2 - 12 Weeks | Mozambique | Conservation Project
Jump into the deep blue and help us protect these giants of the sea!
|
DESTINATION(S): |
Mozambique |
|
DURATION: |
2 - 12 Weeks |
|
INCLUDES: |
Airport transfers, accommodation, meals, orientation and support from local staff |
|
START DATES: |
1st Monday of the Month (every month except December) |
|
PERFECT FOR: |
Adventurers, students, gap year projects |
|
RATES (FROM): |
Please contact us for a quote |
PROJECT OVERVIEW
As a volunteer, on the Marine Research & Whale Shark Conservation Project, you will help carry out the Marine Research and monitoring activities for the project under the guidance of our coordinating project scientist.
You will join other volunteers on the project to collect the data via scuba dives, ocean safaris and beach walks off the coastline of Tofo in Mozambique. You can expect an excellent diving, snorkeling and beach experience whilst gaining first hand marine research skills and contributing to a worthwhile project.
In order to carry out many of these activities, you will need to be able or willing to learn to scuba dive. An internationally recognized diving course (Open Water Diver or Advanced Open Water Diver) is provided in the cost of the program to facilitate this (not included in the 2-week option).
You will also need to be a capable swimmer (able to swim 100m unassisted) and snorkeler. Being able to hold your breath to dive down would be an advantage but is not required.
YOUR ROLE
The project involves conducting multiple types of research with different species. The following is a summary of the type of research and Conservation activities you may be involved with. Some of the activities are conducted at specific times of the year whilst others are conducted all year round. Our co-ordinating project scientists will teach you how to assist with data collection throughout your project duration.
Some of the activities you will get involved in may include:
Whale Shark
The Whale Shark component of the Project involves joining ocean safaris to snorkel with Whale Sharks in the open ocean. It involves taking underwater photographs for identifying the Whale Sharks as well as recording other ecological information. As a summary, you will collect the following information on the Whale Sharks:
- Date, GPS location, surface and underwater conditions
- Size, sex, scars/distinctive features, the behavior of the Whale Shark
- You will take an ID photograph and identify each Whale Shark & record re-sightings
Dolphin
You will be collecting data which enables dolphin numbers and the behaviours to be recorded and uploaded onto databases to share with our Marine Partners.
Of particular interest in this study is dolphin the behavior in relation to tourism.
Coral Reef and Estuary
This involves carrying out underwater data collection on indicator species of coral fish and the condition and cover of coral and echinoderms on the reefs. Estuary areas are also studied and monitored.
You will be taught how to select a sample area and what type of data to record, then taught how this data is recorded and used in studies and monitoring.
Monitoring of various other species
Sightings of various species are noted and at different times there could be studies underway of a number of other species. Other species studied and monitored at the Marine Research Centre at various times include seahorses, turtles, manta rays, guitar fish - amongst others
Humpback Whales
Monitor the numbers of Humpbacked Whales on their seasonal migration up and down the coast. This involves sand dune based observations using binoculars and boat-based observations recording the numbers of Whales, the makeup of the pods and the behaviors witnessed.
General Environment
A number of more general environmental awareness and clean-up activities will be also carried out during the project. This could include collaboration with local wasted collection and recycling charity, beach clean ups and also regular micro-plastic surveys are conducted of random samples of the beach.
Please note: The activities listed above are based on availability and may vary by season. These are samples of activities that are volunteers are likely to participate in. We can not guarantee sightings of whale sharks or any other species.
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOLUNTEER
07:00
Wake up at your beachside lodge, brush your teeth, grab your swim kit and get ready to stroll along the beach in the sunshine to the dive centre where coffee and breakfast will be served!
07:30
Get prepared for your research dive – get your equipment together and head to one of the dive sites or you may go on an ocean safari and go searching for Whale Sharks and dolphins to take photo ID shots and record behavioural data
12:30
Break for lunch on the shaded beachside deck of the dive centre. After an action-packed morning, time to relax a little!
13:30
Return back to your accommodation and share your day’s adventures with other volunteers, or there is time for some sunbathing on the beach or a stroll to the market.
14:00
Depending on the time of year – you may be collecting data on Humpback Whales from the top of the sand dunes, uploading photo IDs into the database, conducting turtle nest surveys or improving the beach environment with a clean-up collection.
18:00
Enjoy a delicious evening meal and relax!
Itinerary for your experience
Day 1
Fly into Inhambane Airport, usually connections are available from OR Tambo Airport Johannesburg or Maputo Mozambique where you will be met by an All Out Africa staff member who will transfer with you to your accommodation.
Day 2
Your orientation will start with a presentation by the coordinating project scientists to prepare you for your project. You will then be shown around Tofo and have a tour of the nearby city of Inhambane.
