Game Ranger Conservation Experience

Live the life of an African wildlife ranger.

Take this adventure into the heart of South Africa’s legendary Kruger National Park and you’ll emerge from the wilderness two weeks later brimming with bush skills, a real understanding of Africa’s famous wildlife and the threats they face. Not to mention enough stories to last a lifetime.

Guided by an experienced wildlife ranger, you’ll come face to face with rhino, elephant, lions and other animals that call Kruger home. You’ll also learn how to handle reptiles, track and identify wild animals and find out about their diets and behaviour. This experience also includes a visit to a wildlife care and rehabilitation centre. And of course, you’ll get that chance to discover the real African bush.

Our Wildlife Ranger Experience is created exclusively for African Conservation Experience, giving you a unique insight into the important role rangers play in wildlife conservation.

Close up of a tortoise in Africa

Rhino Rating Tells you how physical the experience is. Click to find out more.

This project has a "Rhino Rating" of 3

Species

  • Elephant
  • Lion
  • Rhino
  • Giraffe
  • Antelope
  • and many more.

Conservation Impact

  • Conservation education
  • Wildlife conservation including rhino

Country

🇿🇦 South Africa

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Highlights

Learn authentic ranger skills

During your expedition you’ll learn to track, monitor and identify many different animal and plant species. You’ll even find out how ecologists can quickly tell the difference between females and males.

Explore Kruger National Park

Covering nearly five million acres (two million hectares), Kruger National Park in South Africa is home to all of Africa’s ‘Big 5’ species, making it one of the continent’s best places for wildlife watching. Base camp for this experience is in a private concession within Kruger and you will also spend a night camping in the public area of the National Park, giving you a deeper insight into this iconic wildlife hotspot.

Many adventures in one

As well as exploring the wilderness of Kruger National Park, you’ll visit an animal rehabilitation centre, and take part in an introductory reptile course which will give you an insight into these fascinating creatures and may even help you overcome your fear of snakes.

Evenings around the campfire

You’ll spend most of your evenings learning to cook on coals under the African night sky, listening to the sounds of nature and sharing stories from the day with your fellow travellers and conservation experts.

The ideal introduction to conservation

If you’re passionate about saving Africa’s wildlife, this experience is the perfect place to start. You’ll get to see for yourself how conservation works, engage with professionals and make a real difference.

Do

During your two-week Wildlife Ranger Experience, you’ll get involved in the following activities:

  • Track wildlife by identifying and interpreting their tracks, signs and spoor
  • Monitor the movements of wildlife, including all the ‘Big 5’ species and many more
  • Set up remote camera traps to monitor elusive species 24/7
  • Identify individual rhino by their ear-notching patterns
  • Visit a wildlife rehabilitation centre that offers long-term care for resident species
  • Take a reptile course that will transform the way you view these incredible animals

Learn

With an experienced wildlife ranger as your tutor, you’ll pick up some important bush skills and get your head around the challenges of animal conservation in Africa.

You’ll learn about:

  • The preferred habitats, behaviour and social structures of elephants, lions, giraffe and many other animals large and small
  • How to track animals by identifying their tracks, also known as spoor, and signs of their presence
  • How to identify different tree and plant species as well as their medicinal and practical uses
  • How to identify some lesser-known species, including the differences between males and females
  • How to build a campfire and other bushcraft skills
  • The hunting, mating and territorial behaviour of predators
  • The wildlife poaching crisis, which affects rhino and elephants in particular, and the methods used to protect animals in the field
  • Other threats to wildlife such as hunting, poisoning and habitat fragmentation
  • How to use a spotlight during a night drive to minimise the impact on animals
  • How to approach dangerous animals safely and with minimal impact
  • An introduction to astronomy

Costs & Dates

What are the currently available dates?

2023: 25 July - 8 August

If the above date is not suitable for you, please let us know, as we have many other similar experiences available.

Can I volunteer at more than one project and how much will it cost?

Most of our travellers like to combine multiple projects to create a tailor-made trip. The combined price of projects is cheaper than the individual projects added up online. 

We offer combinations of conservation projects, transport between them, accommodation and travel insurance as you require. We are a travel operator, not an agent, which means we take full responsibility for your trip which will be financially protected through ABTA and ATOL.

We will discuss your options and tailor your experiences so you can realise your dreams.

How do I book?

Your journey to Africa starts with our online application form. This is your chance to tell us about yourself and what you want from your African experience. Following our communication, we’ll send you a bespoke itinerary and quote. Then, you only need to pay a deposit amount of GBP 295 / USD 400 / CAD 500 / AUD 500 / EUR 350 to book your entire trip.

The cost below for this experience includes:

  • Accommodation

  • Airport Meet & Greet

  • Transfers

  • 24/7 Support

  • Personal Guidance

  • Meals

Cost Calculator

Total Cost: GBP 0000