Located within the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa, the immersive 4-week experience places you amidst the captivating African wilderness. Led by seasoned professionals including naturalists, trackers, impact producers, cinematographers, and natural history editors, our program guides you in crafting your narrative.
Your mentors advocate for a holistic approach to wildlife filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of the natural environment and comprehensive storytelling—from initial research to final post-production. Throughout the course, esteemed guest speakers from the wildlife documentary industry, along with our post-production collaborator, will conduct enlightening workshops to enrich your journey.
Quick Overview
Country & Area: Hoedspruit, South Africa, Mpumalanga province Nearest Airport: Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport Transfer Time: ± 30 minutes Duration: 28 Days Minimum Age: 18
Project Details
You will explore ecology, animal behaviour and phenomenology as well as practical training in the field of how to read the tracks and signs of the wild. You will learn about impact producing and how to use filmmaking as a tool to help protect our great wilderness. You will learn how to shoot for the edit, manage your media and ethics in post-production.
Our film making school is based in the Timbavati Game Reserve with over 6,000 hectares of traverse of wildlife reserve in the Mpumalanga province. Mpumalanga means 'place where the sun rises' and this is well suited, as Mpumalanga is South Africa's eastern most province. In this low-lying subtropical climate, broad-leaved trees and thorn trees co-exist in relatively open woodland, interspersed with long grass and lots of game.
The Timbavati Big 5 Game Reserve will be your home for the duration of your stay. You will live in the heart of the African bush in your own private, luxury tented accommodation. The Timbavati is home to the big 5 but is most famous for its incredible lion sightings. It is also home to many African mammals including giraffes, hippos, wild dogs, a plethora of bird species and an array of insects.
• 1 August – 31 August 2024 - 2 spots left • 24 September – 21 October 2024 - 8 spots left • 11 November – 8 December 2024 - 8 spots left
Your home for the 4 weeks will be in the heart of the Timbavati Big 5 Game Reserve for an authentic, back to nature experience whilst living in style and sleeping in comfort in your own private, luxury tented accommodation positioned in the heart of the property which sits next to a dry riverbed. Each student will have an en-suite with indoor and outdoor showers, a private deck looking out to the bush, a private study and coffee station. Each tent is a separate unit immersed into the surrounding vegetation. Everyone will have use of the lounge and bar, yoga deck, swimming pool, outdoor barbeque area and fireside area. They will also have full access to the lecture area, office working space, an edit suite and filming studio.
Students will have three delicious and nutritious meals per day with plenty of snacks with all drinks except alcohol, which will be on the student’s own account. Once a week we will have a communal South African ‘Braai’ by the campfire under the stars. If you are staying out in the field, packed lunches will be brought to you. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements are catered for but must be specifically requested before arrival so that supplies can be arranged.
Please make sure the team is made aware of any special requirements and allergies. All meals will be prepared by the lodge chef.
A typical menu includes: Breakfast - assorted cereals, yogurt, fruit salad, eggs and toast. Lunch - sandwiches/burgers/rolls, salads, quinoa or a packed lunch if out of camp. Dinner - an example of a main course is a creamy coconut peanut laksas, South-east asian curries, stir frys, roast chicken and salad, South African braai.
Soft drinks and bottled mineral water are available to purchase through an honesty bar system. Alcoholic beverages are available at the bar during social hours only. Drinking water is drinkable and available all around camp to fill up your water bottles.
On arrival at Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport (this is your best point of entry into South Africa), you will have to clear immigration and collect your baggage. Once you enter arrivals, proceed to the domestic terminal for your onward domestic flight, the domestic terminal is clearly marked and within walking distance, you do not leave the airport. When making your travel arrangements, we will be there to assist in any questions you may have. A member of the team will be awaiting your arrival to bring you into the game reserve - your new home for the next 4 weeks.
Starlink internet available all around the lodge. However, there is no cellular network so once we go into the field, there will be no connectivity. The team communicates using radios when in the field.
INCLUDED:
Comfortable private tented accommodation 24-hour support from Too Wild team 3 delicious meals per day plus snacks expert instruction with small group size one-to-one mentoring 4 weeks of filming and living in a Big 5 game reserve using of top of the range broadcast quality cameras plus your own trail cam use of professional audio gear access to professional editing suite pick up and drop off from Hoedspruit starlink wifi laundry with in-house housekeeper workshops and masterclasses with specialists
EXCLUDED: International flights domestic flights or road transfers to Hoedspruit travel insurance personal first aid kits and medications alcoholic beverages tips for local staff
The 28-day course provides a field-based wild experience for local and international students with an interest and passion for wildlife. The course has both theoretical and practical elements. Modules include an introduction to filmmaking, the equipment and how to maintain it; theoretical training in technical skills, filming techniques, sequences, composition and cutaways; working with human talent and film wild animals on foot during bushwalks. An additional module will focus on filming for social media in today's highly social world. You will explore ecology, animal behaviour and phenomenology as well as practical training in the field of how to read the tracks and signs of the wild. You will learn about impact producing and how to use filmmaking as a tool to help protect our great wilderness. You will learn how to shoot for the edit, manage your media and ethics in post-production.
