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Round the World Gap Year 2
Spend up to 12 months on an amazing Gap Year in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the USA. This programme provides all the structure you need, such as lots of included activities, detailed orientation meetings and help when you need it. There are also lots of opportunities for you to “do your own thing”. You choose when you go and how long you spend in each country as well as and where you work (or if you work at all!) and what sort of activities you experience.
Programme Locations
Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, USA
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants health.
What is included in the price
• Flight UK – Africa – Australia – New Zealand – Fiji – USA - UK
• 12 months travel insurance
Part 1 - Africa
• 4-week volunteer projects either with wildlife or communities, with all accommodation, meals and transfers
Part 2 - Australia
• 12 Month Work Package including airport transfer, 7 nights accommodation and much more
• 5 Day Surf school adventure - Sydney to Byron
• Oz Experience bus pass – Byron Bay to Cairns
Part 3 - New Zealand
• 4 nights accommodation on arrival into Auckland and airport transfer
• Kiwi Experience bus pass (North & South Island)
Part 4 - Fiji
• Fiji Experience bus pass
Part 5 - USA
• 1 night accommodation in Los Angeles hotel
• 21 day Trek America tour from Los Angeles – New York
• 1 night accommodation in New York Your Programme in Africa
Your flight from the UK will take you to South Africa, where you can choose between working with wildlife or communities. More options are available, please contact us for details.
Option 1: Monkey Rehabilitation Sanctuary
This project provides you with the unique opportunity to work hands on with the beautiful Vervet monkeys, together with other African wildlife, to rehabilitate and care for their welfare before releasing them back into their natural habitat.
Not only will you be able to enjoy this close interaction with these beautiful mammals, but you will also have the chance to learn the vital aspects of ecology and conservation, taking part in the monkey releases and going for the world record of how many monkeys can be returned back to the wild!
• Conservation Focus - This is not just a rehabilitation centre for monkeys, but for other animal and bird species, such as owls, snakes, caracal, antelope species, crocodiles etc. Any injured / orphaned animals get treated at the centre and when healed or big enough, are released back into their natural habitat with the help of volunteers.
• Monkey Releases - You may have the rare chance to witness a monkey being released back into the wild and participate in the pre and post-monitoring of the primates’ progress, observing behaviour, carrying out research and thus playing a vital part in this special work. You will be responsible for caring for and feeding any baby animals at the centre, which
will need regular feeding and bathing.
• Community project - Because the project is active in environmental education and involved with different community upliftment programmes, you will have the opportunity during your stay to spend some of your time on a local community project if you like. Accommodation and Meals
Your accommodation will vary depending on the project that you are on and will either be in dormitories, sleeping in large ‘army-style’ tents or in tents and chalets a Camping area. You will be served a continental-style breakfast and provided with groceries for lunch so that you can prepare your own lunch. Dinner will be served to you in the evening.
Option 2: Wild Coast Schools
Situated between Durban and East London on the east coast of South Africa, the Wild Coast region is situated in what was the Transkei homeland and boasts some of the most dramatic coastline in Africa. The Wild Coast, with its strong amahosa culture, vibrant population and environmental significance, is a destination of recognised developmental importance in the newly established democratic South Africa.
The Community Schools’ Project
If you choose this option you will be working closely with local children in the rural community schools, helping them to develop important computer literacy skills, sports programmes and a variety of new development schemes.
• Computer Literacy Skills Development - The project is committed to resourcing schools in the region with computer labs and important software to enable the children to gain the relevant skills to later help in their employment. With your help, this programme will be putting into place the necessary training and continued support for these schools to allow them to produce competitive learners for the demanding technological world.
• Interactive Sports Development - You will typically work on the sports initiatives for 2 afternoons a week, and the children are invited to freely attend: Most of whom jump at the chance to interact with you, and play outside with their fellow classmates. These activities will take place either on the green outside of your volunteer house, or just down on the beach. You will be helping to develop new sport’s disciplines, teamwork and an understanding of sport etiquette in the schools.
• Local Development Schemes - When this programme first began, the local schools were in extremely deprived conditions: Many without electricity, running water or local transport, creating many problems with sanitation, education and the safety of its children. Since the development schemes came into play, there has been a tremendous impact on the development of the facilities at the schools including, flushing toilets, libraries and murals, new classrooms and the development of sports and play grounds.
The Gardening is especially important to the schools, as they will help create money to pay for electricity and feed the children: Many children attend school just for the one good meal a day they receive. Your help will make their long-term goals a reality, and put into place the essential tools for development that we, in the West, take for granted. On arrival at the Wild Coast you will have an orientation week for your first week to allow you time to settle, as well as develop your understanding of the new, and at times challenging, environment that you will be working in.
Accommodation and Meals
You will be staying in shared accommodation (two to a room) in cottages situated in coastal dune forest overlooking a lagoon and beach.
