Kwantu Game Reserve

We are spending two weeks on a volunteer program at Kwantu game reserve, located about 45 minutes outside of Port Elizabeth (www.kwantu.co.za). Kwantu is unique in that it is one of the few game reserves that is home to all five of Africa's big game species - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and water buffalo. The game also has tigers ( not native to Africa but here for breeding purposes), giraffe, wildebeests, springbok, and an elephant sanctuary.


As volunteers, we have the opportunity to go on game drives and wilderness walks, to best view the animals. But we are also expected to do work on the reserve to help maintain the reserve. This includes helping create the reserve's touch farm, also known as a petting zoo. This touch farm has the typical rabbit and horses, but also has ostrich and meerkats. Very fun. We are also involved with conservation, bit not exactly in the same way you and I think of conservation. Here at Kwantu, there are a number of "alien" species of plants - plants that were brought to south Africa by those who colonized the country. The alien species are not desirable because they out compete the native plant populations that should be here and are best for the environment and the animals. Therefore, Hugh and I unexpectently have become quite proficient at chopping down small trees. Included in the plants we were chopping, happened to be a thorny bush with a pretty purple flower. We learned this was the national flower of Scotland. We make a great team, and as neither of us currently have jobs, we are highly considering coming home and starting our own landscaping company. Along with our new tiger cub....





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Location:Sidbury,South Africa