a FREE Robben Island Tour
PLUS …

a FREE full day tour into the nearby world famous Cape Winelands!

Robben Island Tour… Volunteers will have the chance to take a tour to the historic Robben Island and see where Nelson Mandela spent many years in prison.

Cape Winelands… The tour will be taking place on the 16^th and 23^rd of June (only) and offers volunteers the opportunity to visit the famous regions of Stellenbosch, Franschhook and Paarl where they will enjoy wine tasting in the famous cellars and the beautiful scenery.

This offer is applicable for all volunteers arriving in Cape Town in June 2012, including those already booked on the project!

Caryn

There have not been extensive changes to availability this week.

Current availability on all projects is as follows:

ANTELOPE PARK LION PROJECT

We have availability on this project as follows:

Between 28 May – 9 July

Between 23 July – 27 August

From 30 October – 18 November

From 17 December onwards

The project is currently fully booked

Between now and 28 May

From 9 – 23 July

From 27 August – 30 October

From 18 November – 17 December

ANTELOPE PARK TEACHING PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment

ANTELOPE PARK MEDICAL PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment

CAPE TOWN TEACHING PROJECT

This project is currently fully booked from 16-30 July 2012.

Aside from this period we have availability throughout the rest of the year.

CAPE TOWN SPORTS PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment.

KENYA TEACHING PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May to 11 June 2012!

This project is currently fully booked from 2 July through to the 6^th of August 2012.

Aside from the above period we have availability throughout the rest of the year

KENYA MEDICAL PROJECT

Limited place available from 17 September – 29 October!

This project is currently fully booked from

2 July – 6 August and

1 – 29 October 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE LIONS PROJECT

Limited place available between now and 11 June 2012!

The project is currently fully booked between 11 June and 24 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE TEACHING PROJECT

Limited place available from 18 June – 2 July!

This project is currently fully booked between

7-21 May and

2 July – 13 August

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE MEDICAL PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 25 June and from 13 August – 3 September!

This project is currently fully booked between

7-21 May and

25 June – 13 August

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE SPORTS PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 4 June and 3 -17 September!

The project is currently fully booked between

7-21 May

4 June – 20 August

17 September – 15 October

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

MASAI MARA PROJECT

Limited availability from 4 June – 2 July 2012 and from 20 August – 3 September

The project is currently fully booked from 2 July – 29 October 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

MOZAMBIQUE TEACHING PROJECT

We have some last minutes places available in May!

This project is currently fully booked between 2 July – 6 August

ST LUCIA MEDICAL PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 4 June!

The project is currently fully booked between 4 June and 3 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

ST LUCIA EDUCATION PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 4 June!

The project is currently fully booked between 4 June and 3 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

THANDA BIG 5 RESEARCH PROJECT

Limited availability between 13 May and 24 June!

The Big 5 Research Project is currently fully booked between

24 June – 2 September and

16 September – 25 November

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

THANDA LARGE PREDATOR RESEARCH PROJECT

Limited availability between 19 August and 16 September!

This project is currently fully booked between

8 July – 19 August and

16 – 30 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

THANDA ELEPHANT AND RHINO PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment

THANDA PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

Limited availability from 27 May – 24 June!

The Photography Project is currently fully booked between 22 July – 19 August.

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

VICTORIA FALLS LION PROJECT

Limited availability between now and 2 July!

This project is currently fully booked between 2 July and 13 August

Thereafter, we have availability from 13 August onwards.

VICTORIA FALLS TEACHING PROJECT

This project is currently fully booked between 16 – 30 July 2012.

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

ZANZIBAR TEACHING PROJECT

Limited availability and last place available between 7 – 28 May!

This project is currently fully booked between 4 June – 20 August and 1 – 15 October 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

Caryn

Current Availability for all projects is as follows;

July and September are looking very full now but we still have quite a few places available in August and so this would be perfect for most projects and volunteers looking for placements around this period

ANTELOPE PARK LION PROJECT

We have availability on this project as follows:

Between 28 May – 9 July

Between 23 July – 27 August

From 30 October onward

The project is currently fully booked

Between now and 28 May

From 9 – 23 July

From 27 August – 30 October

ANTELOPE PARK TEACHING PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment

ANTELOPE PARK MEDICAL PROJECT 

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment 

CAPE TOWN TEACHING PROJEC

This project is currently fully booked from 16-30 July 2012

Aside from this period we have availability throughout the rest of the year.

