Tuli Conservation Project

Tuli Conservation Project offers you the opportunity to join a dedicated research project in a new approach to game management. Forming part of the Limpopo-Shashe trans frontier conservation area, the core study area allows natural migration of game across historically established national borders. This exciting new concept in wildlife management creates a need for volunteers to assist in research of populations moving through this vast wilderness.

Monitoring the movements and behaviours of these species is essential in the management of a trans frontier conservation area, specifically natural migratory routes and territory movements. Funding for this research project is facilitated solely by volunteer funds. Having a volunteer presence in the area also actively discourages poaching which has led to a fantastic increase in population size of these notorious and last truly wild elephant herds in southern Africa.

Living a rustic life, you will learn traditional tracking methodology and research skills. Through game drives, walks, night drives and sleep outs, you will be involved in the following study topics in this wildlife haven.

Elephants are the key research and monitoring species due to their population density. Volunteers develop identification cards for individual bulls and breeding herds. You will record herd dynamics and behaviour of breeding herds and male groups, monitor range utilisation using GPS and analyse mapping data.

Predator behavioural studies: Key species include leopard, lion, cheetah and hyena. You will establish territory sizes and inter and intra-specific species interactions. Some predators have been fitted with research collars, so you will learn how to use telemetry tracking technology.

General game study: Volunteers frequently conduct systematic studies recording game numbers on specific grids. The data is analysed against vegetation maps, leopards' tracks and recordings and predator studies. Game counts include data such as sex and age ratios to analyse herd structures, growth rates and seasonal variations.