WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERING: THE RED FLAGS MOST PEOPLE MISS
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Student at the International School of Amsterdam
My name is Pranjal and I joined African Conservation Experience on my school trip with the International School of Amsterdam.
I decided to come on this trip because I was curious about what it might be like to be part of real wildlife conservation. The thought of visiting a new continent and seeing wildlife at a close range was really exciting to me, and I wanted to understand an ecosystem from a conservationist’s point of view.
The experience really exceeded my expectations. Our guide was amazing, and when we went out on bush walks, he would point out the different trees, plants, the calls of animals, and the wildlife itself. It was so exciting!
I genuinely felt like I was becoming one with the environment.
One of my most memorable experiences was when we were out walking with our guide in the bush. We were walking in single file, and there was pin-drop silence, except for the rustling of bushes and the sound of sand beneath our feet. All of a sudden, our guide stopped and signalled us to listen out. We heard a small growl in the distance! Then, our guide pointed out, in the far distance, a herd of elephants that seemed agitated and were snapping trees. When we returned to the campsite, our guide explained to us that there were in fact lions close by, and that the elephant behaviour that we observed was due to them being highly agitated by the lions! It was absolutely incredible to be that close to a predator, and to witness the real interactions and behaviour between elephants and lions in the wild!
Apart from information about the different animals and plant species, the most important thing that I've learned is the crucial role that conservation plays in southern Africa, and of the tireless work that people put in to make sure that animals, plants, and humans can coexist.
I would encourage anybody to do this trip because of the wealth of experience that you gain!
There’s something really refreshing and pure about living under the trees and getting to gaze up at the night sky every evening. For those of us that live in the city and are well accustomed to going to school in metropolitan places, I think it’s a great idea to stretch your comfort zone and spend some time out in the bush. I couldn’t recommend it more!
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