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Are you scared of big cats?
Well, you should be. These ferocious carnivores have earned their title
as 'kings of the jungle' for good reason. Though they will grow up to
be prowling hunters of the night, they don’t start out that way.
Actually, at two months old, they are simply adorable creatures who are
always in search of care and attention. This is where you come in. At
the big cat breeding center, you will help care for the cubs by getting
involved in a host of activities including feeding and playing with the
cubs and their older brothers and sisters!
Trip Highlights:
Helping to look after lion, tiger and other 'big cat' cubs
Tumbling around with the lion cubs
Learning about all the different big cats
Being surrounded by the beautiful wilderness of South Africa
Fast Facts
Project Information
- Project Duration: Min 2 weeks - Max 4 weeks
- Project Costs: US$ 2195.00 for 2 weeks, US$ 600.00 for every week thereafter
- Location of project:Near Kroonstad, Johannesburg, in Free State Province, South Africa
- Arrival Airport:Johannesburg (JNB)
- Activities:Various
types of work with lions, tigers and other big cats including helping
with feeding and facilities maintenance. Also assisting in showing
visitors around the centre.
- Working Hours:Flexible; usually Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, Sunday 8am to 1pm, all other time is free
- Getting to the project:Accommodation is on site
- Requirements:Minimum age 18
What's Included
- Accommodation:Shared room in lodge at project
- Food:Food is not included; you will need to purchase your own food (budget approximately $US 50 per week)
- Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
- Training:In-country orientation and briefing on arrival at the project
- Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
What's not included
- Flights, Insurance, Visas, Return Airport transfer, Local Transport, Food
What the project does and why it needs you!
The project is a breeding park for lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and
other carnivores. The owner started the breeding program because of her
love for the 'big cats' and her desire to give people the opportunity
to come face to face with these amazing creatures. Many of these cats
are close to extinction so breeding centers are key to their survival.
The cubs need lots of attention and the park has limited staff. You are
needed to help raise the cubs to ensure they grow up happy and healthy.
Who is it for?
This project is ideal for anyone who loves lions, the outdoors and is
looking for a once in a lifetime experience working hands-on with big
cats. As long as you love wildlife and are interested in looking after
animals - this is the place for you. Forget a five star safari - this
is the most incredible opportunity to spend time up close and personal
with some of the most beautiful animals in the world.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll be working very closely with these majestic animals by feeding
and caring for them, raising the cubs and being involved in all the day
to day activities of the lion center. You will be working alongside
lion experts who have years of experience in the field. You can also
help give tours to visitors to the project. Below is the list of
typical daily activities at the center:
Inspect the lion, tiger and jaguar enclosures, making sure that there is no damage to the fencing
Feeding the lions - this will involve fetching animal carcasses
from nearby farms and helping to prepare the meat for the cats (don't
worry - this activity is optional!)
Cleaning the lion, tiger and jaguar enclosures, removing old bones,
giving the cats fresh water and maintaining the lion enclosures
Cub duty - hand feeding twice a day, playing and giving attention
Guided tours, take visitors on guided tours
General farm maintenance and improvements, repairing and improving the enclosures
Learning about the breeding of lions, jaguars and tigers, being a
tour guide, and any other topics that you are keen to know more about
Where you’ll be staying
You will be staying in a beautiful
chalet lodge on site at the center. You will be sharing a room with up
to three others. The chalets are well equipped and have modern
amenities such are hot running water, showers and Western style
toilets. There is even a swimming pool on site! There is also a
stunning verandah with views over the project, the animal enclosures
and some friendly monkeys! In the evenings feel free to relax, listen
to the wildlife and savour the experience of being in South Africa.
From time to time you will be able to go to local bars and restaurants
or have a traditional South African braai (BBQ). At the weekends you
will be able to arrange trips into the nearest town (about 20 minutes
drive) to catch up on e-mails and so on.
What you’ll be eating
You will be responsible for preparing your own meals and there will be
a weekly shopping trip where you can stock up pn all the essentials.
