Volunteer at a rhino rehabilitation centre & sanctuary
Volunteer at this leading rhino sanctuary and rehabilitation centre in South Africa, help combat poaching, work with rhinos at every age, from young, recently orphaned animals in need of round-the-clock care, to mature adults happy to live and roam the massive reserve grounds on which the centre is based.
To join this centre and support these projects, enthusiasm and passion for animal care is needed. Veterinary students, animal nurses or carers are always appreciated, but all are welcome provided you're willing to learn and ready to get physical, protecting and rehabilitating these incredible animals.
From supporting animals with daily bottle feeding, body condition monitoring, enclosure upkeep and even veterinary procedures or releases, there's lots that goes into ensuring the success of the centre, the whole time you'll work under a team of rhino and conservation experts, as well as wider charitable or government partner organisations to help secure the future of white & black rhino in Africa.
Become a volunteer
Volunteer information
South African rhino sanctuary care & rehabilitation volunteer
Food & meal preparation for housed rhino
A male white rhino grows to over 2 tons, meaning throughout their lives, from growing juveniles to fully mature adults, rhinos need lots of food!
Each day you'll assist with the preparation and feeding of rhinos at different life stages.
Foods are selected based on the rhino's dietary needs, including age or medical conditions, but typically involve the moving of large bales of hay, straw or other fodder.
Feeding also gives a good opportunity to get close to the rhino to observe its body condition & health.
What will you be doing?
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Food preparations each morning
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Working with staff to ensure dietary planning
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Placing and feeding enclosed rhino
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Removing old or unhygienic food
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Monitoring and closely observing rhinos
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Reporting any dietary changes to staff
Bottle feeding for young rhino
Most adult female rhino often have a young dependent child with them as they live and roam the African wilderness.
This behaviour unfortunately means during poaching events, it's common to leave orphaned young rhino.
These young or baby rhino need constant dedicated care and support.
As a rhino care volunteer, prepare bottles of formulated milk essential for these orphaned animals, help meet their constant hunger, bottle feeding them as needed and so they grow up big & healthy!
What will you be doing?
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Help prepare bottle & milk formula for feeding
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Help ensure hygiene to prevent illness
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Help monitor health & body conditions of young
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Help with enrichment with babies & young rhino
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Help with weigh ins to monitor growth
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Help with after care of injured or ill young rhino
Rhino enclosure & stable upkeep
There are many rhino housed throughout the rehabilitation centre and sanctuary, rhino aren't just "sluggish" or "slow" large animals, they are active & inquisitive... even mischievous when they want to be!
To ensure the rhino are kept safely, regular maintenance and upkeep of stables is required.
Although most rhino kept in enclosures are there temporarily & until they are released into the wild, a few need to be kept in a safe space their whole life, regardless, ensuring their comfortable is essential.
What will you be doing?
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Help with regular maintenance of enclosures
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Help with cleaning and hygiene of enclosures
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Help swap toys or bedding to ensure rhino health
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Help with large renovations or building work
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Help provide enrichment to enclosures
Wild rhino monitoring
Once a rhino that's been rescued has recovered & is healthy & confident enough to survive back in the wild, they are released into a large reserve wilderness area which is also managed by the centre.
The rhino can then explore this environment & live freely, feeding on grasses & plants as normal, preforming their role in the ecosystem.
These rhino are kept safe under the watchful eye of volunteers & staff, helping monitor their body condition, signs of illness or injury as well as their behaviour and movements in the habitat.
What will you be doing?
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Help monitor the movements of wild rhino
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Help monitor body condition to ensure the health of wild rhino on the reserve
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Help record behaviour of wild or released rhino
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Explore the reserve and wilderness area on safaris
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Help locate and translocate rhino
Wild rhino & wildlife substitute feeding
Although the rhino that have been released into the reserve itself are largely independent, during times of food shortage (such as winter dry seasons), or even years where higher than average bush-fires or droughts occur, additional feeding may be needed.
This substitute feeding involves loading a pick-up truck or off-road vehicle with hay (or other food), travelling across the reserve and locating individuals or areas that need additional support.
Volunteers and staff will then work together to place and spread food throughout the area, ready for the wild rhino to enjoy!
What you'll be doing
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Help feed rhino during seasons of shortage
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Help feed other wildlife species
- Help pack and prepare food vehicles
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Help feed injured or aged rhino
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Help place salt or enrichment blocks
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Help monitor plant biomass to reduce overgrazing
Assist with wildlife research projects
In addition to the regular rhino care and rehabilitation work you'll be supporting, you'll also support the reserves wider environmental and ecological management goals.
