Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa
Highlights
Photography and conservation volunteering combined | Game drives for wildlife and landscape photography | expert tuition | daily game drives | edit images and build an impressive portfolio over four weeks | participate in conservation work | based in Greater Kruger Area | all game drives, tuition, accommodation and meals includedTravel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.

Your Contributions as a Volunteer:
A selection of the wildlife photographs you'll take will be added to a photographic database, which is used to support conservation charities, who can use the images for awareness and fundraising efforts. In addition, your pictures will be used for educational purposes, particularly at schools in surrounding communities. On top of the wildlife photography you’ll be doing, you’ll have a chance to participate in general conservation work in the area. In partnership with local wildlife trusts and foundations, we’ll assist with hands-on field work, such as clearing alien invasive plants and removing snares, and with the collating of data and compiling of animal identy-kits that are part of larger conservation research. You’ll also assist with eco-education projects at school in local communities.
Ethics on Game Drives:
We have strict ethical and environmentally friendly practises in place on any project activity, including game drives. We keep the animals’ wellbeing as a top priority and do not drive off-road unless in pre-designated areas to minimise damage and negative impact.
Recycle and Water Policies:
Through a local company run by the community we recycle all recyclable materials, much of which gets used for crafts. Garden waste from our lodge gets composted along with raw waste from our kitchens to grow seedlings that are used in an aligned community garden project, Farmers for the Future. Our water comes from a borehole on the property that we closely monitor, and we use grey water for the lodge to water our vegetable garden, plants and gardens. To everyone involved in the project, we give presentations on usage of electricity and water to help minimise wastage and raise awareness. Since our lodge is set in the Greater Kruger area, we monitor the wildlife on the property to ensure its health along with the vegetation to ensure their survival. We have also established a butterfly garden to help support a healthy ecosystem.
At our office in Cape Town, we recycle, compost, and minimise the use of paper by predominantly working with digital files.
The Impacts of this Trip
Apart from supporting conservation initiatives through our photography, we also support social nonprofits. We provide free professional photography to charities that do valuable work and can use the images for fundraising purposes.
Through our Trust, we also run PhotoVoice workshops for youth in underprivileged South African communities. We identify talented young individuals with an interest in and talent for photography, and provide workshops where we encourage them to tell their stories, and the stories of their communities, through photography. We teach them creative self-expression, and the power visual images can have. Participants are encouraged to raise awareness about issues that matter most to them, which stimulates positive activism.
Social Programs:
All of our guests (volunteers) work in the local community on both our conservation education and sustainable living projects, providing relevant education and entrepreneurial opportunities to young adults in the local community.
Supporting Local Economy:
All operational staff members on the ground are locals, who get consistent training opportunities, comfortable accommodation, healthy food, and fair wages and working conditions.


Your Contributions as a Volunteer:
A selection of the wildlife photographs you'll take will be added to a photographic database, which is used to support conservation charities, who can use the images for awareness and fundraising efforts. In addition, your pictures will be used for educational purposes, particularly at schools in surrounding communities. On top of the wildlife photography you’ll be doing, you’ll have a chance to participate in general conservation work in the area. In partnership with local wildlife trusts and foundations, we’ll assist with hands-on field work, such as clearing alien invasive plants and removing snares, and with the collating of data and compiling of animal identy-kits that are part of larger conservation research. You’ll also assist with eco-education projects at school in local communities.
Ethics on Game Drives:
We have strict ethical and environmentally friendly practises in place on any project activity, including game drives. We keep the animals’ wellbeing as a top priority and do not drive off-road unless in pre-designated areas to minimise damage and negative impact.
Recycle and Water Policies:
Through a local company run by the community we recycle all recyclable materials, much of which gets used for crafts. Garden waste from our lodge gets composted along with raw waste from our kitchens to grow seedlings that are used in an aligned community garden project, Farmers for the Future. Our water comes from a borehole on the property that we closely monitor, and we use grey water for the lodge to water our vegetable garden, plants and gardens. To everyone involved in the project, we give presentations on usage of electricity and water to help minimise wastage and raise awareness. Since our lodge is set in the Greater Kruger area, we monitor the wildlife on the property to ensure its health along with the vegetation to ensure their survival. We have also established a butterfly garden to help support a healthy ecosystem.
At our office in Cape Town, we recycle, compost, and minimise the use of paper by predominantly working with digital files.

The Impacts of this Trip
Apart from supporting conservation initiatives through our photography, we also support social nonprofits. We provide free professional photography to charities that do valuable work and can use the images for fundraising purposes.
Through our Trust, we also run PhotoVoice workshops for youth in underprivileged South African communities. We identify talented young individuals with an interest in and talent for photography, and provide workshops where we encourage them to tell their stories, and the stories of their communities, through photography. We teach them creative self-expression, and the power visual images can have. Participants are encouraged to raise awareness about issues that matter most to them, which stimulates positive activism.
Social Programs:
All of our guests (volunteers) work in the local community on both our conservation education and sustainable living projects, providing relevant education and entrepreneurial opportunities to young adults in the local community.
Supporting Local Economy:
All operational staff members on the ground are locals, who get consistent training opportunities, comfortable accommodation, healthy food, and fair wages and working conditions.

1 Reviews of Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa
Reviewed on 15 Sep 2019 by Linda Gould
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The fantastic wildlife viewing
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you take some cold and wet weather clothes. It is freezing cold in the mornings and evenings in the safari truck
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes- The Mara conservation system benefits both the local people and the wildlife and this is funded by visitors
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The whole vacation was great
Our travel guides
Find related vacations
Our travel guides
Find related vacations
Popular similar vacations
Orangutan photography in Borneo
Develop your photography skills in Borneo
From £2375 - £2565 10 days excluding flights
Brown bear photography vacation in Alaska
Photograph Alaskan brown bears in exclusive photo tour
From US $6000 6 days excluding flights
Iceland birds & landscapes photography tour
Fabulous Birds and Landscapes photo tour Arctic Iceland
From £3450 10 days excluding flights
Amazon photography vacation, Peru
Take Amazon wildlife pictures on Peru photography workshop
From US $2469 - US $3327 7 days excluding flights