CAPE TOWN SPORTS PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the moment.

KENYA TEACHING PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May to 11 June 2012!

This project is currently fully booked from 16 July through to the 6^th of August 2012.

Aside from the above period we have availability throughout the rest of the year

KENYA MEDICAL PROJECT

Limited place available from 2 – 16 July!

This project is currently fully booked from

16 July – 6 August and

1 – 29 October 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE LIONS PROJECT

Limited place available between now and 11 June 2012!

The project is currently fully booked between 11 June and 24 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE TEACHING PROJECT

Limited place available from 18 June – 2 July!

This project is currently fully booked between

7-21 May and

2 July – 13 August

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE MEDICAL PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 25 June and from 13 August – 3 September!

This project is currently fully booked between

7-21 May and

25 June – 13 August

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

LIVINGSTONE SPORTS PROJECT

Limited place available from 4 – 25 June and from 3 -17 September!

The project is currently fully booked between

7-21 May,

2 July – 20 August and

24 – 30 September 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

MASAI MARA PROJECT

Limited availability from 4 June – 2 July 2012 and from 20 August – 3 September

The project is currently fully booked from 2 July – 20 August and from 3 September – 29 October 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

MOZAMBIQUE TEACHING PROJECT

We have some last minutes places available in May!

This project is currently fully booked between 2 July – 6 August

ST LUCIA MEDICAL PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 4 June!

The project is currently fully booked between 4 June and 3 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

ST LUCIA EDUCATION PROJECT

Limited place available from 21 May – 4 June!

The project is currently fully booked between 4 June and 3 September

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the yea

THANDA BIG 5 RESEARCH PROJECT

Limited availability between 13 May and 24 June!

The Big 5 Research Project is currently fully booked between

24 June – 2 September and

16 September – 25 November

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

THANDA LARGE PREDATOR RESEARCH PROJECT

Limited availability between 19 August and 16 September

This project is currently fully booked between

8 July – 19 August and

16 – 30 Septembe

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

THANDA ELEPHANT AND RHINO PROJECT

This project is not fully booked at any period as yet and we have availability throughout the rest of the year at the momen 

THANDA PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

Limited availability from 27 May – 24 June!

The Photography Project is currently fully booked between 22 July – 19 August.

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

VICTORIA FALLS LION PROJECT

Limited availability between now and 2 July!

This project is currently fully booked between 2 July and 13 August

Thereafter, we have availability from 13 August onwards.

VICTORIA FALLS TEACHING PROJECT

This project is currently fully booked between 16 – 30 July 2012.

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

ZANZIBAR TEACHING PROJEC

Limited availability between

This project is currently fully booked between

7 – 21 May,

4 June – 20 August and

1 – 15 October 2012

Aside from the above periods we have availability throughout the rest of the year

The projects on which places are becoming limited are as follows:

Victoria Falls Lions

We have had some places open up between now and 7 May 2012!

We also have a few places which have opened up places available from 16 July – 3 September and further places available from 3 September onward. This project is currently fully booked between 7 May and 16 July 2012

Antelope Park Lions

We have some last places available from 13 February through to 2 April!

We also have some places available from 4 – 18 June, from 13 – 27 August, from 1-15 October and from 29 October onwards.

The project is currently fully booked for the following periods

From 2 April – 3 June

From 18 June – 13 August

From 27 August – 1 October

From 15 October – 29 October

Livingstone Lions

We have had some places open up between now and 30 April 2012

There is also availability from 13 August onwards.

The project is currently fully booked as follows:

Between 30 April and 13 August 2012

Thanda Big 5 Research Project (note NOT Large Predator Research or Rhino & Elephant Research)

The Big 5 Research Project (only) is currently fully booked between 22 July – 19 August.

