At a glance
- You will live on a beautiful reserve close to the Limpopo river, surrounded by wildlife, and learn from conservation experts.
- Through your volunteer work, you will be part of our efforts to help preserve and protect elephants, leopards, lions, giraffes and more as well as local ecosystems.
- At the camp, you will live with other teenagers your age, and be supervised by our staff.
- On the weekend you'll go on a walking safari and learn about local handicrafts.
- Volunteer Service Hours: 50 to 100
- Download a sample itinerary for this project.
Is wildlife conservation volunteering for teenagers in Botswana right for me?
If you’re looking to pursue a career in conservation, or just want to do more to help the environment, this project is perfect for you. You don’t need any previous experience. We’ll teach you everything you need to know. All you need is a passion for wildlife and the great outdoors.
In Tuli, you’ll work with conservationists who are passionate about the environment and have dedicated their lives to African wildlife. They’ll be there to guide and support you, and make sure you’re safe.
Our High School Special is specifically designed for teenagers, and we have a set itinerary in place to make the most out of your time.
This project strikes a great balance between research and hands-on work. You’ll learn from conservation experts and do plenty of practical work. You can use it on your CV, in applications, and talk about it in interviews.
What wildlife volunteering in Botswana will I do as a teenager?
As a volunteer, you provide extra manpower to preserve wildlife and ecosystems in the reserve. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement:
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Build dams and waterholes for wildlife
Water is a scarcity in Southern Africa. As a Conservation volunteer, you will help construct and repair waterholes, boreholes, and rainwater tanks. This will ensure that water is stored during the wet season and that there is lots of water during the dry season. This is vital for wildlife to survive during times of drought.
Track animals during surveys and help gather research data
The Tuli region is home to large and diverse wildlife populations, which is one of the most exciting things about the area. It is important for us to keep track of population growth and movement. You'll help us do this by taking part in surveys. You'll also conduct research and collect data to help track animal movements and family units of the local wildlife.
Remove wires and snares and participate on anti-poaching patrols
Illegal poaching of bush meat is a major challenge to conservation in Botswana. As a volunteer, you will help reduce poaching efforts in the Tuli area. You will mainly do this by joining local staff members in removing snares around the reserve. By removing hundreds of these snares, we are able to save the lives of hundreds of animals.
Set up camera traps
As animals are very active by night, camera traps help us study their natural habitats, behaviours and movements. You will be involved in setting up these cameras around the reserve.
Camera traps have produced a couple of first sightings for us. A baby brown hyena, a honey badger, a leopard and an aardvark were seen for the first time on our cameras. This is incredibly exciting, as it tells us that our efforts are creating an environment where animals thrive and breed.
Work with volunteers from around the world
You’ll volunteer with teens from around the world. There will be plenty for you to learn from your new friends, like the customs and cultures in their home countries. And during your leisure time, you will all get to experience life in the African bush together.
Who are our project partners?
We partner with a reserve in Botswana.
The reserve is owned by Dr Helena Fitchat and Mrs Judi Gounaris, two passionate conservationists. They both share our spirit of adventure and passion for African wildlife and ecosystems.
Where in Botswana will I work?
The Tuli Block
Located on the banks of the Limpopo River, you will find yourself in the very heart of the bush. With large populations of elephants, crocodiles, hyenas, and other species, Tuli is a truly wild place.
You’ll spend your evenings next to the campfire with other volunteers and staff members. All of the rooms of the camp are divided by age and gender, so you’ll have roomates the same age and gender as you.
We encourage you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. However, while the project is thoroughly risk assessed and supervised, please remember there are wild animals around. Therefore, our policy is that you must never leave the camp without a staff member with you.
What are the aims of the Wildlife Conservation Project for teenagers in Botswana?
The aim of this project is to preserve the ecological well being of the area and ensure the survival of precious wildlife species.
Tuli has seen a recent decrease in wildlife populations, largely due to growing human activity in the region. Increases in illegal hunting and poaching, as well as land degradation, have also contributed. By doing wildlife research, soil erosion control, construction, and anti-poaching drives, we are helping preserve what is left.
The ultimate goal of the project is to create a conservation area protected by law. We are working on this with other game reserves and national parks in the area.
Join us in Botswana and become part of our efforts to protect African wildlife.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay at our base camp in the Tuli Block and share a tent with other Projects Abroad volunteers of the same gender. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and share the experience of living in the heart of the bushveld together. There are shared bathrooms with hot, running water. There is no electricity, but we have charging stations running on solar power so we have light at night.
Your tent will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe. Your programme fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
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