from 1,241€
African Elephant Welfare Research
Highlights
- Observation: Shifts during the day in a stunning landscape monitoring elephants up close; night time observation of behaviour and sleeping activity, where you may see them laying down to sleep!
- Dung walk: Twice a week, we collect dung samples for laboratory processing and analysis. Join us during elephant breakfast and the morning walk as we look for some poop!
- Nursery projects: Help the team fight against alien invasive vegetation and take care of our baby plants—a great way to get some exercise!
- Creative time: A lovely way to end your day! Be creative and make AERU crafts to raise funds for our research.
- Community projects: Different projects aimed at helping local communities (education, construction, cleaning, creation, and providing a helping hand to other local associations).
Especially good for
About the program
Join our volunteer program, which offers those with a passion for elephants, the chance to contribute towards elephant husbandry, welfare, research and conservation!
Why is our program important?
AERU plays a crucial role in using research as a tool to guide elephant management on the Knysna Elephant Park. Our research investigates the behaviour and social dynamics of African elephants with one another, as well as their interactions with tourists. This important ...
Typical day
You will be working from Monday to Friday (7:00 to 17:00 in average) with our team.
Here are two examples of typical days:
Monday
7:00/8:30 = Dung walk
8:30/10:00 = Observation shift
10:00/11:30 = Lab work
11:30/13:00 = Lunch
13:00/14:30 = Observation shift
14:30/16:00 = Elephant enrichment in camp
16:00/17
Free-time activities
Our program is located between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay offering the vast natural and world renowned beauty of the Garden Route in all its splendour. During your free time and off days, you can visit some of the wonderful facilities near by the park, go for a hike among the mystical forests or ...
Requirements
What's Included
What's NOT included?
Details on arrival
Our programs start every three weeks on Mondays. Here are the dates:
2025
13/01; 03/02; 24/02; 17/03; 07/04; 28/04; 19/05
09/06; 30/06; 21/07; 11/08; 01/09; 22/09; 13/10
03/11; 24/11; 15/12
2026
05/01; 26/01; 16/02; 09/03; 30/03; 20/04; 11/05
11/06; 22/06; 13/07; 03/08; 24/08; 14/09; 05/10
26/10; 16/11; 07/12; 28/12
Details on arrivals:
All international flights arrive in/depart from Johannesburg or Cape Town, and must travel to/from either George or Plettenberg Bay in the Garden Route.
AERU collects volunteers at George Airport on arrival dates between 12:00-15:00, which is an 1.5 hour drive from the Park. On the way, a stop will be made so you can do your shopping for the week.
For any other arrival/departure times, taxi transfers can be arranged (at your own cost). All taxi transfers require cash available to pay the driver upon pick up/drop off.
Bus travel to Plettenberg Bay is an alternative option of travel. Although more cost friendly, the journey is lengthy. From Capte Town it is about 8 hours and Johannesburg it is about 15 hours. We can arrange to pick you up at Plettenberg bus station (organise that with your correspondent at AERU in advance).
- Arrivals
Monday__ Airport pickups are only from 12:00to 15:00 pm. Arrivals after 15:00, or missed flights must contact AERU so that a taxi transfer can be arranged.
- Departures
Monday__ Departing flights must be arranged for the Monday leaving, 13:00 onwards for all volunteers taking an AERU departure to the airport.
For departure flights earlier than 13:00 or an other day, taxi transfers will to be arranged (at own cost).
Program fees
Meet your organization
African Elephant Research Unit
Non-profit - founded in 2009
Verified by Volunteer World
Coordinated by
Jarrett
About the project
13 reviews · 4.8
Location
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