Phinda Wildlife Research Project

Experience wildlife management behind the scenes

Joining the wildlife management team at Phinda, you’ll experience life behind the scenes in one of the largest and most successful wildlife conservancies in South Africa and get insights into wildlife conservation that go far beyond the usual tourist experience.

Work with many iconic and endangered species

You’ll contribute to the project team's vital conservation work. Depending on the priorities at the time, you could find yourself monitoring species such as lions and pangolins, measuring changes in elephant herd size, or observing a wildlife vet treating an injured cheetah.

Support the protection of a successful rhino population

Phinda’s success with anti-poaching means its growing rhino population is successfully being used to establish new populations across Africa. You’ll support the management of this critical rhino population and deter poachers through daily monitoring, and may observe or assist with periodic horn trimming.

Support long-term cheetah conservation

In partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Metapopulation Project, Phinda is working to ensure the long-term survival of these amazing predators. As a volunteer, you’ll support the project’s work to establish viable cheetah populations across a network of wildlife conservancies.

Be part of a conservation success story

Phinda means "the return" in Zulu. Not only because wildlife have returned to the land, but a significant portion of the land has been returned to its ancestral owners. This is one of the most successful transitions of land and a true conservation success story.

Join a highly qualified research team

Phinda’s team aren’t safari guides, they’re professional ecological monitors. Together, they carry an array of masters degrees and other natural sciences qualifications - and they’re passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise.

Support global conservation organisations

Phinda works in partnership with the WWF, EWT, Panthera and the African Pangolin Working Group. Joining this project, you’ll support the long-term goals of these major international conservation organisations.

Discover a biodiversity hotspot

Phinda is situated within one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots known as the Maputaland Centre of Endemism. Boasting an unusually high number of unique species and rare ecosystems (including a critically endangered sand forest), it is an area of global importance for wildlife conservation.

You’ll get involved in every aspect of project life. Depending on the monitoring and conservation priorities at the time, this will include a range of the following activities.

Wildlife research

To maintain the perfect balance of species within the reserve, Phinda’s conservationists keep a close watch on population numbers.

You will get to observe and assist:

• Recording wildlife sightings and mapping their movements to build up a detailed database of animals’ territories.
• Monitoring priority species such as black and white rhino, elephants, cheetahs and lions, to help protect them from threats such as poaching and wildlife diseases.
• Maintaining identification kits of species such as rhino to identify individual animals in the field.
• Behaviour and population dynamics of animals such as elephants and predators.
• Determining prey utilisation by lions, leopards and cheetahs. 
• Game drive animal counts, to determine general population numbers of species, including giraffe, zebra and wildebeest.

You could also observe or assist:

• Using telemetry to track the movements of collared wildlife such as elephants and pangolins.
• Bi-annual camera trap surveys to monitor elusive species such as leopard, hyena and serval.
• Recording the activity of priority bird species such as the southern banded-snake eagle.

Wildlife management

Careful management of the wildlife is vital to Phinda’s conservation success and is scheduled at certain times throughout the year. Depending on the work that comes in and the requirements of the project, you could observe, assist or gain insights into:

• Rhino immobilisations and the notching of rhino ears, enabling researchers to identify, monitor and protect individual animals.
• Humane rhino horn trimming, an effective anti-poaching strategy.
• The release and reintroduction of pangolins saved from poachers.
• The use of contraceptive programmes to effectively manage the populations of elephants and predators.
• The use of vaccines to assist with the management of wildlife diseases that predators may be exposed to.
• Managing and preserving wildlife habitats to ensure a sufficient supply of resources such as food and water.

You’ll learn about wildlife behaviour, biology, ecology, and conservation issues. Depending on the project’s work at the time, this will include a range of the following topics.

Behaviour

• Behaviour of animal groups, such as the social structure in a pride of lions and herds of elephants.
• The relationship between predator and prey species.
• Predator hunting behaviour and the differences between social predators such as lions and hyena, compared with solitary predators such as leopards and cheetah.
• Mating and breeding behaviour of the Big 5 and other African species.
• The movement of herd species such as elephant, buffalo and antelope.

Biology

• The physiology and natural diets of the Big 5 and other African species.
• Native African plants, reptiles, amphibians and birds.

Ecology

• The natural environment of the Big 5 and other African species.
• The role of different species in the ecosystem.
• The impact of population growth or decline of certain species, such as lions and elephants, on the ecosystem as a whole.
• The smaller ecosystems on the Phinda reserve, including a unique sand forest.

Conservation

• Priority species monitoring and building ID kits.
• Various research techniques, such as telemetry, camera traps and GPS devices.
• Anti-poaching methods in the field and relocation programmes.
• Metapopulation management (introductions and translocations) of species, for example rhino, cheetah, and lion.
• Wildlife relocation programmes - such as the WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project and the Cheetah Metapopulation Project.

Community

• How Phinda’s community part-ownership model positively impacts local people and conservation outcomes. 

This project contributes to a variety of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. As part of the team, so will you.

No Poverty End poverty in all its forms everywhere

The land at Phinda is part-owned by local communities who are involved in the decision-making processes around how the land is managed and profit from the economic resources the reserve provides.

Quality Education Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

The project runs the 'Phinda Conservation Training Course' where members of the local communities learn employable skills in land and wildlife management and field guiding. Phinda also supports the education of local school children by building learning spaces and paying teacher salaries.

All learners have access to the same standard of education regardless of sex and background.

Gender Equality Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Phinda provides equal employment opportunities and women hold key leadership and decision-making roles. The centre also offers equal volunteering opportunities for women and men from outside the local community.

Clean Water and Sanitation Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Phinda is increasing access to safe, affordable drinking water by supplying ‘hippo roller’ devices to local communities, which are used to safely transport drinking water. The project also uses an innovative rainwater collection system to provide the research team with safe drinking water.

Phinda is improving access to equitable sanitation by constructing washing facilities at schools and nurseries in the local community.

Decent Work and Economic Growth Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Phinda routinely employs young people between 15 and 24 and provides equal employment opportunities for local men and women. Volunteers provide both economic and physical support, which directly contributes to the protection of all the species in the reserve.

Reduced Inequalities Reduce inequality within and among countries

Due to the joint community ownership of the land at Phinda, the local community is empowered by decision-making processes at the reserve. While Phinda requires participants to pay for volunteering, they offer a reduced rate for South Africans to promote the inclusion of local people through their Bateleur Club.

Sustainable Cities and Communities Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Phinda builds sustainable and resilient buildings using materials that are locally sourced from within South Africa. The project also protects natural heritage through the conservation of iconic African species.

Responsible Consumption and Production Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Phinda promotes responsible tourism in a variety of ways: through the creation of local jobs; via community work that sustains local cultures; by educating international and local visitors how to live in harmony with nature; and in its vital conservation work. 

Life on Land Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Phinda takes urgent action to halt biodiversity loss and prevent the extinction of threatened species. By monitoring and protecting a vast area of land that enables large animal populations to thrive, the project prevents the degradation of ecosystems in which these species play a crucial ecological role. 

The reserve is a protected habitat where flora and fauna are allowed to flourish. The team at Phinda have been so successful at removing invasive species that the reserve is now only home to native species.

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Phinda is well guarded by expert anti-poaching units. In combination with community vigilance, they have stopped poachers from being active within the reserve and eliminated the unethical practices associated with their activities.

Partnerships for the goals Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Through Phinda’s partnership with us, they draw in financial resources that are used to fund conservation and provide support to their community partners in South Africa.