LEO Africa. Wildlife Monitoring & Research. The Selati Game Reserve. What is the aim of the project?

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1 LEO Africa Wildlife Monitoring & Research Limpopo Eco Operations (LEO) Africa is a special and important volunteer program based in a spectacular, privately-owned game reserve in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Selati Game Reserve is on the Selati River, which flows into the Kruger National Park by way of several neighbouring game reserves. The LEO Africa project began in 2004 as a management research program to assist the owners of the Selati Game Reserve to re-establish their land as prime wilderness areas. The LEO Africa research volunteer program started when a pride of lions was first introduced. As Selati predominantly runs from the breeding of game, the lions were required to be monitored in order to ensure their impact was not exceeding their sustainability. LEO also monitors the behaviour and health of the lions, as well as the predator-prey relationships. The data collected by LEO is primarily for reserve management purposes, as they are used to create weekly, monthly and annual reports; volunteers help in keeping Selati s ecosystem balanced and sustainable by playing an active role in the research and by working in the field. LEO doesn t follow only the lions; in fact from January 2013 their exclusive Black rhino monitoring programme started! LEO is in continuous evolution, and together with the lion and rhino programmes, also record and monitor elephant, leopard, spotted hyena, cheetah, nocturnal animals (e.g. porcupine, honey badger, etc.) and some rare game species (sable antelope, grysbok, eland, mountain reedbuck, etc.). Reserve management activities such as alien plant removal and road maintenance are also a priority, so as a volunteer you will most likely get to experience the habitat and reserve management side of conservation. The Selati Game Reserve The Selati Game Reserve was proclaimed as a conservancy in 2003 and added more than 30,000ha to conservation close to the Kruger National Park. The reserve is typical of the savannah grassland biome with six different veld types offering a great diversity of habitats that support 26 species of large mammals, and bird and plant life in the reserve is prolific. Selati also boasts a unique type of cycad (Encephalartos Dyerianus) that, in the whole world, can only be found on one hill in the Selati Game Reserve. The Selati Game Reserve is a collection of 13 neighbouring game ranches that united to preserve and sustain the biodiversity of this wildlife-rich region. The LEO Africa conservation volunteer programme provides valuable and accurate research services for this beautiful non-commercial game reserve. The information gained from the research and monitoring is used to maintain a healthy ecosystem and restore this land to its original state. The information is obtained through an intensive predator and wildlife monitoring program, which offers the volunteer an incredible opportunity to learn about and contribute to conservation in one of the most diverse wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa. What is the aim of the project? The overall aim of the research is conservation and wildlife monitoring on the reserve, with the particular focus on lions and black and white rhinos, providing the data to the Selati reserve and game managers so that accurate and informed decisions can be made to manage the animals, their prey and their habitat. LEO aims to determine the impact of reintroduced large mammals on game reserves and to help with their management and conservation. Research of this kind plays an important role in the management of the actual and future conservation areas in South Africa.

