The post Updates from the field Swaziland appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Last weekend the volunteers enjoyed a 2 day Malolotja Zipline Adventure Tour. Visiting some of Swaziland’s most iconic landmarks: Sibebe Rock – the second largest exposed rock in the world, Swaziland’s man-made Maguga Dam, the scenic and extremely beautiful Malolotja Nature Reserve where they enjoyed zip lining through and above Malolotja’s evergreen Tree Canopy, the oldest mine in the world – Ngwenya Mine, and a visit to Ngwenya Glass where they got to see glass blowing first hand, visit many of the crafts shops as well as indulge in some of the goodies at the Ngwenya Chocolate Factory.
Last week Monday (20/01/14) the volunteers went on the Swazi Cultural Village Tour. They got the chance to view Swazi traditional homes known as huts, enjoy watching and listening to the Swazi traditional dancing and singing, as well has having the privilege to partake in the Traditional dance. Moreover, if its warm enough (even if not) the volunteers always a good dip in the waters at the Mantenga Falls which is a lovely cascading waterfall within the Mantenga Cultural Village.
Here are some of the comments received from the tours:
“Saturday afternoon we went on the Malolotja Zipline Adventure Tour. We went to the second biggest exposedrock in the world, visited the old mine, the all important Maguga Dam, and of course did the ziplining. It was definitely worth it – the zip lining was great and the landscape at Malolotja Nature Reserve was beautiful.” – Katie Kraan
“The Malolotja Zipline Adventure Tour was definitely worth doing. It was a great way f experiencing Swaziland’s landscape and wild nature. One of the mpst memorable parts was having a cold drink and a traditional Swazi barbeque wit the view of the beautiful sunset.” – Silja Arnadottir
“On Monday we did the Swazi Cultural Village Tour. I was chosen to dance with the local people – yaaay! =) After the traditional singing and dancing we went to the waterfall for a swim.” – Katie Kraan
“The Swazi Cultural Village Tour was great. The dance at the end (where some of the volunteers were asked to join) was the highlight of the tour. Afterwards we had a nice swim by the beautiful waterfall.” Silja Arnadottir
On Sunday the lovely volunteers left for Tofo, Mozambique on the Mozambique Beach and Whale Shark Experience: white sands, sunshine, and waves – they will definitely be spending their week in paradise! Hopefully I’ll be sending you photos of their Mozambique Beach and Whale Shark Experience next week when the volunteers return.
The post Updates from the field Swaziland appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Crocodiles and Snakes: Not Your Typical House Pet. appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>There’s something amazing about coming face-to-face with a crocodile, literally face-to-face with them, none of this thick protective glass that you get in zoos in Europe, but really being sat a couple of metres away from these awesome and scary predators.
Is something definitely a little bit surreal seeing them on land, where actually they are not that dangerous unless you step on them (please don’t step on them) but in the water is a whole different story.
During the African wildlife conservation adventure one of the highlights of the trip will be visiting a crocodile and snake farm. Africa houses lots of dangerous species of snakes, so it’s much better to meet them in a controlled environment, rather than sitting on the toilet finding a cobra having a shady nap whilst waiting to bite you in the bottom.
During the trip you will go on a crocodile and snake course, learning all about these creatures, which can be actually quite useful in Africa (I know this personally because I once had a boomslang snake trapped in my car on a visit to South Africa).
The crocodile and snake Park is just one of the highlights there are plenty of awesome activities along the way to keep you on your toes. Like a visit to the big cat conservation project a rehabilitation centre for lots of Africa’s big cats, and game drives searching for the big five.
The post Crocodiles and Snakes: Not Your Typical House Pet. appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Visit to Cat Rehabilitation Centre appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>During one of our exciting South Africa gap year projects, you can take a visit to Cat Rehabilitation Centre. This is just part of one of the many exciting wildlife observation activities that you get involved in on the African Wildlife Gap Year Adventure. Working on a game farm, getting to know the methods and techniques of wildlife conservation to help preserve some of Africa’s most vulnerable species you will do lots of other day trips as well like trips to private game reserves where you can do a Game drive in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve.