Three meals a day will be catered with lunches taking the form of packed meals as most times you will be at the schools or in the field.
Your Programme in Australia
From Africa your next flight will take you to Sydney, Australia. On arrival at Sydney Airport you will receive an airport transfer to your hostel in Sydney. For the first 7 nights you will be staying in shared dormitory style rooms, meeting other young travellers, attending orientation meetings and having job consultations. We find you jobs – fast. You choose when you start working.
Your 12 month Work Package
What is included?
• Working Holiday visa for Australia
• Personally met at Sydney airport and transfer to the city centre hostel
• 7 nights shared accommodation and 7 breakfasts
• Welcome kit and Orientation seminar
• Personal consultation to help you find the most suitable job
• Priority Work Placement Service
• 12 months of job offers
• Accommodation Service
• Bank account and tax file number
• SIM card for your mobile phone with $10 credit
• Free internet access in Sydney and around Australia
• Voucher book
• Mail holding and forwarding for 12 months
• Free luggage storage for one month in Sydney
• YHA membership card
• 24/7 emergency help in Australia Working Holiday Visa
Before you leave the UK we will process your working holiday visa for you. The visa is available to anyone age 18 – 30 and valid for up to 12 months. If you want to stay for longer than 12 months it is now possible to extend your visa whilst out in Australia for up to 24 months - speak to one of our sales advisors for more info. We do not recommend getting a working holiday for Australia if you plan to spend any less than 3 months in the country – the visa can only be granted once in a lifetime and so it’s best to make the most of it!
Job Finding Services
Upon your arrival, our priority is to find you a job, all you need to do is let our team of job consultants know when you want to work and the rest will be done for you! You will then be safe in the knowledge that you have up to 12 months of job offers, all with reputable employers, a nice feeling considering that over 110,000 people enter Oz on a working holiday each year. The jobs available are likely to be in hospitality, call centers, office temping, accounting, childcare, teaching, retail, IT and fruit picking are among the many types of jobs on offer.
Loads of other stuff
Our Aussie team organises parties at various different venues. This is a great way to meet other travellers as well as having fun times. In addition they regularly organise social and cultural activities such as wineries trips, bush walking, sporting events, and festivals. When you decide to travel around Oz, there is 2 months free luggage storage for you at the Sydney office. Each month you will receive a newsletter with the entire latest goings on, events and offers. You will receive a beach bag, some flip flops and a water bottle, plus a booklet of discount vouchers.
Amazing discounts off exciting activities such as Jet Boating, Museums, Zoos and tours. Also loads of discounts on useful stuff like travel, accommodation and perhaps most importantly – beer!
Your 5-day surf school adventure
On this trip you get to live the surfer’s dream of freedom, travel, good waves and good times. You spend 5 days travelling between Sydney and Byron Bay, stopping along the way at some of Australia’s most pristine beaches. Your transport is the luxury surf party bus, which will take you to your destinations in style, many of which will be off the“conventional” backpacker route.
The full surfing tuition covers all abilities from beginners to advanced, and the full accredited instructors will make sure that you will be standing and riding those waves. On top of this, they will pass on the skills of paddling, wave selection and ocean knowledge, as well as many other hints too.
All equipment, transport, accommodation and meals are included, involving the great Aussie bbq’s, beach buffets etc. The trip is an absolute dream, as you ride the waves by day and party away at night.
OZ Experience Bus Pass
You will receive the “Strewth” pass allowing you to travel between Byron Bay and Cairns, letting you see the main sights of the amazing East coast, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach and Fraser island. Not only that, the “Oz Experience” buses like to take you on out-of-the-way trips en route, showing you areas of natural splendour and adding local stories and legend, to teach you more about what makes Australia a fantastic place.
Your Programme in New Zealand
You will fly from Sydney international airport to Auckland.
Arrival transfer Auckland
When you arrive in Auckland, you will be transferred to our hostel in the city centre. This is very useful considering the size of Auckland and its regional nature.
4 nights dorm accommodation at the ACB hostel
We include 4 nights accommodation at Auckland’s largest and most vibrant hostel, conveniently located in the city centre where all the action is. The accommodation is in shared dormitory style rooms and breakfast is included every morning. The hostel is famous amongst travellers for its Globe Bar and is generally the meeting place for social outings in Auckland.
Kiwi Experience bus pass
Your “Funky Chicken” pass incorporates the main sights, ranging from the beautiful glaciers and alpine towns of the South island, to the volcanic and thermal regions of the North. You will also be taken to the centres of adrenaline filled activities, however, whether you will do a sky dive in Taupo or a bungee jump in Queenstown is entirely up to you! By the end of your time in New Zealand, you will see why it is known as “God’s own country.”
Your Programme in Fiji
You will fly from Auckland to Nadi in Fiji. The next day you can depart on a Feejee Experience bus tour of the island, hopping on and off where you please, or you may want to spend a few more nights at the hostel first (at your expense).