2 Our monitoring activity is possible thanks to the collars worn by some of our large predators and herbivores. Collars are very useful to track the animals in an efficient way, spending less time on traveling and more time on research in the field. For example, if we had to track an animal without a collar in a big territory such as Selati, the accuracy and efficiency would be compromised and only about 10% effective as opposed to collared tracking which saves on time and money and benefits the animal in that it s health and wellbeing can be monitored more often. The lifespan of the collar is about 2 years which minimizes the impact on the animal. The LEO pride is composed of 7 lions, 4 of which were introduced to the reserve in June 2012 and released in August. This comes just in time to boost the Selati bloodline and genetic diversity of the lions as there have been some incidents which impacted negatively on them including break outs from the reserve, rogue lions and even poaching. After the poaching event the reserve decided to collar all the adult lions to avoid similar tragedies in the future. Another great result achieved is that LEO re-collared a female leopard in August 2012: the volunteers were on hand and they had the fantastic and unique opportunity to take part in this operation! It was an amazing experience, and thanks to the collar LEO is now able to track her again and study her movements. They have already had some sightings of her since the re-collaring in August 2012! They now have 4 collared lions, 2 leopards and 7 elephants to monitor the greater populations of these animals over the entire reserve. The Volunteers and their contribution Our volunteers come from all over the world, their ages vary from 18 to 75 and they all share a great passion for nature, animals and conservation! The activities are not overly challenging, but a reasonable level of physical fitness will be required, as the weather can become fairly hot and humid, especially during the summer months. During your stay at LEO volunteers will be the real protagonists in helping to collect and inserting the data, which forms the major part of our research, taking part in activities including: Determine and monitor predator numbers in the Selati Game Reserve including lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and cheetahs Monitor the feeding behaviour, prey selection, kill frequencies, and the ecological impact of lion and other predators in the reserve Monitor the social dynamics of the Selati Game Reserve's resident lion population Monitor the spatial movements and territories of predators and mega herbivores in the reserve Habituate elephants and develop their identification kits Monitor the conditions, the healthy and the position of white and black rhino in the reserve. LEO is very active in the protection and conservation of our rhinos Collar and habituate resident leopards The data that LEO collects goes towards valuable wildlife management weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports which will aid conservation areas in making decisions that affect the balance of ecosystems and help them to restore farmland to wilderness in a sustainable way. Volunteers will receive a full orientation and health & safety briefing, followed by continuous infield training in order to give them a basic understanding of the South African bush and field research. Volunteers will also help actively with research in the field, by each taking an important role including map reading, GPS operation, farm management activities, data input and radio telemetry both on drive and back at base.

3 LEO s presence on the reserve also serves as an important deterrent to anyone who is trespassing. Volunteers will be active in the field playing a vital role in the monitoring of the animals safety, taking part in security activities such as night drives, sleep outs and koppie climbing. The more eyes and ears watching over the animals the better! Black Rhino Monitoring Programme LEO is proud to announce that at the beginning of 2013 they successfully started an exclusive black rhino monitoring project where one volunteer and a LEO guide spend the day on a quad bike tracking Selati's black rhinos. Selati Game Reserve was the first private reserve to be chosen in the black rhino range-expansion project where the rare black rhinos were removed from national parks onto safer private land for protection. Selati is privileged to be home to these critically endangered animals. LEO is passionate and dedicated towards the conservation and protection of both black and white rhinos, which are under increasing threat from poachers for their horns. Rhino horns are more valuable than gold or cocaine and are illegally obtained* to be shipped off to Vietnam or China where they are used as traditional medicine**. In October 2012, there were 20,170 white rhinos and 4,848 black rhinos in Africa, with more than 80% of those rhinos living in South Africa (SA). In 2011, 448 rhinos were poached in South Africa (over half in the Kruger National Park); as of December 2012, over 668 rhinos have been poached in SA. Rhino poaching has increased exponentially since 2007 and both national parks and private game reserves are being targeted equally in this rhino war. The front-line against poaching is anti-poaching patrol teams, which volunteers will learn about first-hand while at LEO. To further deter poaching and increase the protection of the Selati rhinos, all of the rhinos have been dehorned. As part of their new black rhino project initiative, volunteers will have the opportunity to accompany and aide a LEO staff member for a full day out on the reserve, with the primary objective of tracking, locating, gathering and logging information on black rhinos. By keeping an active eye on the rhinos, their behaviour and their health, volunteers help increase their protection while contributing to the knowledge of Selati's overall rhino population. One volunteer and a LEO guide will travel around the reserve on a quad bike for the day, enjoy a packed lunch from one of the amazing vantage points and also help remove remote alien plant seedlings you find on the way. While gathering information on black rhinos will be the main focus, en route volunteers may be fortunate enough to track and monitor other key species on the reserve, such as leopards, all while enjoying nature and having a LEO guide all to yourself- the advantages of a private game drive! The black rhino monitoring project is an additional, exceptional adventure that allows all the volunteers to genuinely experience the African bush and animals more intimately. This is an optional activity and it's up to the volunteer if they wish to participate. The rhino monitoring activity is available throughout the duration of the stay on a rotary basis with other interested volunteers. The traditional LEO project will continue to operate as normal and will still conduct the regular two game drives per day to monitor lions, elephants, white rhinos, leopards and other species of interest. A day in the bush Every single day in the bush is special and different from the next! From the 2013, volunteers have the option to choose either to take part in the normal LEO programme, or to contribute to the Black Rhino Monitoring Programme. During the traditional LEO programme the volunteers will be out in the bush tracking the lions (and other collared animals) twice a day; this follows a routine that involves early mornings and late nights. Drives will leave at 5:30am in the summer and 6:30am in the winter, returning to base during the hottest part of the day for lunch, and then leaving base again at 3:00pm in the winter and 4:00pm in the summer, returning between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The duration of the stay runs from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 12 weeks, but are open to offer longer stays in the form of internships.

