African Dawn - Conservation Volunteer Project in South Africa

Interview with Lucy McLeod, African Dawn volunteer alum

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with African Dawn in South Africa?

Lucy: I ended up at African Dawn because I was taking a gap year between school and starting uni and wanted to do some animal-related volunteering. I knew I wanted to go to South Africa and so chose from the list of projects in South Africa that were offered by the gap year company Travellers Worldwide; to be honest it was because African Dawn was the cheapest option there!

Lucy bonded with some adorable animals in South Africa

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Lucy: A typical day would be starting work at 7am, for the morning feed; usually the plates will be completely prepped and laid out for you, so you just pick and go. You'll be with someone who knows what they're doing for the first few days, until you get to know the routes. This takes an hour or two, depending on how many volunteers/weather/which route you're doing. Breakfast is about 9 o'clock, then there are some jobs from a daily rota (washing the animal dishes, checking the clinic etc) that get done first, then a jobs list that varies from day to day - this is usually raking enclosures, moving supplies about etc, which might sound boring but you're pretty much always somewhere that animals are, so you get plenty of contact. Then, depending on how quickly you finish your jobs, you might have a bit of a break before lunch from 1 until 2.

After lunch is the afternoon feed, which is pretty much the same as the morning only the volunteers help with the prep this time - chopping fruit mainly! Then there are a few afternoon jobs to do but you're usually done by about 4 and then you'll definitely need a shower because you get covered in all sorts throughout the day! Dinner is at 6 and from then on you're free to do whatever you like; there's an entertainment room for the volunteers, with a TV and DVD player and a big log fire and tables and sofas, so you can play cards or just sit and chat. In your free time during the day you can go into most of the enclosures and spend time with the animals - squirrel monkeys, birds, servals and the occasional cheetah!

GO: What advice do you have for future volunteers?

Lucy: For future volunteers, I would say that the project is fantastic as long as you don't mind getting stuck in to every aspect of the sanctuary; there is a small restaurant and a game farm attached and there are always things needing done with these areas. Obviously they try to focus your time on the animals as much as possible but, particularly if there are lots of volunteers, you might spend some time doing more manual work. Lots of people seemed to be surprised by the number of birds that are in the sanctuary and how much of the work involves them, so I would emphasise that! Although, everyone gets the chance to spend time with the cheetahs and servals during their time so it does balance out. Everyone there is very friendly and welcoming, so you just have to throw yourself into it and enjoy being in a fantastic place.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Lucy: My experience at African Dawn has helped me greatly; I'm studying vet medicine in Glasgow at the moment and the time I spent there has given me a larger and more varied bank of experience than some of my classmates. It was also really good preparation for moving away from home. Being on a different continent for an extended period of time gave me a great sense of independence and made the move to university much less daunting. It was also really lovely meeting people from so many walks of life and knowing that you were all working for the same cause - volunteers become close very quickly and friends will almost certainly last for life.

Lucy, 19, volunteered with African Dawn from the 1st of April until the 18h of July 2011. She is from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Interview with Joni Addis, African Dawn volunteer alum

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with African Dawn in South Africa?

Joni: I've always wanted to work with animals ever since I was young so 2 years ago I started researching into animal projects and different countries I'd most like to do them in. I finally came across a particular company that provide many different projects and came across African Dawn, which I liked the most. Not only was it in my price range to do but it was the only rehabilitation centre for all kinds of animals in South Africa. I joined the Facebook group and asked for feedback on the project and everyone had good things to say so I went for it!

Joni had the chance to spend time helping some amazing wildlife!

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Joni: It was an early start to do the morning feed of all the animals (which you are put on a rota so never get bored.) So you'd go into many enclosures to change water and plates of food as well as make sure all the animals are well and report any problems. After that is breakfast with all the other volunteers and then given a list of jobs to do to divide between everyone. This could mean cleaning out water bowls, raking up old seeds in aviaries, clinic duty which includes cleaning & feeding the mice and sick animals etc. Depending on how many jobs need doing you could be done quite quickly which means you have until lunchtime to do as you please.

I would usually spend time in various enclosures getting to know the awesome animals! Or you could take the dogs for a walk in the game park where you'd see zebras, giraffes and antelopes. Lunch is at 1 and at 2pm is the afternoon feed, which you help prepare the food for and do the same as the morning (you'll be on a different route as I said before.) After this is done and the prep room is clean you are free once again to do as you please until dinner at 6pm. You have plenty of time to get to know all the animals in the day as well as bond with your fellow volunteers.

GO: What made this experience unique and special?

