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Organising Voluntary Projects, Internships and Gap Years since 1994.

SOUTH AFRICA

TEACH AND CARE FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CAPE TOWN

Assist in a primary school for children with a variety of disabilities or special needs. The children's syndromes or conditions include Cerebral Palsy such as muscular dystrophy, multiple physical impairment, ADHD and specific learning disabilities.

You'll work in five different areas, including class aide, 'scribe' administration, libary and generally filling in wherever you're needed.

SUMMARY: THE BASICS

Price: £1,095 for 2 weeks
£200 for each additional week.
Excludes flights. Please see Full Price List & Other Currencies
Duration: From 2 weeks to 12 weeks or longer, subject to visa requirements.
Start Dates: All year round, subject to school holidays, you choose your start and finish dates.
Requirements: Minimum age 17. You don't need any qualifications or experience to do this project, but you should have a love of children and lots of enthusiasm.
What's included: ►Arranging your Programme
►Full pre-departure support and assistance
►Payment Protection insurance
►Accommodation
►Food
►Meeting you at the nearest Airport
►Transfer to your accommodation
►Local in-country team support and backup
►24-hr emergency support
►Free T-Shirt
►Certificate of Completion
What's not included: Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas, Daily transport to and fronm your project, Return transfer to the airport.
Who can do this Project? All projects are open to all nationalities and all ages over 17.
Suitable for gap years or those taking a year out, grown-up gappers, career breakers, anyone interested in caring for children, teaching or working with children overseas while doing voluntary work, projects abroad or study abroad. Also available as a summer placement or short break in South Africa, or for those interested in TEFL teaching.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT

  • An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into South Africa and its diverse cultures.
  • The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and knowing that you made a difference to them.
  • New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.
  • An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market.
  • And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!
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WORK CONTENT AND DESCRIPTION

Assist in a primary school for children with a variety of disabilities or special needs. Some of today’s pupils have cerebral palsy, which refers to a group of permanent but non-progressive disorders of posture and movement. It is due to a dysfunction of the brain, which can occur during birth or as a result of accident or illness in childhood. Some children have other syndromes or conditions such as muscular dystrophy, multiple physical impairment, ADHD and specific learning disabilities.

The school is set in a beautiful location, overlooking the Rondebosch Common and facing the impressive side of Table Mountain. The school has 250 pupils ranging from 3 years old to about 13, from pre-primary to year 7. The school buildings are spacious and brightly decorated with art works done by the children and the grounds are immaculate and well-kept. There is a heated indoor swimming pool used largely for therapy. Part of the school day is allocated to sport and pupils take part in school leagues as well as sport for the disabled. On Mondays a group goes to a farm for Riding for the Disabled.

Lack of concentration, dyslexia or hyperactivity are often linked to their conditions and the children can get over-excited by changes in routine, which means that teachers and assistants need to have endless patience in dealing with small upsets. The teachers are grateful for the help of volunteers – just the presence of another adult in the classroom makes the activities run more smoothly. Your placement at this school will be an unforgettable experience.

YOUR WORK AT THE SCHOOL:
When you arrive you will spend some time with the teacher in charge who will talk about the Special Needs of the children and about your role in the school as a volunteer.

You will then be allocated to a teacher who will introduce you to the work You may spend time in all different areas of work in the school before settling into a particular area. You can make a specific request if there is anything that you are particularly interested in – for example you may prefer working in the Nursery, or with the older children, or helping in the Physiotherapy or OT departments.

The work falls into five categories:

  • Admin (receptionist, switchboard - if there is someone absent);
  • Library (mending books, cataloguing, etc);
  • Class Aides (helping children in the nursery section, or helping the teacher with various class activities, or listening to children reading);
  • Being a “Scribe” or amanuensis (this means you will go with a pupil who is disabled and cannot write, sit with him/her in class and take notes, and then write for him/her while he/she tells the scribe the answers in tests or examinations).
  • The fifth category is basically filling in where needed – perhaps in charge of collecting children who need physiotherapy

You can also help with Sport and Physical Education, such as swimming, soccer, cricket as well as sport for the disabled.

Different age groups end their school day at different times. After the pupils have left, you may be given preparation tasks for the next day by the teacher, or there might be admin work in the office or the school library. This will be until 3.00 pm.

Sometimes there might be extra duties after this, like preparing for school Sports Day or School Concert. We urge volunteers to get involved with extra functions taking place at the school as you can have a lot of fun and get to know the children far better by getting involved in the after school activities. Your weekends are entirely free (for sightseeing, travel and fun)!

SCHOOL TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Please note that this placement is not available during the school holidays, so it’s important to consult the school terms below to plan your placement dates. Your project coordinator will also assist you with your placement planning, as well as suggest alternatives and exciting things to do during the holiday periods.