4 In addition to the game drives, the volunteers will have the opportunity to experience: Koppie(rocky outcrop) climbing, where volunteers can enjoy the beautiful landscape while keeping an eye on our animals! Sleep out under the amazing stars, keeping the ears opened to listen to the unique bush sounds! Bush walks with the ranger, including walks to see the lions on foot Night drives, to try to spot the elusive nocturnal animals such as leopards, genets, civets, aardvarks, porcupines and much more Learning to identify and record the animals Utilization of scientific instruments such as GPS and radio telemetry to locate and record the animals Reserve and farm management activities such as alien plant removal, road clearing and maintenance. In addition, once or twice per week, they organise FGASA lectures on different topics (decided with input from the volunteers) where you can learn about the different aspects of bush life from Arthropods to Animal Behaviour. Accommodation Volunteers have the great privilege to be the few visitors allowed on the Selati Game Reserve, as it is a private reserve with no commercial lodges, no other tourists, and a very limited access to guests. Volunteers will live in a simple but comfortable farmhouse in a secluded location on the Selati Game Reserve. The house has been completely renewed and enlarged at the beginning of From the base, the view is of the magnificent hills and plains of this amazing nature reserve: no roads, no pylons, no factories and no other people - just you and the African wilderness! The house can host up to 14 volunteers. Accommodation is communal with 2 backpacker-style bedrooms, divided between males and females (according to the number of volunteers present); there is also the possibility to have a private room with a double bed. The bathrooms are inside the house and are shared by the volunteers. The house is also provided with a communal lapa and braai area. The cold water from the tap is safe and drinkable, and piping hot water is supplied by a wood-fired boiler. LEO is a green project, running off solar power: this means that charging electrical items can be limited at times depending on the weather and power requirements of the base, but generally the power is available 24/7. Wi- Fi internet is available to volunteers with personal devices, for R50 per week (once the monthly internet fee has been covered, the extra money will go towards anti-poaching donations or research equipment renewal. Volunteers cook for the group with provided ingredients and menu and do the washing up according to a duty roster. Laundry can be done privately, but the volunteers also have the option of having our housekeeper wash and dry personal items at a small charge. LEO base is often visited by elephants, lions, hyenas, honey badgers, porcupines and other curious animals! At night you are treated to the iconic sounds of the bush; from lions roaring to the lilting call of the Fiery Necked Nightjar you will be in no doubt that you are truly in the heart of the South African wilderness!

