Volunteers Blog

“As I am sitting here in Ed’s room watching him pack, since he too is leaving
tomorrow, I am trying to figure out how to put my last two months here at the
GWC camp down in words that will justify this amazing experience I’ve had. It is
difficult for me to pin point what it is, but there is something about it
here that has made me forget about everything back home and just completely fall
in love with this place. It must be a combination of the many exiting projects I
have been a part of, the beautifull nature, the impressive wild life and the
amazing team that makes up the GWC crew. While I have been here I have been a
part of many interesting projects, like the building of an offload ramp for new
game, and an observation deck in the camp. And while doing this work every day
has in a strange way been both similar and very different in a way that made the
entire stay interesting and fun. But what made it all even better is that I from
the very first day felt like I was not just another volunteer but a valuable
part of the team. The many social gatherings and open arms of the People here
have given me New friends that have made every day here fantastic. So that is
why i want to thank everyone here for giving me the experience of a lifetime,
and memories i always will put a smile on My face. I hope to see you all again
one day.”

Anders Nysom – Denmark June – July 2012

Volunteers Blog

“Some of the best weeks of my life!”

I have spent four amazing weeks at Galagos Wildlife Conservation. I didn’t have any skills at the chores I took part in, but thanks to the team at GWC, I have learned a lot. It has been very interesting to learn about how a reserve works and be a part of it.

In my time at GWC we spent a lot of time tracking and setting up bate for the lions, and therefore I saw the lions up close. It was an incredible experience. I also seen game release, been “chased” by elephants, tried fishing with my hands (noodling), and helped building a hide and nursery. All great experiences I didn’t expect to try before booking.

I saw and learned a lot about the wildlife in South Africa. The staff was very qualified and good at informing the volunteers about the work, wildlife and nature. Dave, Ed and the rest of the team immediately made me feel welcome and a part of the daily life of the camp. The social life of the camp was fantastic, and I got to know people from all over the world.

It has definitely been some of the best weeks of my life and I attend to come back. I thank the team at GWC for an unforgettable and different experience.

Maria Bisp Rasmussen – Denmark

Volunteers Blog

“After eight weeks staying here, I look back and can’t believe what I have just experienced. From normal game drives where you see all sorts of african wildlife to lion-tracking which is exciting every time. Building the first hide on the reserve, having a braai in a riverbed and watching elephants drinking at the waterhole we built just outside the camp. I had an amazing time in South Africa and definitely will be back!”

Volunteers Blog

We would like to thank you so much for having 2 fantastic weeks.

First, we would like to thanks Nicole for an excellent help when our flight was more than 12 hours delayed. You have done more than we could have expected in every way. Thank you.

Then a huge thanks to Dave, for being such a good leader of the team. You have done a fantastic job building up the place and you have such a big experience in Wild animals.

In the 2 weeks we were here, we did a lot of different things, which has been so good. We helped build the first hide to the reserve, we have been on night game drives and seen a lot of animals.

We cant thank you enough for 2 fantastic weeks together with you and your team.
It was much better than we expected, thanks to the GWC team, which has found a perfect match for working and seeing a lot of animals. We really got the feeling that we had done something good for the reserve and for other people.
This trip has been one of the best holidays for us ever and we have been travelling very much around the world.

The best part is that we still talk about our trip and all the great people that we meet at GWC and still are in contact with.  A trip like that goes deeply into your heart and soul, no matter if it is for 2 weeks or 2 months.

We will come back.

Michael & Kirsten – Denmark (April 2012)

Volunteers Blog

I can’t believe my 10 weeks are over. The time is going so fast. I’m happy to go home and see my family and my friends again, but I’m also so sad to leave this here behind. The 10 weeks I spend here, were really amazing. Some of the days we had to work hard, some of the days we were just driving around and enjoying the beautiful landscape and all the animals. The only animal that I didn’t saw and that I would like to see, was the leopard. That’s a little bit of a shame, but I’m definitely not complaining, because I saw so many cool animals. For example: I saw an aardvark twice, a caracal, a bushpig, 2 bat eared fox, a spotted hyena, a brown hyena and a lot more. I was also a witness of the first camera trap boxes they made. And they’re really ‘elephant-proof’. We had some amazing pictures from the camera traps and already ID 3 leopards, a hyena and some rhinos. On my last 2 weeks we were making this waterhole near camp. After a view days the first animals came to drink. That was really cool. In my last weekend there were 4 elephants drinking at the waterhole and they came very close to camp. I think they would like to join our party. I really had an amazing time here with GWC. And all the people around here, are so nice and friendly. It’s like one big family and I’m happy to be a part of that for 10 weeks. I’m definitely gonna miss everybody here and I’m going to work very hard, so I can come back as soon as possible!

