Help nature heal by joining us in restoring our grassland, forest, wetland ecosystems in Mbombela, South Africa

Infos

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  Description

  Set on an off grid 60ha farm in the mountains of Mpumalanga Province.
  
  We are restoring the natural grasslands, pockets of montane forests and wetlands on the farm by actively clearing alien invasive species like eucalyptus, black wattle, lantana, hakea and bugweed, and encouraging the local grasses and trees to grow back.
  We also have a large organic food garden, chickens for eggs, avocado orchard, and the beginnings of a food forest.
  
  Situated close to various nature reserves and wildlife corridors, we have wild animals visiting our farm, like red and common duiker, bushbuck, bushpig, side striped jackal, bushbaby, vervet monkey, porcupine, snakes, caracal, genet, baboon and even the occasional leopard. We have lots of creepy crawlies: ticks, pepper ticks (so be sure to check your clothing and legs after a day outdoors), honey bees, mosquitos (this is not a malaria area) spiders and bugs in general.
  
  We are in the Mistbelt zone of South Africa, so the summer days are milder than the Lowveld, and many misty, overcast or rainy days in summer. So be prepared to work in soggy weather from time to time. (Rain boots, hats and rain suits will be provided.) Temperatures reaches above 30 degrees Celsius only a few weeks per year.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Learn about ecosystem restoration in a South African context. Spend time chatting and eating around the fire with us. We are passionate about conservation, the human-nature connection, and up to date with world politics. Hiking to the top of the farm with magnificent views and standing stones is a must.

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  Aide

  Our main focus at present and what we need help with is:
  Assisted ecosystem regeneration of our wild areas by clearing alien trees with chainsaw (only certified operators allowed to use chainsaw), ring barking trees, applying the not so organic yellow label tree killer on eucalyptus, bugweed and lantana stumps (eucalypts are notoriously hard to get rid of). Hand weeding alien tree seedlings, chopping back invasive annual weeds like black-jacks with a brushcutter or hand lasher. Mechanical removal of smaller wattle roots with a Tree Popper. And we are still learning as we go!
  Depending on the time of the visit, there might be other projects to help with: Hiking trail building, trail maintenance, avocado picking, vegetable garden work, compost making, building stuff etc.

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  Langues parlées

  Afrikaans: Courant
  Anglais: Courant

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  Hébergement

  The Volunteer Camp is about 200m from the main house. It is off grid and fitted with solar lights (devices can be charged at the main house during the day) a dry toilet (works with sawdust, used for making humanure compost), an open air shower with an almost working wood burning donkey boiler. Tents, mattresses and bedding will be supplied. Cooking is on a two plate gas cooker. One meal per day will be communal. (either lunch or supper, depending on the day/weather/season) Basic vegetarian food stuff is supplied for your diy breakfast and 3rd other meal.

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  Autres infos...

  The farm is set 18km from the nearest tar road and shop, and 40km from the nearest town. Sudwala caves and the Dinosaur park is a 40min drive away, Kruger National Park is about a 2 hour drive away, Kaapschehoop is a creative tiny town with wild roaming horses, restaurants, gift shops and lovely walks through magical sandstone formations, as well as the mysterious Adam's Calendar. Waterval boven is close by with it's world class rock climbing and the Panorama route with God's window, Bourke's luck potholes, and the many waterfalls are great weekend-trip options.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We have a small uncapped Satellite connection. It is mostly reliable, good internet. Digital work that requires large uploads and downloads might struggle on our line.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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