We are driven by two specific aims;
1) To give volunteers the opportunity to experience conservation work in Southern Africa.
2) To provide financial support and information exchange for conservation projects in Southern Africa.
African Conservation Experience has excellent links with some of the foremost game and nature reserves in Southern Africa. Our South African background means that we know the reserves and the work they do. Our local facilitators know the local tribes and communities well. We also understand the challenges and demands that conservation volunteers face. All ACE staff share a passion for conservation and have first hand knowledge of all the reserves we work with.
Much of our effort goes into matching volunteer with reserve to ensure that the experience is, as far as possible, right for you. Generally speaking, there are up to eight volunteers in a team at one time but you'll have plenty of individual attention, guidance and feedback. This is vital when you are living and working in a totally new and different environment and it helps you make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Our Mission Statement
African Conservation Experience establishes, maintains and supports conservation projects in Southern Africa. Projects are selected on the basis of real conservation value, the genuine wildlife experience that they are able to provide to enthusiastic volunteers and their contribution to the local environment and community.
Meet some of the ACE team!
Rob and Marion Harris
Rob was born and grew up in South Africa and has always had a keen interest in wildlife and conservation but with a career in civil engineering and the construction industry did not have much opportunity to fulfil that interest. He met his wife, Marion, in SA before coming to live in the UK with their 3 children. When their son Mark completed his A-levels and wanted to gain work experience on a Game Reserve in South Africa before starting university, they managed to arrange for him to spend a few months working on a Game Reserve. On hearing this many of his friends from school wanted to join him. This was the seed of the idea for African Conservation Experience and Rob started A.C.E. in 1998, with plenty of assistance and support from Marion.
Mark was the “guinea pig” and a few conservation projects were set up with the co-operation of game reserve land owners in Southern Africa. Recruitment of volunteers in the UK commenced, and in 1999 the volunteers started arriving on the projects. “We were astounded with the amount of interest and support we received from volunteers and the growth in the number of projects and volunteers has been amazing. We have learned many valuable lessons along the way and now have a very loyal and committed team in the UK and SA doing great work.”
Martin Bornman
I was born and have lived my whole life in South Africa. I started my career in conservation by doing a volunteer placement on a small island in the Indian Ocean. I was so taken with what I had experienced there that I decided to follow a career in conservation. I enrolled to do a three year course in Conservation at the Tshwane University in South Africa. After completion I worked in the "field" for eight years, during which time I was privileged to work in some of the wildest areas in Southern Africa. During this time I started doing a degree, through a distance education university, majoring in Psychology, I am in my final year of the degree. I met the founder of A.C.E, Rob Harris, in 2000. After being ignited by his ideas I founded the Garonga A.C.E project, which I personally co-coordinated for three years. Since 2003 I have been employed by A.C.E as the operations manager of the projects in Southern Africa. I live on small farm to the West of Johannesburg where I pursue my personal interests in horse training and organic small scale farming.
Alexia Massey
My passion for domestic animals, wildlife and conservation began at a young age and stemmed work as an Equine Veterinary Nurse prior to my degree, where I was fortunate to work with olympic vets and as a large mammal and primate keeper following my studies. During my conservation career, I have worked with many primates, okapis and a group of Western Lowland Gorillas and hold several memorable encounters including sitting among a herd of Elephants in the depths of the African bush, listening to their low grumbling conversation. I joined ACE as Logistics Manager in 2005, and have visited all our conservation projects and reserves, giving me knowledge of the often challenging and intensely rewarding experience of volunteering in Southern Africa. Prior to working with ACE I have been involved in and travelled to various conservation projects worldwide and gained a BSc degree in Zoology. My specific interests include animal behaviour and research, veterinary work and rehabilitation.
Mark Harris
I am the son of Rob and Marion Harris, the founders of African Conservation Experience. I was born in South Africa and spent my early years being brought up in Johannesburg. We moved to the UK when I was young, but I continued to fulfil my interests in outdoor activities and the natural world in the UK by sailing, fishing, hiking and working with various conservation charities. When I finished school in 1999, I spent a few months working on a game reserve in South Africa. Little did I know that this would seed the idea of A.C.E., which has since grown to the established organisation that it is today. I went on to study biology at university and then spent a year teaching marine ecology to students in the USA. I have a particular passion for plants and their interaction with the environment; before working with A.C.E. I spent four years on a PhD, researching the ecology of the South African flora. During that period I became completely immersed in my research and questions about the natural world. By working with A.C.E. I feel that I can have a real and beneficial impact on the natural world and Southern African communities.
In-Country Project coordinators.
Tuli – Stuart and Anneline Quinn
Moholoholo - Brian and Jenny Jones
Molemane – Brett and Salome Aldridge
Game Capture – Shaun and Emma Rambert
Nholwasi – Esri Wessels
Hanchi – Vicky Crook
Shimongwe – Dr Pete Rogers, Dr Chap Masterson, Dr Neil Kriel
Ranger Course – Accredited and qualified Game Rangers
Dolphin Centre – Vic and Debbie Cockroft