5 Why choose this project LEO Africa is an efficient and important conservation project located in a wonderful NON-COMMERCIAL reserve (no lodges): this means that volunteers are among the very few visitors allowed to drive in the Selati Game Reserve, having the privilege to live a truly African experience! The animals keep their natural wild behaviour, because there are no other permanent vehicles on the reserve and they are not used to people every sighting is your sighting! Both for research and pleasure reasons, the group can decide to stay on a sighting as long as they want (of course always respecting the animals comfort and personal space), without the interference of other vehicles. Volunteers participate actively in the research, monitoring and reserve management operations, developing new skills and learning how to use scientific instruments such as GPS and the radio telemetry to locate the animals; the volunteers will be taught how to collect record and analyse the data and they will learn about the African wildlife, animal identification and animal behaviour. In addition, the volunteers may have the special opportunity to participate in the collaring operations of the animals and to be present at other veterinary activities. LEO Africa relies only on volunteers support to continue its research so volunteers will be actively contributing to the on-going conservation within South Africa both in the field and economically, as LEO provides a free service to the reserve and the project can run thanks to their incomes. Volunteers play a really vital role in the conservation and you give them the concrete possibility to continue their research and monitoring activity of the African wildlife. Compared to other similar volunteer projects, usually based in commercial and smaller reserves, LEO has really competitive prices: all the money that they gain thanks to volunteers is utilized in their studies, monitoring, conservation and to cover the basic expenses at LEO base. This also means that with the money saved, volunteers can enjoy themselves for a longer period at LEO than they might be able to at other programmes, or they could use the money that they saved on some excursions to visit other places of interest near the Selati Game Reserve. Another good reason to choose LEO is that the volunteers will have opportunities not only to see the wildlife of South Africa but also learn about it too, thanks to their lectures based on the FGASA programme and the experience of their guides and rangers, always happy to give you information about nature! Volunteers will likely end up having broader knowledge and a special bond with the animals that they see regularly such as the members of Selati s lion pride. For the long term volunteers that would like to spend at least 8 weeks at LEO, there is the possibility to be trained on the theory aspects for the Level 1 FGASA (Field Guiding Association of Southern Africa) exam. Included in the programme: Two FGASA classes per week covering all modules in the Level 1 curriculum First aid course - one day certificate specific to the requirements of life in the bush (included in the price) Basic game ranch management principles Experience in walking safari Practical training in tracking and identification of various animals in the field Use of large calibre rifle, practical including 5 shots with a.375h&h Magnum rifle 4x4 vehicle theory and practical, learning how to drive in different terrains All volunteers choosing this option will leave with a LEO Certificate of Completion of the FGASA Level 1 Modules. For the volunteers that would like to take an extra step and attempt to gain their FGASA Level 1 qualification, LEO Africa will be happy to assist them through independent study and staff support while on the programme. They will help the volunteer with FGASA registration and will inform him/her about the dates of the assessments. This is a great opportunity to gain a certified game ranger qualification in South Africa!

6 Another good reason to join LEO: Helping with the anti-poaching teams LEO Africa are very proud to help look after their local community of anti-poachers as they live a tough life in the bush protecting rhinos and other animals. Anti-poachers are an integral part of any game reserve but are often the unseen heroes of the bush as they go about their daily activities (such as sweeps for snares, patrol drives, patrol walks, setting up ambushes, night-long watches, etc.) in stealth mode carrying basic equipment and eating basic food. The life of an anti-poacher usually means they work in shifts of days straight which involves walking many miles through the bush each day, under all the different kind of weather conditions, carrying only what they need. They sleep in the open air or inside empty reservoir tanks and cook over small fires. Some personal anti-poaching gear needs to be continually replaced due to the heavy wear and tear on these items (e.g. sleeping bags, roll mats, tents, tools, food etc.). In order to help the anti-poaching teams and to improve their tough life, LEO kindly asks the volunteers to contribute by leaving some items behind (such as sleeping bags, mosquito nets, roll mats, binoculars, food, small money donations, etc.), or to bring along some of these items they don t use and that will be used for a good reason, if the luggage allows. Leo is trying to make them more comfortable and also to show their heartfelt appreciation for the job they are doing, rewarding their dedication to the protection of rhinos and other animals! For more information about their donation project please feel free to contact me! Excursions Whilst at LEO, there will be opportunities to visit the attractions in and around the local area. LEO Staff will help in the organisation of these trips. It is possible to hire a LEO vehicle for some of the trips, as well as a LEO guide. In the case of a longer journey, they suggest hiring a car with one of the local car hire companies that are very helpful and have competitive rates. Please make sure that you have a credit card and an international driving license. Some of the possible excursions in the area include: Kruger National Park. The world famous and beautiful Kruger National Park is part of the Greater Limpopo transfrontier Park which allows fences between South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to be dropped. This means animals are able to roam more freely. The Phalaborwa Gate of the Kruger National Park is only 45 Minutes away from LEO, and the volunteers can visit the Kruger Park on a day trip or stay overnight, having the chance to see beautiful scenery and many of Africa s known wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, wild dogs, hyenas and much more! The Panorama Route. Offers some of the most spectacular views in South Africa vast forests, majestic waterfalls and some incredible mountain views! There are also various craft markets where it is possible to haggle for jewellery and other curios! The Panorama route is great to combine with a Kruger Park trip. Blyde River Canyon. The third largest canyon and the largest green canyon in the world is located right next door to Selati. It is possible to take a day trip through the Panoramic Route and visit places such as the Three Rondavels, Bourke s Luck Pothole, Lisbon Waterfall, God s Window, Berlin Waterfall and Mac Mac Falls. Blydespoort Dam. The bottom of Blyde River Canyon holds a man-made dam built in the 1970s. Here it s possible to take a boat trip to find out about the wildlife and special types of tufa waterfalls found only in a few places in the world.

