Discover the unique African wildlife on big five-game drives, handle snakes and crocodiles and learn all about big cats at a big cat rehabilitation centre. When you are not busy admiring the animals make the most of cultural exchange opportunities like traditional crafts markets, visiting local villages, hiking in the beautiful surroundings of KwaZulu Natal and finally relaxing on a pristine beach in St Lucia.

 

The Perfect African Gap Year Adventure!

An exciting and adventurous wildlife conservation project, perfect for the ultimate gap year adventure. Our unique all-inclusive programme gives you the opportunity to make a difference whilst experiencing the beauty South Africa has to offer with our activity filled adventure holiday. All the activities we offer are included in the cost to help make it easy to budget for the trip with no unexpected costs. Getting up close and personal with Africa’s wildlife you will assist in the tracking and monitoring of these animals as it is vital for the reserve to understand their movements and behaviours. You will have the opportunity to work with these amazing animals on a daily basis and in turn be able to learn a great deal about their behaviour.

Highlights include:

 

Two week programme:

  • Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Big Five game drive

 

  • Night game drive

 

 

  • Snake and crocodile course

 

 

  • Big cat rehabilitation centre

 

 

  • Traditional African curio and craft market

 

 

  • Stargazing under an extraordinary African sky

 

 

  • Days relaxing at St Lucia beach

 

 

  • Hike in the St Lucia Wetlands Park

 

 

  • Feeding of crocodiles

 

 

  • Become involved with a major leopard tracking project.

 

 

  • Crocodile project in St Lucia

 

 

  • Game farm habitat conservation

 

 

 

Three week programme:

All of the above plus:

  • Whale watching and dolphin tour (June – November)

 

  • Leather-back turtle tour (November to May)

For more information on the highlights of the tour please see our details page.

 

Photos

Itinerary

This exciting project gives you the opportunity to get involved with Africa’s unique majestic wildlife at game parks and animal sanctuaries. The majority of the wildlife conservation activities will take place on a game reserve where you will find the “Big Five” rhino, leopard and buffalo, elephants and Cape buffalo among others. This is a safe and guided programme and you will be accompanied on all activities.

The Xtreme Gap team based in South Africa are on hand 24 hours a day. Your hosts will be Melissa and Elton who have lived in South Africa for many years and can’t wait to show you all the wonderful things the country has to offer. The itinerary below is a rough guide and is subject to change depending on the needs of the conservation project.

About The Area

You will be based at an Ecolodge in the greater iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its natural beauty. KwaZulu Natal is on the eastern side of South Africa and is bordered by the warm Indian Ocean on the east and the Drakensberg escarpment on the west. It is described as a year round resort as it has a warm sub-tropical climate most of the year round. Summers are hot and humid averaging 28ºC, while winters are clear and mild, with an average temperature of 23ºC. The area is known for its beauty with many different types of ecosystems coming together. This makes it perfect for viewing a wide variety of wildlife from the Big Five to bird watching and whale viewing or seeing the turtles laying their eggs on the beach.

We are ten minutes from Hluhluwe town which has a clinic, pharmacy and a grocery store for all your extra requirements. We are 1½ hours from the coastal town of Richards Bay and the nearest airport.

Two week programme:

Week one

Friday

Arrival day is on a Friday. Fly into Richards Bay airport where a member of the Xtreme Gap team will be waiting to meet you and take you to the lodge you will be staying at. A welcome meeting and talk about your surroundings will be given and you will get to know your fellow volunteers and staff at the lodge.

Saturday

You will spend the morning taking part in the orientation programme for the wildlife project. You will be shown why the animals need help and an introduction into the animals you might encounter during your stay. You will also be taken to a snake and crocodile park where you will go on a short course and have the opportunity to learn all you need to know about the snakes in our area. In the afternoon you will go on a drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Big Five game reserve with a game ranger who will share their infinite knowledge with you. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, established in 1895,  is one of the largest wildlife parks in KwaZulu-Natal. After we return home it’s time for a BBQ in the evening followed by a night sitting around the campfire and listening to the amazing sounds of nature around you.

Sunday

A free day to relax and enjoy what the lodge has to offer you. Bask in the warm sunshine and enjoy a swim. Why not read a book about the local wildlife in readiness for seeing them in their natural habitats.

