DAKTARI Bush School

WELCOME TO DAKTARI BUSH SCHOOL

DAKTARI Bush School is a local NGO located in the South African bush near Kruger National Park Founded in 2006, DAKTARI works to educate and inspire children to protect nature and shape their future.

DAKTARI Bush School provides the perfect environment for local children to learn about their natural heritage. The children come to DAKTARI for five days and complete lessons in our Environmental Education Program. In addition, the children help care for some of our animals in captivity who cannot be rehabilitated or released back into the wild. This program instills a sense of care, respect, and empathy towards animals and wildlife in their communities. Volunteers come from around the world to teach lessons and guide the children in caring for the animals at DAKTARI.

DAKTARI also runs an Outreach Program to extend our reach and create a more significant impact on the local communities. The weekly ECO Club and Wildlife Crime Campaigns help inspire children and ignite positive attitudes towards their valuable environmental heritage.

Discover DAKTARI!

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Come volunteer with us and experience living in the South African bush!

MAKE A DONATION

If you want to support our cause, you can easily donate by clicking the button below.

ABOUT DAKTARI

Want to know how DAKTARI came to be? Then click below to read the whole story!

DAKTARI NEWS

Read through DAKTARI’s blog to get updated on what’s happening at the camp.

CHILDREN HELPED

VOLUNTEERS WELCOMED

HOW DAKTARI CAME TO BE

Ian and Michèle Merrifield officially opened DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in 2006 but it was a long road to make it happen. Ian and Michèle met while Ian was working as a game ranger at Tshukudu Game Lodge and Michèle was volunteering there. While hand-raising injured zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs, Ian and Michèle fell in love.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 45 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Victoria Rosso 
 
 
 
  I volunteered in Daktari for two weeks, two of the best of my life. The place is very nice and clean, the facilities are comfortable, the people who work in the place are very friendly. My coordinators were excellent, they were always very attentive to me and showed interest in me learning and feeling comfortable. Both the founders and the director were always very kind and friendly, and they let me know that they were happy that I was there. The food is very tasty and varied. The animals are well taken care of. Daktari's purpose is what I liked the most. They have a huge and very good impact on the children of the local community. The curriculum is very complete and covers very important topics. It was an experience that I will never forget and that I want to repeat!
  
 
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   emily grip 
 
 
 
  I had a great experience at daktari! The experience to teach as well as learn how to care for animals was very rewarding. Daktari kept us very busy from sun up to sun down, you will never be bored! The daktari staff was so friendly and took us in like family. I would recommend volunteering here to complete your South Africa experience. :)
  
 
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   Nick Medforth 
 
 
 
  I have been home for a couple of weeks now and I still can't stop thinking about my time at Daktari. Despite only a 2 week stay it has had a profound affect on me - amazing team, inspirational animals and unforgetable children. This is a mature organisation that knows what it is doing and enables volunteers to have impact at numerous levels; caring for orphaned animals, teaching and inspiring local children whilst contributing to widlife conservation and the future of South Africa. Added bonus - Daktari is located in a stunning part of the world with an abundance of wildlife and some of the friendliest people you could meet. I would fully recommend to anyone considering volunteering or contributing in other ways. Might see you there next time!
  
 
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   Sophie Boivin 
 
 
 
  Quelle extraordinaire expérience humaine que celle de volontaire à Daktari ! Mon seul regret est de n'y être restée qu'une seule semaine. J ai rencontré des gens formidables concernés tant par les problèmes d'environnement que par l'éducation afin que l'Afrique du Sud reste un pays toujours accueillant. A Daktari, les volontaires de tous pays qui viennent pour quelques semaines ou quelques mois ont pour mission, accompagnés de l équipe en place, de sensibiliser les enfants des écoles environnantes à la protection de la nature et des animaux qui favorisera tourisme et leurs futurs emplois. Les journées des volontaires et des enfants sont rythmées par les soins aux animaux présents à Daktari, les leçons dont le programme est très facile à suivre, les découvertes sur le terrain des arbres et des traces d'animaux, les repas excellents, les soirées d'échange sur des thèmes sociaux. Les volontaires peuvent également faire des excursions (au Kruger Park ou autre) mais aussi s'imprégner de la vie locale en visitant école et crêche d'un village voisin et en préparant un plat de la cuisine sud africaine. Tout est dispensé en anglais. A la fin de chaque semaine a lieu un debrief des compétences acquises par les enfants et une petite cérémonie avec la remise de certificats. Cette semaine fut si intense et si riche en découvertes et sensations que c est avec beaucoup d'émotions que j ai quitté les enfants, les volontaires ainsi que Michèle et Yan. Je reviendrai et resterai plus longtemps la prochaine fois.
  
 
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   Philipp Ziegler 
 
 
 
  ★★★★★ I really enjoyed my experience at Daktari. Everything was handled smoothly, and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming throughout. The team was great to deal with, always helpful and easy to talk to. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a positive experience. I had a great time and I would definitely recommend!