WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERING: THE RED FLAGS MOST PEOPLE MISS
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Stephanie Hines and Thomas Dayton
- The Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience
- Phinda Wildlife Research Project
- Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
- The Three Frontiers Wildlife Experience
Country
🇺🇸 United States
Length of trip
35 Nights
Travel year
2025
My husband and I volunteered for three different African Conservation Experience (ACE) projects: Vikela Kruger Conservation Experience, Phinda Wildlife Research Project, and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Project. Each was quite different, offering a variety of conservation knowledge and experiences.
The pre-trip discussions with ACE staff were thorough, so that we could find the right projects for us.
The ACE consultant we spoke to was wonderful and very helpful.
At each leg of our volunteer journey, ACE staff welcomed us, got us to the right place, and ensured all was well. They were proactive and always receptive and responsive to any concerns or questions about the volunteer programs while we were on site and afterwards, and also went above and beyond to help us with some (minor) medical needs.
They seemed to work closely with their partner organisations to ensure that volunteers are looked after and any issues are addressed.
We always felt in good hands with ACE, and we also felt respected, included, and cared for at the partner organisations.
The partners' staff and other ACE volunteers were outstanding! Our experiences at Phinda, Vikela and Moholoholo exceeded our expectations in terms of wildlife encounters and contribution to the organisations' conservation goals.
In terms of our African experiences, these volunteer adventures went far beyond any safari.
We were behind the scenes with conservation management and up close with wildlife, and these encounters were deeply impactful.
Along the way, we met a number of volunteers who were returnees, and we would definitely choose ACE if volunteering in Africa again!
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