The cat rehabilitation centre is a great opportunity to meet and greet some of South Africa’s most spectacular big cats, not just big ones as well, there are lots of other cool feline friends can’t wait to eat you (sorry meat you, erm we mean MEET you.) Phew, think we got away with that one.
All joking aside do not worry, you’ll be put in the hands of expert South Africans, so it is very unlikely that you will get eaten during the visit, although we do usually lose a few gap year students during the visit to the crocodile farm.
So please make sure that your travel insurance covers you for being eaten by large scaly reptiles, hopefully you won’t but hey that’s what adrenaline travels all about. Doing really cool things you can’t home. Hanging out with some of these guys is definitely one of those things.
If you want to find out more about this program check out the African wildlife gap year adventure programme.
The post Visit to Cat Rehabilitation Centre appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Game drive in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>You can’t go to South Africa on your gap year and not do a big five-game drive, fortunately there are plenty of opportunities to do so on our African wildlife conservation trips, one of our favourites is the African wildlife gap year adventure.
Set in South Africa stunning Eastern Cape, you can spend two or three weeks engaged in wildlife conservation efforts, doing a variety of different wildlife conservation projects whilst getting to know the real Africa. Projects range from visiting a crocodile farm and snake centre, and a Visit to Cat Rehabilitation Centre as well as undertaking plenty of wildlife conservation efforts in a private game reserve.
As part of the African wildlife Your adventure you will get to do a game drive in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, a stunning private game reserve boasting plenty of Africa’s most spectacular animals. Have a look at some of the pictures below taken from the reserve.
The post Game drive in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Surfing Rio de Janeiro!
The surf camp we work with is owned by two very well know surfers. They travelled and surfed all over the world, and now decided to let other people enjoy the waves and beaches, by offering a great surf camp on the Westside of Rio.
The pack offers it all, surf, party, accommodation and food.
What is included:
The surf lessons are for all levels. And you will be training with surfers of the same level under the watchful eyes of very experienced instructors.
Not the best waves on the beach nearby? With our cool surf bus we take you to others beaches to catch the best waves of the region.
What are the waves like? Here in the west of Rio de Janeiro’s you find beaches with many different types of waves, ie, there is surf for all levels!
The post appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Warning: Drinking with South Africans. Gets Messy. appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>I headed back to Hoedspruit arriving about Seven. Deciding to get a bite to eat in town before heading back to the resort. As I pulled into sleepers restaurant and approached the entrance and asked a lady who was man handling a child by the front door if the place was open.
“No, but the bar is. We are having a private gathering but you are more than welcome to join us?”.
Somewhat taken aback by this overly hospitable offer, I figured why not. My Arse had seen 400 Kms of Car seat in 2 day, I was ready for a beer (well another – purely for medicinal purposed). “Oh my the way there are a little bit far gone” the lady whose name was Tania, added.
As we walked through she announced to about 15 drunkards the “Hello every one this is Oliver from England”. A roar of Applause was let off.
“Now this is my kinda crowd” I announced and nailed the Jagermiester to another raucous applause.
“Hmm I like his shoulders” commented this bird by the bar who had obviously had had a few. “Thanks! I like your Tits!” I responded with a grin to yet another Roar.
My one beer turned into far too many, during which time I got involved in a local brawl, talked to a 75 year old man called Jonny who I repeatedly called “Dirty Old Bastard” (But I would like to state for the record that Jonny was a dirty old bastard) and arranged to get up at 8 in the morning to go on a walking safari. I stumbled back to the resort at about 12 packed and passed out.
The post Warning: Drinking with South Africans. Gets Messy. appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Kruger National Park appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Kruger National Park is probably Africa’s most famous conservation area. Spanning
nearly 20,000 km2 it covers a vast array of habitats and associated wildlife. It has an
aura of ancient times and offers some of the best opportunities in the world to view
Africa’s big game.
On the Kruger to Coast trip you will head out on a five day tour into the heart of Kruger Park including 4 nights camping in the park and unlimited game drives exploring the vast wilderness with the expert guidance of one of our wildlife guides.