Monday

Your first day volunteering with African wildlife. We will head off to the first project where you will be given an explanation of what you will be doing throughout your time at the project. After this it is time to get started.

Tuesday to Friday

From Tuesday to Friday you will be volunteering with wildlife. It’s time to get your hands dirty as you get involved with all the duties required to help out with conservation efforts. From fence patrols, checking camera traps and learning all about the African wildlife and habitat.

Week two

Saturday

After breakfast we will make our way to a Big Cat Rehabilitation Centre where you will have the chance to get up close and personal with cheetahs, caracal (lynx), seval and the African Wildcat. Seeing wild animals on foot is an exciting experience and very different than seeing them from a vehicle.

Sunday

After breakfast we will head off to St Lucia beach for a day in the sun. We will also visit the crocodile centre at St Lucia. We time our visit to coincide with the crocodile feeding time. The feeding frenzy has to be seen to be believed.

Monday to Wednesday

Once again you will be volunteering with wildlife and continuing your duties that you started in the first week. During these couple of days there will be lots of opportunities to see some amazing things as you never know what you’ll bump into in the African bush.

Thursday

Your last day with the wildlife, so in the morning finish off your volunteering duties.  Thursday afternoon we will head to a local crafts market where you can test out your haggling skills and pick up some authentic African crafts. These are the perfect gifts for the parents especially if the bank of mum and dad have helped you get on this adventure!

Friday

Your last day. It had to come sometime. The morning will be spent saying goodbyes and getting ready to leave. We will then depart for Richards Bay Airport again. The rest of your life will be spent remembering all the amazing things you have seen and done and all the lives you have impacted throughout your time volunteering. We hope to see you again.

Three week programme:

Weeks one and two are the same itinerary as above.

Week three

Saturday

You will be taken on the Whale or Turtle tour, depending on season, in St Lucia. An awesome experience.

Sunday

Another day off, chill and relax!

Monday to Wednesday

Volunteering with the wildlife through the day. In the evening we will go for a night time drive through a game reserve. Night time is when the animals, especially predators, are most active. Don’t forget your cameras for some amazing photo opportunities as the sun sets over the horizon.

Thursday

Your last day volunteering with wildlife. We will have a BBQ in the evening where you can share and reflect on all your experiences of your trip. You will then receive your gift from us.

Friday

Your last day. It had to come sometime. As at the end of week two, the time has come to say goodbye and head off towards Richards Bay airport.

Accommodation

Your accommodation consists of chalets set on a game lodge, surrounded by lush tropical trees. Each chalet sleeps two people and has an ensuite bathroom, consisting of a shower, wash basin and toilet.

The lodge also has a recreation area for you to relax and socialise with your co-volunteers in the evenings and on the weekends. The recreation area has sofas, a kitchen for you to make tea and coffee, satellite television and DVDs and some wildlife books to brush up your knowledge before a game drive. There is also a volleyball court outside, as well as a swimming pool for those hot days.

Tour highlights in detail

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Big 5 game drive
The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve supports healthy populations of all the Big Five animals, as well as dozens of other large game, and a wide range of other smaller mammals, birds and reptiles.

