My experience was amazing! I had a great time working with Mandy and Arno, they are super caring and experts at wildlife, i felt so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them and learn from them! I didn’t just learned a lot, I also had a lot of fun doing something i loved, the days on the field are great, we see a lot of animals everyday, and have unique experiences, all of that with the company of amazing people, in one of the most beautiful places i have ever been! I hope i can come back soon!!!

I can honestly say that my experience as an intern with Nkonzo Wildlife Research was one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much from Mandi and Arno, I feel much more experienced in field research and sampling techniques, and I am excited and enthusiastic about continuing on the path to become a wildlife biologist. From the first time we came in contact, Mandi and Arno supported me every step of the way. Mandi was incredible with helping me design a project I could use for an honors thesis, and they were incredibly patient and helpful with me throughout the entire month I spent collecting data with them. I absolutely loved every minute of my month as an intern: the work is fun and rewarding, the animals are amazing, and the people are some of the kindest and most supportive I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I would recommend this program to anyone who has a passion for wildlife and conservation, is willing to work hard, and has a sense of adventure! I’m so grateful for my time here, and I only wish it lasted longer.

I don’t have words to describe the time of my life. This volunteering program was just unbelievable. It was my first of this kind of experiences and I could have chosen better. Arno and Mandi are incredibly experts on African wildlife and its conservation. And at the same time, thy are just wonderful people, always trying to make the best of your trip.Hope to see you soon, kindest regards!

I had the most AMAZING experience with Nkonzo. Arno & Mandi are the most passionate and knowledgeable people about wildlife that I’ve ever met! I learned so much about research technique , animal behavior, identification, ethics, safety, and more. I was always in awe of the beauty of the area. Right from the start, I felt very welcomed and encouraged. I highly recommend volunteering here, you will gain so many amazing memories and a lot of love for the wildlife!

It was just the best experience ever. We learnt, spent time out in the bush, helped in real conservation programs and enjoyed of incredible sightings during our course.Thanks a lot for your passion and way of protecting wildlife.

Experience of a lifetime! Mandy and Arno are fantastic people with so much knowledge about wildlife and conservation. Highly recommend going!

I spent two weeks with Nkonzo Wildlife Research and it was incredible! Not only was it fascinating, but having the opportunity to directly contribute to conservation and research was immensely rewarding. Mandi and Arno were both very knowledgable and enthusiastic whenever I asked questions and working with them was absolutely fantastic. Highly recommended!

It was an amazing experience, I met two incredible people that taught me a lot! I’m sure I will never forget it and I was a pleasure to help them with those amazing projects.

Ive been wanting to do volunteer work with wildlife in South Africa for years and I definitely chose the right program to do so. Mandi and Arno are wonderful people who are very knowledgeable and serious about conservation. You learn a lot about the ethics of conservation, research techniques and the lives of various wildlife. Mandi is such an amazing person and will help you with whatever you need. She teaches you so much and can braai like no other! :) I would go back every year if I could and it is worth the cost each time. I recommend Nkonzo to anyone who is serious about conservation, learning or even just volunteering to help with their conservation goals. Much love for Nkonzo and SA. Thank you!

It is an amazing place and the staff is so helpfulle and friendly

I had a very great time at Nkonzo Wildlife Research and I would recommend it to anyone. Arno and Mandi are great managers and learn us a lot during the volunteering program. Also, the place to stay in Hartenbos is very nice and well located (close to the shops, the beach...). Hope to come back one day !

I had a fantastic time with Nkonzo Wildlife Research and can highly recommend it. Arno and Mandi take care of their volunteers and everything was well organized. I will definitely come back soon!

Where do I even begin to describe my time with Nkonzo. This is my second time back and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. One thing I love is that even though I’ve done it before, I still learned so much! Plus Arno and Mandi truly care about the well being of all the animals and are incredibly ethical with everything. They make sure the interns are well taken care of and are always there if anyone needs anything. I am incredibly thankful they welcomed me back and I have plans to go back very soon. Volunteering through Nkonzo is something you will not ever regret.

Beautiful

I have had so many wonderful experiences in the past month that I will take with me for the rest of my life. It is such a privilege to volunteer with Nkonzo and have the opportunity to observe the animals, their behaviours and interactions. I have so much greater appreciation for the threat they are under and the important work that people like Mandi and Arno are doing. Mandi and Arno both have such a wealth of knowledge and experience; they work within a strong ethical framework; and have great passion for the animals and what they do. They were amazing. I learned so much from my time with them. And it was great to meet the other volunteers and explore some of the beautiful and amazing sights of South Africa.

The most amazing experience. I would highly recommend this volunteer programme to anyone who is passionate about animal welfare and ethics. The two people who manage this could not have been more helpful to us, so lovely and kind and their passion for these wild animals and animal ethics always being the most important thing is so refreshing and inspiring to see. Seeing these wild animals in their natural habitat everyday was amazing and helping to protect them was a dream come true.Highly recommend and all in the name of conservation.