Day 3 - 5
Begin your scuba diving course which usually lasts between 4 & 7 days depending on weather conditions. This is an internationally accredited course and upon completion you will get a certificate permitting you to scuba dive to 18m anywhere in the world. Those who already hold an open water course will complete an advanced dive course (qualifies you to dive to 30m).
If you are a 2-week volunteer on the program or already have both open and advanced dive qualifications you will begin the activities described under day 8-13 on the itinerary instead.
After scuba class you will be treated with a series of interesting educational talks on some of the amazing megafauna you will be swimming with over the next few weeks including how to ID several different kinds of fish species.
Day 6 - 7
At weekends there is time to explore the stunning palm-fringed beaches of Tofo: relax, surf, swim and enjoy your beautiful surroundings. During the first weekend you may also be completing your open or advanced water certificate.
Day 8 - 10
On days when you are not in the water, our social projects guide may take you on activities around Tofo such as Portuguese lessons, historical walking tours and/or local handicraft creation.
It is important to note that daily activities may change due to weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control at any given time. Attention to the daily posted schedule will be vital.
RATES
Pricing Details
What's Included
- Airport Transfers
- An internationally recognized dive qualification (Not included for 2-week volunteers)
- Research dives and ocean safari’s to collect data
- Comprehensive 24 hours, 7 days a week support from All Out Africa
- Comprehensive orientation to the country
What's Included
- Volunteer projects specifically designed to enable you to make an active contribution during your stay
- Support of volunteer project coordinators who are experts in their fields which ensure the volunteer experience is valuable
- All food and accommodation throughout your stay
What's Excluded
- Flights
- Personal Expenses
- Travel Documents/Visas
- Personal Trips
- Daily Travel Costs to Your Project Placement
DATES & AVAILABILITY
This project starts on the first Monday of every month, except December.
GENERAL TOUR INFORMATION
What To Bring
- Mobile phone with roaming OR “unlocked”(Buy local network SIM on arrival)
- Sunglasses/Sun hat/Bandanna/Sun cream
- Insect repellent
- Day pack/rucksack for everyday
- Small torch (a head torch is preferable)
- Toiletries/ Hand sanitizer & wet wipes(You can easily buy toiletries on arrival in Swaziland & Cape Town)
- Personal first aid kit/ Painkillers
- Boots &/or sturdy trainers
- Flip flops/Sandals/Swimwear
- Fun &/or casual wear for the weekend!
- Light waterproof jacket
Accommodation
- Shared dorm room in a comfortable lodge
- Bedding and bed linen provided
- Hot showers
- Clean toilets.
- All meals provided, except lunches on travel days
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need experience to join this project?
How long is the work day?
This can vary but typically you will depart from your accommodation around 08:00am to arrive at your project and get started around 08:30. There is always a lunch break of at least one hour, and projects will resume in the afternoon with a finish time around 16:00. You'll have plenty of free time to relax and explore in the evenings and at weekends.
How many people will I be working alongside?
Each month we have a variety of volunteers join us from all over the world. In most cases you will be staying at a lodge with shared accommodation with perhaps 4-20+ other volunteers, however, these volunteers may be split amongst several different volunteer projects during the day. This is a great opportunity to meet and mix with volunteers who have different interests, but still get to have an intimate project experience!
What is the typical age of participants on the programme?
When/how should I book by flights?
Do I need any vaccinations?
Please check with your primary healthcare provider for the most current advice and let them know that you will be traveling to southern Africa. They may want to make sure all of your vaccinations are up to date and may have health recommendations for you. Essentially, it is up to you to seek current advice and decide whether you want to want to get vaccinated or take any malaria prophylaxis.
What about visas?
Visa requirements will depend on your nationality and it is your own responsibility to check whether or not you need a visa, so make sure you check on your local governments’ travel site for the most up to date information. However, many nationalities are able to obtain a 30-day tourist visa on entry at the border. If you are staying for longer periods our staff will help you with an extension in the country.
What about travel insurance?
It is your own responsibilty to obtain sufficient insurance cover for medical emergencies and other mishaps that could occur on your trip. It is strongly recommended that all volunteers have a valid travel insurance policy that will cover them for the duration of their stay.
Where does your project fees go?
By signing up with us you are donating your time and skills to work directly with communities in need through a structured project. There are many benefits of volunteering with an organization like ours. Sometimes it is hard to find projects to support in a foreign country that are safe, worthwhile and reputable. When you sign-up for one of our projects for 2 or 12-weeks, you become part of a bigger, sustainable plan that our team of qualified staff has carefully crafted. You will also receive travel and visa support, orientation, a safe place to stay, logistical support, in addition to clear expectations of the work you will do. This is why we charge a fee for volunteering or interning abroad.
