DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage
Host and Volunteer, Volunteer With Children & Animals, Bush School
About Us
● A Love Story That Inspired DAKTARI
● Ian and Michèle Merrifield officially opened DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in 2006, but it was a long road to make that happen! They first met while Ian was a Game Ranger at Tshukudu Game Lodge and Michèle was a volunteer there. While hand-raising injured zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs, Ian and Michèle fell in love.....
Why to Choose Us?
● Volunteers gain hands-on experience working with animals while making a meaningful impact in local communities..
● The program combines conservation, education, and cultural exchange, creating a deeply rewarding and eye-opening experience..
● Volunteering at DAKTARI also allows participants to develop new skills, build lifelong memories, and be part of a passionate and supportive team
More Details...
● Monday through Friday, you will be teaching a group of eight children, ages 13-16. Lessons encompass the environment, the importance of protecting wildlife, and relevant social issues of South Africa, such as safe sex and substance abuse. All classes are taught in English, but you do not need to be a native English speaker to teach at DAKTARI. You also don’t need to have any teaching experience. We have everything you need to be a Great teacher, and we are happy to help you if you need it!
● Your day starts at 7 AM, and lessons begin at 9 AM. Classes are finished around 4:30 PM, and then we have group talks with the kids about social issues. Don’t worry, we do make time for fun too! You will play games with the children, join them in the pool, and dance around the bonfire to their favorite songs. You also work with the kids to feed and care for the animals at DAKTARI.
● After you spend your day teaching children, you will help our staff care for the animals around camp. This can be anything from feeding an animal with a bottle to cleaning their enclosures or picking up a hammer and renovating their homes. Free-time activities| Weekends and time off. On Saturdays, you can take a trip to Hoedspruit with Ian. This allows you to do any shopping you might need and gives you a chance to get out of the camp for a while.
● There are plenty of great restaurants in town to have lunch at, too!
● Sundays are your days off. You can plan a day excursion for some wonderful sightseeing, a Safari at a game reserve to see the big 5, or just relax at the camp. We are happy to help you plan your trip. If you are interested in taking a longer break over the weekend (Friday to Sunday), you are welcome to arrange that with our staff as well.
● DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage is set in a beautiful nature reserve with granite hills and the most stunning views. Leopard, hyena, buffalo, impala, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, and giraffe roam freely within our grounds. The camp itself is located in the heart of the reserve, and it is here that you will work with the children and enclosed animals. However, you will be going into the reserve to explore the signs of nature around us!
● DAKTARI CAMP
● We are located in the middle of the bush, and so the camp is rustic, although we do our very best to make sure everyone is kept clean, comfortable, and well fed! So, you will enjoy hot showers, running water, and solar-powered lights in your traditional chalets. You may be sharing your chalet with up to 4 other volunteers (same-sex). Still, everyone has their own bed and space to store clothes and personal items.
● Also, there are no plug points in the chalet. Nevertheless, we have an allocated charging station where you can charge all your electronic devices during daylight hours. However, the only items we do not allow are hair dryers and straighteners, as they use too much of our solar power.
● Laundry is done for everyone each day, with the exception of Sunday. The rooms are cleaned every day, and bed sheets are changed once a week. Our volunteers are often pleasantly surprised at the nice conditions when they arrive.
● FOOD AND MEALS
● At DAKTARI, everyone is served three meals a day by our experienced kitchen staff. We can cater to vegetarians and vegans, but gluten-free people should bring their own food for the first week and can then stock up during the weekend. Sadly, gluten-free food is too expensive for us to be able to provide it without an extra cost.
● 1 week €710.00 £590.00
● 2 weeks €1,350.00 £1,120.00
● 3 weeks €1,850.00 £1,540.00
● 4 weeks €2,200.00 £1,830.00
● 5 weeks €2,550.00 £2,120.00
● 6 weeks €2,900.00 £2,410.00
● 7 weeks €3,250.00 £2,700.00
● 8 weeks €3,600.00 £2,990.00
● 9 weeks €3,950.00 £3,280.00
● 10 weeks €4,300.00 £3,570.00
● 11 weeks €4,650.00 £3,860.00
● 12 weeks €5,000.00 £4,150.00
● You should love Children and animals.
● Three meals per day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner
● Tea, coffee, juice, and water
● Accommodation in one of our chalets with towels, bed linen, and a mosquito net
● Laundry and ironing daily
● Pick up and drop off at Hoedspruit town or airport when arriving/departing on a Saturday only
● One trip into town per week
● Free wifi
● International/national flights and travel arrangements
● Travel insurance (required)
● Personal toiletries, e.g., shampoo, sunscreen, insect repellent
● Soda and alcoholic drinks
● Personal excursions
● All arrivals and departures are on Saturdays only. We can pick you up from the Hoedspruit airport or Hoedspruit town (if you come in with the early shuttle). When you arrive, you will first be given a tour and an introduction to DAKTARI. Then you will have Sunday to relax, catch up on rest, and get to know the fellow volunteers. Last but not least, you will also have time to prepare for your lessons on Monday.
● To sum up, living and working at DAKTARI is very safe and enjoyable, provided you respect the rules of the camp.
● WEEKENDS AND TIME OFF
● On Saturdays, you can take a trip to Hoedspruit with Ian. This allows you to do any shopping you might need and gives you a chance to get out of the camp for a while. There are plenty of great restaurants in town to have lunch at, too!
● ADVENTURE AWAITS!
● Volunteering at DAKTARI also allows you to explore the wonders of South Africa outside the gates of DAKTARI!
● For instance, visit the Kruger National Park and get a chance to see the Big 5, or have a scenic trip to the Blyde River Canyon. These are just a few of the excursions we offer!
● You can plan an excursion on Sundays if you like, which is your day off. If you are interested in taking a longer break over the weekend (Friday to Sunday), you are welcome to arrange that with our staff.
More Details...
