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South Africa
South Africa has a large variety of ecosystems that host a myriad of wildlife, from marine wildlife to the smallest floral kingdom in the world and of course not forgetting the magnificent Big 5 that can be found here. Having gone through a political transition like no other country, South Africa 's population is as diverse as its wildlife and is a thriving tourist destination.
South Africa is fortunate to have a relatively unspoilt natural heritage that over time is starting to feel the pressure of her population and its demands. As a result, a large number of conservation programmes have been put in place to conserve and maintain areas under threat.
However, as in most countries, South Africa's conservation bodies are grossly under-resourced and under-financed, which in turn, puts great importance on volunteer programmes, with volunteers bringing a wide variety of talents and skills to help with the projects.
Free Time
On the days when you’re not at sea, you can go on excursions in the local area and take part in activities such as wine tasting, penguin spotting, a visit to the most southern point of Africa and so on. Gansbaai is a lovely village and has several mice pubs and restaurants that you can visit, but there is no nightlife. The project volunteer coordinator will help you arrange some trips (at your personal expense), like these ones below:
- Go Whale Watching! See whales that are bigger than the boat your watching them from! Huge and mysterious, whales are a fantastic sight – the best time for spotting is between April and November.
- Exploring the valley on horseback! Follow the rambling trails of the Walker Bay Whale Conservancy. These rides take you into the private nature reserve that runs along the Klein River and into the Kleinriviersberg Mountains. Available for all abilities.
- Quad biking! Bike the trails around the Robert Stanford Wine Estate, through the vines and bush in a rather intrepid manner. For excitement just about equal to a shark encounter!
Tours After your Project
Cape Town is ideally placed for the Orange River and Fish River Canyon – fantastic places to explore. Being in South Africa also places you well for tours throughout Africa. Go up to Namibia, visit Victoria Falls or go on an epic trip through eight nations finishing up in Nairobi – you’ll experience lots of wonders enroute. We have a number of different tours to choose from, just drop us a line to find out more about them to experience Africa in an adventurous but safe way.
Getting There
Flights will need to be arranged into Cape Town’s International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by a programme representative who will take you to your accommodation for an overnight stay in Cape Town. On Monday morning, you will be transferred to Gansbaai to start your programme. This is a two-hour drive.
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