LEO Africa Limpopo Eco Operations

LEO Africa carries out a project for the monitoring, conservation and sustainable life of wildlife, including the "Big 5" in South Africa. This nongovernmental voluntary project, created in 2005, works only thanks to the participation and commitment of international volunteers of which we were part.

Currently LEO Africa manages the ecological aspect of the Abelana Wildlife Reserve (150km²), located in the North-East of South Africa, near the Kruger National Park.

I have the feeling that when the LEO team judges that the environment is well preserved, and that the fauna lives in an optimal and balanced way, it is likely that LEO will intervene in another wildlife reserve.

LEO's missions:

• • Wildlife management: collect data (number, behavior, state of health, etc.) on the main animal species present in the reserve (lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, buffaloes, brown and spotted hyenas, white rhinos).

• • Management of the environment and flora: eradication of alien plant species, removal of old fences and plastic elements. Pruning of trees obstructing traffic on the slopes…

• • The data collected is analyzed to assess the numbers of the main species and to help the management of the reserve to make the right decisions on future conservation practices.

• • Sensitization of volunteers to the preservation of wildlife and the environment.

The nearest airport to LEO is Hoedspruit AFB. After 55 minutes of flight from Johannesburg it takes about 1h30 transfer to LEO.

By car from Johannesburg airport, it takes about 6 hours to reach LEO, which organizes and takes care of ground transfers for volunteers.

Limpopo is the name of the province in the North East of South Africa where LEO's activities are located; it is also the name of the river that materializes the northern border of this province with Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The extreme east of the Limpopo province is still a border of South Africa, this time with Mozambique.

The northern half of Kruger National Park is also in Limpopo Province. The entrance to the Kruger National Park called "Phalaborwa Gate" is only 26km from the LEO buildings. LEO gives its volunteers the opportunity to spend several days inside the Kruger Park. This is an exceptional opportunity to discover this extraordinary national park with a qualified guide, member of the LEO team.

You must be over 18 to volunteer at LEO, the length of stay can vary from two weeks to several months.

The following pages give you an overview of the missions we have accomplished with other volunteers during two weeks.