Marine conservation in South Africa

The project

Sharks have long been a misunderstood creature. This venture aims to increase awareness of the shark, giving you the opportunity to work closely with and understand one of the mightiest sea creatures in the world.

The area that you will be based is called the “Great White Shark Capital of the World”, however that does not mean that you will only come across sharks. Between June and December the area sees whale migrations, and throughout the year you can see dolphins, seals and penguins. This project is a great way to learn about the marine environment and do your bit to help protect it.

What to expect

Each day you will be going out on the boats to monitor shark behaviour and activity. Between June and December, you will also be helping to monitor whale behaviour and activity.

Being the great white shark capital of the world, most days you will see at least 2 – 4 sharks. As your knowledge base grows, your role amongst the guests becomes increasingly important, telling them all about sharks, whales, the ocean and conservation issues.

As with immersive projects, you will be asked to help clean down the boat and the wetsuits, prepare the cage for divers and look after guests whilst out at sea. Photo and learning opportunities are frequent, and you are encouraged to get as involved as possible in all activities. On the shark boat, you will even have the opportunity to do some shark cage diving.

In addition to the boat activities, there are also land-based conservation tasks:

• Helping out at the penguin rehabilitation centre
• Doing beach clean ups
• Painting penguin houses for nesting
• Working in the local community
• Attending lectures on the research that is being conducted

Location

Just 90 minutes from Cape Town and a short drive from the Garden Route, many volunteers choose to spend some time exploring the local area. Famous for its delicious wines, South Africa’s vineyards are certainly worth a visit, as is the most southern point of Africa, the beautiful local beaches and wildlife reserves.

Important extra information about the organisation of this project

• You will be with other international volunteers from around the world
• There is 24/7 emergency support
• Speak to someone who has done this project - our experienced team have volunteered on all of our projects and know them intimately
• You will need travel insurance to be able to join this project - we can offer advice of what to look for in a travel insurance policy