Your project fee goes towards a company you can trust, an experience that is worthwhile and an opportunity that will make a positive and sustainable impact on the community you have chosen to serve.
BOOKING
Please complete our enquiry form and one of our team members will be in contact with you to start planning your African Adventure. Alternatively you can contact us directly via WhatsApp or Email with any questions you might have.
-
Phone/WhatsApp:
+268 7865 4029 -
Email:
bookings@alloutafrica.com -
Office Details:
All Out Africa Projects, Lidwala Lodge,
Roki Centre, MR 103, Ezulwini, Eswatini -
Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8h00 - 17h00
Sat - Sun: CLOSED
- or -
INTERNSHIP
As an intern on the Marine Research & Whale Shark Conservation Project, you will help carry out the Marine Research and monitoring activities for the project under the guidance of our coordinating project scientists.
You will join other interns on the project to collect the data via scuba dives, ocean safaris, and beach walks off the coastline of Tofo in Mozambique. You can expect an excellent diving, snorkeling and beach experience whilst gaining first hand Marine Research skills and contributing to a worthwhile project.
Whether you are looking to gain experience to add to your CV, need to fulfil University requirements or just have experience to contribute, we like to make our internships as beneficial for each intern as possible. That’s why we want to know in advance if you have a special interest, expertise or goals to achieve whilst you’re completing your internship with us.
Please send an email to the Research Coordinator at jule@alloutafrica.org to confirm that we are a good fit for your internship needs.
INTERN ROLE
An intern, although also not being paid, is different from a Gap-year volunteer as they are expected to bring some knowledge and/or experience in the area they are working in.
There are fewer internship posts available so competition for these is higher. Interns will be working at a more career-focused strategic level and developing local capacity to work effectively and with meaning, as well as gaining valuable hands-on, practical experience during their placement.
Interns are also expected to take on more responsibility and to create their own goals and seek activities to be involved in or lead. They will also have a mentor assigned to them to guide them during the internship.
The project involves conducting multiple types of research with different species. The following is a summary of the type of research and Conservation activities you may be involved with. Some of the activities are conducted at specific times of the year whilst others are conducted all year round. Our co-ordinating project scientists will teach you how to assist with data collection throughout your project duration.
In order to carry out many of these activities, you will need to be able to scuba dive and have some marine science knowledge already.
As an Intern, you will primarily be responsible for directly assisting the marine biologist on site. This may include working as a lab assistant and helping the intern researchers with species identification and/or lab procedure. Depending on your skill level and expertise, your internship may also include working on an independent research project.
* Please note that the activities listed above are based on availability and may vary by season. These are samples of activities that are interns are likely to participate in.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- As part of the project activities, you will complete an Internationally Recognized Dive Qualification during a normal 4-week program, along with 11 or 12 ocean activities (ocean safaris or research dives) depending on the dive course chosen. Numbers of ocean safaris and research dives are calculated accordingly for shorter/longer programs.
- In order to carry out the activities required of you in the Marine Conservation Project you will need to be a capable swimmer (able to swim 100m unassisted) and snorkeler; being able to hold your breath to dive down would be an advantage.
- Volunteers who sign up for a 2-week project must have either their open or advanced water dive certification.
- Volunteers who have pre-existing medical conditions or are over 45 years of age must also bring a medical clearance letter permitting them to dive.
- Any volunteers taking Lariam/Mefloquine/Mephliam/Tropicure (or any other derivatives) as anti-malarial treatment (prophylaxis) will not be permitted to dive, as it causes increased risks when diving. Please advise your doctor that you are going on a dive holiday and request another suitable anti-malarial treatment.
- Accredited divers must bring their dive cards (listing their last logged dive) with them to the project site as proof.
- Dive accredited volunteers not requiring/wanting a dive course but who have not logged a dive within 6 months of their project will need to complete a Scuba Review before they can participate in their research dives. The cost of a Scuba Review is not included in the project cost and a small fee will be paid locally for this directly to the Dive Center we partner with.
- The open water certificate qualifies volunteers to dive up to 18 meters and some of our dive sites are between 20-30 meters deep. It is not essential to dive at these deeper sites, but should you wish to participate in deep diving (up to 30 meters) you will either need to complete a Deep Dive course at a small additional local cost, or there is also the option to complete an Advanced Water Course at an additional cost.
- Ask for our fish-list if you would like a head start on coming to grips with all the different species that you will be seeing on your dives!
- All Participants on this project MUST fill out this PADI form and submit the final document along with their booking form before they travel to Mozambique.
Discover your next experience
