VOLUNTEER AT ROCKWOOD
One of the most rewarding ways to help save the rhino is by giving your time and working in close contact with these extraordinary animals.
To be a conservation volunteer at Rockwood, you’ll need to submit an application and contribute $2,000.
This fee covers the costs of your two-week stay (accommodation and food) and goes towards helping us with maintenance.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget. Plus, you’ll have played a firsthand role in preventing rhino extinction.
WHERE?
Where Rockwood is located:
Our reserve is located in the vast, untouched Northern Cape province of South Africa.
Nestled between the Great Karoo and the Kalahari, on a pristine stretch of arid to semi-arid desert and bushveld, this is precisely the kind of habitat rhinos would have roamed for millennia.
Our exact map-pinned location cannot be publicly advertised – for obvious security reasons. We will supply directions or arrange a shuttle service upon booking confirmation.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION
Volunteers are accommodated in our plain, yet comfortable, volunteer quarters (which can accommodate up to 12 volunteers and researchers). They have access to the rest of the lodge, outside of tourist times, which includes the private lounge and dining area, boma and fire pit, full bar and restaurant, on-site spa, gym, swimming pool, and curio boutique.
The lodge was privately built in an extended effort to attract visitors (tourists, researchers and volunteers alike) to our remote area – offering them a comfortable stay, in order to enhance the chance of them returning and supporting us further in our main mission: to protect our rhino herd and the species from poachers, and inevitably extinction. We can accommodate 12 volunteers in total.
WHY?
Why choose to volunteer at Rockwood:
We also want to educate our visitors about our unique, pro-active conservation approach, which has seen more than 160 calves born on our reserve so far.
You’ll work alongside professional rangers and researchers, perform daily chores, and leave a wiser, lifelong wildlife warrior – who can proudly state they have personally helped to save the rhino.
WHAT?
What it takes to be a Rockwood Volunteer:
- Strong desire to make a meaningful change in the world
- Willingness to work hard and get your hands dirty
- Comfortable with taking orders and doing whatever is required
- Understanding that it's a working experience, not a safari holiday (although in the same 5-star facilities)
- Commitment to spending two weeks with our rhinos
- Maturity to cope out in the wild, far away from home
- Ability to cover the $2,000 fee, plus transportation to Rockwood
- No previous volunteering experience necessary
- No skills pertaining to wildlife or conservation required
A DAY IN THE LIFE
OF A CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER
Prepare Feed for Rhinos & Other Animals
Provide Care for Orphaned or Injured Animals
Inspections & General Upkeep of Rhino Camps
Assist with Capturing & Relocation of Rhinos
Assist Veterinarians with Procedures
Accompany Rangers on Patrols to Monitor Rhinos
Inspect / Maintain Fences on Horseback or Quads
Anti-Poaching, Like Micro-Chipping & Horn Trimming
Check Camera Traps & Filter Footage
Assist Researchers with Data Collection
Capture Data to Our Research Database
Share Your Experiences on Social Media
VOLUNTEERS PACKAGE
ACCOMMODATION, MEALS & RHINO EXPERIENCE-
2-Weeks Programme
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Luxury, 5-Star Accommodation
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3 x Meals per Day
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Daily Rhino Experiences
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Excludes Transport Flights to South Africa
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Excludes Transport to Rockwood
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Excludes Tourist Visa
Volunteer Your Gap Year To Save The White Rhino
Using your gap year to volunteer for a cause in need is a sure way to find out who you really are. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” So, where do you want to lose yourself? With 1 million species now critically endangered, our wildlife needs all the help it can get.
Safe Volunteer Projects With Rockwood
When considering volunteering projects abroad, it’s essential to know what you’re getting yourself in to. Supporting local projects gives you the chance to get to see a country from a different perspective – but it needs to be a safe and healthy environment. There are a lot of stereotypes about Africa, but what’s the reality?
Become A Philanthropist At Rockwood
Nature is declining globally at previously unimagined rates. One million species are careering toward extinction. How can you help end one of Africa’s most urgent wildlife crises? It doesn’t mean you have to donate financially. One of the best ways to contribute to real change in the world is to volunteer your time.
7 Things You Need To Know Before Volunteering Abroad
Deciding to volunteer abroad is a big step. You choose to spend your time on a cause instead of a vacation with your friends or family. Volunteering means putting yourself and what you want aside and instead focus on the needs of others, animals or communities. So, you should find a cause you care about sincerely.
HELP TO CONSERVE OUR RHINOS
ready to join us?
YOU, OUR VISITORS, PARTNERS & SPONSORS MAKE OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS POSSIBLE.
