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SIYAFUNDA'S
wildlife 
experiences

"Maybe it's animalness that will make the world right again:
the wisdom of elephants, the enthusiasm of canines, the grace
of snakes, the mildness of anteaters. Perhaps being human
needs some diluting." ― Carol Emshwiller

MAIN RESEARH CAMP

Siyafunda's main research camp offers you a unique experience in the African bush and gives you

the opportunity to be a part of the research

and monitoring teams on the reserve, working

as an assistant Field Ranger.

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The focus of the Makalali project revolves around some of our key species; elephants, lions, hyenas and leopards.  You will also be involved with monitoring our buffalo in the open system and

the buffalo in the breeding camp and their release into the open system. Habitat work also plays

an important part of the monitoring process.

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The Greater Makalali Nature Reserve is a vast Big 5 reserve covering an area of 25000 hectares.

It is situated in the Lowveld area, the home

of nature conservation in South Africa, your work

is vital for accurate management of the animals within the reserve.

 

The data collected is also made available to students and researchers that we host, as well as a number

of national conservation projects.

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Whether on a monitoring drive, on foot, or observing the wildlife at a waterhole, all of your work will be done under the guidance of our experienced field rangers. As each activity has a pre-determined objective, you don’t just get to view the animals,

you get to live with them for a little while. 

 

There’s nothing quite like sitting in the dark next

to a lazing lion waiting for it to start its nightly call,

or being surrounded by a herd of elephants and being able to spend time observing their individual traits and family dynamics.

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At the end of the day, you return to the camp to share your experiences over dinner around the open

fire and then fall asleep to the sounds of the bush. 

Join us for the experience of a lifetime !

WILDLIFE MONITORING

Elephant Monitoring

Makalali introduced elephants in 1994 and 1996 and was the first reserve to have intact family groups relocated to it. The reserve was also the first to take part in the Elephant Contraception Program, headed by Audrey Delsink from the Humane Society International, in order to regulate its total elephant population.  Makalali understands the importance of alternative population controls other than culling and translocation.  The program started in 2000 and is the longest running of its kind;

it is the benchmark on which all other similar projects are based. 

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This is a pioneering study and it is important that we continue to monitor the elephant herds as Makalali has the most

extensive and longest continuing database

of elephants on contraception in the world.

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Our monitoring of the elephants involves recording their movements to determine daily and seasonal ranging patterns. 

We also observe and record long term behavioural aspects, focusing primarily

on herd/bull associations and sexual behaviours.  Elephants are a key-stone species and require constant information collection for effective management

decision making.

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WILDLIFE MONITORING

Lion Monitoring

The monitoring of our lion population is done to assess their movements, behaviour and predator-prey interactions.

Lions, like elephants, are key-stone species and, within restricted wild environments, require constant monitoring to assist with management interventions when required. Interventions

are done to vary genetic diversity within the population and

to control population size.

Makalali has participated with various population control methods and research. Contraception of lions has been used and studied within this reserve.Lions are prolific breeders and between 1995 and 2007, 89 lions were born at Makalali. Numbers however need to be kept between 20 and 30.

WILDLIFE MONITORING

Hyena Monitoring

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Makakali reserve is host to both species of Hyena; brown and spotted. The Spotted hyena are superior in numbers and are a very important species for the effective functioning of this

eco-system. They provide the cleaning up of carcasses, as well as being effective hunters. 

We monitor den sites and activity and ID specific individuals to track interaction and behaviour. 

We also monitor the ratio of scavenging to hunting and how this impacts on the prey species.

The brown hyena are very rare and sightings

of them are met with great excitement.

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WILDLIFE MONITORING

Leopard Monitoring

We closely monitor the locations of leopards to determine territory extent as well as creating and updating ID kits to monitor individuals and determine total population size. 

As with all predators, we also monitor prey selection

and reproductive behaviour to effectively assist the reserve management.

 

In 2014, Siyafunda teamed up with the Panthera Leopard Research Project, who are monitoring and determining

the leopard population in the area. This project is planned

to continue for the next 10 years.  Working in conjunction

with the Endangered Species Project you will assist with

the setting and monitoring of camera traps during the key

months of February and March.

