Siyafunda Conservation, Hoedspruit

I spent three weeks in may, it was fantastic:-animals: it's just magic, we're really immersed in the nature and animals are ubiquitous (big 5 well sure, hippos, monkeys, birds, nyalas, zebras, giraffes everywhere all the time) and not only during the games but also around the reserve (whether the main camp or the bush camp) where they come during the day and night: the elephants come to drink, nyalas, giraffes, hyenas came in the busch camp every night , even the lions approached... There is also night safaris and feet during which we approach very closely the lions, elephants and rhino. We spend a lot of time in the presence and proximity to the animals... -The camps: there are two main camps: the bush camp and the main camp (also a lodge). The two camps are beautiful and the ideal is to do both! The bush camp is a camp of tents: no electricity, no running water, no network of course... Change of scenery. The tents are large and sealed with a bed. There is a hut for the kitchen, shared toilets/showers (also try to take the nearest toilet tent if you get up a lot during the night because going to the toilet at night is an adventure in itself). The camp is just beautiful, quiet. 30 minutes by car, there are the main camp, which is hard. We're still in the middle of nature but with all the amenities.: private toilet, hot water, wifi... it is also much more lively because most of the volunteers and all the guides are. The rooms have very large windows and face either the bush or on the garden part directly (the bush is just behind) it is very nice especially at night! The evening and the morning very early it was very very cold (in May), during the day it is SRO against super hot. -Concept: every day we're doing two drive in general. We leave at 6: 00 for the first, we're back lunch, rest and start the afternoon until the evening. Sometimes the drive are replaced by safaris on foot. Volunteerism is essentially to count the animals - each week assigned us a species and for safaris there is data: number, sex, behavior, location... etc. It is very addictive and it gets old. After we enter the data on the computer at the camp. Once a week we do maintenance work: repair fences, cleaning of the bush, clearing roads... It's a great way to have fun helping and making useful (I wish maybe learn a little more about the scope of our contribution as volunteers..). The Sunday there is an exit at our expense (Kruger, blyde river..) - life in the camps: we do the rotations for the preparation of meals, dishes and the preparation of the fire. The lunches are pretty light especially after the big morning we got but we can prepare and more something (you can also bring some stuff on his side). The dinners are very good and it's really very good (recipes follow). It also takes into account the allergies and plan each. After lunch we enjoy camp and do what we want. The evening we dine around the campfire, the volunteers were nice - lots of solo travelers and suddenly the atmosphere was very friendly--coaching: during safaris, guides were great, very professional and conscientious. They teach us everything about everything: plants, animals, astronomy, geology... They were doing their best to find the animals and they have mastered all even the most delicate situations with composure. Loren with which our group was close was doing its utmost to please the volunteers and was constantly interacting with us to make us uncomfortable even after the drives. The other guides however were not very involved and back at the camp were not at all to the volunteers, sometimes it was even felt embarrass... it is really a shame for a volunteer program... but good does not alter the magic of the place and the animals. Final a invaluable experience in a magical setting with animals or you take full eyes while making a contribution! Do, do it again and do it again!