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“How do you put across just how exciting and challenging the project is? Truth is, you can’t!  No two days are the same and the feelings and emotions you have when face to face with an elephant, following a pride of lions on a night drive and being lucky enough to see a leopard is out of this world.” 
Alison


​​One of Africa’s finest private game reserves, Shamwari Private Game Reserve is home to the coveted Big 5 and a wide range of other iconic African species, all free-roaming in 25,000 hectares of majestic wilderness. 

Here in this wildlife paradise, known primarily as a luxury safari destination, the Shamwari Conservation Experience offers a once in a lifetime chance to get behind-the-scenes and involved with the conservation of wildlife, fauna and flora. 

You’ll join Shamwari’s passionate, dedicated and award-winning Wildlife and Conservation team, with the chance to make a sustainable difference by participating in various components of conservation, wildlife and community work.

An internationally renowned game reserve, Shamwari features five different fauna and flora habitats (biomes).  Facilities on the reserve include an animal rehabilitation centre, an animal hospital and anti-poaching unit.  The reserve is also the host to the Born Free Foundation’s Big Cat Rescue and Education Centre for lions and leopards.

Snapshot

  • Start Dates : Mondays all year round (closed 4 weeks Christmas/New Year)
  • Pricing 2024 (+10% for 2025): 
    • 2 weeks AU $2,895 / £1,490 / €1,695 / US $1,799
    • 3 weeks AU $3,995 / £2,049 / €2,395 / US $2,545
    • 4 weeks AU $4,999 / £2,645 / €3,075 / US $3,275
    • Additional weeks AU $1,250 / £655 / €765 / US $825
  • Minimum Age : 18
  • Fly In/Out : Port Elizabeth (PLZ)
  • What’s included: Return airport transfers, accommodation, all meals and activities
  • What’s not included: Flights, travel insurance
  • Accommodation: Basic twin / triple-share rooms with ensuite bathrooms
  • Food:  Three catered meals per day are provided
  • Wildlife Monitoring drives with a focus on rhino, elephants and/or predators – a safari with a purpose, through these regular monitoring sessions we compile information about family structures, feeding habits and movements.  
  • Camera Trapping and Telemetry Tracking - the use of camera traps to monitor wildlife activity is a vital tool in gaining visual footage required to manage the reserve. Additional monitoring of some of the more high-profile and elusive species, like cheetah and leopard, requires the use of telemetry tracking equipment.
  • Research Projects - often undertaken in conjunction with both local and foreign academic bodies to capture data on lesser known species such as the Brown Hyena
  • Visit to Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre - set up to aid in rehabilitating injured animals, the SWRC provides short-term care and then releases them back into the  wild.
  • Visit to Born Free Sanctuary - creating awareness as to the importance of the protection and conservation of wildlife, we maintain a compassionate approach to the care and welfare of any captive animals. 
  • Landscape Restoration & Rehabilitation - the need to return the once pristine landscape to its original splendour includes the collecting and removal of old fence lines and rehabilitating degraded and overgrazed land.
  • Alien Plant Control - introduced to the land by past farmers, today this exotic vegetation must be removed to help increase natural biodiversity, decrease fire risk and better preserve natural water sources.