Previous groups have had great sightings of lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, wild
dog and a variety of other of Kruger’s specialties. You will also have the exciting opportunity to take part in a guided bush walk as well as a night drive where you’ll go in search of nocturnal wildlife.
The post Kruger National Park appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Free Travel Guides! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Want exclusive access to tonnes of free travel guides written and edited by Xtreme Gappers on plenty of different destinations? Then like our fan page and you are good to go. We take a lot of pride in discovering, reviewing and writing about some of the most exciting travel activities out there, in our travel guide section you can find all the details.
We are constantly publishing new guides so you can subscribe to the library to get notifications of when new ones are released, might give you something to look forward to when you are back off your travels!
If you would like us to write a guide on one of our destinations or activity then let us know through the face book comments system below.
[fblikelocker]
We have guides on traveling to Oz, Guides on Kilimanjaro, Guides on staying safe and how to best prepare for your travels. This is not the kind of watered down crap you find in the lonely planet.
We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed writing them. Oh you will need flash to view the guides too. Sorry Ipad people.
[/fblikelocker]
The post Free Travel Guides! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post The Padi Advanced Open Water Course appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The Padi Advanced Open Water Course is the second level of open water qualification after your Padi Open water certificate and a prerequiste to gaining your Rescue Diver Certification.
The Advanced open water really opens up your options when you are learning to dive.
Well it qualifies you to dive deeper (up to a depth of 30 metres, as opposed to just 18 metres (which is the limit for the open water qualification).
Once you are a diver you will soon realize that you want to go deeper to see more things that live a little deeper, there is nothing more frustrating than seeing a whale shark disappear from view because you can not chase it into the depths.
It is not just about depth though, you advanced also improves your diving skills, which is vital to improve things like your buoyancy (consider the impact on the coral of hundreds of out of control, novice divers banging their tanks on the sea bed an you get the idea) and navigation.
The advance open water is made up of 5 specialty dives so you choose what you want to specialize in but you must also complete 2 modules: Navigation underwater and Deep Specialty. The Deep specialty is important because the risks of diving in particular the dangers associated with Nitrogen narcosis become a lot more serious below 18 metres.
Once these two modules are out of the way you can choose to complete 3 of the following (some dive locations exclude some options, for example diving in Thailand you will not use a dry suit):
The post The Padi Advanced Open Water Course appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Great white sharks are awesome!! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Hey Xtreme Gap,
Whilst I am writing this, well over a week has passed since my arrival in Kleinbaai. Although the weather has not been really consistent, we have had some good trips and stunning shark action near the boat.
My stay up in this wonderful seaside village started off with a real blast. Only about 25 minutes after my arrival, I was lucky enough to go out to sea straight away. Since the trip was a volunteer exclusive, I made full use of the opportunity to get in the cage. Despite the chilly water, I happily stayed in the cage for about ninety minutes. Needless to say, it was fantastic to see the truly magnificent sharks again, often only a couple of decimeters away. When we got out and started preparing to head back to Kleinbaai harbor, we had the privilege to see something very special.
First of all, a whale passed, only 6-8 meters from the boat. But a couple of minutes later suddenly an approximately 2.5 meter long, grey and white shape broke the surface with a very impressive display of sheer power and launched itself five feet out of the water. It all happened within the space of less than two seconds, but soon all of us realized that we just witnessed a full breach only a couple of centimeters from the boat. An awesome experience! Throughout the rest of the first half of October the shark action has been pretty good, with an average of about five to eleven sharks per trip visiting the boat. Especially in the shallow waters of Joubert’s Dam the average size of the sighted sharks has been quite well, the biggest being a very impressive and inquisitive, but still somewhat calm four meter plus female. There are a lot of whales in the area too at the moment, while the seals on and around Geyser Rock are always pleasures to observe. So hopefully the sharks will keep on putting up some good shows for the clients, volunteers and crew members!
I absolutely love the programme!
The post Great white sharks are awesome!! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>