Dates for the 2015 school terms (semesters) are given below.
Term 1: 21 January – 1 April
Term 2: 13 April – 26 June
Term 3: 20 July – 2 October
Term 4: 12 October – 9 December

Dates for the 2016 school terms (semesters) are given below.
Term 1: 13 January – 18 March
Term 2: 5 April – 24 June
Term 3: 18 July – 30 September
Term 4: 10 October – 7 December<

Generally the last week before terms end is given to exams and tests. This means that you will find your work load dropping during this week and you will usually find more free time than normal school time.

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ACCOMMODATION

Nestled under the mountain near the city, is the trendy and arty suburb of Observatory, the student Mecca of Cape Town. We have chosen this location as an accommodation base and make use of a backpackers lodge, where you will be staying. It’s distance from the projects, safety conscious attitude and very friendly staff make this the ideal home away from home.

South African backpackers are unique and majority are run as a ‘home away from home’ in large houses, so there is always lots of space to relax and watch TV, read a book, or just sit by the pool and soak in the sun.

In Observatory, we use The Green Elephant backpackers lodge, which has been running since 1994 and is spaced across 3 beautiful houses. The main house consists of dormitory style rooms, free unlimited wireless internet, a festive bar, a braai (BBQ) area and a swimming pool. The other two houses have private rooms (single and double rooms).

The lodge is situated in the heart of Observatory and a short (5 minute) stroll away from a large supermarket, internet café, restaurants, coffee shops, pharmacy and laundromat. The lodge is also closely situated to the main road, where busses and taxis are available literally at your doorstep.

You’ll be staying in a dorm-style room in the main house, which consist of 6 beds each. The mattresses are great and all linen and towels are provided, but it’s a good idea to bring your own beach towel. There is a laundry self-service area available at the lodge for R15/load (about £1 or US$1.50), but there are also laundromats a few minutes walk away that will wash, dry and fold for you.

The lodge has a 24-hour reception desk, and they pride themselves with long-term staff of up to 20 years. This translates into a safe environment with experienced staff, who are able to offer the best local advice to guests for trips & tours, restaurants and basically any local information on the Cape Town area.

The Green Elephant is also committed to low impact and sustainable tourism to preserve our natural beauty for future generations. They recycle everything from water (in grey water systems) to bottles, paper and plastic, which we strongly support!

FOOD:
You'll be given a food budget which will cover your basic essentials (but not extras like drinks, snacks and eating out).

All the lodge houses have fully equipped self catering kitchens, with all the necessities to cook a good meal. If you aren’t feeling up to cooking on any particular day, the lodge also does meals that can be paid for on the day. For example, Thursday nights are pizza nights, and they also do BBQ’s on regular occasions.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Got any questions? Please email us: info@travellersworldwide.com

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR PLACEMENT?
Once you have applied for a placement, we'll contact you and send you our Welcome Pack. You'll also receive Log-on details and password for our Volunteer Extranet where you'll have access to all the documentation and information which we've put together to facilitate preparations for your adventure! Your Project Co-ordinator for your country will liaise with you throughout the arrangements process, as well as while you're on your placement and on your return home.

The documents you'll have access to also include a Country Factfile, Safety Guide and any manuals that may assist you on your particular programme (e.g. Teaching Guide, Sports Manuals, Enrichment Suggestions for Animal Care, etc.). We do all we can to make your stay one that you'll never forget. This is a truly awesome, elegant and beautiful country.

On Arrival, your Introduction to the Country:
When you arrive you will be welcomed by a member of our team who will take you to your accommodation and introduce you to everyone. During your first few days you'll be given an induction so that you can learn about the country and its culture, as well as other useful information, like how to use the transport system, banks, safety issues, tipping, and lots more.

VOLUNTEERING WITH CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
As well as protecting all our volunteers, Travellers Worldwide is committed to all our projects and dedicated to practices which protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. Read Travellers' Child Care and Vulnerable Adults Policy.

TRAVELLERS' SUPPORT AND BACKUP: Read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme.

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OPTIONAL ADD-ON ACTIVITIES:

Make the most of your time there! To help you do that, we've put together some exciting activities, courses and tours that you can add to your itinerary. These are designed to be fun, but also to enable you to learn, and expand your personal and professional development enjoyment ... but mostly for your enjoyment! :-)

Cage Dive with Sharks in South Africa

CAGE DIVE WITH SHARKS:
Price: £123, includes transfer from Cape Town to the project at Gansbaai and back again, but excludes food.

