Zingela Predator Conservation Project

Study some of Africa's most elusive and persecuted predators

Zingela is based on the Zulu word 'to hunt', making it particularly fitting for this project, where you will be at the core of a research based project to reduce the hunting of these stunning species and allow locals to work in harmony with them.

Set on a vast reserve in the wild and rugged bushland of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, you would be involved in tracking and monitoring cheetah, leopard and brown hyena populations, witnessing their natural behaviour first hand, and contribute to the ongoing conservation effort to secure their future.

Track cheetah on foot, using telemetry and traditional tracking techniques
Be involved in a baseline study to determine leopard numbers and behaviour
Monitor hunting, feeding behaviour and social interactions of cheetah and leopard
Study brown hyena, recording habits and movements
Use GPS positions to record home ranges and determine movement patterns
Habitat maintenance and securing fence lines
Assist in conservation at the forefront by reducing the conflict between man and predators

Conservation In The Field

Zingela Predator Conservation Project gives a unique view of the reality behind conserving predators, while working alongside local communities. The project and its dedicated coordinators allow you to be involved in a research team vital to securing a future for these stunning animals. The research you carry out will be used to show the real impact predators have on the land, and how they can in fact be a positive addition to any reserve.

Cheetah

The Zingela project focuses on the conservation of cheetah

Roan antelope

The reserve also runs a breeding programme for the endangered roan antelopes

Buffalo

Another conservation activity at Zingela is the habituation of disease free buffalo

Use of telemetry equipment

Volunteers at Zingela use telemetry equipment to pick up the radio signal from collared cheetah

Tracking on foot

Once the approximate location is established, you proceed on foot through the bush

Cheetah sighting

Approaching carefully, volunteers can get a sighting of the cheetah

Rebecca the cheetah

If the cheetah is feeling secure, she will often permit volunteers to come very close and spend time with her

Cheetah kill

Witnessing the cheetah make a kill is an extraordinary experience

Darting cheetah

Sometimes a cheetah is darted and sedated, as it requires treatment or relocation

Feeding the roan antelope

Volunteers also help with running the breeding program for endangered antelopes.

Replacing collar

Radio collars are routinely replaced as they become damaged or the cheetah outgrows them

Electric fence

The entire 8,500 hectare reserve is surrounded by a predator proof fence, which creates the sanctuary for the cheetah

Fence patrol

As the fence is crucial for the success of the project, it needs to be checked for faults frequently

Discovering the African bush

Working in the field gives many opportunities for discovering the wildlife in the African bush.

Zebra

The reserve is home to many wildlife species, and fence patrols are a wonderful opportunity for game viewing

Nyala

School involvement

During term time, the volunteers have the opportunity to work with local school children every week, teaching them about conservation and wildlife.

Nightdrive

As many wildlife species are nocturnal, volunteers also go on night drives regularly, in order to monitor all wildlife found in the reserve

Sunset

Sunsets are spectacular in the vast bush landscape

Zingela accommodation

The camp has no electricity, but the tents are comfortable and atmospheric

Work With The Wildlife

Working with a dedicated team, passionate about the predators they live amongst and study, Zingela Predator Conservation Project is a fantastic opportunity to combine traditional and more advanced tracking techniques, observe animals at close encounters and assist in the management of a vast reserve, home to a variety of species, including rare and endangered antelope breeding populations.

Uniquely, at Zingela predators are tracked on foot.

Using telemetry equipment to establish the approximate location of the cheetah, you then proceed on foot through the bush. This is far less intrusive and more intimate, as you follow the cheetah at its own pace.

Baseline studies of the elusive leopard to determine the numbers moving within the reserve.

Working mainly at night, when the African bush comes alive, you will work to establish the home ranges and prey species of the resident leopards by:

Locating animals from the open back of the research vehicle sensitively using a high powered spotlight
Monitoring and recording hunting and feeding behaviour, and interactions both between leopards and with other species
Recording GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns

The brown hyena is a lesser known predator, but a beautiful and vital component of the environment.

You will be involved in studying the hyena population to help bring a greater understanding of their nocturnal movements and habits. The work will involve:

Identifying spores and tracks, and using sightings to monitor individuals in the population
Observing hunting and feeding behaviour and interactions between the pack and with other species
Recording GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns

Learn techniques required to map GPS positions and locate species.

The global positioning system uses a global navigation system to reliably locate specific species within a specified timeframe. You will also learn traditional tracking techniques, using animal spores and tracks, and the more advanced radio telemetry at Zingela. Some species are fitted with radio collars to allow the team to track their location within certain ranges, a valuable tool within wildlife research.

Help with reserve management and maintenance.

As the study involves predators, it is essential that the electric fence surrounding the reserve is maintained and checked regularly to reduce movements out of the reserve
You may assist with maintenance of the bomas (enclosures) housing the breeding populations of the rare roan and sable antelope breeding programme

Get 10% off your placement cost and FREE H20 Bushnell Binoculars!

Volunteer during the months of October through to March and get twice the benefit with up to 10% off your placement cost and a FREE pair of Bushnell H20 binoculars!

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Zingela Predator Conservation Project for weeks

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Your placement cost includes return flights and carbon offsets (if selected), return transfers from Johannesburg Airport to your project, all accommodation, meals (at most projects), transfers between projects if you are volunteering at more than one project, the 24 hour support of our South African ground manager, ACE T-Shirts, and, of course, the contributions to the projects, without which they could not operate. Read more about the costs, where your money goes and financing your volunteering placement here.

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31 -22.698888778687 28.569999694824 Zingela Predator Conservation Project

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