Tutuka Family Conservation Project
Work with your family and bring your children's learning to life!
Tutuka, from the Zulu word 'to grow', encourages your family to work together in the African bush, assisting with current conservation work within a stunning reserve forming part of the Greater Kruger area. From conservation and habitat management work to observing the majestic native species in their own habitat, every aspect of of this project is aimed at including all ages and differing ability. You'll explore conservation philosophy and current nature conservation issues that South Africa faces as part of this project.
- Conservation and habitat management of reserve bordering Kruger National Park
- Assisting in the conservation research of elephant herds, buffalo and rhino within the reserve
- Assisting with predator studies
- Theoretical topics covering the ethics of working with wildlife and their behaviour
- Joining Nholwasi Community Project, working with an established charity within local schools
Conservation Value
Research in the reserves surrounding Kruger National Park is essential in ensuring collaboration of research between the reserves, where borders are open and animals move freely. The community element of the project is vital in establishing the ongoing link between conservation and the local community, working alongside an established charity, Children's Eco Training.
Lectures in the field
During the conservation placement, your whole family will learn about Africa's wildlife and ecosystems from experienced wildlife rangers
Community work
During the second part of your experience, you will volunteer alongside a local charity, helping at disadvantaged rural schools
Game drive
You will learn to identify many wildlife species while on extensive game drives
Elephant sighting
Seeing wildlife up close will be one of the highlights
Watching wildlife
The advantage of being accompanied by your own ranger is that you will be safe in the bush, even when watching wildlife on foot.
Hyena sighting
If you are lucky you will get to see some of the more shy species, such as hyena
Habitat preservation
As a family, you will be involved in the more hands-on conservation tasks, such as clearing land to preserve habitat
Camp life
Camping together and preparing meals around the fire is a special way to spend time together
Moholoholo
There might also be the opportunity to visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and to participate i a feeding round.
Playing with local kids
Getting to know the local school kids is one of the most fun parts of the community project
Renovating a classroom
Often the schools are in much need of maintenance
Providing teaching equipment
By volunteering with the Tutuka Experience, you provide the means to supply some basic teaching equipment
Happy schoolkids
The local kids are generally happy to go to school and easily show their appreciation for improved classrooms
Game of soccer
A friendly game of soccer is surely the quickest way to break any cultural or language barriers
Traditional dance
The local children will proudly show you their culture and traditions
Accommodation
Accommodation during the conservation experience is in traditional chalets
Accommodation community project
During the community experience, you will be accommodated at a rustic tented camp
Work with the Wildlife
All aspects of this project are focussed on ensuring each member of your family is contributing at a level of work suitable for them. Whether this is the more physical aspect of the work or the theoretical knowledge which accompanies the research of species such as elephants, rhino and predators within the reserve. Your whole family will discover and explore the bush ecosystems in a way suited to your age, so from youngster to grown up, there is something to learn. The African bushveld will be explored by both vehicle and on foot and will involve night viewing.
Conservation elements of the project will include some of the following:
Conservation and habitat management within the Big 5 reserve
- Physical habitat management including erosion control, river clean ups and rehabilitation of land through re seeding of vegetation and removal of alien plant vegetation
Working on research projects within the reserve to assist in the management of species
- Recording elephant movements, herd dynamics and behaviour
- Recording seasonal and migratory movements of buffalo
- Establishing territory size and producing identification kits for rhino
- Predator studies of lion, leopard and cheetah
Theoretical studies out in the bush learning skills including:
- Identification of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and trees
- Animal behaviour identification and interpretation of behaviours when working in the field
- Dealing with potentially dangerous animal
- Bush craft and survival techniques
Work with the Community
Tutuka Family Conservation Project would not be complete without the rewarding involvement of your own family with the local community. As a family, you will join our Nholwasi Community Project in the neighbouring Acorn-Hoek community and:
- Assist established charity Children's Eco Training in their goals to provide hands on environmental education to younger generations in the local community. This can involve improving local schools' learning environment and furniture, such as painting rooms to provide a more inspirational learning area, or assisting in building provisions for the school to ensure children have safe and clean drinking water and sanitation
- Assist at local orphanages, to improve living conditions...and of course make some wonderful friends!
Working in the local community can often expose your family to the realities of the harsh and often difficult lives these children face, which can be unsettling for your family and should be approached with an open view. The warmth you will experience from these children however will be a memory that will last forever.
Hear from other volunteers who've visited Tutuka Family Conservation Project
Anna-Maria Chrisensen, Laura, Jesper, Sophie & CharlotteWe have had a most wonderful experience thanks to the Tutuka project. We all enjoyed it very much...we had the best guide ever and were looked after and spoilt by Henny. Our stay in South Africa was unforgettable.