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WILDLIFE MONITORING

Buffalo Monitoring

Makalali Game Reserve has not had free roaming buffalo

on the land for over 100 years. In 2009 the reserve

re-introduced 8 disease free buffalo into a 400 hectare breeding camp, 10 years later in 2019 the population

has grown to 52 buffalo. They were released into the open system in June 2019. Siyafunda will be monitoring

the buffalo very closely as they integrate into the larger reserve and will be interacting for the first time

with predators. It is an exciting and nerve racking development. Greater Makalali now has free-roaming big 5.

WILDLIFE MONITORING

Camera Trap Projects
& Habitat Work 

Siyafunda deploys camera traps through out the reserve

to monitor leopards and the other more secretive animals

that in habit Makalali Nature Reserve. We work with Panthera

for the leopard survey , we deploy our own cameras and Wildlife Protection Services smart AI cameras.

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Habitat Rehabilitation: Volunteers will have the opportunity

to assist in ongoing habitat rehabilitation initiatives in the reserve, including erosion control, the construction of rock gabions,

brush-packing and re-seeding.

"In Africa, the Game Ranger goes by many different titles - Field Ranger, Game Warden, Conservation Officer, and many more,

yet all are essentially the wildlife managers and the field force

in Africa, working at the "coal face" of conservation. In Africa the prime responsibility of the Game Ranger is to ensure the territorial and biological integrity of the conservation area under his/her management.

Their tasks are multi-faceted and include; ensuring the day to day health and well-being of the wildlife, research and monitoring,

game capture and introductions, population management, burning programs, infrastructure and equipment maintenance, public relations, environmental education, and, crucially, local community relations, liaison and involvement. Added to these are the normal

day to day financial controls, human resource planning and administration, which must also be carried out." - GAME RANGERS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICA,  https://www.gameranger.org/

When you join our Field Ranger Experience at Siyafunda you are joining us at the "coal face" on Makalali Nature Reserve, helping
meet all the challenges we face daily managing our reserve
and the animals that call it home, while helping us meet the
financial burden that comes with keeping them all safe.

WHAT
IS A
FIELD
RANGER

PROJECT OUT-LINE 

Duration

Siyafunda Makalali project has
a minimum duration of 1 week.

Start Date

The project start day is every Monday throughout the year, we do our shopping in Hoedspruit and drop off and collect our participants.

Typical Project Week

Monday: Project start day. Town trip to pick up our Participants and restock supplies.

 

Tuesday:  Early start setting out on a set route drive

as part of our game counting program to determine populations of general game. In the afternoon we depart for a monitoring drive to locate one of our key species of interest; lion, elephant, leopards or hyena.

 

Wednesday: Waterhole monitoring in the morning

to determine species utilisation of the area. We set off for a drive in the afternoon to the breeding boma

to monitor the buffalo, Livingstone eland and nyala.

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Thursday: Habitat work; we could be busy with exotic plant removal, erosion control or bush clearing. In the afternoon or evening, we head out on hyena monitoring and night patrol.

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Friday: Early morning start and we will be out locating the elephants as part of the ongoing research into the elephant contraception program. The afternoon we will set out to monitor bird species on our way to a sleep out under the stars with the Endangered Species project.

 

Saturday: Habitat work in the morning, followed by

an afternoon monitoring drive focussing on our lion population. On return in the evening, we may head out to the local pub or have a typical South African braai (BBQ).

 

Sunday: Either an outing can be arranged for you

with a local tour company or you can hire a car for self drive tour or it will be a free day for volunteers to relax.

 

In between activities, volunteers will receive a series

of presentations on the work of Siyafunda, or how

to approach dangerous game on foot, or possibly history lecture. This time will also be used to transfer all data collected onto the computers and compile

the weekly research report, as well as helping out with vehicle checks and cleaning.

ACCOMODATION

Your home during your stay will be the Siyafunda Main Camp, in the heart of the reserve with all the wildlife on your doorstep, quite literally! There are twin beds
in the rooms with shared bathrooms and all meals are prepared by the group.
In the evenings, while sitting around the open fire, you can listen to the nightly calls
of the lions and sounds of the bush while doing some star gazing and sharing stories
of your day.

SIYAFUNDA Main Camp

- electricity and hot running water (solar panels: on overcast days it can sometimes run out)

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- Internet / WIFI at the base: R100 per week is charged to connect using your own computer, smartphone or tablet

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- Reasonable cell reception at camp. You can easily buy a south-African SIM card (MTN is best) at the airport or in Hoedspruit.

- Comfortable lounge area: library with books and magazines, TV, DVD players,

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- Swimming Pool, volleyball,

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- Braai / BBQ area

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