Joni: I think for me the animals and the setting of the sanctuary made it special as you really get a an idea of just how much hard work goes into looking after each animal and the dedication that's put in from the owners so you feel part of a family. Everyone gets their hand dirty and looks out for one another. I made friends for life here and would 100% recommend it to others and I will make sure I pay another visit one day.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Joni: It's definitely given me more determination to further my career with animals and although I am back to working in offices, I am looking into a college course in veterinary nursing as well as planning on another volunteer project in the near future.

Joni Addis is from Bournemouth, Dorset, currently working as Senior Customer Service Advisor. She was at African Dawn from January 13th - February 25th 2012.

Interview with Nicola Wilson, African Dawn volunteer alum

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with African Dawn in South Africa?

Nicola: I visited South Africa with my husband Mike. Mike and I had always dreamt of travelling the world and we both adored animals completely. I had always wanted to visit Cape Town and within a short plane ride (under 2 hours) or you could take a lovely scenic coach ride through the garden route (under 8hrs) would lead you to the sanctuary. We thought this project was perfect for this reason and it had such good reviews and not only were there small game type animals at the sanctuary but there were many 1000's of types of birds. Birds, especially parrots, are my favourite kind of animals and I knew this was the place for us. Also in this part of South Africa we were advised that we did not need to take malaria tablets which was a huge bonus as they can work out rather expensive especially as we were in South Africa in total for 9 weeks.

Nicola volunteered with wildlife in South Africa

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Nicola: All the volunteers were put on a rota for the week with each section of the sanctuary divided between them. Everyday the volunteers would be placed on a different section to try and give everyone the opportunity to work and play with all the different animals.

The day started at 7:30am where we collected the food plates (already prepped by the main volunteers earlier that morning) we went around all the enclosures that we were rotered on for that morning refilling water bowls and replacing old food plates with fresh ones. For some aviaries we would take fresh seed bowls, nectar and freshly halved fruit. Some routes had 3 or 4 enclosures to tend to and other enclosures such as the main aviary or the horn-bill aviary were very big which could take you up to an hour with just that particular aviary. When the routes were completed that morning we all helped to clean the prep room, wiping the tables, mopping the floor, cleaning the equipment and taking the old plates away to be cleaned later on that morning.

Breakfast was at 8:30am we had several cereals to choose from and toast with several preserves. After breakfast we had a list of all the jobs that needed doing that day. Some of them included raking up the Macaws enclosure, scrubbing the small parrots food stations, giving fresh hay to the wallabies or kudus, feeding the ducklings, anything that required feeding, cleaning or fixing etc.

We were able to volunteer for the jobs we would like and would take it turns to do jobs that we all weren't keen on. One of the jobs that many volunteers weren't very keen on was what we called 'chicken dishes.' This was the station where we took all the used plates from the morning or the night before and cleaned them. A lot of people didn't like this but Mike and I quite enjoyed it as you can sit down while cleaning them and it is outside so you get to have a semi-relax in the sun. There are many chickens and rabbits running about outside the station which is fun to watch as they chase each other for bits of fruit or pap that has been left on the plates. Chicken dishes was done in the morning after the jobs list and again in the afternoon after doing all your jobs for that day.

We usually finished our jobs around 12pm and had the opportunity to play with some of the animals, sunbath on the roof, relax, whatever you feel like doing until lunch. Lunch was 1-2pm We usually had sandwiches (cheese, tomato, ham or salad) or pancakes, toasties, hotdogs, pasta salad, etc.

At 2pm we begin preparing the animals afternoon feed. We have 5 tables with many different size plates on. We make and divide up several foods such as egg, pap, fruit, meat, pro-nutro, nuts, seed etc. between the plates. The fruit is either cut in half, slices or cubed, the meat is mainly chicken breast or legs which is again cut into small or medium size pieces all depending on what size the animal is.

I am a vegetarian and found it very difficult cutting up the meat so I was able to prepare something else instead. Then we take the food plates and watering cans and do our scheduled routes for the afternoon. Once this has finished we do any other afternoon jobs that we have left to do such as feeding and changing water in the clinic where all the sick animals are nursed back to health.

We usually finished work for the day at around 3:30-4pm depending on how many volunteers are working that day. We can choose 2 days off in a week to visit the local town Jeffreys Bay, we could have a day trip to a game park or another sanctuary or we could just have a nice relax around the sanctuary.

