A Love Story That Inspired DAKTARI Ian and Michèle Merrifield officially opened DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in 2006, after years of dedication and hard work. They first met while Ian was working as a game ranger at Tshukudu Game Lodge and Michèle was volunteering there. While caring for injured zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs, they fell in love and shared a vision of protecting wildlife through education. DAKTARI’s mission is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment while supporting community development. Located in the South African bush near Kruger National Park, DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage is a local NGO founded in 2006. The organization provides environmental education programs where children stay at DAKTARI for five days to learn about wildlife conservation and their natural heritage. Children also help care for animals that cannot be released back into the wild, helping develop empathy, respect, and responsibility toward wildlife. Volunteers from around the world support the program by teaching lessons and helping guide children in animal care activities. In addition, DAKTARI runs an Outreach Program, including weekly ECO Clubs and Wildlife Crime Campaigns, to inspire positive attitudes toward environmental conservation within local communities.
We, Volunteer International Adventures, are a passionate, hands-on organisation based in Africa, with a dedicated team creating meaningful volunteer experiences since 2008. We welcome students, travellers, families, friends, gappers, and career breakers to join our ethical projects in South Africa, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe, focusing on animal and youth projects. We believe in responsible and inclusive volunteer travel, offering opportunities that not only support important projects but also allow volunteers to fully immerse themselves in the local culture, build real connections, and create lifelong memories. Our local teams are committed to your journey by ensuring your safety, supporting your personal growth, and guiding you every step of the way so you can focus on making a genuine difference where it is needed most. Volunteers in our Knysna projects can contribute in areas such as veterinary medicine, animal care, youth development, social work, teaching, early childhood care, sports coaching, and community development with NPOs.