The Cage Dive is provided by our MMP Marine Conservation Project, which is a multi-awarded Ecotourism and Conservation Enterprise pioneering the Shark Cage Diving industry in Gansbaai. The 20 - 25 minute boat trip to where the activity is to take place, is by itself an exhilarating adventure. We also usually see at least two or more members of the Marine Big Five - sharks, dolphins, whales, seals and penguins, as well as several bird species. Here is a brief breakdown of what to expect:

  • You'll start with breakfast or lunch and then register your wetsuit size
  • Guests receive a pre-trip safety briefing about what to expect during the trip and a biological background on great white sharks
  • Then down to the boat and out to Dyer Island. The trip is approximately 20 minutes, with the shallows being a short 10 minute ride (where we anchor depends on where the sharks are). On average, we anchor for 2 hours, but this depends on shark activity, conditions, as well as number of divers
  • Weather permitting, we take a quick trip through the infamous Shark Alley
  • Lastly, a debrief and a celebratory beverage to toast the occasion!

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1-Week Multi-Marine Conservation Add-On

1-WEEK WHALES, SHARKS & DOLPHINS EXPERIENCE:
Price: £595, includes accommodation, transfer from Cape Town to the project, but excludes food.

Expand your existing Travellers Programme and your exploration of South Africa by volunteering for a week on our Whale, Shark & Dolphin Project. This is an exciting project in a beautiful location, surrounded by white beaches and blue ocean. And two hours from the world's third favourite city - Cape Town. What more could anyone want?

You'll get hands-on experience working closely with the White Shark in its own world. You'll also learn some seamanship by performing crewing duties daily and giving tourists an amazing opportunity to understand and observe one of the world's most magnificent Apex Predators. Assist in collating data on the sharks with the Marine biologist via dorsal fin ID photography, observational and geographical data logging. You'll get the chance to enter the white shark's world by slipping down into the five-man shark cage and the videographer can film the whole unforgettable experience for you to take home!

You'll see the 18m long Southern Right Whales. These graceful giants occupy the water of Gansbaai from June to December and are definitely not to be missed.

This Optional add-On is also available as a full project, for details please go to Multi-Marine Conservation Project

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1-Week Rehabilitation of Wildlife

1-WEEK WILDLIFE REHABILITATION:
Price: £325, includes accommodation and food, plus transfer to and from Durban Airport. Does not include transfers from elsewhere in the country.

Spend a fantastic week working hands-on with abused, abandoned and orphaned animals - a time you will never, ever forget! You can do this placement either before starting your main project or afterwards.

You'll work with over 400 different animals and birds, and lots of monkeys! Your responsibilities can include feeding the animals, grounds work, cage enrichment and assisting in the construction and improvement of enclosures to raise the quality of the daily lives of the animals.

This Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is glorious. The grounds are beautiful and tranquil and the location is superb. It's also a wildlife hospital that cares for injured and orphaned wild animals and birds, and is the only centre of its kind in the Province. Any wild animal, (not domestic or agricultural), that has been injured, rescued or abandoned, is admitted free of charge. Almost 90% of animals admitted to the Centre, have sustained injuries due to human negligence.

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Penguins at Boulders in Cape Town

1-DAY CAPE PENINSULA & WINE TOUR:
Price: £49.

ITINERARY: We begin the morning with a leisurely stroll along the cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses of the Bokaap while sampling some of the local traditional snacks before heading through the exclusive seaside suburbs of Clifton and Campsbay where we have a short photo stop.

We then carry on along Victoria drive, through Houtbay and along the scenic Chapmans Peak Drive eventually arriving at The Cape of Good hope Nature Reserve where we have the option of doing a 40 minute hike from the most south west tip of Africa, Cape of Good Hope to the Cape Point Light House.

We then start driving north to Boulder Beach Penguin colony, where on a nice day you can actually swim with these sea birds! By this stage you would have built up quite an appetite. We stop for a traditional Cape lunch of fish ‘n chips in the old Kalk Bay harbour where the local fishing community goes back generations.

After everyone has had their fill, we stop briefly at the Shark Spotter, entrusted by the local surfers of Muizenberg to look out for Great White Sharks. From here we travel through the lush Constantia Valley to one of the oldest wine farms outside of Europe for a relaxing end of the day wine tasting experience, where we also learn about the history of farming in the Cape in beautiful surroundings.

Included Highlights: Lunch and refreshments in Kalk Bay, Cape of Good Hope Entrance Fee & Boulders Beach Entry Fee to see penguins, Wine Tasting in the Constantia Wine Valley, Walking tour of Bo-Kaap.

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Table Mountain in vCape Town

1-DAY HIKING (TABLE MOUNTAIN), ABSEILING, SANDBOARDING & SURFING COMBO:
Price: £49.

Have you ever wanted to hike up the legendary Table Mountain? Speed down a steep sand dune? Or how about cruise down the open face of a wave? You start the day off with a 2 hour hike up the front of Table Mountain and you then the slightly insane have the option of doing a 112m abseil from the top!

You then take the cable car down the mountain where you will take the scenic route to Houtbay, stopping in Camps Bay along the route for a photo opportunity. Once in Houtbay your guide will teach you the basic sandboarding techniques before letting you experience the speed and thrill of sandboarding yourself!

