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The Wildlife Tracking course is based in the spectacular Botswana bush. Joining this intensive 2 week course will be an amazing opportunity to experience the basics of living and tracking animals in the wilderness. It has been designed to teach tracking skills to volunteers whilst allowing you to spend time in the vast wilderness of the Tuli Block in Botswana.
Tracking is one of the earliest known sciences to mankind and is a dying art with more modern techniques now being used to monitor wildlife, including telemetry and satellite collars. However tracking skills have been proven to be invaluable in the research of wildlife and therefore the formal qualification (issued upon successfully passing the course components) will be of great help to those wishing to pursue a career in practical conservation in Africa.
Successfully selected team members can expect to undergo a rigorous physical and theoretical training programme. Primarily you will learn how to identify animal tracks and locate animals from the tracks & signs left on the ground, along with other bush skills.
The first week is orientated predominantly around track identifications as an introduction to tracking. The second week sees every participant given the opportunity to lead the group in an attempt to track down a high-profile animal, including elephant, leopard, lion or hyaena!! Coaching will be given to the tracker of the day by our highly skilled course leaders.
This is a real opportunity to learn tracking skills and get close to animals in the bush, so what are you waiting for!!
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Requirements -
There are only a maximum of 6 volunteers on each course, giving you a real chance to learn first hand about wildlife tracking. Volunteers must have a good level of physical fitness to join this course and we will talk to you about this when you apply. There will be a lot of walking during the day but often this is taken at a slow pace. During the course, the leader will monitor your fitness and if he feels you are not fit enough, then you will join the Botswana Conservation Project for the remainder of your stay.
Qualification -
Volunteers who gain a pass mark above 70% in the two components of the course will be awarded a CyberTracker Tracker Level 1 Certificate.
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On the first day volunteers will assist in setting up the camp accommodation, which will be dome tents. Facilities will be basic and showers consist of a “bucket shower” or washing in one of the natural pools that you encounter in Botswana. Again food will be basic yet substantial and fresh produce will be minimal due to the lack of fridges and freezers. Volunteers will help cook meals over an open fire and due to the nature of the course, you may eat at unusual times of the day!
There may be nights after a tracking excursion where the team cannot make it back to the camp before nightfall. On these nights you will sleep in the bush around a fire keeping watch and then trek back the following day.
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This course has set dates each year in July and September. We can arrange courses outside of these months but need a minimum of 4 people. The start dates for 2010 are:
6th July 2010
7th September 2010
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| Project Fees |
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| Combination of Projects |
Yes you'll be able to combine this with many other Shumba conservation projects
Please see Combo Page for exciting ideas! |
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| What's Included |
1) Accommodation, Meals & Airport Transfers
2) Pre-departure Information and Support
3) Assistance with Flights & Travel Insurance
4) Project Booklet
5) Onsite Training and Guidance
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| Accommodation |
Dome Tents |
| Food |
3 meals a day included |
| Transfer to/from airport |
Yes, in host country |
| Not Included |
Flights & travel insurance |
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