Animals and children

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South Africa Youth activities Culture Education Youth activities Culture +1 Permanent

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Our partner is a local NGO located in the South African bush near Kruger National Park. Founded in 2006, this organization works to educate and inspire children to value their environment and stimulate community development. Our partner provides the perfect environment for local children to learn about their natural heritage. The children come to the organization for five days and complete lessons in our Environmental Education Program. In addition, the children help care for some of our animals in captivity who cannot be rehabilitated or released back into the wild. This program instills a sense of care, respect, and empathy towards animals and wildlife in their communities. Volunteers come from around the world to teach lessons and guide children in caring for the animals at our partner's facility. The organization also runs an Outreach Program to extend our reach and create a more significant impact on the local communities. The weekly ECO Club and Wildlife Crime Campaigns help inspire children and ignite positive attitudes towards their valuable environmental heritage.

💼 What the programme involves

Each week DAKTARI invites children from the local underprivileged schools to stay at DAKTARI for 5 days. We take between eight and ten children at a time, which provides a unique opportunity for them to benefit from a more individual learning experience. You will be teaching these children. We believe that education is the only way to a better future, and therefore we have developed an educational program with special focus on the environment and wildlife. A very important aspect of DAKTARI is the wildlife orphanage. We care for animals that are hurt, orphaned or too tame to be rehabilitated into the wild. They also serve as a great education medium for the children who assist in the daily care, cleaning and feeding of these animals. We cannot always guarantee having children at DAKTARI due to either the school holidays OR exam periods. During these test periods, volunteers take time to raise environmental awareness in various other schools and communities.

🏠 Accommodation on site

We do have 4 mains chalets for volunteers at DAKTARI, each one offering a capacity of 3 to 5 single beds. Male and Female are not mixed in the same chalet unless specific requests. You will be provided with sheets, blankets and a mosquito net. Your bed laundry will be cleaned and changed once a week. Each chalet is equipped with one bathroom including a toilet, a sink and a shower with hot and cold water EXCEPT for chalet 2 & the cabins. DAKTARI is not on the National Grid to have electricity. Fortunately, over the years we could invest in solar power but this energy is limited and only available when the SUN is up. You are able to charge your devices in the meeting area. This charging station works during daylight hours only from 7am to 4.30pm. You will not be able to use any hairdryer or hair straightener.

🍲 Food

- Breakfast --> Fruits, cereals, toast, peanut butter and jam.
- Lunch --> cold meat and/or salads
- Dinner --> cooked meal/meat with vegetables.

It seems that more and more people have special dietary requirements these days, such as gluten free, lactose free, vegetarians, vegans etc. DAKTARI will cater for you if you are vegetarian or vegan, but please understand that gluten free and organic products are very expensive and difficult to source locally. We would strongly advise you to provide and/or bring any food replacement needed for any intolerance or allergy you may have. Please remember to specify your request when completing your booking.

🎒 Leisure activities

Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, Moholoholo rehabilitation centre, Tshukudu bush camp.

⚠️ Requirements

A volunteer can stay on a project from 1 to 12 weeks

Prices

2025 Euro (€) GBP (£)
1 week €670.00 £580.00
2 weeks €1,270.00 £1,090.00
3 weeks €1,770.00 £1,520.00
4 weeks €2,040.00 £1,755.00
5 weeks €2,340.00 £2,010.00
6 weeks €2,640.00 £2,270.00
7 weeks €2,940.00 £2,530.00
8 weeks €3,240.00 £2,780.00
9 weeks €3,540.00 £3,045.00
10 weeks €3,840.00 £3,300.00
11 weeks €4,140.00 £3,560.00
12 weeks €4,440.00 £3,820.00

ℹ️ Additional information

DAKTARI volunteers pay a fee in order to cover the cost of their stay and to contribute to DAKTARI’s programs. Your fee will feed a cheetah, get someone a job, and educate an underprivileged child. It helps us make an impact in the community and provides you with an amazing South African experience! What is included in your fee: Three meals per day – breakfast, lunch and dinner: Tea, coffee, juice and water Accommodation in one of our chalets with towels, bed linen and a mosquito net Laundry and ironing daily Pick up and drop off at Hoedspruit town or airport (when arriving/departing on a Saturday only) One trip into town per week Free wifi Not included in your fee International/national flights and travel arrangements Travel insurance (required) Personal toiletries e.g. shampoo, sunscreen, insect repellent Soda and alcoholic drinks Personal excursions Rates in Euros:

1 week €670.00

2 weeks €1,270.00

3 weeks €1,770.00

Arrival are on Saturdays and volunteers can settle in their rooms. Sunday, they are taken for a tour of the wildlife orphanage and the camp. Volunteers participate to an intro meeting explaining: - The background of the organisation - The purpose of the organisation - The teaching program - The wildlife orphanage - Safety and community rules From Monday to Friday, the volunteers are teaching the children and taking care of the animals. Saturday volunteers can join for a trip in the little town of Hoedspruit or go on excursion Sunday is rest for everybody unless an excursion is booked. The swimming pool is the volunteer's favorite place for Sundays.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.