From here you will cross over Constantia Neck to the False Bay coast where you will climb into you wetsuits, jump on your surf board and hit the waves for a surf lesson. Once back on dry land you will head back to your hotel. I am sure you will be talking about this action packed day for a long time!

Included Highlights: Light snacks and refreshments, fish and chips lunch, hiking sandboarding & surfing.

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Bungee jump

3-DAY WILDLIFE SAFARI & BUNGEE ADVENTURE:
Price: £190, includes accommodation and food. Leaves Cape Town every Friday and returns to Cape Town on the Sunday afternoon.

Experience a Game Drive, a walk with Lions, an elephant and a monkey sanctuary, the Cango caves AND The World’s highest Bungee!!!

Day 1 ǀ Friday: Overberg, Garden Route, Sedgefield: We leave Cape Town and head east along the N2 past Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa to a Private Game Reserve on the edge of the Garden Route. On safari, where you can see Lion, Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino, Cheetah and Giraffe in their natural habitat.

After lunch we stop at another private game reserve where you can take a photographic walk with lions! Walk side by side and even stroke them. On to Sedgefield where we stay at a beautiful private Cape to Addo backpacker’s house.
Included Highlight: Big 5 Game Drive Safari
Optional Activities: Cat Walk – Walking with Lions

Day 2 ǀ Saturday: Garden Route, Knysna, Tsitsikamma, Bungee: We begin with a visit to a popular local farmers and craft market in the village. Then on to an Elephant Sanctuary for orphaned elephants where you learn about, and interact with them before having lunch at a Monkey Sanctuary where rescued monkeys roam free in a large jungle area. Our next stop is always one of the highlights of the tour . . . the Bloukrans River Bridge, home to the World’s highest commercial Bungee Jump at 216 meters! Back to Sedgefield for dinner and to carry on with the festivities.
Included Highlight: Local craft and farmers market
Optional Activities: Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Bloukrans bungee jump (216m), Bloukrans Bridge walking.

Day 3 ǀ Sunday: Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn, return to Cape Town via Route 62: We head over the Outeniqua Mountains to the Town of Oudtshoorn, known as the “Ostrich Capital of the world”. Here we visit the Cango Caves to go on either an adventure or standard tour through some very large chambers with spectacular limestone formations that are millions of years old. If you chose the adventure tour, be prepared to start squeezing through some very tight spaces. If caves are not for you, then visit the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch where you can stroke a cheetah or even go cage diving with crocodiles! Then we head home along the scenic Route 62 through the Klein Karoo.
Included Highlight: Cango Caves Adventure or Standard tour or Cango Wildlife ranch entrance

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3-day Garden Route Safari in South Africa

3-DAY GARDEN ROUTE SAFARI ADVENTURE
(One-way to Port Elizabeth or Knysna):
Price: £180. Leaves Cape Town every Monday morning (early).

The 4 Day tour is ideal for volunteers wanting to arrive at our Wildlife Sanctuary project near Port Elizabeth, or one of the Knysna projects. You save on a connecting flight from Cape Town and get to take part in a fun-filled experience with lots of amazing activities. The tour bus will drop you off at either project destination mentioned above on Day 3.

Day 1 – Monday ǀ Cape Town to Oudtshoorn Little Karoo, Cango Caves, Wildlife Rehabilitation Ranch: We head into the semi-arid Little Karoo along the scenic Route 62 driving to the town of Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital of the world, it is situated in a beautiful, fertile valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. Here you can choose between:
The Cango Caves where we will embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the cave system to view its massive caverns and a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations, millions of years old. Cango Caves is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world. Or if you enjoy spelunking and don’t mind trying to squeeze through some smaller gaps then you are also welcome to take the 1.5 hour adventure tour!
Go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view and learn about many rare and endangered animal species.

We then head over the Outeniqua Mountains to the lush coastal region known as the Garden Route where we will head to the beach town of Sedgefield where we spend our first night. If time allows we will also head to the beach for a swim in the Indian Ocean.
Included Highlight: Standard or adventure guided tour of Cango Caves OR Cango Endangered Wildlife ranch.

Day 2 – Tuesday ǀ Sedgefield – Jeffrey’s Bay Monkey Sanctuary, Elephant Sanctuary, Kloofing, Bloukrans Bungee & Tsitsikamma National Park. This morning we drive through Knysna on our way to the Crags where you have a number of options to choose from:
1. Elephant Sanctuary where you learn about, and interact with orphaned elephants.
2. Monkey Sanctuary where rescued monkeys roam free in a large jungle area.
3. Kloofing trip through a spectacular gorge with jumps, abseils and swimming.

Our next stop is the World’s highest commercial Bungee Jump at 216 meters where you have the opportunity to experience this adrenalin pumping activity. Finally, to end the day we take a beautiful walk through the indigenous Tsitsikamma National Park to the Storms river swing bridges before we head to the famous surfing town of Jeffreys Bay where we stay at a backpackers directly on the beach.
Included Highlight: Tsitsikamma Forest.
Optional Activities: Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Bloukrans bungee jump (216m), Bloukrans Bridge walking tour.