The Feejee Experience bus pass takes you all around this exotic island. They recommend a minimum 4 – day stay, but with 7 – days you’ll see much more.
• Try sand boarding down the huge Sagatoka dunes
• Trek to the Highlands
• Tube down the Navua River
• Barter at Nadi markets
• Visit remote villages
• Sample the local sugar cane
• Walk to hot pools and relax in the sun This is basically a very relaxing time. We do not include the cost of accommodation as you will want to choose where and when you stay, but food and a bed for the night is not expensive.
Before you leave, don’t forget to join the party on the famous Beachcomber Island!
Your Programme in the USA
You will arrive at LAX airport in Los Angeles. We provide you with 1 night accommodation paid for (you may well wish to stay longer).
The trek will start in LA travelling across the Southern States to New York City. At present, your itinerary includes New Orleans. However, this may or may not change, all depending upon the circumstances in the future:
Day by day route:
• Day 1 – After joining the group you will start your trip by visiting the “Magic Kingdom” of Disneyland. Here you have admission included and unlimited access to the rides.
• Days 2 and 3 – Departing Los Angeles, you make your way to Las Vegas where you get to take your chance in the Casinos, dance in one of the many nightclubs or go to one of the many free shows. Here you stay for 2 nights in hotel accommodation (not included in the cost of the trip)
• Day 4 – Moving East, you make your way to Zion National Park, Utah. Here you go on a moderate walk to “Angel’s Landing” – a spectacular gorge carved in the sandstone cliffs
• Day 5 – After a night’s camping, you next stop at Lake Powell where you can take part in the optional water sports or just spend the day sunbathing and cooling off in the cool lake
• Days 6 and 7 – For the next 2 days you will stay at one of the Earth’s most breathtaking natural wonders – Grand Canyon National Park. No matter what you choose to do here (trek, a scenic flight or gaze over it as the sun sets), you will forever be amazed at the sheer size and vastness of the canyon
• Day 8 – Monument Valley: after crossing the San Juan river, you journey to the Navajo Indian reservation, where you have the option of having a horse or Jeep ride up to base camp on the edge of Monument Valley
• Day 9 – Arizona/New Mexico
• Day 10 – Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico: one of the largest cave systems in the world
• Day 11 – Del Rio, New Mexico: This town is right on the Mexico border and you have the opportunity to crossover into Mexico to sample the local cuisine and go shopping
• Days 12 and 13 – San Antonio, Texas: here you visit the Alamo, a symbol of Texan pride and get the opportunity to take part in a number of optional activities
• Day 14 – Texas
• Days 15 and 16 – New Orleans: this stop may be changed, all depending on the future situation in New Orleans and the will of the group
• Day 17 – Alabama: here you get a chance to sample the true “deep south”
• Day 18 – Tennessee: In Tennessee you have the opportunity to take a steamboat ride down the Mississippi river
• Days 19 and 20 – Washington DC: Here you spend 2 days sampling the sights and sounds of the US Capitol City. Included is an illuminated tour of the Whitehouse, Capitol and Washington Monuments
• Day 21 – arrive New York City and drop off at your accommodation. Stay for 1 night before flying back to UK Flights
Once you have booked, we will talk through the best flight options. The airlines will depend on your departure dates. The inclusive price covers the airline ticket and the tax. The flight sectors are:
London – South Africa
South Africa – Sydney
Sydney – Auckland
Auckland – Nadi (Fiji)
Nadi – Los Angeles (overland to New York)
New York - London You must book your flight sectors with dates, but these dates are changeable for a small fee once you have left the UK.
Insurance
Our Gap Year comprehensive insurance policy is with Endsleigh Insurance. You will receive a policy document in your final pack, which outlines exactly what you are covered for. Full details of coverage are also available on our website www.realgap.co.uk/Insurance
Programme Support
Throughout your programmes you will have the support and guidance of the programme coordinator and team. You will be provided with competent assistance and help with any questions or advice you may need during your stay.
You will be assigned a personal travel advisor who will coordinate your programme with you. Feel free to contact them at any time before you go, or when you are on your travels. In addition, you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number so you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Programme Cost
Prices start from £6259
Start Dates
You choose when you want to go. We’ll plan your trip around what you want to do. For example, you can arrive into Sydney and have time off to relax, or you can start working immediately.
You can book certain activities such as the Surf School when you wish, but others, such as volunteer projects in Africa have specific start dates each month and so have to be confirmed in advance from the UK as spaces are limited.
If you are interested in the Round the World Gap Year Option 2 package then please feel free to contact me at lisa.fiddimore@realgap.co.uk or call me on 01892 516164. We can also tailor make a similar itinerary just for you to fit in with your budget, time scale and ideals to make this your trip of a lifetime!
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