Comprehensive Information Pack
Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Go
If you have decided that you would like to take the next step and book a Worldwide Experience, it couldn’t be easier. Simply complete the online application form on this website and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The Worldwide Team South Africa is with you every step of the way. From providing detailed information on your selected placement, right through to offering help and advice on sponsorships and fundraising. We also supply contact details of all your fellow volunteers so you can get in touch before your Worldwide Experience begins.
In the past, we have had several students raise funds for their Worldwide Experience. Because a large portion of the funds you generate goes back into conservation it allows to you capitalize on this opportunity. Fundraising projects past students have carried out include sponsored runs and swims, letters to companies and charities as well as general work. Feel free to discuss the opportunities with our consultants at any time. There is a lot of money to be earned out there!
South Africa
If you have a British passport (or almost any EU passport) you will not have to pay for an entry visa to South Africa (except for French passport holders). You are entitled to 3 months in South Africa, however, should you wish to stay longer your visa can be extended and your placement coordinator will assist in taking you to the Department of Home Affairs. The Department will charge you a minimal fee for this extension.
Certain parts of Southern Africa fall within malaria areas. We are fortunate that most of our conservation placements fall in malaria-free areas. Please contact us for up-to-date advice on Malaria and your chosen placement. Apart from malaria, there are no other diseases one needs to worry about. Yellow fever is certainly not a problem in South Africa. Tap water can be drunk in South Africa; however, it is advisable to consult with the coordinator at your selected placement before doing so. For further information relating to health issues please visit: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
All of our placements provide three basic but wholesome meals per day. Meals will include Westernised dishes such as beef, chicken, pasta, and lamb with vegetables as well as regular BBQs or braai’s as they are commonly known in our country. Breakfasts will include cereals, eggs, bacon and sausages etc. Those of you curious enough may even have the chance to tuck into impala kebabs or even ostrich biltong and steaks. Vegetarians are catered for and our chefs will be advised according to your dietary requirements.
We have a representative at each destination who will meet you from your flight and transfer you to your placement. For all our African placements, we are able to organise your international flights from the UK. It is also possible to extend your stay to accommodate any independent travel plans you may have. You will be collected from the airport in a microbus (7 seater) and transferred to your assigned conservation placement. There you will be transported around in either open pickups (open trucks/bakkies) or in open 4×4 Land Rovers. Certain placements offer horse riding as a mode of transport when patrolling and monitoring the bush/veld.
At each of our placements, you are provided with safe, although sometimes basic, accommodation – all of which are purpose-built for our volunteers. At the majority of our placements, cleaning and laundry service is provided, to help make your experience a more comfortable one. Please contact us for further information on specific accommodation details for individual placements. Camping under a starlit sky is one of the main attractions of traveling to South Africa. This is something you will experience on the odd occasion. However, accommodation is in houses either based on the reserve or in nearby villages. All accommodation is headed up by the student coordinator and a game ranger.
There are 11 official languages spoken in Southern Africa. However, English is preferred as a common language because it is seen as neutral and prevents the favoring of any one particular dialect. It is advisable to have a basic understanding of the English language should you come from a foreign-speaking country.
In the past South Africa has had a history of violence and political instability. Today crime still exists, but only in certain parts of the country, parts we completely avoid. Levels of crime in our country are however no higher than many other countries around the world. As for political stability, today South Africa experiences and practices a very healthy democracy. If you are alert to potential problems you are already halfway to avoiding them. Your safety and security is of paramount importance to our team.
Further Questions
All of our placements have been carefully selected to meet our exacting criteria. In your country of choice, we have dedicated coordinators for each placement, who are there to guide you through everything and to help with any issues that may occur. There is also a 24-hour contact number for friends and family calling from the UK.
Worldwide Experience requests a significant financial contribution towards all requested placements. All funds generated contribute to the smooth running of the program, a certain portion is contributed to the Born Free Foundation and the Wilderness Trust and the funds also contribute to the ongoing projects related to our conservation efforts. Many organizations tend to step in to assist with a project and then simply disappear. This is not the case with Worldwide Experience. We realize that conservation needs man’s ongoing support, which can only be achieved through the generation of this contribution and via the support of the self-funding volunteer. To discuss any aspect of voluntary work contributions and/or our policies on the projects we support please do not hesitate to contact one of our directors.
There is so much to do in this vast country, and one should aim to spend more time in this wonderful part of the world. Should you wish to extend your placement you are also welcome to do so. Alternatively, we can assist with placing you in an alternative reserve linked to our organization. Many students tend to make their own plans once in the country and upon completion at the reserve of their choice, travel to explore the rest of the country. One means of getting around is via the famous and very safe Baz Bus. All student coordinators will advise you of this.
