Vue d'ensemble

• Description

  Here, at the Rocky Drift Project myself, Warren, and the volunteer crew are intrigued with the idea of freedom, if such a thing even exists. We are committed to finding an answer to this question so here we find ourselves in the middle of a 257 hectare nature reserve.

  There is no power grid, no facility for waste removal or water supply and aim to provide for ourselves as completely as possible.

  This is only truly possible in community but in order to accommodate a community, basic infrastructure must be in place. Running water, hot water, toilets, cooking facilities, heating, accommodation and food is the list of things that have been under construction since 1st January 2015.

  There is abundant water from a mountain spring, abundant wood from the forest and abundant stone covering the landscape. There are six hiker cabins in the forest with three dwarf goats Shooshi, Jenny, Coco and two puppies Baloo & Suzy who all form part of a plan.

  Everything about this project is the most challenging thing you could ever do… and we’re only getting started

• Type of help

  Gardening
  Building
  Cooking / shopping
  General Maintenance
  Farming
  Help with Eco project
  Help in the house
  Animal care
  Helping with Tourists
  Charity work
  Art project
  Teaching

• Help

  Primary Work Available
  The work available is the following:
  •Cooking - and shopping for vegetarian, pescetarian, flexitarian etc.
  •Reception - quoting, bookings and general correspondence
  •Cleaning - preparing the kitchen, cabins, tents for use
  •General maintenance - painting, fixing fences & roads, wood store, quad deliveries, fire breaks
  •Building - natural building tech making doors, windows, tables, benches - helpful to know power tools
  •Animal care - caring and feeding the 3 dwarf goats, feeding and care for the 2 puppies & 1 cat
  •Gardening - composting, collecting manure, weeding, seed collecting, planting edibles, harvesting
  •Material design - fashion design, interior decor including curtains, walling, ornaments
  •Organic greenhouse - germinating, weeding, preparing pots, transplanting
  •Forest pathways - marking out and clearing
  •Sign making - using wood and other natural materials

  There are five days to work during the week, if there is weekend work, then days off will be given during the week. If an important project is at hand, you may be asked to work a full day with extra time off another day.

  Work hours are from:
  •9am - 12pm
  •2 - 4pm

  Start times may shift with the seasons or whatever everyone agrees on.

  Specialised Work Available
  This work is still in the pipeline but pivotal to the expected outcomes of the project. These tasks will also require some experience or qualifications to carry out.

  •Assistance - with functions like retreats and workshops
  •Permaculture design - edible forests, swales, pond construction, chicken tractors
  •Teaching - with the local community, school holiday camps, workshops and retreats
  •Research - conducting experiments with university groups i.e. historical, archeological and botanical

• Languages spoken

  English

• Accommodation

  Accommodation for volunteers will be shared and dependent on accommodation bookings. They will be either in cabins, forest tent or campsite tent. All have beds and linen provided plus shared kitchen and communal bathrooms. In the high season times, it may be in small camping tents if the permanent tents are booked.

• What else …

  On Offer

  So, keep in mind we are off the grid, every volunteer will have access to:
  •Running water: pure from a mountain spring
  •Hot water: from a gas geyser
  •Ablutions: with toilets and shower
  •A rocket bath!
  •Cooking facilities: wood fired oven and gas stoves
  •Accommodation: cabins, forest tent, campsite tent
  •Power: to recharge phones and laptops
  •Quad bikes: for collections and deliveries
  •Food: budget available for 3 volunteers

  We will be making frequent runs to town on the quads so the easiest thing is to hitch a ride, pool the money and help coordinate the meals. We will all share and cook communally together unless each of us takes turns in the kitchen. If for some reason we cannot cook together, the kitchen will be open to volunteers to make their own meals.

  If you’re specifically interested in the quad bike riding, come prepared with some sort of travel or health insurance. Helmets will be provided and indemnity signed for our insurance. A limited amount of fuel will be made available every month for collections and deliveries so it’s a good thing to monitor consumption. All supplies (gas, fuel, food, materials etc) will be brought in using the quads. It’s cheaper, more economical and more fun!

  There are also outreach projects, holistic workshops, healing and yoga retreats happening throughout the year and depending when you arrive, general assistance is required there too.

  Limited internet is available in the area and sadly, no free wifi … yet.

  In the area
  We are situated in the mountain canyon where you will find one of the best rock climbing areas in the country and in the top 10 globally. There is also some great mountain biking, hiking and walking trails. There is also opportunity to travel to see the ‘Big Five’ in the Kruger Park, God’s Window in Blyde River canyon, Greengold in Swaziland and the Archipelagos of Mozambique.

  We are surrounded by these mysterious stone circles hinting at something truly bizarre about the history of humanity on earth. Follow up with this at the Stone Circle Bistro in the town of Waterval Boven where Michael Tellinger exhibits several artifacts along with two of his books, DVD’s and more on the subject.

  The valley is steeped in history from the time of the Boer war during the 1900’s. The kloof (gorge) and slopes of the valley once housed President Paul Kruger’s Commandos during the period of his escape to exile via Lourenco Marques (Maputo). Old Martini Henry rifle shells and enamel mugs used by the Boer soldiers and Scouts are sometimes unearthed on the property.

  Also, there is significant botanical interest in the area because of the natural enclosure of the canyon walls, the forest has been left undisturbed allowing for amazing diversity in flora and fauna. In particular, the valley offers a wide variety of butterflies, an annual event that used to bring Lepidopterists from all over the world.

  Nourished by the Joubert Spruit tributary of the Elands River, the natural water supply is fountain fed from the mountain tops and of the highest quality. At no stage during the past 60 years has the stream ever dried up. The Nature Reserve is ecologically contained and home to many species of fauna e.g. Bushbuck, Baboon, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steenbok, Vaal Reedbuck, Vervet Monkeys, Leopard, Genet, Rooikat, Rock Pythons etc. Bird life includes, Black Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Kites and Falcon.

  Getting here
  Situated 290 km from Johannesburg on the N4 (Waterval Boven - Nelspruit road), The Nature Reserve embraces an enclosed valley of approximately 257 hectares of some of the most beautiful mountain country to be found in the Waterval Boven district.

  Freebie: We will collect and take volunteers to Waterval Boven free of charge when we have errands to run which is every few days. Any special pickups or drop offs will incur a petrol fee to cover costs of fuel and toll.

  Bus: The main drop off/pick up point however is Milly’s N4 Caltex gas station near Machadadorp. Go to Computicket.co.za to book a bus ticket using Machadadorp as your destination point to get here as cheaply as possible (plus minus R220 from JHB).

  Shuttle: Otherwise use Citybug.co.za who will generally offer more convenient pick up points and also be sure to select Milly’s as your destination point.

  Car: 280 km from Johannesburg (240 Km from Pretoria) on the Nelspruit road (N4) to Waterval Boven. Proceed past Waterval Boven on the N4, through the tunnel and after 3.6km turn right at the Bergwaters Eco Lodge sign. Cross over railway line and follow signs to Bergwaters Eco Lodge (1.4km gravel path). Once the Berwaters Eco Lodge entrance has been reached proceed past entrance for another 100m and enter the Nature Reserve.

• A little more information

  • Internet access

  • Limited internet access

  • We have pets

  • We are smokers

• >

  Volunteering hours expected

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