Modisa Wildlife Project, Botswana Reviews 79

My husband and I visited Modisa this year and it was one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. After a day full of activities, sitting by the campfire under the beautiful starry sky is unforgettable. Val's lessons was one of the highlights of the trip where we learned more about the eco system and wildlife and his plans for wildlife conservation. The staff at Modisa are so friendly and helpful and we felt so well looked after during the weeks we were there. And a big thank you to Mikkel who helped us plan the trip and answered all our questions before we travelled to Modisa.

Being in the Kalahari and learning from the Modisa staff and especially from Val was so wonderful and tremendously enriching, I really find it hard to put it into words. I'm very glad I could be in the camp and be part of the project for a short time at least. I think a got a glimpse oft the unique Kalahari ecosystem and what drives Val and his team to protect it. I personally feel humbled every day seeing the intelligence of nature and all beings in it. This awareness and the way of looking at nature and life is what drove me to get to know Modisa and Val. Val actually dedicates his life to protecting the Kalahari as well as its wildlife, which is absolutely great and deserves all possible respect and support!

I've travelled quite a bit in Africa, but spending time at Modisa Wildlife Project was a truly unique experience. If your heart beats for Africa and for its wilderness, then this is the place for you. You'll live a simple life in the remote Kalahari Desert and get rewarded with wild lions roaring at night, the view of wildebeest for breakfast and giraffes visiting at sunset. You might spend a night at the hide out in the middle of nowhere, observing animals at the waterhole. You'll understand how to read animal tracks and learn so much about the ecosystem of the Kalahari. On top of this, by volunteering you will make an important contribution to maintaining and developing the project. All of this with the incredible staff of Modisa around you, that will make your stay extra special. I cannot wait to come back!

Best way to live a simple life in the wilderness of a very special place in the world. Amazing to see all the beautiful animals and to enjoy the peaceful beauty of the kalahari.
The project is very interesting and Val is giving important insights to the ecosystem, community work and future goals.
His staff is very friendly and positive.
I highly recommend this experience to everyone who is an open minded person and cares about the world.
We could help building a new outside bathroom, fixing things at Sirgas area and collecting fire wood.
Stunning moments of the sunset, a flight with Val over the kalahari was next to the bushwalks best time ❤️

We heard about Modisa through a podcast and were right away excited to come and visit. The stay at Modisa was a wonderful experience for us. We learned a lot about the eco system of the Kalahari, helped the crew with building an outdoor shower and a new gate and loved the incredible sunrise and sunset moments in the Kalahari. Vals crew is incredible and super lovely. We really enjoyed our time there and definitely recommend to visit.

A few weeks ago I went to experience the Modisa Wildlife project and I had the most wonderful time: What a quiet, peaceful, beautiful place in the midst of nature. It’s easy there to forget the rest of the world and to just enjoy the animals, the Kalahari, and the few, yet truly wonderful people.
Thank you, Modisa and everyone involved, for welcoming us guests in your world, for teaching us about the Kalahari, for all the shared laughters and campfire riddels. 
My two Modisa weeks were filled with so many unique experiences, not only in nature but also when it comes to meeting local people and learning about their lifes. I enjoyed every moment.
Val's dedication to protecting this stunning, unique, large ecosystem is beyond incredible! I've already loved his work before, and now, I love it even more. And the Modisa staff are really the loveliest bunch of people!
Time in Modisa seems to move slower than in the rest of the world, and yet, in the end, two weeks still seemed too short.
Also, a huge thank you to Mikkel from Lost Adventures, for organizing the trip to Modisa and answering all my 200 questions before I went there.

I first heard about Modisa on a podcast and I immediately knew I had to visit this special place. And I'm so glad I did! I had the most wonderful two weeks at the camp. I was there with three other guests, and together we shared so many great moments. The camp offered a perfect mix of exciting game drives, volunteering tasks like cleaning waterholes and trimming bushes, and educational talks with Val.

What truly made the experience unforgettable, though, was the people. The whole Modisa team was incredibly friendly and helpful and I felt welcomed from the very first moment.

I really recommend to visit the camp. Honestly, I can hardly imagine a better place than sitting by the campfire in the evenings, under a blanket of stars, with the sound of lions roaring in the distance. It’s a moment that stays with you long after you leave...

