ORCA Marine Conservation

Shumba Experience

Join this fascinating and varied marine conservation placement in South Africa and work alongside experienced marine conservationists.  You’ll be based in Plettenberg Bay, home to some of the worlds most enchanting marine species, including Southern Right whales, Humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, dolphins, seals, Orcas and Great White Sharks to name but a few.  

The ORCA placement will give you a unique once in a life time chance to work with these magnificent marine species, in exciting, marine conservation volunteer work, by combining education, conservation, community development, science and tourism.  You’ll assist with dolphin and whale research by taking photos of fins for identification and recording behavioural information. On land volunteers will learn about pollution and collect water samples for analysis, help clean local beaches, organise local marine awareness campaigns and educate local children about marine conservation.   

Additionally volunteers have the option of gaining a Local Marine Guiding certificate. This course and qualification is a condensed version of the National Marine Guiding programme offered by South African Boat Based Whale Watching Association. The course includes approximately 10 hours of theory instruction and 10 hours of practical training with a 1 hour exam. 

Activities
* Participating in commercial marine eco-tourism activities, which include whale and dolphin watching tours, sea kayaking & township tours
* Organising co-ordinated provincial marine and coastal awareness campaigns
* Monitoring and cleaning of beaches and coastal regions
* Involvement in community development programmes
* Educating school children on marine conservation principals
* Conducting research surveys, including marine and coastal resource economic valuations, angling surveys and various marine animal surveys
* Sampling, tagging, monitoring and dissection of fish species
* Supervised collection of aquarium species for the ORCA aquarium
* ORCA patrol boat trips to collect data & monitor marine life

Accommodation & Food

Staying in a house near the beach, volunteers will share a 4 bedroom & 2 bathroom house with the placement leaders.  All meals are provided for you at the house with volunteers often having evening meals in town. There is a kitchen, dining area and living room with TV, phone line and internet access. Laundry facilities are available for volunteers. The house is within close proximity to nearby a shopping centre, which has various shops, cinemas, restaurants and bars.   

Costs
Volunteers must pay for the time they are with the ORCA team. The costs includes food, accommodation, transfers to/from George airport, staff supervision, all placement activities and a local information pack.

2 Weeks - £895           4 Weeks - £1,395