Dinnertime is at around 6pm and it always a fresh home cooked meal. Chicken, beef, potatoes, pasta, vegetables, sauce or gravy, there was always a different variety every night such as spaghetti bolognese, chicken casserole. With me being a vegetarian and several of the other volunteers I had meat substitutes like from the Quorn range but in South Africa they use products from the Fry's range. We would quite often have a braai (bbq) instead with a selection of chicken, lamb, pork and again I had vegetarian sausages and burgers cooked on the braai for me and the other vegetarian volunteers. There was also a fresh cold pasta salad as a side dish.

From dinnertime onwards the volunteers would chill outside in the enclosed garden or we would play cards and board games or watch the small telly in the dining room and chat about all our past and current adventures. We all learnt so much about each others cultures and what it was like to live in a different country. When it was time to close the main building up for the night we would watch movies in the volunteers entertainment room which is only a few metres away from our cabins.

GO: What made this volunteer experience unique and special?

Nicola: I found my time at African Dawn so amazing because I felt so needed and accepted. I have always shyed away from strangers but have learnt from this experience that this is somewhere I want to spend my life, helping and working with animals and African Dawn feels like a second home. I miss everyone and every creatures there and cannot wait till we can go back.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Nicola: We are defiantly looking into how we can move to South Africa, hopefully to work at African Dawn for a much longer basis. We had many other countries we wanted to visit but we have decided that African Dawn is the place we want to be.

Nicola Wilson, 26, volunteered in South Africa from September 14 to November 9, 2011. She is from Stoke-on-Trent, UK and works as a Retail Assistant.

Interview with Emma-Lisa Lok, African Dawn volunteer alum

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with African Dawn in South Africa?

Emma-Lisa: I wanted to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary that had many different species of animals and where volunteers weren't too involved with dealing with customers, and African Dawn looked perfect on their website. After exchanging a few emails with the manager I was more confident about going and felt like I would be welcomed by everyone there. I initially only went for one month, which I then extended to 6, and eventually to 10. African Dawn became more than a wildlife sanctuary to me, it became home.

Volunteer with wildlife in South Africa with African Dawn

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Emma-Lisa: The morning feeding of the animals started at 7:30am everyday. There were different routes for the different enclosures to ensure that volunteers weren't feeding the same animals everyday. After morning feeds, volunteers ate breakfast and then offered to do jobs on the 'Jobs List' which envolved anything from cleaning enclosures to caring for any animals that were currently in the clinic.

After jobs there was a lunch prepared by the staff and then all the volunteers would help prepare the afternoon food for the animals at 2 and then do different routes than they had done in the morning. After afternoon feed there would be scheduled afternoon jobs to ensure that everyone did it and then supper at 6pm. There was a lot of free time in between for cuddling the friendly mouse-bird in the main aviary or playing with the squirrel monkeys. No two days was ever the same.

GO: What advice do you have for future volunteers?

Emma-Lisa: To pack clothes that you don't mind getting dirty and to accept all the staff, volunteers and animals like family, because they will treat you like family and make you feel welcome and at home. If you love animals, you will love it at African Dawn.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Emma-Lisa: Personally I have grown as a person and professionally I have learnt so much and gained invaluable experience. The knowledge and hands on experience I gained at African Dawn is priceless.

Emma-Lisa Lok, born 10 August 1990, volunteered from 27 June 2011 - 17 April 2012 in Tsitsikamma, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Interview with Mariella Krielen, African Dawn volunteer alum

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Mariella: 1. Get the dishes and put the plates in the right order on the tables and freezers for preparring food for the animals.
2. Check on schedule what is your job for the morning food preperation and prepare that part.
3. Check what feeding round is yours and with who and go feed the and of course also clean water on the whole round.
4. Help others if finished early and clean food preparation room.
5. Have breakfast.
6. Check if your up for dishes if so do this if not than Check the list for jobs that need to be done this day, choose one, sign your name at the job and go and do the job. Do this till all jobs are finished or its lunchtime and in that case finish after lunch. Otherwise go give animals attention after lunch.
7. Get clean dishes and same routine as in morning for afternoon feeding only always bit different in who gets what in afternoon and u have a different job in afternoon. 8. Check if ur up for afternoon dishes or check round (check if all animals ok for the night) and go do this. Otherwise you can shower and relax till diner. After dinner is free time, can hang out together and play game or watch movie in entertainment room if you like.

GO: What made this experience unique and special?

Mariella: I learned a lot about birds & met some great people. Of course you learn about all animals but it wasn't my first volunteer time and I already had my FGASA course, not a lot was completely new for me exapt the birds.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Mariella: Like some volunteer places I have been before, I'm addicted to it and wont stop for anything as long as I can help out animals. This place has only made this feeling stronger.

Mariella Krielen volunteered in October & November 2008. Born in the Netherlands, Veghel, on June 12, 1977 and lives in France now.