We had a fascinating time in Modisa with Val, Thato and all the members of the lovely team, who looked after us so well.
The whole experience was amazing with a great variety of activities: in addition to the excitement of animal spotting on the game drives and watching all the different wildlife at the camp water hole and in the hide, we learnt a great deal from Val's interesting, informative and thought provoking talks and presentations. These gave us many things to think about and to consider with the Modisa approach to conservation. The tasks we did at the Reserve felt like we were involved in making a contribution (even if a small one) to the project. Plus Val's relationship with Sirga is a joy to behold! I look forward to following news and events at the project on Patreon

Visiting Modisa Camp was an extraordinary experience.
Nestled in the heart of the Kalahari Modisa is not only a haven for wildlife, but also for people who want to escape the hustle of our modern world, reconnect with nature and learn about conservation work.
The camp itself is well-organized and eco-friendly. From the moment I arrived, the staffs warm hospitality made me feel welcome and at home.
During my stay I had the chance to assist with cleaning waterholes, monitoring camera traps and maintaining fences. My highlights were going on bushwalks, sitting at the meerkat den and spending a night underneath the breathtaking African sky or at the hide close to a waterhole.
Highly recommended for nature lovers and people interested in the ecosystem of the Kalahari.

I had a great time at Modisa with incredible experiences. Away from civilisation, you get as close to nature as possible and learn a lot about the ecosystem and conservation efforts. You can observe all the animals in their natural habitat and understand what is needed to preserve all of this. You can get involved whenever you want to, whether in the daily work or in expanding the camp. Nevertheless, there is always enough time to enjoy the peace and quiet and nature. The impressions will stay with you for a long time.
Everyone was really nice, explained a lot and makes you feel welcome all the time. Every day is different and the time flew by far too quickly.
A huge thank you also to Mikkel for the great organisation beforehand.

It was the greatest experience of my life. This is really in the middle of nowhere in the Kalahari. There you can experience the wilderness. Valentin is super nice and the mission he has there is just impressive and great. You learn a lot and get involved. This is a real adventure and the experiences you have and the stories you hear are simply amazing. Seeing his relationship with his lioness is just wonderful.

Linda

One of the best times in my life! Perfect mix of educational and grounding experience! The perfect place to dive into both, the botswanian Wildlife and Culture without the hectic of usual Photosafaris! Amazing team with great people that make you feel Home during your stay!

What if...?!

What if there was a place where you could be grounded and completely yourself? A place so pure that most people wouldn't need luxury or wealth to feel whole? Luxury and wealth would be defined differently... feeling the elements, admiring the incredible colors of the sky and looking at a starry sky that is breathtaking and gifts us with shooting stars again and again.... You would live in the middle of nature and be a part of it; no better and no worse than any creature that calls this place home.... porcupines and jackals would visit you, antelopes, wildebeest, giraffes and ostriches would share the space with you and even lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards would accept you as part of their world and accept and enrich your presence without conflict. The people who live here or visit this place would be authentic and appreciate life here with all its facets. Respect in dealing with each other, interest in the continued existence of a functioning ecosystem and in the development of other people would be a matter of course...

Well, it exists, this place...
I was allowed to call it 'my home' for 8 weeks and I will leave it with a wealth of experiences and impressions for the time being...
I was allowed to grow, got to know great people who were open and 100% authentic towards me and who put their heart and soul into the Modisa project. Valentin has a wide range of knowledge and many skills, which he uses to the full for the preservation of the Kalahari ecosystem and the education of the local population and guests.

I can only recommend everyone to visit this wonderful place and let themselves be enchanted (if possible longer than two weeks, so that the soul really has time to arrive).
I, for one, have lost a piece of my heart to this place and will eagerly follow everything that 'Team Modisa' will achieve...

I visited Modisa for 2 weeks at the end of March and I could not be happier with my stay.
The camp is in a very pristine area, so that from the moment you arrive at the camp you find yourself fully immersed in the Kalahari and its amazing wildlife - upon our arrival, we were greeted by a beautiful oryx standing by the road followed by eagles and vultures, an amazing view!
Since day 1, you get to experience a lot of different activities such as helping out with wildlife monitoring, understanding the dynamics of the ecosystem and taking part to game drives and bush walks. The camp offers also the opportunity to go for sleep out at the waterholes, where we were so lucky to see lions coming to drink multiple times!
This was my first time in this area (and in a camp!) and definitely I will be back for a longer stay, as during my visit I really felt at home and learnt so much more that I thought I could on a holiday break. Modisa is a truly transformational experience, you are no longer the same when you leave!