7 Useful Information Passport/Visa: For VISA information please contact the South African Embassy/Consulate in the country of origin, and/or visit / UK and European Passports don t need to get a visa if the tourist intends to stay in the country for a period of no more than 90 days. Other requirements to enter the country are: A valid acceptable passport or travel document valid for at least 6 months from the beginning of the travel. A valid visa, if required. It can take quite a long time to get a Visa. Please be sure to start the procedures on time! Sufficient funds. A return or onward ticket. At least two blank pages in your passport. A yellow fever certificate is required if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America. Weather in South Africa: The weather in South Africa varies greatly; the area of the Lowveld is generally characterized by hot summers with thunderstorms and mild, dry winters. May to September time is South Africa s winter months, with some cloudy days, and some winds in August. From September onwards the temperatures start to climb. December, January and February are usually the peak of Summer, and there are often some afternoon showers due to this being the wet season. For more information on climate in South Africa, please visit Medical: The surrounding area is low risk for malaria. Please contact your doctor and the local centre of vaccinations for guidance. Be aware that if a trip to the Kruger National Park is planned, it is advisable to have a prophylactic because it is a malaria area. LEO base and all the LEO vehicles are provided with a first aid kit but it may be a good idea to bring a small personal medical kit. Travel first aid kits can be purchased at most pharmacies and outdoor pursuit shops. The cold water from the tap is drinkable. What to take to LEO? Below is a list of what we suggest you take to LEO: Sleeping bag / Sleeping bag liner / Sleeping mat (for sleep-outs etc.) / Shirts/ t-shirts / Warm hoodies/ jumpers / Shorts / Long trousers (for walks/evening drives) / Hat, gloves and scarf (during winter) / Walking socks/thick socks / Walking boots/sturdy shoes / Comfortable shoes (nights out/time off) / Sunglasses (highly recommended) / Waterproof Jacket / Sun hat / Swimwear It can get fairly cold on the back of the vehicle in the early mornings and evenings due to wind chill, even in the summer. Please make sure to bring plenty of layers to stay warm during these times. Neutral shades such as olive, khaki and beige are best. It may be a good idea to bring some slightly nicer clothes for trips out into town on a Saturday night to the local bush bar/club. Small rucksack/bag for bringing out on drives / Water bottle/camelback (at least a 1 litre capacity) / Sun cream (SPF 30+) / Insect repellent / After sun lotion (optional) / Binoculars (recommended, x 7 magnification or higher) / Head torch/torch + batteries (really useful!) / Camera / Battery charger / Spare batteries / Memory card(s) / Towel / Alarm clock / Mosquito net / Plug adapter South African three pronged and two pronged plug sockets available

8 The project is based in the Limpopo Province Duration of the project: Minimum: 2 weeks Rates Please see our website for the current rates. What does this include: Accommodation, food, transfer from/to Phalaborwa on Tuesdays 2 game drives per day, black rhino monitoring programme on the quad bike, 1-2 FGASA lectures per week, all LEO activities. What does this exclude: Fights, visas, insurance, Tuesday and Saturday evening dinner (at restaurant) and any food and accommodation outside LEO, excursions, any type of transfer that is not on Tuesday, laundry, internet Wi-Fi. Airport: OR Tambo, Johannesburg (JNB) with a connecting flight to Phalaborwa Airport or an alternative form of transport to project. Transfer to camp and back to Johannesburg is at own cost On African Soil will assist with the booking of all transfers Accommodation: A simple but comfortable farmhouse in a secluded location on the Selati Game Reserve Minimum Age: 18 years old A truly African experience!