You will be taken on a game drive in an open vehicle by a game ranger who will try to find some of the awesome animals in the reserve and in the process will explain facts of all the interesting things you see.
Night game drive
You will be taken on a game drive at night in an open vehicle by a game ranger. You will try to spot nocturnal animals with the use of a spotlight. This is when most animals especially predators are most active.
Snake and crocodile course
Enjoy a two hour course learning about the snakes and crocodiles that occur in this area. Watch the crocodiles being fed by rangers who share interesting facts about their behaviours. This will take place at a nearby snake and crocodile park.
Big cat rehabilitation centre
Enjoy the afternoon viewing and getting up close to wild Cheetahs, Serval Cats, African Wildcats and Caracal (Lynx), which were orphaned or injured in the wild and are in need of care and rehabilitation. Learn about breeding programmes, and where possible, the release of their offspring back into their natural habitat.
Traditional African Curio and Craft Market
See tradition African art at this craft market and get all your gifts for those back home.
Stargazing under an extraordinary African sky
See the stars like never before, in a pitch black African sky. After an introduction on the night sky we have a professional motorised telescope for you to use. With the help of a software program you will be shown clusters and nebula in deep space.
Days relaxing at St Lucia beach
Spend a day on the wild unspoiled beaches in St Lucia. With good weather all year round you are bound to get a good beach day. The town of St Lucia has restaurants and bars and a few curio shops. All in all, a good fun day out.
Hike in the St Lucia Wetlands Park
You will be taken to St Lucia where you will embark on a hike through the Wetlands where you can spot hundreds of different bird and mammal species.
Feeding of Crocodiles
Watch the crocodiles in the crocodile park being fed by rangers who share interesting facts about their behaviours. They only get fed once a week. See them in action.
Become involved with a major tracking project
You will also be involved with a major tracking project in our local area which is currently monitoring the movements of many leopards by the means of camera traps. Volunteers are needed to check these cameras frequently and record the sightings.
Crocodile project in St Lucia
Another exciting project we work with is a snake and crocodile park. Volunteers are needed to help with the everyday running of this park by completing such tasks as helping clean enclosures and surrounding areas, general maintenance of the park and the monitoring of eggs and hatchings. You will be entering into the enclosures with the reptiles… a real adrenaline rush!
Game farm habitat conservation
You will also see what it takes to run a game reserve by taking part in day to day jobs like fence patrolling, path clearing and physical eradication of foreign plants. These tasks involve physical labour and will be hard work but they are essential to help maintain the reserves and the animals within them.
Whale Watching and Dolphin Tour (Jun to Nov)
The whales migrate past a stretch of South Africa’s eastern coastline annually between the months of mid May to mid December. You may be fortunate to witness a 40 ton Humpback Whale breaching a mere 50 metres away from the boat!! Or maybe even swimming alongside the vessel. Sharing time with these playful gentle giants of the ocean is a soul–stirring experience, an investment you make in your own life and something never to be forgotten
Leatherback Turtle Tour (Nov to May)

Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles breed in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and lay their eggs on our shores. During January and February the baby turtles break out of their eggs and head back to the sea. To actually see these gorgeous baby turtles is nothing short of miraculous and absolutely awe-inspiring.

On the Turtle Tour we walk along the beach at night in search of turtles. Professional tour guides ensure that no turtles are disturbed during the walk. A midnight beach picnic will be set out for a well-earned snack. On the drive back to St Lucia you will use a spotlight to search for animals like rhino, leopard and buffalo.

Price

Duration shared accommodation
Two Weeks 829
Three Weeks 1299

Included

  • Detail pre departure pack
  • 24-hour emergency support
  • Three meals a day
  • Accommodation, based on two persons sharing an Ecolodge ensuite chalet
  • Activities
  • All transportation to and from projects and activities
  • Donation for charity
  • Access to washing machine
  • Weekly room service
  • Travel advice prior to departure
  • Transfers to and from Richards Bay Airport (on set arrival and departure days)
  • Orientation on arrival
  • Tea, coffee and bottled water
  • Support and assistance throughout your stay, 24/7
  • A T-shirt and cap
  • Note book and pen
  • Gift at the end of your stay

Excluded

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Spending money

Dates

 

Dates 2013

2 week programme

  • 01 Feb to 15 Feb
  • 22 Mar to 05 Apr
  • 10 May to 24 May
  • 28 Jun to 12 Jul
  • 16 Aug to 30 Aug
  • 04 Oct to 18 Oct
  • 22 Nov to 06 Dec

3 week programme:

  • 01 Feb 2013 to 22 Feb 2013
  • 22 Mar 2013 to 12 Apr 2013
  • 10 May 2013 to 31 May 2013
  • 28 Jun 2013 to 19 Jul 2013
  • 16 Aug 2013 to 06 Sep 2013
  • 04 Oct 2013 to 25 Oct 2013
  • 22 Nov 2013 to 13 Dec 2013

Looking to travel in 2014? Please contact us for the dates

Trip Combos

Did you know we can help you plan an epic
adventure? You can combine this trip with the
following trips to extend you travels.

“I felt proud knowing I was helping to the wildlife, I learned a lot and met some great people too!.”
Sofia Richter
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