The kitchen at the lodge is fully equipped with a fridge, utensils and
anything else you might need to prepare delicious meals.
Advice and what to bring
Please make sure you bring durable clothing - jeans / khakis / combat
trousers - as you will be working on the project, getting dirty and
even lion cubs do have claws! Please don't wear brightly colored
clothing. The project does not allow facial piercings or large visible
tattoos - if you have them please take them out / cover them up. Other
items to add to your pack include a powerful flashlight, sunglasses,
comfortable walking shoes, raincoat, thick socks, personal toiletries
and towels, sunscreen lotion and insect repellent. Finally don't forget
some books etc for relaxing in the evenings.
When you arrive
Please book your flights to arrive into Johannesburg – O R Tambo
airport (JNB). You must arrive by 4pm on your arrival date. You will be
met at the airport and then taken to Pretoria Backpackers for an
orientation at 5pm. After orientation you will have a lovely South
African meal and spend the night at Pretoria Backpackers. You will take
an early morning bus from Pretoria to Kroonstad where the lion center
team will meet you and take you the short trip to the project.. Please
note that your return bus ticket to Pretoria is included in the project
fee. You can expect to leave Kroonstad at around 9.30am and arrive back
in Pretoria at around 1pm. Return transfer from Pretoria to the airport
is not included.
What exactly do i-to-i provide?
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer
experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is
you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it
that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel
company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We
are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across
the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and
supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
Project sourcing and assessment
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the
world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all
projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also
conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers
there. More
Expert help-desk
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or
worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're
always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after
your trip.
Thorough project briefing materials
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that
contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your
chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you
advice on visas and inoculations.
TEFL training
If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 40-hour Online
TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an
internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help
you to make the most of your time overseas. More
Airport pickup
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the
first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your
project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick
you up and take you to your accommodation.
Arrival orientation
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with
our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security
information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for
your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even
included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated
accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into
the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared
volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance
to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Local in-country coordinators
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport
and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination
teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country.
They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a
day, seven days a week if you need them. More
24/7 emergency support
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be
given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response
team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also
hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a
situation that requires additional expert support. More
Ongoing training
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this
reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response
training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our
in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to
help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they
support each year. More
Supporting our projects
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you
pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year
through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last
3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects
to help them in the great work they do.
Recruiting people like you
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is
reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers
recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of
service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is
immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from
international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together
brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This
recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream
of reliable volunteers.
The intangible benefits
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible
benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects
that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
What we will do after you've booked:
Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account
We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further
information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer
most things you need to know
Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course
Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant)
We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.
We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with
confirmation of your project and accommodation 2 weeks after you've
booked
We will ask you to complete your forms and pay your final balance if they are still due when required
We are available for any questions you may have on 800 985 4852 or [email protected]
What you need to do after booking your place with us:
Book your flights
Arrange suitable travel insurance
Fill out some extra details through our online interface:
- Application from
- Travel details
- Insurance details
- Medical information
- Emergency contacts
Complete your police check if requested
Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)
Make final payment at least 90 days before you go
Make sure you have a visa for your trip if it's needed
Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention
Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip
Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!
Get on the plane!
Orientation Information
The following information details what will happen during the first few days of your arrival.
We aim to provide you with a safe and soft landing into your
destination by picking you up from the airport, giving you an
orientation that helps to settle you into the country as quickly as
possible. It’s also the best time to ask any questions you have about
your time in South Africa.
You will arrive on the Arrival Date (days will vary) and will be met at
the airport on (we recommend you arrive between 8.00 and 16.00 in order
to attend your orientation). You will be taken from the airport
straight to the Pretoria Backpackers where you will have your
orientation introducing you to life in South Africa and at the project.
You will have a South African meal and spend the night at Pretoria
Backpackers. You will take the 7am bus from Pretoria to Kroonstad and
be met by the team at the station. The team will drive you to the
project.
A little bit of history...
