International Travel

Volunteer Travel

Do you have a sense of adventure? Do you want to see how conservation is practiced in other parts of the world? International Volunteer Travel may just be your ticket. This is a new FWS Retirees Association activity which we hope to grow. Working with a number of partners and contacts we develop opportunities for FWS retirees to travel together to volunteer in other countries. Trips consist of volunteer work and opportunities to go see the wildlife and the habitat of other countries.

And for future information on volunteer travel, check out the newsletters and “Like” the FWS Retirees Association page on Facebook.

Adventure Travel with FWS Retirees

As we emerged from our COVID cocoons and got back out into the world, Donna Stankel led of a couple of FWS Retirees trips to Africa. Today’s safaris are not of the Out of Africa mold – but are still filled with adventure and fantastic wildlife viewing. Both trips were booked with Africa Through Your Lens, a company that has been hosting FWS Retirees in South Africa for over 10 years. Donna hosts Africa trips every year.

Future Trips

We are in the process of planning a trip for next March. This next trip would not be a volunteer or work trip but a standard safari to ChaZen Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park for five nights each. The dates are March 25 to April 4, 2025. The cost is: $3950 for double occupancy and $4900 for single occupancy. This does not include airfare or staff tips.

Pilanesberg National Park is one of the most visited in South Africa. The park is home to a large herd of elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and a myriad of antelope and other species. The road system makes it very easy to view wildlife and there are several viewing blinds overlooking small lakes and ponds. We stay at the adjacent private reserve of Black Rhino, giving us access to the park directly from our lodging.

If you are interested in traveling to Africa, contact Donna Stanek at dstanek0418@hotmail.com or give her a call at: 505-917-2023. Contributed by Donna Stanek.

Tales of Adventure

Winter in South Africa – It’s Hot! 

A group of intrepid FWS retirees, spouses and friends have recently returned from another successful volunteer safari to South Africa. This year’s group consisted of 11 travelers to ChaZen Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park. We spent the first week of the adventure trimming overhanging vegetation from game drive trails. These tour routes had become overgrown with hanging tree limbs and encroaching bushes. Did you know that about 95% of the trees and bushes have large thorns? – Or at least it seems that way when you are cutting them back! We cleared three tour loops, so now visitors will not need to dodge thorny limbs and enjoy the amazing wildlife! 

But it was not all work and no play! Work details were only in the mornings, so the afternoon could be spent on such important pursuits such as napping, reading, and just lounging about! We were treated to an afternoon game drive every day and it never disappointed us! ChaZen (where the work was done) has a large variety of antelopes, along with hippos, giraffes, Cape buffalo and too many others to mention here! 

To top off the trip we spent three days at Pilanesberg National Park. This national park is one of South Africa’s most visited, being a short drive from Johannesburg. There we stayed in an adjacent private game reserve, Black Rhino. Which enabled us to have the best of both worlds, a private game reserve and national park. Here we had a chance to see elephants (up close 10 and personal), lions hunting wildebeest (what a treat), cheetahs, rhinos (black and white), and large variety of other wildlife and birds! 

Everyone had a good time with lots of laughs and stories to tell at home! Article and photos from Donna Stanek. 

Wildlife at Pilanesberg