Umsele Wildlife Research Internship In Balule Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger

• Single project
• 2 – 12 weeks

Work as part of Balule Nature Reserve’s official wider research team in the Greater Kruger

Join the only field team officially mandated by Balule Nature Reserve’s Head Warden to operate as their research arm in the Greater Kruger system. You’ll fill a critical monitoring gap in an under-studied section of the reserve, collecting the ecological data Balule relies on to understand predator trends, elephant impacts, threatened bird populations and rewilding needs. This is real conservation work embedded in a team trusted at the highest management level.

Generate data that supports EWT’s conservation decisions

The data you collect doesn’t just disappear into a spreadsheet. Your fieldwork directly feeds into Balule’s databases and the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) reports, becoming part of the scientific evidence used to guide conservation across the Greater Kruger region. By aligning local data collection with regional and international biodiversity frameworks, your contributions help ensure that management actions are driven by robust science rather than assumption - strengthening credible conservation strategies and shaping long-term ecosystem resilience.

Gain an academic and career advantage with structured field training

Develop interdisciplinary skills that strengthen university applications, dissertations, and early-career conservation CVs through daily field sessions, camp-based data processing, and short lectures delivered by conservation professionals. You’ll put these skills into practice as part of a mentored research team, rotating between four core projects: large carnivore monitoring, elephant impact research, threatened bird surveys and rewilding work.

Research iconic African species in the Greater Kruger

Work with some of Africa’s most charismatic and threatened wildlife, including lions, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, elephants and vultures. Help build ID kits using AI-assisted image analysis, monitor nesting success of threatened birds, review camera trap footage, conduct transects, and track how keystone species move through and shape a rewilded landscape.

Help restore the ecological integrity of the landscape

Gain unfiltered hands-on access to conservation activities within the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP) - one of Africa’s most biodiverse protected areas. The Umsele research area borders a highway, railway, powerlines and old ranching infrastructure. You’ll patrol these locations and conduct wildlife monitoring, map risk hotspots and help remove invasive plants and unnecessary fencing - all crucial steps in restoring ecological integrity.

Ethical on every level

This internship prioritises sustainability and ethical research. From the base camp which runs on solar energy to research programs that minimise disturbance to animals and prioritise long-term ecosystem resilience. Experience the realities of field research life!

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.

Large carnivore monitoring

Support the project team to generate detailed data on predator presence, abundance, diversity, and behaviour - revealing insights into their spatial ecology, interspecies dynamics and the impact of anthropogenic threats. Umsele forms part of an under-surveyed sector of Balule Nature Reserve, making it a crucial indicator site for predator population trends across the Greater Kruger ecosystem.

You will get to assist:

• Placing camera traps at strategic points across the research area (e.g. on game paths, at waterpoints and killsites) to capture predators across all available territories.
• Collecting and reviewing camera trap footage to record data on species, age, sex, the reproductive status of females, and the species of any kills.
• Creating ID kits with AI-assisted software to identify and monitor individual animals within the population.
• Conducting wildlife surveys during daily game drives, locating predators using their tracks and vocalisations.
• Live observations on inter- or intraspecific interactions and overall health that may not be captured by the camera traps.
• Sharing data with relevant conservation authorities and partners, such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the Balule Nature Reserve Research Team, where it contributes to monthly predator reports and forms part of wider research across the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP).

Elephant impact research

While elephant populations are declining across Africa, numbers in the GKNP are on the rise, leading to concerns of negative environmental impacts such as tree loss and habitat degradation. At Umsele, you’ll help run vegetation transects and waterhole-based studies to understand how elephants shape the landscape. This data provides critical information to guide evidence-based management of elephant populations and their environmental impacts.

You will get to assist:

• Conducting vegetation transects to quantify elephant impact such as bark stripping, branch breakage, uprooting, and investigate canopy conditions - looking for signs of dieback and other factors that might affect tree survival.
• Documenting tree density, species abundance, and the proportion of trees affected per plot and which species are most vulnerable.
• Conducting transects radiating out from the camp waterhole to determine how these human-created gathering points influence surrounding vegetation and intensify browsing pressure.
• Monitoring and recording elephant visits to the camp waterhole and building relevant ID kits to help understand the resident elephant population and build a clearer picture of herd social behaviour and habitat use.

Endangered bird monitoring

The research area supports at least 15 breeding bird species classified as Threatened under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The project monitors the size of their nesting populations to assess their vulnerability.

You will get to assist:

• During breeding season (typically May - December) - gathering data on nest locations and the identity of nesting species.

You may also get to assist:

• Alerting the warden and EWT vulture rescue unit to poisoning events.
• General avian point counts to quantify abundance and diversity across the concession.

Rewilding research

As reclaimed farmland that has been recently added to the national park, the research area has a main highway, powerlines, and an active railway running through it, placing animals at risk of vehicle collisions, electrocutions and fencing injuries. Ongoing patrols and data collection are essential to identify impact patterns and develop effective risk mitigation strategies.

