The Location
This lion reserve is located near Port Elizabeth, a major beach and surfing destination on South Africa’s southeastern coast. Spread across 295 acres of bush and grassland, the reserve is home to lions as well as other sick or injured animals that have been successfully rehabilitated. The area boasts more than 40 species of wildlife, including giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, blesbok, duiker, monkeys, etc. The entire region is free of malaria.

The Situation
The number of African lions hit its peak about 2,000 years ago and has been decreasing ever since. The species is now extinct in Europe and has disappeared from northern Africa and most of southwest Asia. In Africa, the only continent where the animal still roams free, the population continues to decline. Lions are generally considered serious problem animals, at odds with human settlement and cattle culture. Every year, Africa’s lions lose habitat to urban growth and agricultural expansion.

What’s Being Done
Our Lion Cub Project -- one of the first of its kind in Southern Africa -- aims to release captive-bred lions into areas within Africa where wild lions have not existed for a century or more. The project has currently earmarked three relocation spots, selected after the staff initiated discussions and conducted impact studies.

As a volunteer, you will personally care for domestically bred lion cubs and prepare them for release into the wild. You will also help care for the older lions. For both younger and older lions, you will feed and train them, conduct health checks and monitor their behavior. You will also help maintain the game reserve, patrolling for illegal hunting snares and working to keep the reserve clean. As a volunteer with our Lion Cub Project, you will provide essential care for an endangered animal.


Airport Pickup and Orientation:
You will fly into Port Elizabeth, where a volunteer coordinator will meet you at the airport. The coordinator will then take you to the project site. Your first two days at the project site will be devoted to an orientation. Outgoing volunteers will help train incoming volunteers, covering day-to-day life at the project. You will receive all the training you need to work with the lions. Training is provided by qualified staff, including researchers, field guides, animal care specialists and animal trackers.

Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will arrange transportation for the following:
Airport pickup and drop-off
All transfers required by the project
All local transportation at project locations

Accommodations:
The volunteers share dormitory-style accommodations near the lion enclosures. The facility has a communal kitchen and two bathrooms (one male, one female). There is hot water and electricity. Smoking is not allowed inside the rooms. Television is available in the communal lounge along with games, pool table and sound system. Mobile reception is good in the area. There is a visitor center and restaurant near the dorm for tourists who visit the project.

In-Country Support:
During your time in South Africa, you will receive support from volunteer coordinators as well as field guides and fellow volunteers. We also provide a 24-hour cell phone number for emergencies.

Additional Activities and Excursions:
Volunteers will have two days off every second week. During that time, they can arrange excursions to nearby destinations. The project staff will assist with organizing these optional activities. Volunteers commonly head into Port Elizabeth on these days. Activities in the area include elephant rides, biking, bungee jumping and much more.