil that interest. He met his wife, Marion, in SA before coming to live in the UK with their 3 children. When their son Mark completed his A-levels and wanted to gain work experience on a game reserve in South Africa before starting university, they managed to arrange for him to spend a few months working on a game reserve. On hearing this, many of his friends from school wanted to join him. This was the seed of the idea for African Conservation Experience and Rob started ACE in 1998, with plenty of assistance and support from Marion.

Mark was the guinea pig and a few conservation projects were set up with the co-operation of game reserve land owners in southern Africa. Recruitment of volunteers in the UK commenced, and in 1999 the volunteers started arriving on the projects.

“We were astounded with the amount of interest and support we received from volunteers and the growth in the number of projects and volunteers has been amazing. We have learned many valuable lessons along the way and now have a very loyal and committed team in the UK and southern Africa doing great work.”