Hanchi Conservation Project
Combine conservation on horseback with tracking predators
- Monitor roan and sable antelope populations
- Patrol the reserve on horseback
- Learn how to track cheetah on foot, using telemetry equipment
- Study predator movements and behaviour
- Be responsible for equine husbandry and care
- Help with reserve management and maintenance
Conservation in the field
The sensitivity of the horse makes them ideal partners in traversing the bush and reserve management, ensuring game are less stressed and by nature alerting you to young and elusive animals. Predator conservation work on the greater reserve is also a unique inclusion to this project.
Monitoring and management from horseback is vital to the successful breeding and relocation of roan and sable antelopes - working with one of the single largest private herds of these endangered and rare species in South Africa. This project gives a unique view of the reality behind conserving predators while your research will contribute to the ongoing effort to help secure a future for these stunning animals.
Hanchi video
Video of volunteers at the Hanchi Conservation Project.
Cheetah conservation
Predator preservation is a main focus of this project, as the reserve acts as a cheetah sanctuary
Riding through the bush
Riding is one of the most environmentally friendly ways of monitoring wildlife in the bush
Roan antelope
The project also includes a breeding program for the endangered roan and sable antelopes
Wildlife viewing on horseback
On horseback is a great way to view wildlife as the animals are less wary of the horses
Buffalo sighting
The reserve is home to a large variety of wildlife, including buffalo, many antelope species, giraffe, hyena, cheetah and leopard
Equine care
All volunteers take responsibility for caring for the horses.
Hanchi horses
Radio tracking
Volunteers learn to pick up the radio signals from collared cheetah so they can be located
Tracking cheetah
Once the approximate location of the cheetah is determined, volunteers track the cheetah on foot through the bush
Cheetah encounter
On some days, the cheetah are relaxed enough to let people come very close
Fence patrol
The predator proof fence around the reserve is an important tool and therefore needs to be maintained regularly
Hanchi accommodation
Accommodation is in furnished safari tents, with gas heated showers but no electricity
Work with the wildlife
Monitor roan and sable antelope populations
- With their young hid singly in the bush, rather than in creches, the populations need to be carefully monitored. You will study population densities, ages and conditions.
- Predator monitoring - young antelope are very vulnerable in bush and the bomas require management to ensure predation levels from cheetah and hyena are minimal.
- Having successfully relocated over 100 endangered roan antelope, this project is of great conservation importance.
Patrol the reserve on horseback
- Within the large breeding bomas, roan and sable react much calmer to horses enabling monitoring at a much higher level.
- Disease free buffalo habituation from horseback on the greater reserve
Learn how to track cheetah on foot, using telemetry equipment
- Joining the Zingela predator conservation project on the greater reserve - use radio telemetry to monitor movements of cheetah, brown hyena and buffalo.
- Uniquely, cheetah are almost exclusively approached on foot - follow in the footsteps of these wonderful and endangered predators; moving when they move, resting when they rest and watching them stalk, hunt and feed.
Study predator movements and behaviour
- Observe hunting and feeding behaviour, including kills, and social interactions
- Record GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns
Be responsible for equine husbandry and care
- Look after the horses on a daily basis, including feeding, grooming and disease control
- Equine tack and yard maintenance
Help with reserve management and maintenance
- Go on fence line patrols of inner sable and roan camps and the greater reserve
Hear from other volunteers who've visited Hanchi Conservation Project
Catriona CarrThe experience of following a cheetah on foot through the bush is mind blowing, sitting with a cheetah as she rests just metres away is a phenomenal experience
Nicholas AberyEveryone involved in ACE is very motivated and passionate about what they do which I found infectious as a volunteer! The project was brilliant - I'd never dreamed of getting so close to wild cheetah, it was like being able to enter their world
Charley EdenThanks everyone at ACE! I had a fantastic 2 weeks at Hanchi. I would fully recommend going as it was an amazing experience. As a result, i'm currently working out whether I can afford to return next year for a longer period of time, because two weeks just isn't long enough!