Save Africa’s Iconic Wildlife at Moholoholo

During my time with African Conservation Experience, I visited Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. This was an incredible experience as I had the chance to work and spend time with a bunch of different animals. One of the most memorable animals that I was able to work with was a baby hippo! That was a really special experience. I also helped look after the lions and cheetahs every day and that is something that I never thought I would be able to say! I think it's an experience that you wouldn’t get anywhere else. I loved my time at Moholoholo so much that I extended my stay from two weeks to one month! Because of this, I was able to help out with a very special case at the centre where I got to be the sole volunteer responsible for that animal. I learnt so much from the staff in my time there and it felt great they trusted me with this responsibility. Another thing I loved about Moholoholo was that I felt like I had worked hard at the end of each day and all for a good reason. The animals are being looked after because of you. It's clear that without the funding from the volunteers, and the extra pairs of hands that you are providing, the work and care for the animals wouldn’t be happening. Things like their enclosures getting repaired and the food that they eat wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers, so you feel like you are making a difference. It’s great seeing animals in the wild and it's very special, but being able to work up close with animals that you wouldn’t ever think that you would be up close with is really amazing. Seeing first-hand the amount of care and attention that the team give to each animal and how tirelessly they work is extraordinary. Being part of this team was phenomenal!

ACE made my trip so much easier. It was my first time out of the country and traveling alone I was super nervous but they really made it stress free. Every detail I most likely wouldn’t have thought of ACE handled such as the small travels to and from places, they helped me set up a hotel that had travel to and from the airport. When I thought I was lost in the airport I made a quick call to them and they helped me find the right way. Truly made the experience so much better because of their support. Thank you so much ACE! I went to Moholoholo for my Conservation experience and it was absolutely amazing being hands-on and helping staff care for these amazing animals.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I had to volunteer in southern Africa, and I want to give special thanks to African Conservation Experience for being amazing. My time with ACE has been truly life-changing. I was in a dark place, and my experience in Africa has brought a whole new light into my life. It has shown me how amazing our world is and made me realise that we can save it as long as enough people can see conservation's importance. I don't know if I can even put into words how important my time at Moholoholo was. For those of us who are compassionate about conservation and wildlife, it's such a powerful and emotional project to be a part of. Being a small part of an animal's rehabilitation and helping them survive and get back out into the wild, there are no words to describe it. The dedication that the Moholoholo staff showed every day, through their diligence and hard work for the animals in their care was inspiring. A typical day at Moholoholo is quite diverse. We work six or seven days a week, starting at 6:30 in the morning. We begin by checking on the specific animals that have been assigned to you and your group, making sure they are healthy, eating well, and maintaining a good weight. We also clean their enclosures to ensure they have a clean place to rest. In the afternoon or late morning, we regroup and take care of any additional tasks that have come up during the day. We try to rotate tasks to give everyone a variety of experiences, but if someone is particularly interested in working with a specific animal or in a certain area, they will usually get a chance to do so. After our lunch and free time, we go out for afternoon rounds, where most of the larger animals like the big cats get fed. It's a fulfilling feeling, despite the hard work, to know that what we're doing means something. One of the most memorable aspects of my experience was the connections and respect I formed with the animals. I developed strong relationships with the staff at the project, but it was the bonds I created with the animals that stood out the most. I had an amazing experience volunteering with ACE and would do it again in a heartbeat. They were incredibly organised, and there was always someone available to assist me at every step. I felt fully supported, whether it was through in-person assistance or easily reaching them by message or phone. They guided us through everything and answered all our questions - I never felt lost. Before volunteering, I did a lot of research into other companies and the ethics of volunteering. I can honestly say ACE truly exceeded my expectations.