Thanda Photography Project

The Photography Project is currently fully booked between 22 July – 19 August.

Livingstone Teaching Projec 

This project is currently fully booked between 2 July – 13 August.

Livingstone Medical Project

This project is currently fully booked between 18 June – 13 August.

Masaai Mara Project

The project is currently fully booked between

6 August to 3 September

and from

17 September to 1 October 2012.

Aside from these periods we have availability throughout the year on this project.

St Lucia Medical Project 

The project is currently fully booked between 4 June – 30 July 2012

St Lucia Education Project

The project is currently fully booked between 4 June to 30 July 201

Mozambique Teaching Project

This project is currently fully booked until 2 April as well as between 18 June and 13 August 2012.

Aside from these periods, we have availability throughout the year.  

Zanzibar Teaching Project

This project is currently fully booked between 25 June – 30 July.

Aside from these periods and projects we have availability throughout 2012.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Best regards,

Caryn Coetzee

Victoria Falls Lions

We have had some places open up between now and 7 May 2012!

There is then availability again from 3 September onwards.

This project is currently fully booked between:

7 May and 3 September 2012

Antelope Park Lions

 We have some last places available from 13 February through to 2 April!

There is then availability again from 3 September onwards.

The project is currently fully booked between 2 April and 3 September 2012 though.

Livingstone Lions

We have had some places open up between now and 30 April 2012!

There is also availability from 3 September onwards.

The project is currently fully booked as follows:

Between 30 April and 3 September 2012

Thanda Big 5 Research Project (note NOT Large Predator Research or Rhino & Elephant Research)

The Big 5 Research Project (only) is currently fully booked between 22 July – 5 August.

Masaai Mara Project

The project is currently fully booked between

6 August to 3 September

and from

17 September to 1 October 2012.

Aside from these periods we have availability throughout the year

St Lucia Medical Project

The project is currently fully booked between the following times:

2 – 30 April

7 – 21 May

4 June – 30 July

2 to 30 July

Aside from these periods we have availability throughout the year

St Lucia Education Project

The project is currently fully booked between

20 February to 5 March

and

2 to 30 July 2012

Aside from these periods we have availability throughout the year

Cape Town Teaching Projec 

The project is currently fully booked between 6 – 20 February 2012.02.0

Aside from this period we have availability throughout 2012.   

Mozambique Teaching Project

This project is currently fully booked between 1 March and 2 April, thereafter, we have availability throughout the rest of 2012. 

Zanzibar Teaching Project

This project is currently fully booked between

2 and 16 April

2 and 23 July 

Aside from these periods we have availability throughout 2012.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Best regards,

Caryn Coetzee

The projects on which place is becoming limited are as follows:

Victoria Falls Lions

We have one or two last places available between now and 13 February!

There is also availability between 27 February and 9 April

and from 3 September onwards.

This project is currently fully booked between:

13 and 27 February

9 April – 3 September

Antelope Park Lions

We have some last places available from 13 February through to 5 March!

There is also availability between 23 April – 7 May

and from 27 August onwards.

The project is currently fully booked as follows:

Between now and 13 February 2012

Between 5 March and 23 April 2012

Between 7 May and 27 August 2012

Livingstone Lions

We have some last places available between 31 Jan – 5 March  2012.

There is also availability from 3 September onwards.

The project is currently fully booked as follows:

Between 5 March and 3 September 2012

Thanda Big 5 Research Project (note NOT Large Predator Research or Rhino & Elephant Research)

This project is currently fully booked between 4 – 18 March 2012.

Masaai Mara Project

The project is currently fully booked between 6 August to 3 September and from the 17 September and 1 October 2012.

St Lucia Medical Project

The project is currently fully booked between

20 February to 5 March

and

2 to 30 July 2012

St Lucia Education Project

The project is currently fully booked between

20 February to 5 March

and

2 to 30 July 2012

Mozambique Teaching Project

This project is currently fully booked between 1 March and 2 April, thereafter, we have availability throughout the rest of 2012.

Zanzibar Teaching Project

This project is currently fully booked between 9 and 23 July

Aside from the above-mentioned projects, we have availability on all or our projects throughout 2012.

