An amazing experience that I will never forget. I had a wonderful time volunteering and staying at Askari as part of the two week volunteer program. The accommodations were better than expected. You share a volunteer house and bedroom with the other volunteers but you never get the sense that it's crowded or unclean. Meals are done as a group and prepared by the volunteers, I didn't have a bad meal while I was there. The meals are very mainstream to the point where I was hoping we'd get something exotic to say I ate. The staff is amazing. My birthday came while I was there and they made it feel very special. Everyone was very warm and inviting, I can't say enough about how wonderful the staff is at Askari. The work was interesting. If you are a student of the natural sciences this program is invaluable. You're going to get the opportunity to see a lot of animals and habitats you won't see anywhere else. Some of the animal tracking was a little slow for me to the point where I wanted more manual labor but it's a once in a lifetime experience for someone who isn't interested in a career in the sciences. I highly recommend Askari for anyone that wants a different kind of experience then most volunteer vacations.
Askari WCP
I am in love with Askari! I would go back tomorrow if I had the opportunity. The staff were friendly, supportive and informative. The house was always clean and tidy. Learning about the African flora and fauna was fun and interesting, as well as our daily activities. If you're looking to take a vacation with some kind of purpose, this is the program for you. I left feeling accomplished and like I made a difference. I would recommend Askari to everyone! Memories to last a life time!
I was amazed from the moment we stepped off the plane, at the friendliness and thoughtfulness of the staff. The Askari team are great, there was never a question I asked that went unanswered. If I was curious they readily pointed me in the right direction. Bongani and Cedric were both friendly and a pleasure to have around. The programme was hard but very fulfilling. I would recommend it to anyone interested in conservation or helping animals. Truly a once in a lifetime experience!
I just got back from a month with Askari. My time at there was absolutely amazing. It’s one thing to go on a safari and see African animals but this program gives you the unique experience of actually working to help run the reserve while enjoying the same sights (and many others). The volunteer house is lovely, the staff is so friendly and knowledgeable, the activities are a blast, the experience is unforgettable! You can read about my experience on my blog at http://goingplaces.blog.usf.edu/?tag=south-africa-summer-2012
If you are looking for a holiday with a difference, then you can’t pick a more suitable places than Askari. From the friendliness of the staff to activities planned, they’ve got it spot on. There’s a good range of activities from researching herbivore numbers to cutting down and injecting alien plants. Cheetah tracking is very exciting, to know just how close you are to the magnificent animals. There is a huge variety of animals to see on your many trips out. Activities are broken up during the day so there is always an array of different and enjoyable tings to do. Always expect the unexpected too. You NEVER know what you will see or hear. The sleep out is lots of fun with plenty of nocturnal animals to be seen and heard. The house itself is clean, tidy and well looked after by Bongani who will also do washing twice per week. The food is excellent, with a wide variety of choices to suit all taste buds. The staff, both at Askari and the reserve management team are friendly, very welcoming and very knowledgeable. There’s nothing that is too much trouble for them and there’s no such thing as asking too many questions, which is great. If you want an exciting holiday, whilst helping to preserve Africa as it should be, then look no further – you’ve found it!