The area is an important biodiversity stronghold, home to many species of mammals, birds, reptile, insects as well as plants and fungi.
You'll survey the area both visually from vehicles, looking for priority species as well as using tools like camera traps or even drones.
Information and findings are recorded to monitor & invest in the long-term ecological health of the area.
What you'll be doing
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Help monitor & record any wildlife sightings
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Help track & monitor movements of wild species
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Use camera traps or drones to locate species
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Help locate priority species
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Help protect biodiversity in the area
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Help with population counts of species
Habitat and reserve management
This important and biodiverse region relies on key investment and support from a team of ecologists and conservationists. As a volunteer, you'll help with regular habitat management and maintenance.
From removing alien invasive species of plants in the area, to erosion control, fire prevention, repairing roads, fence maintenance and more.
These duties, although appearing less glamorous, are the foundations for the health of the ecosystem, and the rhino & wildlife species that rely on it.
What you'll be doing
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Target & remove invasive plant species
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Help with brush or fire control
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Help combat erosion caused by water run off
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Help ensure road and fence infrastructure
- Gain understanding of wildlife veterinary procedures
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Support with equipment usage and treatment
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Help respond to emergencies
Support veterinary procedures
Rhinos arrive at the rehabilitation centre in all sorts of conditions, from critical emergencies or gunshot wounds from poachers to injuries caused by accidents, even illness or disease.
Depending on the conditions of the animal, how you'll be able to support will vary.
For more risky situations where the animal's life is endangered, you will likely just observe or support in a passive role, during procedures that are more controlled, such as ultrasounds or routine vaccinations, you may be given the chance to get involved directly with equipment & treatment.
Ultimately the safety of everyone involved, from animal to staff are the key priority with any event!
What you'll be doing
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Observing and learning during vet procedures
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Helping support vets during non-critical work
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Joining lectures and demonstrations with experts
Rhino release or captures
As part of ongoing conservation projects to help support & encourage population growth with rhino, animals are regularly captured and relocated to other wildlife reserves or regions across Africa.
Some rhino arrive at the sanctuary from reserves that are experience to much poaching, keeping them safe at this secure facility, others are transferred from the sanctuary after they've recovered to return home, or even rewild newly selected and protected sites.
These events are always highly dramatic and a lot of fun, as rhino volunteer, you'll help support and observe these incredible moments when rhino return to the wild and their new home!
What you'll be doing
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Meet experts who work in animal translocation
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Help support vets during transporting of animals
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Monitor the health & status of rhino being moved
- Help track down animals ready to be transferred
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Help prepare and carry equipment
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Join the team that helps give rhinos a better future!
Lectures and presentations
During your time at the rhino sanctuary, you'll be able to take part in and join presentations and lectures.
Lead by both onsite experts, as well as organisations or partner groups that support the facilities, understand from those who know best the challenges the world of practical wildlife conservation is facing.
These lectures and presentations can cover a wide array of subjects, from rhino conservation itself, poaching, or even the environment and other community-focused pressures.
Education is critical for any sector, especially one that combines science, policy & global pressures!
What you'll be doing
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Meet experts involved with wildlife conservation
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Join lectures & presentations
- Learn about conservation trends and pressures
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Gain knowledge & understanding
Community outreach and engagement
The importance of community engagement for conservation success cannot be understated!
Involving and empowering those that live alongside the animals or environments is critical, often its wealth inequality that drives the forces of poaching, habitat degradation or unsustainable habits.
The rhino sanctuary & centre works to invest with local communities, from educational investment, sustainable agriculture projects for food availability, even economic development.
As a volunteer you'll be able to take part in these community initiatives and learn from the cultural wealth the region has to offer.
What you'll be doing
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Meet & support local communities
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Learn about the rich African cultural heritage
- Help during education or sustainability projects
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Make a real difference improving the lives of others
Explore the Kruger National Park Region
Outside of your duties while volunteering at the rhino centre, you’ll also have the chance to explore the Kruger National Park region of South Africa.
This area is a world leading wildlife hotspot home to, view points & landscapes, incredible outdoor adventure activities.
You can also explore the reserves wider activities, from horse rides to bush walks and much more!
What you'll be doing
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Take part in tours, safaris, boat trips and more!
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Try outdoor and adventure activities by land, water… or even air
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Explore an incredible region of canyons, savannahs and natural wonders
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Visit leading local wildlife or conservation centres and organisations
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Meet iconic african wildlife during safaris
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Day trips to explore Blyde River Canyon