Day 3 – Wednesday ǀ Jeffrey’s Bay – Addo National Park – Sedgefield Game Drive (Addo), Surfing, shopping time (Jeffrey’s bay). There are 2 options to choose from this morning:
1. Sleep in and take some time in the morning to explore the towns many surf factory shops, or go for a surf lesson in one of the most famous surf spots on earth.
2. Wake up early and head to Addo Elephant National park where we go on a morning game drive to view the multitudes of wild animals. Addo is home to the Big 5 and it also has the highest concentration of African Elephants in the world!
Included Highlight: Storms River/Jeffrey’s Bay/Addo & Knysna Heads.
Optional Activities: Black Water Tubing, Canopy Tour, Surf Lessons, Shopping, Addo Elephant NP tour (morning)

Please note:
• Volunteers destined for our Wildlife Sanctuary placement, can get dropped off at the project or choose to be fetched in Jeffrey’s Bay after the activities.
• Volunteers destined for the Knysna projects will be dropped off at our accommodation.

Day 4 – Thursday ǀ Sedgefield to Cape Town: Return to Cape Town via Sir Lowry’s Pass. After breakfast overlooking the ocean in Sedgefield, we start our journey back to Cape Town. Our first stop is a once in a lifetime experience, walking with lions! This informative walk allows you to get some amazing photos while getting up close and personal with these amazing creatures We then visit an Aloe factory in Albertinia and enjoy a wonderful scenic drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowry’s Pass. We arrive in Cape Town late Thursday afternoon.
Included Highlight: Lion Walk.

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Caves, Elephants and Lions Safari

4-DAY CAVES, ELEPHANTS & LIONS ADVENTURE SAFARI:
Price: £195, includes accommodation and food. Leaves Cape Town every Monday morning (early), returning to Cape Town on Thursdays.

Day 1 – Monday ǀ Cape Town to Oudtshoorn Little Karoo, Cango Caves, Wildlife Rehabilitation Ranch: We leave the Mother City behind and head into the semi-arid Little Karoo along the scenic Route 62 driving to the town of Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital of the world, it is situated in a beautiful, fertile valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. Here you can choose between:
1. The Cango Caves where we will embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the cave system to view its massive caverns and a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations, millions of years old. Cango Caves is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world. Or if you enjoy spelunking and don’t mind trying to squeeze through some smaller gaps then you are also welcome to take the 1.5 hour adventure tour!
2. Go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view and learn about many rare and endangered animal species.

We then head over the Outeniqua Mountains to the lush coastal region known as the Garden Route where we will head to the beach town of Sedgefield where we spend our first night. If time allows we will also head to the beach for a swim in the Indian Ocean.
Included Highlight: Standard or adventure guided tour of Cango Caves OR Cango Endangered Wildlife ranch.

Day 2 – Tuesday ǀ Sedgefield – Jeffrey’s Bay Monkey Sanctuary, Elephant Sanctuary, Kloofing, Bloukrans Bungee & Tsitsikamma National Park. This morning we drive through Knysna on our way to the Crags where you have a number of options to choose from:
1. Elephant Sanctuary where you learn about, and interact with orphaned elephants.
2. Monkey Sanctuary where rescued monkeys roam free in a large jungle area.
3. Kloofing trip through a spectacular gorge with jumps, abseils and swimming.

Our next stop is the World’s highest commercial Bungee Jump at 216 meters where you have the opportunity to experience this adrenalin pumping activity. Finally, to end the day we take a beautiful walk through the indigenous Tsitsikamma National Park to the Storms river swing bridges before we head to the famous surfing town of Jeffreys Bay where we stay at a backpackers directly on the beach.
Included Highlight: Tsitsikamma Forest.
Optional Activities: Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Bloukrans bungee jump (216m), Bloukrans Bridge walking tour

Day 3 – Wednesday ǀ Jeffrey’s Bay – Addo National Park – Sedgefield Game Drive (Addo), Surfing, shopping time (Jeffrey’s Bay). There are 2 options to choose from this morning.
1. Sleep in and take some time in the morning to explore the towns many surf factory shops, or go for a surf lesson in one of the most famous surf spots on earth.
2. Wake up early and head to Addo Elephant National park where we go on a morning game drive to view the multitudes of wild animals. Addo is home to the Big 5 and it also has the highest concentration of African Elephants in the world!
Included Highlight: Storms River/Jeffrey’s Bay/Addo & Knysna Heads.
Optional Activities: Black Water Tubing, Canopy Tour, Surf Lessons, Shopping, Addo Elephant NP tour (morning)

Day 4 – Thursday ǀ Sedgefield to Cape Town: Return to Cape Town via Sir Lowry’s Pass. After breakfast overlooking the ocean in Sedgefield, we start our journey back to Cape Town. Our first stop is a once in a lifetime experience, walking with lions! This informative walk allows you to get some amazing photos while getting up close and personal with these amazing creatures We then visit an Aloe factory in Albertinia and enjoy a wonderful scenic drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowry’s Pass. We arrive in Cape Town late Thursday afternoon.
Included Highlight: Lion Walk.

