Wild Cat Centre - Kimberley with Road Transfers

You will be able to listen to the sounds of cats calling throughout the night
Not only will you be privileged to work with these beautiful cats, but your accommodation is also situated in the middle of the project and surrounded by all the enclosures.
You will be accompanied by other people who are very passionate about animals.
You will have the opportunity to work face to face, with big cats and other wildlife.
Learn and experience how each animal behaves, reacts and what their characters are like.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport shuttle departure point and will be transferred by road to the project.

Road Transfers
Shuttle Departure: 10:00 from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
Arrival at Kimberly (KIM): 17:00
Duration: 5-6 hours, including two comfort stops.
Pickup at KIM: A member of the volunteer team will meet you and transfer you to the project site.

Our centre is located in the well-known Free State province, which borders the Northern Cape. The predator farm is situated only 30 km from the historical town of Kimberley, on the National Road (the N8). The farm is home to an abundance of animals; we are a home to 42 predators and 2 monkeys - the predators include: 4 cheetahs, 20 lions, 4 caracals, 2 servals, 1 African wild cat, 2 black-backed jackals and 9 bat-eared foxes. These animals are taken in to be cared for because of various reasons; some cannot live in the wild on their own if they are sick or were abandoned, and many are rescued from unethical processes like canned hunting and breeding for tourism purposes. When it is possible, we strive to release our animals back into the wild where they can live freely without any human interaction.

The centre was founded in 2010 by the Burger family when Chriszanne and Nicol Burger adopted 2 animals from a project where they previously work. These animals were moved to the centre and cared for by the Burger family. This action was the foundation for the continued conservation and rehabilitation work that takes place at the centre. Around this time, the Burger family learned about Canned Hunting (a method of hunting in which an animal is kept in a confined area-such as a fenced enclosure-to vastly increase the likelihood of the hunter obtaining a kill for trophy purposes), which sparked the desire to work towards the eradication of this process and rescue African cats from hazardous environments.

We are currently busy expanding the enclosures on the farm. These enclosures will be geared towards mimicking a natural area for play and roaming. Each enclosure will accommodate the specific species’ needs and consist of tree logs, a climbing area, and adequate space to roam. The centre currently has over 1000 hectares of pure Free State farmland available to expand the project and ensure the well-being of the animals in our care. We do not intend to breed with our lions or to buy in any more cubs in the future.

You will be working 6 days a week with the 7th being your day off to do what you would like.

Volunteers are involved in the daily run of the wild cat centre. These tasks vary from meat preparation, cleaning of enclosures and stimulation of animals. As a non-profit, family run farm they also facilitate tours of the farm to local visitors. Volunteers will be able to assist with these visits and even work within the curio shop. There are various projects which aim to improve the farm and well-being of the animals. The projects continuously change depending on the needs of the animals and farm at the time.

There are two different types of work on the farm:

Daily routine:
Cleaning the enclosures & farm, feeding the animals, maintaining the enclosures, etc.

Projects:
Various projects that aim to improve the farm and well-being of the animals. The projects at Felidae continuously change depending on the needs of the animals and farm at the time.

Duties that do not directly interact with the animals are still crucial to their well-being. General maintenance and cleaning of the grounds (for example: cutting grass to ensure there are no ticks, fleas, snakes, and spiders, and poop scooping); are regular tasks on the farm for the health and safety of all the animals in our care.

As a volunteer, you will be able to experience each of the various jobs on the farm; tasks are rotated among the volunteers to ensure each person has an opportunity to both help with farm maintenance and interact with the animals equally.

Example itinerary:
An early wake-up at 07:00
Breakfast with the team
Discussion of daily events and duties
During the course of the day you can be involved in tours, preparing food, working in the enclosures, nursing sick animals, and so on
Lunch hour
Free time to do your laundry, taking a nap, spending time with other volunteers, or even helping in the preparation of an evening function
Dinner will be a nice warm meal.
Just before bedtime, a quick check-in on the cats, making sure everyone is settled
End the day with a well-deserved sleep

Please note that from time to time there can be unavoidable changes to projects. These can be caused by weather, conservation priorities, materials supply, or because ongoing projects have progressed more quickly or slowly than originally planned. We ask you to accept the changes - we are sure that you will enjoy the replacement projects just as much.

