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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
- Internet / WIFI at the base: R100 per week is charged to connect using your own computer, smartphone or tablet
- 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,
- Swimming Pool, volleyball,
- Braai / BBQ area