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5-day sharks and wildlife safari

5-DAY SHARKS, ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE SAFARI
(One-way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth or Knysna):
Price: £265. Includes Accommodation and Food. Leaves Cape Town every Saturday morning (early).

This is the ideal tour for volunteers wanting to arrive at our Wildlife Sanctuary project near Port Elizabeth, or one of the Knysna projects. You save on a connecting flight from Cape Town and get to take part in a fun-filled experience with lots of amazing activities. The tour bus will drop you off at any of the destinations listed above on Day 5.

Day 1 – Saturday ǀ Cape Town to Struisbaai: Overberg, Whale Route, Cape Agulhus: Departing Cape Town at 8:30 am and Stellenbosch at 9:30 am, our exciting journey begins today as we join the world famous whale route in Gordons Bay for a stunning drive along the picturesque R44 mountain pass overlooking False Bay to the vibrant coastal town of Hermanus. After an opportunity to take some photographs and a picnic lunch on the seafront, we continue to Birkenhead Brewery to sample some fine beers before moving on to the southernmost tip of Africa in Cape Agulhas National Park.

After a visit to the lookout point we make our way to the harbour where there is an option to embark on an exciting ski-boat cruise to search for dolphin and whales (June to November). After our cruise we take a walk back to our accommodation along “Die Plaat”, the longest beach in the Southern Hemisphere. This day is designed to be a relaxing one for you to get to know your fellow travellers, to get used to travelling in our vehicle and to settle into the comfortable routine of life on tour.
Included Highlight: Land Based Whale Watching in Hermanus/Shopping Beer/wine tasting at Birkenhead Brewery
Optional Activities: Shark cage diving.

Day 2 – Sunday ǀ Cape Agulhas to Sedgefield: Canoeing & Hike: Starting with a relaxing breakfast we then start driving inland again, this time towards the famed Garden Route! After a scenic drive we begin a beautiful canoe trip down one of the many tranquil rivers in the area, followed by a short hike to a stunning waterfall. We finish off the day with some beach time down at Myoli Beach.
Included Highlight: Canoe trip & hike to waterfall.

Day 3 – Monday ǀ Oudtshoorn day trip: Little Karoo, Cango Caves, Ostrich Farm, Wildlife Ranch: We begin the day with a drive over the picturesque Outeniqua mountain range into the semi desert region of the Klein Karoo and Oudtshoorn. Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. The Cango Caves will be the first stop and here we’ll embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the cave system to view its massive caverns and a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations, millions of years old. Cango Caves is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world. If you enjoy spelunking and don’t mind trying to squeeze through some smaller gaps then you are also welcome to take the 1.5 hour adventure tour!

Next is an option to view and ride ostriches on a working ostrich farm, or go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view many rare and endangered animal species.
Included Highlight: Standard or adventure guided tour of Cango Caves Optional Activities: Tour of a working Ostrich farm + riding (weight restriction applies to riders). Cango Endangered Wildlife ranch.

Day 4 – Tuesday ǀ Sedgefield – Jeffrey’s Bay: Monkey Sanctuary, Elephant Sanctuary, Kloofing, Bloukrans Bungee & Tsitsikamma National Park: This morning we drive through Knysna on our way to the Crags where you have a number of options to choose from:
1. Elephant Sanctuary where you learn about, and interact with orphaned elephants.
2. Monkey Sanctuary where rescued monkeys roam free in a large jungle area.
3. Kloofing trip through a spectacular gorge with jumps, abseils and swimming.

Our next stop is the World’s highest commercial Bungee Jump at 216 meters where you have the opportunity to experience this adrenalin pumping activity. Finally, to end the day we take a beautiful walk through the indigenous Tsitsikamma National Park to the Storms river swing bridges before we head to the famous surfing town of Jeffreys Bay where we stay at a backpackers directly on the beach.
Included Highlight: Tsitsikamma Forest Optional Activities: Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Bloukrans bungee jump (216m), Bloukrans Bridge walking tour.

Day 5 – Wednesday ǀ Jeffrey’s Bay – Addo National Park – Sedgefield: Game Drive (Addo), Surfing, shopping. There are 2 options to choose from this morning.
1. Sleep in and take some time in the morning to explore the towns many surf factory shops, or go for a surf lesson in one of the most famous surf spots on earth.
2. Wake up early and head to Addo Elephant National park where we go on a morning game drive to view the multitudes of wild animals. Addo is home to the Big 5 and it also has the highest concentration of African Elephants in the world!

