Lajuma Research Centre

The Lajuma Research Centre, in the Soutpansberg Mountains of Limpopo, South Africa, has been a base for wildlife research and conservation for over 20 years. The reserve is home to all five South African primate species, which include the endangered samango monkey ( Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi ). This project focuses on understanding their behaviour and ecology while supporting the conservation of the forests and wildlife that share this unique mountain landscape. Internship Overview The Samango Monkey Project continues this long-term research by focusing on behavioural and dietary studies. Interns contribute to ongoing data collection that informs both primatology and conservation management. Key Activities: Conducting behavioural observations Recording feeding ecology (fruits, leaves, insects, and other food sources) Documenting vocalizations, social interactions, and troop movements Fieldwork Requirements  All fieldwork...

The Lajuma Research Centre provides a unique opportunity to study an exceptional diversity of birdlife within one of South Africa’s most ecologically varied mountain environments. More than 215 species have been recorded on the reserve, including the purple-crested turaco, narina trogon, cape vulture, violet-backed starling, African fish eagle, crowned eagle, crested guineafowl, and multiple owl species. The landscape encompasses woody grasslands, mountain bushveld, mistbelt forest, riverine forest, and clear mountain streams, offering an ideal setting for comparative research on avian diversity, habitat use, and behaviour. Internship Focus: This internship provides hands-on experience in bird monitoring, species documentation, and ecological field methods. Interns work largely independently while contributing to long-term data collection and broader conservation efforts at the centre. Activities may include: Recording species presence, behaviour, and...

The Lajuma Research Centre is home to more than 2,500 plant species and 600 tree species. They cover a variety of habitats including woody grasslands, mountain bushveld, mistbelt forest, and riverine forest, and their related floral diversity. Vegetation communities and structures are dynamic and need to be constantly studied. An array of vegetation studies can be undertaken in this unique landscape. Internship Overview Depending on the project, interns will be actively identifying species, delineating environments or sampling vegetation communities, further expanding knowledge on this crucial aspect of ecology. Activities may include: Ground truthing vegetation communities to update vegetation maps Alien and invasive species removal/mapping Focal data collection on species utilisation of key vegetation, eg Ficus sp. Assisting with data management and reporting. Fieldwork Requirements All fieldwork is carried out on foot,...