Askari is set within the 25000 ha of Pidwa Wilderness reserve in the heart of South Africa. Volunteers live in a fantastic house accommodating up to 10 volunteers. There are two spacious rooms with shared, dormitory-style sleeping arrangements and a double room available for couples. Rooms have their own bathrooms and the house has a lounge, dining room, office, kitchen and outside area with barbeque facilities. All linen and a laundry service is provided.
From the first day I arrived in South Africa coming to Askari, it felt like home. The staff were very welcoming and the group immediately bonded. It is a privilege to have game drives two or three times a day for a whole month. This gives you time to see rare animals and watch special sightings like cheetah cubs for as long as you wish. Askari is not about checking off the big 5 but being one with nature and taking care of the environment. Both the amazing sightings at wildlife and the work carried out on the reserve contribute to this feeling. If your not just looking for a holiday but wish to make a real difference, Askari is the place to be.
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Date of stay: November 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The month I spent at Askari was a life changing experience. Even though our planet is facing a huge environmental crisis and a 6th mass extinction, there are still very few people that are willing to work hard to change the way we’re dealing with biodiversity. The staff of Pidwa and the Askari team are some of these few Earth guardians that are entirely committed to environmental conservation, and whose decisions are always made in the best interest of the bush and its biodiversity. Ed and Katie are amazing guides and mentors who will make sure that you make the most of your stay and feel really involved in the management of the reserve. Of all the environmental projects I was involved in, Askari was by far the best.
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Date of stay: September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I spent a month in Askari as a volunteer, without a doubt the most rewarding month of my life. It was the first time I went alone and in a few days I found a new home, a family. ☀️
I was passionate about documentaries, and thanks to this experience, I was immersed in the bush. I saw a lot of animals, I felt really useful in this trip to participate in the preservation, conservation and management of the reserve. Every day, I discovered the bush in a different way, with a multitude of activities. During our time off, and once a week with the team, we visited the incredible country of South Africa with the Blyde River Canyon, the Kruger Park, the Olifant River. 🌍
We slept under the stars, observed animals, their footprints, walked in the bush, looked at the stars, explored the bush at night, had aperitifs with the sunset, peed in the bush always checking that there was not a lion behind ahah, ate very good food, laughed, we also put our feet in the mud, our hands in the gloves to work of course. It was an emotional month. 🦁I felt so lucky to experience this, to observe the animals in their natural environment, to understand them better. I also learnt to know myself better, to fulfil myself.
Katie, Brown and Stuart, the managers, taught us so much about the wildlife. They shared with us their knowledge, their love, their passion for animals and this world. Thanks to them ☀️
It is too difficult to sum up this experience. It was more than a volunteer experience, it was a real adventure. I know that one day I will go back. I had the opportunity to meet beautiful people, who I still see in Paris today. Askari changed my life. To finish this stay, with some of the team, we have engraved this trip on our skin with a tattoo. 🦒
Moreover, the period from August to September was ideal for the weather.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to write to them directly, they will be able to help you. And maybe, if you want, I could tell you about my experience as a volunteer (insta: lea_pttrs)
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This volunteering was for me a way to get involved in environmental conservation and to understand the impact of our life and decisions on biodiversity. In one month, I learned so much about nature and its conservation, it was incredible! Katie & Donald are exceptional guides and people who always make sure you get the most out of your stay and really feel involved in the management of the reserve. I am and will always be grateful in many ways for my time at Askari, and leave this experience with a better sense of myself and a better sense of life.
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Date of stay: March 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What an experience.. Being in the middle of "nowhere", so close to nature and wildlife and yet completely safe and secure. Entertained by an experienced management and hosted in perfect conditions. Clean, convenient, comfortable. And you learn a lot of things regarding nature and wildlife. The program is cool even for the older ones. Participation to activities is really an experience to do and follow. Cooking is prepared by volunteers and your tour comes back often so it is better to be prepared and like cooking. A fantastic experience and I will send all my kids and grand kids as soon as they reach 18.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my second time at Askari and even better than the first.
The programme is packed with mounds of education on conservation including hands on experiences. There are lots of fun activities built into the stay too with the highlight being a trip to Kruger park.
The accommodation is comfortable, clean and spacious and laundry is done twice weekly. The food is abundant and the meals all carefully planned so that everyone who has special needs is seen to.
If you are passionate about conservation and would like an all round experience with experienced guides and staff, don't hesitate!
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Well, what can I say? Having experienced Askari vicariously through my husband’s stay four years ago (2018 – almost to the day), nothing could have prepared me for the fantastic month I have just completed. While I had some idea of what to expect, actually being here and having the opportunity to witness the beauty and brutality that life at Askari offers is hard to put into words. Honoured to see Rae, the cheetah, on our first drive around the reserve. We were brought to earth sharply within a few days later when she was laid to rest following an encounter with Zamula (lion), the circle of life I guess.
Katie is an absolute gem! Her natural and engaging manner puts everyone at ease and the way she imparts knowledge on a wide range of topics is truly a gift. Our time at Askari has been precious and thanks to Katie’s efforts, thoroughly educational and informative. It is hard to believe how much information in such a short time and we are certainly more comfortable and confident in this environment than when we started.
Being able to soak in the full experience of life on a reserve is a privilege and one I am grateful for. To wake at dawn to see the sunrise, to contribute to the conservation activities at Askari while enjoying the beauty of these surroundings, the shining colour of the African sunset as well as an overnight camp out under the stars has been life changing.
Escaping the New Zealand winter, a trip to Pidwa is an absolute must. If you are on the fence about coming to South Africa, take it from me you will LOVE it! Make yourself, and the environment a priority. Take that leap of faith and volunteer at Askari Wilderness Conservation Programme, you won’t regret it!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This volunteering has been the best experience of my life! This was the first time that I travelled alone for my vet studies and I was just amazed day by day by the animals we discovered. I have got so many great moments that I will always remember, from seeing the lions up close, to seeing such young hyaena pups on our trip to Kruger (so curious and cute!), to having an elephant herd surround us, it was so beautiful! In the final week, we had an unexpected visit from a wildlife vet to assist with an injured cheetah, I am so grateful for that! I made new friends, we had lots of hilarious moments. The braai rendez-vous around the fire each Friday night was just perfect and memorable. Thank you Katie, Stuart, Bronwyn and all the staff for their kindness and their passion. They made me live my childhood dream!
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Date of stay: October 2022
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Askari is an amazing place! All the staff have an immense knowledge and are passionate about wilderness conservation. You can’t help but be ignited by it and it makes you feel good that you have contributed in some small way. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and will do anything they can to assist in anything you may need or want to know. Katie, the manager of the Askari Programme is sensational and the cornerstone of creating a family culture that you know you will always belong to. If you have a passion for wilderness and a thirst for knowledge, I can’t recommend this place enough. I can’t wait to come back!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An amazing experience for a number of reasons. Well thought out and set up, and awesome organisation of all activities. The work is interesting and fun, much is learned about African wildlife and reserve management, and there is huge variety in the experiences. The manager is exemplary in her role, sets a perfect culture and reads her audience perfectly in terms of the level of detail they’re seeking. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Gravelotte area.
LOCATION
South AfricaLimpopo ProvinceGravelotte
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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