We then take a relaxed drive back towards Sedgefield for the night. If there is time available we will visit the famous Knysna Heads for some absolutely amazing pictures where the ocean meets the inlet to the Knysna Lagoon.
Included Highlight: Storms River/Jeffrey’s Bay/Addo & Knysna Heads
Optional Activities: Black Water Tubing, Canopy Tour, Surf Lessons, Shopping, Addo Elephant NP tour (morning)

Please note:
• Volunteers destined for our Wildlife Sanctuary placement, can get dropped off at the project or choose to be fetched in Jeffrey’s Bay after the activities.
• Volunteers destined for the Knysna projects will be dropped off at our accommodation

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7-day extreme advanture safari in Souith Africa

6-DAY EXTREME ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE SAFARI:
Price: £295. Leaves Cape Town on a Saturday morning and returns to Cape Town the following Thursday afternoon.

The Full Monty! Perfect for everyone at the start or end of your placement in South Africa! Each tour is professionally organised, driven and guided by an experienced African tour leader and the itineraries are jam-packed full of unique African experiences and exciting discoveries.

Day 1 – Saturday ǀ Cape Town to Struisbaai: Overberg, Whale Route, Cape Agulhus: Departing Cape Town at 8:30 am and Stellenbosch at 9:30 am, our exciting journey begins today as we join the world famous whale route in Gordons Bay for a stunning drive along the picturesque R44 mountain pass overlooking False Bay to the vibrant coastal town of Hermanus. After an opportunity to take some photographs and a picnic lunch on the seafront, we continue to Birkenhead Brewery to sample some fine beers before moving on to the southernmost tip of Africa in Cape Agulhas National Park.

After a visit to the lookout point we make our way to the harbour where there is an option to embark on an exciting ski-boat cruise to search for dolphin and whales (June to November). After our cruise we take a walk back to our accommodation along “Die Plaat”, the longest beach in the Southern Hemisphere. This day is designed to be a relaxing one for you to get to know your fellow travellers, to get used to travelling in our vehicle and to settle into the comfortable routine of life on tour.
Included Highlight: Land Based Whale Watching in Hermanus / Shopping. Beer/wine tasting at Birkenhead Brewery
Optional Activities: Shark cage diving.

Day 2 – Sunday ǀ Cape Agulhas to Sedgefield: Canoeing & Hike: Starting with a relaxing breakfast we then start driving inland again, this time towards the famed Garden Route! After a scenic drive we begin a beautiful canoe trip down one of the many tranquil rivers in the area, followed by a short hike to a stunning waterfall. We finish off the day with some beach time down at Myoli Beach.
Included Highlight: Canoe trip & hike to waterfall

Day 3 – Monday ǀ Oudtshoorn day trip: Little Karoo, Cango Caves, Ostrich Farm, Wildlife Ranch: We begin the day with a drive over the picturesque Outeniqua mountain range into the semi desert region of the Klein Karoo and Oudtshoorn. Known as the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn is situated in a beautiful valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. The Cango Caves will be the first stop and here we’ll embark on a 1-hour guided tour of the cave system to view its massive caverns and a wonderland of stalactite and stalagmite formations, millions of years old. Cango Caves is a world heritage site and one of the great wonders of the natural world. If you enjoy spelunking and don’t mind trying to squeeze through some smaller gaps then you are also welcome to take the 1.5 hour adventure tour!

Next is an option to view and ride ostriches on a working ostrich farm, or go on a guided tour of the Cango Endangered Wildlife Ranch for an opportunity to pet cheetah, cage dive with crocodiles and view many rare and endangered animal species.
Included Highlight: Standard or adventure guided tour of Cango Caves
Optional Activities: Tour of a working Ostrich farm + riding (weight restriction apply to riders). Cango Endangered Wildlife ranch.

Day 4 – Tuesday ǀ Sedgefield – Jeffrey’s Bay: Monkey Sanctuary, Elephant Sanctuary, Kloofing, Bloukrans Bungee & Tsitsikamma National Park: This morning we drive through Knysna on our way to the Crags where you have a number of options to choose from:
1. Elephant Sanctuary where you learn about, and interact with orphaned elephants.
1. Elephant Sanctuary where you learn about, and interact with orphaned elephants.
2. Monkey Sanctuary where rescued monkeys roam free in a large jungle area.
3. Kloofing trip through a spectacular gorge with jumps, abseils and swimming.

Our next stop is the World’s highest commercial Bungee Jump at 216 meters where you have the opportunity to experience this adrenalin pumping activity. Finally, to end the day we take a beautiful walk through the indigenous Tsitsikamma National Park to the Storms river swing bridges before we head to the famous surfing town of Jeffreys Bay where we stay at a backpackers directly on the beach.
Included Highlight: Tsitsikamma Forest Optional Activities: Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Bloukrans bungee jump (216m), Bloukrans Bridge walking tour.