Tamara Bouwman (Holland) Jan – March 2012

Volunteers Blog

Michelle and I met in South Africa back in 2005 where we volunteered with another company similar to GWC. The experience captured our hearts and we both knew one day we would return to do it all over again when life permitted. We heard about GWC through a friend and knew it was the perfect fit for us. It was a fraction of the cost of our previous expedition but we felt it would be just as good or better. We were right!   The reserve is absolutely beautiful and so private it’s unbelievable. We didn’t have to pull away from animal sightings as “paying tourist” vehicles from lodges breathed down your neck to move away. We truly felt we had the reserve to ourselves and that gives you such much wanted freedom. Going out on morning game drives were our absolute favorite. It is still somewhat cool that early, keep in mind we were there at the height of the summer heat, and also so very quiet. This is the time that it really hits you where you are and how wonderful life really is. Sit back and take it all in…

The camp is large and well outfitted, and our private double room was a wonderful surprise.  The staff is also absolutely amazing. Dave is especially great as he is so easy to get along with and so passionate about his work.  I guess we aren’t your typical volunteers as we already had an idea in our heads of what to expect as we did something like this before. But let me tell you GWC far surpassed our expectations and we are so thankful!

Thanks GWC. Hope to see you the future!

Amanda Grove & Michelle Bosse (USA) JAN 2012

GWC Official Newsletter – February 2012, Issue 8

07th March 2012

Here is the latest edition of our HBF Howzit for you all to enjoy! If you would like to be added to our mailing please comment below or drop us a quick email at nicole@gwcvolunteers.com.

Newsletter – February 2012, Issue 8

We wish everyone a fantastic March,

Nicole – Volunteer Coordinator

Welcome to the Galagos Wildlife Conservation Blog

A day at the 'office' - removing old fences

We are excited to bring you the brand new Galagos Wildlife Conservation Blog!

Here you can get a behind the scenes insight into the lives of the staff and volunteers on the ground in South Africa. We’ll bring you all the exciting news and updates of daily life at the project alongside our conservation work updates, newsletter articles and the many amazing moments captured on ‘film’ or these days should we say ‘captured on SD Card’ 🙂

Tracking the collared mammals

So far I’ve archived all the blog post’s from the last few months from our website’s blog page, they can be found under the Archived Blog category. But we have decided in 2012 to expand our audience and join the world of wordpress blogging. If you’re interested in reading our monthly newsletter take a look at the GWC Official Newsletter page where you will be able to access every publication so far.

2012 has gotten off to a great start with many new projects on the go and in the pipeline. The GWC team have been hard at work with erosion control, road clearing, keeping tabs on the collared

Protecting the reserve's roads - Erosion Control

predator population, birding and monitoring the reserve’s camera traps to name but a few of the many fun tasks our volunteers get up to. They have also started work at base camp on the compost heap for the indigenous tree species nursery.

For more information about us, our volunteer programme and how to join us in Africa please check out our website; www.gwcvolunteers.com.

We are also currently offering some great prices for Summer 2012 alongside our student discount so why not do something fantastic with your summer holiday and join us for a once in a lifetime experience. Visit our costs page for details; www.gwcvolunteers.com/#/4547201397.

A well deserved sundowner and bush braai to end the week

We hope you enjoy our new blog!  

Nicole Zylstra – Volunteer Coordinator

Another Outstanding 2 Weeks – 22nd Nov 2011

Spotted Hyena

Its been a wild and crazy couple of weeks!  Our volunteers were here for just a little over 2 weeks and it all started fairly slow.  Having been delayed due to Quantas strikes, they arrived on the Thursday instead of a Monday and were thrust straight into it with lion tracking on Friday morning!  Although the lions were playing hard to get that day and we didn’t manage to get a visual, despite being very close, the thrill of the almost is just as good.  The following week we were busy with some more hands on work.  This involved a couple of new projects such as pit fall traps for catching insects and small bugs, setting up the camera trap under a tree that had been used by rhino as a rubbing post, more lion tracking and some elephant stake outs.  But then things really started to take off, on our second lion tracking attempt we managed an awesome sighting of the female and her 2 cubs and then on the way back to camp, 2 male cheetah on the open plains, a very rare sight indeed! After a weekend spent in the north of Kruger and seeing animals on mass the volunteers were back for Monday and another week on the reserve.  We caught sight of a breeding herd of elephants at a nearby waterhole followed closely by a spotted hyena taking an early evening dip to cool down after the hot summer’s day.  As if things could not get any better that week we were graced by a huge white rhino under the very tree we had placed the camera trap and unusually it didn’t disappear straight away!  We managed a good 30mins of taking photo after photo, maybe 200 between us.  So the week concluded with a birthday celebration and braai then back to the airport, 2 weeks is just not long enough and I agree.  Thanks guys for your hard work and safe travels until we see you next year.

Dave Pugh – Project Director

Recent Amazing Events – 24th Sept 2011

 

The Re-collaring of Pam; the Matriach of a large breeding herd.

Its been a while since my last update, we have been so busy here and the volunteers have been involved in some amazing work both on and off the reserve. It began early this month with a call from a neighbour to assist with a leopard that had been caught on a local farm. Myself and the volunteers headed out to assist with the transfer and release on to a local carnivore friendly reserve. It was a sight to behold, the leopard came storming out of the cage, with a quick snarl and charge before disappearing into the bush and freedom once more. We have been busy setting up the camera trap in order to capture pictures of the elusive rhino. Although we have had some success the photos are so far not good enough to get conclusive Id’s, we will keep trying! Last week was the big one though – to dart and re-collar an elephant on the reserve, this is part of a big elephant management plan that we are helping with. It was an amazing day and possibly a once in a life time experience for everyone involved – the helicopter ride was pretty good as well!

Dave Pugh – GWC Volunteers Project Director