AFRICAN INSIGHT ACADEMY FREEME VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
About FreeMe KZN: FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation KZN is a centre which was established in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, just outside Howick. Its objective is to handle the rescue, rehabilitation and return to the wild of all injured, orphaned or sick wildlife from a large area with diverse climate and vegetation zones. You will get involved with everything to do with looking after the current patients, incoming patients and outgoing patients, as well as the day to day running of an ethical and animal focused rehabilitation centre. No members of the public are allowed to view rehab patients, ensuring all animals have the best chance of going back into the wild, where they're meant to be. The beauty of this project is that there are excellent opportunities to get involved with animal research projects that happen in the area, like the raptor rehabilitation centre and the samango monkey research. These are most definitely once in a lifetime opportunities for animal enthusiasts. Being in an area of huge biodiversity, the clinic has to be prepared to handle a large number of species, including antelope, small and medium predators, raptors, large wading birds and migrants, reptiles, bats, a whole range of smaller bird and mammal species and three varieties of primates. They run a 24/7 emergency call out and at times these can involve journeys of up to two hundred kilometres at a time. About the FreeMeVolunteer Programme: This is an ideal opportunity for suitably qualified veterinary nurses and conservation students to gain hands on experience within a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Volunteers will receive both academic and practical training on all facets of wildlife rehabilitation. Your duties as a Rehabilitation Volunteer will include, but are not limited to the following: Daily feeding and checks. Cleaning of enclosures/clinics and enclosure enrichment. Assisting with basic first aid and assistance with minor surgeries. Accompanying centre staff in the collection of injured animals. Accompanying centre staff in the release of rehabilitated animals into nearby game reserves. Collecting and recording data.
General Information: Board and Lodging Volunteers will be accommodated at the FreeMe Volunteer accommodation (sleeps 6) larger groups will be accommodated at suitable lodging in the area. The cost of the lodging is included in the FreeMe volunteer program. Only one main meal per day will be provided. There is a fully equipped kitchen from where the volunteers can prepare their own meals. Duration There is a 2 week programme on offer with the option of extending it to a one month conservation volunteer experience, which will include a visit to Somkhanda Game Reserve. Any extension to this can be negotiated and the costs thereof will depend on the length of stay. Transport Transport to and from FreeMe / accommodation is provided as well as all airport transfers. Transport on rest days are also provided within reason depending on distance travelled. Travel & Medical Insurance African Insight provides medical emergency and evacuation cover however in addition it is a pre-requisite for acceptance on this programme that interns provide proof of standard travel and medical cover, as well inoculation against rabies and tetanus. Requirements An appropriate BSc Degree or Higher National Diploma. Consideration will be given to students who are studying towards a qualification in vet nursing or conservation. Applicants will be required to motivate in writing why they should be considered for this opportunity and how it will help them. Letters of recommendation from an appropriate source vouching for the above. A valid international driving permit (optional) Participants must be responsible, physically active, energetic and able to work alone or as part of a team. Rest Days / Additional Activities You will be allocated 2 free days per week for the duration of your stay in South Africa. These you can choose to spend exploring the beautiful Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands. Transport to these places is provided to you free of charge; however any entrance fees, drinks, meals, curios and additional activities are for your own account. There is an option of doing a mini safari and if you would prefer to do this, you will need to save three of your free days. For this safari you will visit Somkhanda Game Reserve for 3 nights. The cost of the excursion is not included in the program price.
Two Week FreeMeWildlife Rehabilitation Volunteering: Day 1: Arrival and transfer to FreeMe Met on arrival at Durban International Airport and transfer to FreeMe, Howick. FreeMeAnimal Rehabilitation Programme: For the next two weeks, the programme will run with week days being spent at FreeMeKZN As well as field trips involving students in community projects and research. Introduction to FreeMe, Rehabilitation Course with practical hands-on work. General day to day activities including, but not limited to: Feeding, care, data collecting and recording. Cleaning of enclosures / enclosure enrichment. Assisting with basic first aid. Accompanying Centre staff with collection of injured animals. The other weekdays will be spent visiting and/or partaking in a number of interesting wildlife projects in the area, Some of which may include: Raptor Rehabilitation Centre. Anti -Poaching day on Foot (Physical fitness NB). Day out with the State Vet into Rural areas. Funda Nenja Township domestic dog training (Community project). KZN Crane Foundation (Become a Wattled Crane Chick mother, adopt a chick) Bird Ringing and Handling Reptile Specialist visit, snake awareness and handling. Raptor rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation Mammal rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation Tortoise rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation Research in the field with Samangomonkeys, collecting and recording data. Weekend off with optional activities: Tour to local points of interest. Some of the options are: Karkloof Canopy Tour R600 each Didima Rock Art Centre (Drakensberg World Heritage Site) R600 each (with lunch) Visit to Mandela Capture Site / Monument R50 each Lions River Rafting Company R400 full day trip Mphophomeni Cultural Visit TBA Midlands Conservancy Walks TBA Karkloof Falls hike and Picnic R50 Mountain Biking R50 Sunrise hike Inhlosane R50 * Please note that all entrance fees and meals are for your own account other than specified.
Day 15: Depart Depart early in the morning (after breakfast) and make our way to Durban and to King Shaka Airport for return flight to UK OR Transfer to Somkhanda Game Reserve to continue with the a different volunteer program for a further 11 days. Includes: Registration / administration fee Meet & Greet on arrival Transport to and from FreeMe and some day excursions Mentoring Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance Cover 2 x T-shirts Laundry once a week (limited to) Post internship reference and certificate Accommodation for 14 nights self catering (one main meal provided daily) Excludes: Visas Standard Travel and Medical Insurance Food and refreshments Additional excursions and activities Additional uniform Tetanus or rabies vaccinations Rest days/additional activities and any further volunteer experience outside of FreeMe 14 Day FreeMe Costs: ZAR: 13,000 2018 Volunteer Dates 08 January - 2 February 05 February - 2 March 5 March - 30 March 2 April - 27 April 30 April - 25 May 28 May - 22 June 25 June - 20 July 23 July - 17 August 20 August - 14 September 17 September - 12 October 15 October - 9 November 12 November - 7 December 2019 Volunteer Dates 7 January - 18 January 21 January - 1 February 4 February - 15 February 18 February - 1 March 4 March - 15 March 18 March - 29 March 1 April - 12 April 15 April - 26 April 29 April - 10 May 13 May - 24 May 27 May - 7 June 10 June - 21 June 24 June - 5 July 8 July - 19 July 22 July - 2 August 5 August - 16 August 19 August - 30 August 2 September - 13 September 16 September - 27 September 30 September - 11 October 14 October - 25 October 28 October - 8 November 11 November - 22 November 25 November - 6 December