We visited Val, the lovely Modisa-Team and Sirga as self-drivers for two nights on a stopover. Definitely the wrong decision - our visit was far too short! Modisa 2.0 has become a wonderful camp, and it is admirable how Val and the team have managed to put built this up in this remote location. We felt very welcome and were able to immerse ourselves in "everyday life" in the bush at Modisa. Anyone who is fascinated by untouched nature and interested in the connections between human and nature will find their place to be here. And in addition to all the know-how about the wilderness that Valentin is happy to share, there are also porcupines next to the camp, wildebeest at the waterhole, black-backed jackal at sunrise and of course Sirga as an ambassador for this incredible nature. Thank you very much for two unforgettable days, we will be back, then with more time.

"One of the best experiences in my life so far has been volunteering at the brand new Modisa Camp 2.0, situated in one of the most remote areas of the world. As one of the first volunteers in the new camp, I gained real-life experience of the rough and wild climate of the Kalahari. The journey to the camp itself was an adventure!


When I first heard the special warning call of a Jackal, or learned to differentiate between the booming call of a male Ostrich and the roaring of a lion, I realized I was truly in the midst of a wild area. Being part of one of the last intact ecosystems in the world and helping to protect it was an honor!


During our stay, we learned a lot about the unique climate, the wildlife, the plants, and the challenges of balancing wildlife conservation with hunting issues. This was through various activities like lectures, bush walks with the great Modisa guide Thato, checking the camera traps, and sleeping in the brand-new hideout. We were even lucky enough to see almost all of the rare predators of the Kalahari during our sleepouts at the waterhole. Totally amazing!


We also helped Val and his friendly team with their daily work, which was really interesting. After work, there was always time for a fun volleyball match between Germany and Botswana or a delicious braai over the fire.

In summary, I totally recommend the Modisa Wildlife Project and hope to come back in some years.

Dankie to Val and his great team for this amazing stay!"

You have to visit Modisa! Great project, lovely team, so much to do and lern. Val knows (I would say) everything about the African bush. It’s amazing and unbelievable what he built in such a remote place. And he supports the community.

In 2012 I visited Modisa 1.0, which left deep imprints on many levels. After 11 years I finally came back to have a sneak peak into the new camp – and it felt as if the vision from back then became alive and is now – all grown up – ready to rumble. I cannot wait to be back another time and experience Modisa 2.0 buzzing with volunteers. Thank you again for having us Val - what you built here (for Sirga) filled my heart within hours with so much peace and happiness. Modisa is just magic.

I had the most amazing trip, at first I wasn't sure whether or not, I should spend that amount of money on a trip. But I can tell you, that money can't buy true happiness. This trip was the best thing I've ever done, and though it can be pricey, the month I was away In Botswana I've never been happier and contempt with my life. When you're sitting at the bonfire at night, exchanging stories with people from all over the world, or sleeping atop of a container - where the kitchen happened to be. Looking at the milky way and thousands of stars. Even though it was 1-2 degrees Celsius in June-July at the night, I've never slept better than I did a top of a container. We had to feed all the animals - Lions, leopards, wild dogs and Gary. It was such an amazing experience you could feel a rush in your body, when looking straight into the lion's eyes, knowing you're so close to such a powerful animal.
This was only a small part of the experience.
I can't possibly tell in words how amazing this trip was. So "just do it" you won't regret it, only that you didn't get to experience this wonderful place in Africa!
Cheers - Marcus from Denmark :)

Unlike a lot of volunteering-projects nowadays, Modisa actually does do conservation work and has visions that could potentially help saving a lot of the wildlife in Botswana. The staff is passionate about nature and the lectures they hold are great (Also, the food is amazing).

In my three weeks there, I learned so much and met a whole bunch of cool and awesome people from all around the world.

And the pure experience of living in the bush is something you can't get by simply booking a safari and drive around the wilderness in a Jeep for a couple of hours.If you want to see the true Africa, this is the place to go.

I for one can't wait to return there in the future...