 Expedition volunteer project
Expedition volunteer projects are all about ‘giving something back' to the people and communities you come across on your gap year travel by spending some of your time helping out on a volunteer project. An expedition volunteer project is also, however, very much a mutually beneficial two way process. The volunteer element of an expedition volunteer project gives travellers a real sense of personal achievement and provides them with a unique insight in to the culture of the country they are visiting.
Another important element of an expedition volunteer project is that, as well as visiting all of the usual tourist sights, they also aim to provide a more ‘real' travel experience by visiting lesser known places more off the beaten track. If you simply want to do spend your gap year combining a bit of sight-seeing with some sun-bathing then an expedition volunteer project almost certainly isn't for you. If, however you are looking to challenge yourself with some adventurous travel an expedition volunteer project is an excellent option. Some of Real Gap's best expedition volunteer projects are our Expeditions Abroad programmes. For full details on these expedition volunteer projects click on the link or speak to one of our experienced travel advisers. However, the following is a very brief summary of what you could get up to if you travel on an expedition volunteer project.
Africa is a particularly popular destination for expedition volunteer projects and one of Real Gap's most unique projects is located in the East African country of Tanzania. If you were to visit just one African country for an expedition volunteer project it would be easy to make a strong case for choosing Tanzania. If you want to explore Africa's incredible wildlife on your expedition volunteer project Tanzania is home to some of the continent's finest game reserves - including Ruaha, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Aside from the wildlife other highlights of Real Gap's expedition volunteer project in Tanzania include a trip to the spice island of Zanzibar on a traditional dhow boat and the beautiful beaches at the Mbezi Beach base camp. What really separates this expedition volunteer project apart from any other, however, is that it includes a five-week stay with a Maasai tribal community in an idyllic setting close to Mount Kilimanjaro - an extremely privileged experience.
India is another excellent destination if you would like to become part of a community during an expedition volunteer project. Travellers on Real Gap's expedition volunteer project to India spend two months teaching English in a village close by to the picturesque North Indian hill station of Darjeeling. The expedition volunteer project also includes a tiger safari, a six-day trek in the Himalayas and travel to other fascinating regions such as the holy city of Haridwar and the ‘pink city' of Jaipur.
If you would like to work with wildlife on an expedition volunteer project one of the best options is Ecuador. If you travel on an expedition volunteer project to Ecuador, you can get involved with conservation work in the beautiful Galapagos Islands on a range of rewarding projects - from caring for the islands' giant tortoise population to helping to raise environmental awareness among local school children. Other highlights of the expedition volunteer project to Ecuador include a trek on horseback in the Andes Mountains and some full-on jungle exploration.
Expedition volunteer project - Peru expedition
On an expedition volunteer project to Peru there are loads of different volunteer options - from working on a river turtle conservation project in a remote region of the Amazon to campaigning for improved working conditions for porters. On an expedition volunteer project to Peru travellers also trek the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, visit floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca and explore the mysterious ‘Nazca' lines etched in to the desert in western Peru.
Highlights of Real Gap's expedition volunteer project to Venezuela include a canoe journey along the Orinoco Delta, a trek to the summit of the table-top Roraima Mountain and mile upon mile of pristine Caribbean beaches. The choice of projects available on Real Gap's expedition volunteer project to Venezuela is also excellent - from caring for animals in a National Park to working with street kids.
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