Incorporating volunteer work into retirement

Part 3 - Walking with Lions - November 2023 - Abelana Game Reserve

We all have our favorite television programs growing up that defined our interests.  I remember tuning in each week to watch Wild Kingdom eager to see where in the world our host would take us.  But it was the episodes that focused on the African Big 5 that were my favorite.  The mighty lion, king of the jungle.  The regal elephant herds crossing the savannah.  The horned rhinoceros and stealthy leopard prowling in the night.  And who could forget the African buffalo not to be confused with the American Bison.

When searching for volunteer programs in South Africa, I knew I wanted to focus my attention on big 5 animal conservation and was stoked when I came across Leo Africa. HOME | LEO AFRICA Volunteer Project. Limpopo Eco Operations (LEO Africa) is a Big 5 wildlife monitoring, conservation and sustainable living volunteer project in South Africa, established in 2005. Their mission is to provide data on key animal species (lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, buffalo, brown and spotted hyena, white rhino) as well as help maintaining the pristine beauty of the reserve where the project operates, through conservation work. The data collected is used to evaluate population numbers and to help make informed decisions on future conservation practices.

Early November I boarded a plane from Cape Town to Johannesburg for a one night stay before meeting the van that will bring us to the Abelana Game Reserve.  There were five of us new volunteers eager to start our new adventure.  We endured the 8 hour van ride to the game reserve, my home for the next four weeks.  Sabrina the volunteer coordinator and a former tennis pro along with current volunteers and staff greeted us with a welcome braaii (a traditional South African barbecue).

Accommodations : aka when roommates don't click

Having been spoiled with the volunteer house in Gaansbai, I wasn't sure what to expect.  The volunteer quarters are 4 dorm rooms each housing 3 beds and 2 shared bathrooms.  The first night I met my roommate and knew we wouldn't get along.  A bossy lady who treated the room as her own and petrified of mosquitos.  I mean no lights any time and windows closed with no fan on 22C (72F nights). However, I was determined not to let this interfere with the experience. We were only together for two of the four weeks.

Daily Camp Life

Monday, the day after we arrived, we filed out paperwork and learned what life would be like.  Most days there were 2 game drives into the reserve.  Breakfast which is included and consisted of toast, cereal and fruit at 5am, ready to depart by 5:30 and back at camp by 12:30 for lunch.  A few hours rest midday and ready to depart for the afternoon game drive at 3:00 or 3:30pm returning at 7:30 for dinner and rest time.  Two volunteers would stay behind on a rotating basis to cook meals.  Fridays there was only a morning game drive then afternoon in town for dinner out and opportunity to do some personal grocery shopping.

Environmental conservation

Part of daily game drives includes environmental activities.   Cutting trees and branches from the roads were common as well as pulling invasive plants.  One day we filled in potholes with rocks.  

The good the bad and the ugly of Animal Husbandry 

Lion Monitoring

There are approximately 10 lions on the reserve.  Two lionesses who roamed the lands as well as a pride of 8. All adult lions are collared.  Each day we tracked the lions making sure they were healthy.  Some days we came across a free lion kill.  Other days we tracked the pride with four 4 months old lion cubs.  The rangers taught us about lion tracks and behaviors and many days we were able to get out of the truck and walk close to the lions observing their behaviors.

Buffalo breeding program

On the reserve there were approximately 15 buffalos almost all male.  They were very elusive and not collared.  They tended to stay in a part of the reserve without road access and only saw them once during my four-week stay.  However, Leo Africa received permission to add 15 females to the reserve.  Three months later a newborn calf was seen.  A great success story.

Habituating Cheetahs

Each of the four rangers employed by Leo Africa work on different research projects. One of rangers specializes in Cheetah behavior. He was instrumental in habituating the 2 male cheetahs.  Most days we were able to walk yards away from these wild cats.  Both male cheetahs are in prime breeding age.  During my stay the reserve introduced a female cheetah.  When animals are introduced they spend some time in the boma (a large included space).  Unfortunately the new female cheetah was darted in a bad spot.  A dart that hit the spinal area and she naturally died a couple days later.  Leo Africa is currently in final negotiations to bring two females into the reserve.

Anti-Poaching Program : Rhinos

One of the most endangered animals in the world is the rhino.  Rhinos used to roam Africa, India and Indonesia. Both of the Indonesia species are on the verge of going extinct.  The population is too small to sustain.  Several rhinos are housed on the reserve.  Not only do we monitor the animals each day, but an outside team of anti-poachers roam the reserve to ensure their protection.  

Hyenas and Snare Removals

***** Warning - graphic video in embedded link*****

The reserve is located next to the small town of Phalaborwa.  Like many towns in Africa hunting game is a lucrative business.  Animals are snared for food, clothing and horns grinded to powder for resale.  Part of our game drives included searching for and disabling snares.  Unfortunately, animals, especially hyenas do get trapped in snares.  On one particular day we followed the vets to a snared female hyena.  Suddenly we got the call that her cub fell into snare as well.  The vets used a trained dart to buy them to sleep in order to safely remove the snare from around their necks.  

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Free time:

Located in the African bush made it challenging to add additional activities.  We did have the opportunity to sleep outside in a dry riverbed, falling asleep by the campfire and the light of the moon.  Below are photos from my day trip into Kruger National Park.

The four weeks went by quickly, but the memories will last a lifetime.