There is an optional social trip once a week where volunteers are able to go to the nearby town for dinner (dinner at own expense).

Airport pick-up
1 nights accommodation at Sunrock Guesthouse or similar (including Welcome Dinner and breakfast)
Return transfers by road between Johannesburg and the project
Accommodation
Three meals a day (on project)
24-hour support and supervision
Donation to the project
Braai once a week
Certificate of appreciation

CV/Resume
Minimum age of 18
Basic level of competency in English
Medium level of fitness
And it helps a lot if you have a sense of humor, patience, an open mind and a positive attitude!
Acceptance subject to availability

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Arrival Hotel - Sunrock
Sunrock Guesthouse is a comfortable and welcoming accommodation conveniently located near O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), making it the perfect place to rest and prepare for your volunteer experience.

Project Accommodation
Volunteers will stay in a volunteers house (1-4 or 1-6 people per room) including its own kitchen facilities, bathroom, and bedroom. The accommodation has recently been upgraded. You can request a male or female dormitory in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you. All linen are provided. The volunteer house is roughly 20 m away from the main house, and is safe and secure. A swimming pool is available. Volunteers are expected to keep their rooms and personal belongings tidy at all times and participate in any chores as required for the cleanliness and operation of the shared facilities. Please be aware that there may a water shortage during dry season so use water sparingly and have short showers.

There is laundry on-site. You can wash your clothes yourself, or we can do it for you at an extra fee (paid locally), however, you must provide your own washing powder.

There is Wi-Fi at this project at an extra cost. If you do not wish to pay for the WiFi connection, make sure to purchase a South African SIM card and load data on it while you are at your orientation in Johannesburg.

Arrival
You will be met by the driver with your name on a board as you exit the terminal at Johannesburg International Airport. We'll then transfer you to your accommodation for your orientation in Johannesburg.

Getting to the Project - With Road Transfers Only
If you choose to include road transfer only between Johannesburg and the Wild Cat Farm, we will arrange your transport with the City Bug Shuttle.

Arrival:
Shuttle Departure: 10:00 from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
Arrival at Kimberly (KIM) around 17:00
Duration: 5-6 hours, including two comfort stops
Pickup at KIM: A member of the volunteer team will met you and transfer you to the project site.

Departure
Shuttle Departure: 08:00 from Arrival at Kimberly (KIM).
Arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) at 15:45

At breakfast, you will have a substantial meal and sandwiches for lunch. For dinner you get a big meal consisting of meat and vegetables.
Tea and coffee will be available all day.
We do encourage you to bring along extra money to buy snacks and soft drinks in between meals, as we are not sure what your likes or dislikes are!
A refrigerator is also available for you to use for your food and drinks

Exception: While in Johannesburg, you will receive 1 welcome dinner and 1 breakfast; other snacks are at your own expense.

Please advise us on your dietary needs when filling out your application form. Participants with very specific dietary needs may be required to supplement their meals at their own expense.

Once a week there is an optional social trip where volunteers are able to go to the nearby town for dinner (dinner at own expense).

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE INFO
Please inform SAVE with the arrival/departure flight details. Flights out of Johannesburg can only after 18:00.
Visas, Insurances & Flight Tickets
Visas and insurances are the responsibility of the intern. Travel insurance is compulsory. You are also required to present a copy of your return flight itinerary when entering South Africa.

What to Bring
The type of clothing you should bring depends on the time of year. In any case bring work clothes that you don't mind getting worn and dirty as well as 2 pairs of working gloves to protect your hands.

Winter in South Africa
Please note that May through to September are our winter months and it can get quite chilly with an average temperature ranging from 5 degrees Celsius at night to 15 degrees Celsius during the day. So please make sure to pack enough warm clothes if you plan your trip in that period.