You will get to assist:

• Patrolling boundary fences, powerlines, and the railway to identify injured or dead animals and reporting findings to reserve management.
• Monitoring high-traffic wildlife crossing zones on the railway using camera traps.
• Recording habitat features and conditions in these areas to investigate factors linked to increased crossings and mortality.
• Identifying and removing invasive species, and dismantling unnecessary fences that pose entanglement risks.

You’ll learn about the behaviour, ecology, and conservation issues of species living in the Greater Kruger region, as well as various wildlife research skills.

Practical field research skills

• How to set up, position, and maintain camera traps for wildlife monitoring.
• Techniques for wildlife tracking using spoor (tracks), scat, and vocalisations.
• How to record species data (age, sex, health, reproductive status, killsites).
• Using GPS devices for mapping animal locations and tagging research sites.
• Conducting wildlife surveys and collecting standardised field data.

Large carnivore ecology

• Understanding predator spatial ecology and behaviour patterns, and how these patterns can be shaped by human pressures like poaching or habitat fragmentation.
• How to identify individual carnivores from markings and other features.
• Methods of recording interspecific and intraspecific interactions.
• Understand the importance of sharing data to national conservation databases for maximising conservation impact.

Elephant impact assessment

• How to identify tree species and measure ecological indicators of tree health (height, canopy size, diameter).
• Techniques for monitoring and quantifying elephant damage to vegetation.
• How to conduct plant transects and assess habitat health.
• How elephants act as ecosystem engineers, redistributing nutrients, creating habitats, and driving natural succession.
• How piosphere studies help evaluate the ecological effects of artificial waterpoints.

Avian conservation skills

• How to identify endangered bird species, nests, and nesting behaviours.
• Methods for recording nest site attributes during breeding season.
• Develop expertise in wildlife poisoning response, through involvement in vulture mass poisoning response work.
• How vultures act as critical scavengers that prevent disease spread.

Human-wildlife conflict

• Learn survey methods for patrolling railways, roads, fences, and powerlines for injured wildlife.
• How to record patterns of wildlife collisions and electrocutions.
• Identifying habitat features linked to higher risk.
• Identifying infrastructure conflict and how this feeds into future mitigation design.
• Invasive plant species removal techniques and their ecological benefits.

Data management and conservation reporting

• Data management software for organising and analysing field data.
• How research findings feed into management plans and rapid response work for large protected areas.
• How to produce ID kits with AI-assisted image analysis, habitat maps, and basic reports.
• How GPS, camera traps and digital data workflows are transforming the scale and speed of wildlife research.

Conservation ethics and sustainable living

• Exposure to low-impact camp life (e.g. solar power use).
• Understanding and applying principles of ethical wildlife research that minimises disturbance.
• Appreciating the role of evidence-based management in long-term ecosystem resilience.

Professional development and networking

• Networking skills through working alongside qualified researchers, ecologists, and conservationists.

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

The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.

No Poverty End poverty in all its forms everywhere

By offering paid studying opportunities, the project attracts international funding that provides a means for the reserve team to monitor and protect wildlife within the Greater Kruger National Park.

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

All interns acquire knowledge of practical conservation and scientific data collection, how human actions can affect wildlife and how they can minimise this effect - and have access to the same standard of education regardless of sex and background.

Gender Equality Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Umsele provides equal employment opportunities and women hold key leadership and decision-making roles. The project also offers equal internship 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

The project safeguards aquatic ecosystems through its monitoring work and activities within a protected conservation area.

Affordable and Clean Energy Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Umsele has implemented a modern solar energy system to power the project base camp efficiently and sustainably.

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

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

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

Through the financial support generated by self-funded international interns, Umsele has been able to implement a solar energy system that powers the project - thereby developing resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure in Africa.

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

By helping to conserve Africa’s iconic wildlife and the ecosystems they sustain, the project contributes to building resilient natural landscapes that support sustainable livelihoods and align with efforts to make human settlements safer and more sustainable.

Responsible Consumption and Production Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

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

Climate Action Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Umsele educates all international interns about the impacts of climate change on ecosystems within the Greater Kruger National Park.

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

Umsele takes significant action to halt the loss of biodiversity and prevent the extinction of threatened species. By monitoring and protecting species and ecosystems within the Greater Kruger Park, they prevent the degradation of natural habitats and halt biodiversity loss.

The project also takes urgent action to prevent poaching, by relaying information on animals’ whereabouts to the regional anti-poaching unit and relevant researchers.

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

The project takes urgent action to prevent poaching, by relaying information on animals’ whereabouts to the regional anti-poaching unit and relevant researchers.

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

Through our partnership with the Balule Nature Reserve and the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Umsele Project strengthens collaborative conservation research within the Greater Kruger landscape, filling critical data gaps and generating findings that inform ecosystem-wide management and protection efforts.