WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERING: THE RED FLAGS MOST PEOPLE MISS
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Each day unfolded with its own quiet miracles, 'wow' moments that surprised, astounded, and gently overwhelmed us in the best possible ways!
I first came across African Conservation Experience (ACE) when I read a testimonial on their website that said, “just do it, you won’t regret it”, and that’s exactly what I did.
Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat brought a totally new perspective to my love for animals. It was wonderful how my understanding of conservation developed during my time volunteering.
I really felt like what I was doing on a day-to-day basis made a genuine impact!
My week at Golola Rhino Orphanage was one of the most magical experiences of my life!
I spent hours reading through the website, project pages, and testimonials, each one more inspiring than the last. Even so, nothing could have prepared me for just how life-changing the next six weeks would be. From the lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta in Botswana to the wildlife rehabilitation centres and research projects of South Africa, every single stop on my journey was unforgettable!
Volunteering through African Conservation Experience gave me the opportunity to not only care for these incredible animals but also to understand the bigger picture of conservation.
When you support a project like this, you want to know it’s making a difference - and here, you can see it with your own eyes.
I want my family and friends to experience what we have experienced!
I was feeling disconnected and unmotivated… but after a quick online search and phone call I found myself spending a week at Golola Rhino Orphanage And Rehabilitation Centre. It was a life changing experience!
I feel like I could see the difference I was making by being there. I put my heart and soul into this work and gave back as much as I could and I felt so rewarded for this.
If you're passionate about wildlife and looking for a volunteer experience that will leave you changed forever, I can't recommend ACE enough.
Everything I experienced here, from the amazing guide who took us, to seeing the animals in their natural habitats, is something I’ll never forget!
If anyone is looking at doing these projects and wondering if ACE is the right organisation to go through, I can’t recommend it enough. When you are planning a trip like this it can be daunting, but the reviews for ACE are great for a reason!
It was an adventure that taught me so much, not just about the African wildlife but also about myself. This is an experience that will stay with me forever.
I cannot recommend these projects enough to anyone in or considering the veterinary field. They provide an authentic look into wildlife medicine in South Africa while allowing you to practice animal husbandry in a hands-on way.
You know your time, effort, and money is going to the right places, and you have had an actual hand in helping conservation.
If you love rhinos, Golola is the place for you. Not only will you help take care of them at the orphanage but you will also aid in monitoring the free rhinos in the surrounding reserve, which all forms part of the conservation effort to protect them.
We got to assess all of the radiographs with the Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick for cranial cruciate ligament disease. It was so, so special, and my timing was just incredible and both the orphanage and Noel were amazing throughout.
ACE provided me with so much more than I could ever have dreamed of. This entire experience has raised the bar for me for future volunteering projects.
The consultation and booking process was really personal and efficient and ACE made it easy for me to select the right projects. They are caring experts!
Everything at ACE was very well organised and they took care of all the travel arrangements within the areas to the smallest details.
Every day was somehow better than the day before. And it’s not just being with the rhinos but also the relationships you make with the team.
My trip was quite unique as I was already in South Africa but having ACE do my planning and itinerary to make sure everything went smoothly was the best!