A sister project to our existing Cape Town Community Projects (Teaching, Sports and Medical) this project is perfect for vet students and animal lovers alike and is a unique opportunity to experience the in’s and out’s of a shelter and clinic serving the surrounding impoverished communities and their animals.

Volunteers who join this project will be able to get involved in a large range of work at the shelter (which houses domestic animals only, usually dogs and cats) including work in the onsite clinic.  The shelter serves the surrounding communities in which our sister community projects work and provides animal care and veterinary assistance for those who can’t afford to get their animals the care they need. We have even had sick dogs arrive at the clinic having being pushed all the way there by their owners in a shopping trolley!

In addition to getting involved at the actual shelter, volunteers will also be able to go out with the mobile clinic into the surrounding areas on a rotational daily basis to seek out animals in need.  In this way, volunteers will gain an intimate and unique exposure to the people and animals of the communities in which we work, as they will actually be going  into people’s homes as part of the mobile clinic’s rounds to help needy animals.  Another very important and popular aspect of this project is the education talks the shelter undertakes within the community – educating them on how to care for their pets properly and why they should do so.

We have been working with the shelter for about a year now, ensuring a mutually suitable relationship for both us and them during this time, with remarkable feedback thus far from all volunteers and the shelter alike.

As a well established project we would now like to share this programme with you as we feel absolutely positive from the relationships we have built with the shelter that any volunteers who choose to take a  place on the project will have an absolutely amazing and unique experience!

On a personal note (and I shouldn’t be biased but just can’t help it!) this project really is one of my best – the shelter started with a dream in Cape Town 11 years ago. It has really grown from there, doing tremendously valuable work in the surrounding impoverished communities  helping the animals while simultaneously supporting the community in how to care for their animals.  They are pro-life and so only euthanise animals when they are beyond recovery and therefore are often overflowing but are so passionate about what they do, it just shines through in every way!

Our very loved family dog Cola came from the shelter as a rescued puppy who was very meek and timid when she came to us but really grew into an wonderful companion for the whole family and she was much loved (sadly, she had a heart attack earlier this year and she died peacefully at home).

Caryn.

Cape Town

Walking with the adult lions was also just overwhelming. It was not just the amazing experience of being with these fully grown lions in the open, it was the absolute knowledge that this was the experience of a life time. The people there with me at the same time were very varied both by age and nationalities. One lady who was in her mid forties  had saved up and given up her job to be with the lions for a month. She was delighted by everything and felt that it had been well worth while.  I thought that I would be the oldest there but there was a man called Jim who was much older than me. He just loved sitting with the adolescent lions, just there, in their compound, very quietly.

Riding on horseback round the park was terrific. Getting up so close to a giraffe was not something I had thought of before. My horse was blind in one eye where a thorn had got in but she was really game and  easy to direct. Helping with them in the mornings was also something that gave me great satisfaction. Grooming them and making sure they were well and then watching them canter off in to the park, free and happy. A bit different to helping with the elephants which was quite a novel experience. Riding one of those, felt rather different than the last time I had done so as a very young child. It seemed a long way down this time but just as exciting.

Must save up and go back.

Jane Davies

The award recognises tourism and hospitality businesses that make a real, measurable and sustained contribution to responsible tourism.

It is a huge  honour for them to have received this!

Frances

We are also very happy to let you know that the Thanda Research Project has grown substantially and in light of this and the increased volunteers numbers and interest in the project we have reviewed the project and are very excited to let you know that we shall be expanding it next year!

We have carefully considered the best way to do so and from the first start date in 2012, the 8^th of January 2012, the Thanda Research Project shall become three different projects, as follows:

1. 1.   African Wildlife Big 5 Conservation Project
2. 2.   Elephant and Rhino Research and Conservation Project
3. 3.   Large Predators Research and Conservation Project

The ‘Thanda research’ element of each of these projects will remain the same however volunteers now have an opportunity to focus their time on either the Big 5, Elephant and Rhino or Large Predators which we hope you will be as thrilled about as we are!

Caryn