Me and my wife spent 2 weeks with Arno and Mandi and it was a dream come true. Volunteering in South Africa is something we have always wanted to do and to be able to do this with Nkonzo was amazing. Animal ethics and welfare was always there priority and it’s great to see that. Would highly recommend going to Nkonzo if anyone is looking to do volunteer work and help make a difference!

It was an experience that I will never forget. I would absolutely recommend everyone to join Nkonzo Bush Academy if you want to spend and incredible month in South Africa and you are a passionate about wildlife and its conservation. It is awesome to know there are people you can trust as Mandi and Arno are!! Thank you so much for this incredible month!

The time with Nkonzo was perfect. I learned a lot about wildlife conservation while having a lot of fun with passionate people. We spent a lot of time with rhinos which was fascinating each and every day. Apart from the data collection we spent lots of time with different kinds of wild animals and enjoyed sightings of for example lions, elephants, hippos and more.All in all this experience changed the way i look at animals and the environment in general. In addition i realized how important wildlife conservation is for keeping nature the way i got to know it.Thanks for the great month in south africa :).

I was a part of Nkonzo Bush Academy in 2014, and still remissness about my experience every day. Arno is an amazing guide with a true respect for animals and the ethics of true conservation biology. I learned many skills as an early conservation biologist, still in college, and I recommend to anyone pursuing conservation as a career, to go through this program. You have to be extremely careful when supporting organizations because of the ethical aspect in South Africa, and I can say 100% that Arno and Mandi at Nkonzo Bush Academy always put the animals and education first. The next time I have the chance to visit South Africa, it will be through this program again. They are extremely hospitable, kind, and caring. Arno is also a great cook and knows how to throw down on a Brie! (South African BBQ). Miss this place and these people.

Big thanks to Nkonzo and Mandy for the opportunity to allow me to immerse myself into the natural beauty of South Africa and its animals. I gained a lot of knowledge about rhino conservation and dedication behind the people who cared deeply about them. I also learned to appreciate the sound of the wind, the smell of the grass and the beauty of these gentle giants that walk along with me throughout my time here. There is no planet b, it is sad to me that these gentle giants might not be around in the future. To those who wants to contribute, If you are interested in volunteering in conservation and like to explore the coastal city of Mossel Bay, please take a look at Nkonzo and help them make sure that our future generations will get a chance to see and appreciate these amazing creatures.

I must disagree with Ana. Having been involved with Nkonzo as well as Cheetah Outreach, both are amazing places offering great opportunities as well as making a difference to our wildlife and their future. If i could give more than 5 stars I would.

I was part of Nkonzo Bush Academy when I did a wild life research internships. It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. We lived in a tent for a week and ate campfire food, we learned to track animals, and observed those animals live their lives naturally. We also learn about the importance of anti-poachers and how important protecting these beautiful animals are. Mossel Bay itself is a really cool town, nice little mall for necessities, good food, and Blue Shed Coffee. Nkonzo is worth a trip for sure. GREAT EXPERIENCE!

Amazing experience and really focused on ethical conservation.

I have joined Nkonzo Bush Academy twice and I would do it every single month! You can absolutely trust Arno and Mandi, as they will make you feel the pasion and love they have for wildlife. By joining Nkonzo Bush Academy you know your money is directly invested in wildlife conservation, as they will let you know!! It is one in a lifetime experience that can’t be described on words and I can just say thank you to Nkonzo and the people that manage it. I’m glad I took the decision of joining them as the two months I’ve spent there are the best of my life!!

Great experience! What an amazing team and management operating in the lovely garden route of South Africa. Would recommend to anyone!

In Feb/March 2019 I decided to take part in the wildlife conservation program for 16 days primarily to learn more about what a career in conservation consists of. Most of the time we sat in a vehicle following the white rhinos around the game reserve to observe and document their social behaviors and interactions. As the days went by I started to notice the unique personalities of these majestic perissodactyls.I was disappointed to learn that most wildlife throughout South Africa are enclosed in fenced out areas which disrupt natural migratory patterns. Unfortunately this is the sad reality necessary to protect them from poachers. I was reassured to know that studies are carried out to ensure that every animal in the reserve has the proper territorial requirements to live stress free in these sort of environments.Having already been on a safari in Kenyas Maasai Mara 4 years ago, this is by no means a safari but more of an educational animal research experience. I found the program a little pricey for what we got, but the funds go towards helping Nkonzo collect important information on white rhinos and better understand their complex social structures.Better understanding leads to less unnecessary deaths and stress to these sensitive animals and ensure their wild populations thrive and coexist with ever expanding human encroachment.Until every lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter~African Proverb

What an amazing experience! Hope to come some time in the future. Thanks Arno, for everything>

Okay.

A great team and an amazing experience!