A
journey into South Africa’s history is to haul through periods of
racial tension, oppression and hope. Its multicultural mix originates
from the earliest settlers, the San (also known as Bushmen) and
Khoi-Khoi tribes, followed by Bantu-speaking groups, and through to the
swarm of European traders. The Dutch were among the first European
settlers and arrived in the 17th century, establishing their presence
through their own dialect, Afrikaan, and religion in the form of the
Dutch Reformed Church. By the end of the 18th century, the British
began to push their presence forward into the country’s towns. It was a
period of flared tensions with Zulu chief Shaka renouncing war on
neighbouring tribes. Meanwhile, the Boers (Dutch Afrikaner farmers) and
the British became locked in conflict; the Anglo-Boer War lasted from
1899 to 1902, ending with the British taking control of the Boer
republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State (OFS) and consequently
ruling the country.
By 1910, the Union of South Africa was created and gave political
power to whites, while blacks set up political parties in protest, the
African National Congress (ANC) the best known. It ushered in the
beginnings of apartheid, which became widely ingrained after the
Afrikaner National Party came to power in 1948. Violence against
protests from blacks was enforced and the black population were evicted
to so-called Homelands. In the 1960s, leaders of the ANC were
imprisoned, notably Nelson Mandela, and the country became isolated
having left the Commonwealth and declaring its republic status. After a
long period of racial divide and conflict, in 1989 FW de Klerk came to
power with the aim to rid the country of apartheid and instil
democracy. The following year, Mandela was released from prison and in
1994 became president after the ANC won the country’s first non-racial
general elections; the country also returned to the Commonwealth. The
country’s democratic stance has steered it toward a more harmonious
future, though economic inequalities between whites and blacks exist,
but as the most developed economy on the continent it is in a good
position to reconcile with its past.
Best time to go...
Naturally, South Africa’s seasons are the reverse of the northern
hemisphere with summer heat burning from November to March and cooler
winter temperatures from June to August. Temperature wise, spring
(September to October) and autumn (April to May) provide a happy
medium. Certain must-do activities are restricted to specific times of
year: safari is best from June to September and the whale watching
season is June to December. The busiest time, hence the most expensive,
is during the summer months, while the major school holidays are during
December and Easter.
Getting around...
Given the distances involved, flying is the most convenient way to
travel between the main destinations, while land transportation can
efficiently pick up the rest of the mileage for exploration in and
around. There are an assortment of domestic carriers to choose from
that fly the main routes, with most running from Johannesburg or Cape
Town; these include South African Airways, Nationwide Airlines, Kulula
and 1Time. Booking early is advisable to secure discounted rates.
There country also boasts a comprehensive bus network that covers
the main cities; the road trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town is around
20 hours (compared to a 2 hour in a plane). The main bus companies are
Translux, Greyhound and Intercape. Baz Bus is aimed at the backpacker
crowd and provides a hop-on, hop-off service and also travels to remote
areas. It’s a good way to discover the picturesque patch of coastline
that is the Garden Route, which it services en route from Cape Town to
Port Elizabeth.
Train travel can work out longer than by bus, with the trip from
Johannesburg to Cape Town edging toward almost 30 hours. If you’re
after a little luxury, try the Blue Train or the Rovos Rail for a taste
of stylish travel.
Car rental is an attractive option thanks to the good road
conditions, great scenery and the flexibility driving allows. The big
car rental companies like Avis and Budget have outlets and it’s
essential to be fully insured and have a valid driver’s licence. It’s
also a convenient way to get around cities as public transport can be
unsafe.
Useful links
www.lonelyplanet.com
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas
www.aasa.co.za
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA)
www.bazbus.com
Bus company Baz Bus
www.1time.co.za
Domestic airline 1Time
www.greyhound.co.za
Bus company Greyhound
www.intercape.co.za
Bus company Intercape
www.kulula.com
Domestic airline Kulula
www.flynationwide.co.za
Nationwide Airlines
www.flysaa.com
South African Airways
www.translux.com.za
Bus company Translux
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