Day 5 – Wednesday ǀ Jeffrey’s Bay – Addo National Park – Sedgefield: Game Drive (Addo), Surfing, shopping. There are 2 options to choose from this morning.
1. Sleep in and take some time in the morning to explore the towns many surf factory shops, or go for a surf lesson in one of the most famous surf spots on earth.
2. Wake up early and head to Addo Elephant National park where we go on a morning game drive to view the multitudes of wild animals. Addo is home to the Big 5 and it also has the highest concentration of African Elephants in the world!

We then take a relaxed drive back towards Sedgefield for the night. If there is time available we will visit the famous Knysna Heads for some absolutely amazing pictures where the ocean meets the inlet to the Knysna Lagoon.
Included Highlight: Storms River/Jeffrey’s Bay/Addo & Knysna Heads
Optional Activities: Black Water Tubing, Canopy Tour, Surf Lessons, Shopping, Addo Elephant NP tour (morning)

Day 6 – Thursday ǀ Sedgefield to Cape Town: Return to Cape Town via Sir Lowry’s Pass: After breakfast overlooking the ocean in Sedgefield, we start our journey back to Cape Town. Our first stop is a once in a lifetime experience, walking with lions! This informative walk allows you to get some amazing photos while getting up close and personal with these amazing creatures We then visit an Aloe factory in Albertinia and enjoy a wonderful scenic drive via Swellendam and Sir Lowry’s Pass. We arrive in Cape Town Thursday afternoon.
Optional Activities: Lion Walk

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SAFARI TOURS: OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES RATES:
Please note that these rates are subject to change without prior notice as per the service providers.
NB: The Shark Cage Dive MUST be booked in advance when making your Add-On booking. The shark operator company will fetch you from your Cape Town accommodation very early in the morning and the tour bus will meet up with you in the afternoon (after your dive) to continue the safari tour.
Activity Prices:

  • Shark Cage Diving R1750
  • Elephant walking and feeding R360
  • Elephant walking and feeding plus riding R480
  • Monkeyland R150
  • Bloukrans Bungee Jump R790
  • Bloukrans Bridge walking tour R120
  • Black Water Tubing R450
  • Black Water Tubing R450
  • Surfboard & wetsuit rental per hour R50
  • Surfing Lessons (2 hours) R200
  • Lion Walk R380
  • Cango Ostrich Farm R75
  • Cheetah Petting R200
  • Cub encounter R330
  • Crocodile Cage Diving R330
  • Lemur encounter R170
  • Reptile encounter R95

Please see www.xe.com to convert the SA Rand prices to your local currency.

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Terms and Conditions apply for Add-Ons, please see here.

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LOCATION | SIGHTSEEING:

The best advice you'll get from us is to try to see some of the country while you're in South Africa. It's big (huge!) and each different region is exciting and very, very beautiful. Cape Town is probably the most beautiful city in the world (I can say that, I grew up there :-) KwaZulu-Natal comes a very close second, albeit very different. Knysna is where South Africans go on holiday, which gives you some idea of how lovely the region is.

ACTIVITIES IN CAPE TOWN:
Adrenaline Activities - Enjoy exciting and “real” adventures with an adrenaline twist!

  • Abseiling
  • Sandboarding
  • Deep-sea Angling
  • ‘Kloofing’ (insanely jumping off very high cliffs into pools of water!)
  • Paragliding
  • Helicopter flips
  • Bungee jumping (just up the coast)
  • …..and a LOT, LOT more!!!!

Township Tours - A visit to one of the many townships surrounding the city is an experience that will open your eyes to the way in which the biggest portion of Cape Town's population are living. Take a township tour of Langa, the oldest township in South Africa or Khayelitsha, the second largest township in South Africa. Township tours will usually be co-led by a resident in the area, showcase local industry and community projects and include a visit to a township bar or 'shebeen'.

Two Oceans Aquarium - Located in the V&A Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium has lots of display tanks, interactive experiences, a touch pool and the highly popular predators tank.

Cape Winelands - Wine lover or not, a visit to the Cape Winelands is an absolute must as the region is one of breathtaking beauty and majestic mountain backdrops. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads ... as well as some of the country's best wines.

Relaxing drives: Drives are a very popular leisure activity in South Africa, because the roads are generally wide, in good condition, relatively empty and a pleasure to drive on. People often go for drives on a Sunday afternoon to a favourite hotel or restaurant for afternoon tea and scones, or to the top of a pass just to look at the view, or to a national park to watch the baboons - there's always a good reason to go for a drive!

Cape Town has lots of cafes and restaurants with outdoors seating areas overlooking the street or on the pavements, with colourful sun umbrellas - a perfect place to sit with the sun on your face, watching passers-by ambling along, sipping a steamy cappucino or staving off the heat with a cold drink.

TRAVEL:

Read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country.

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REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK:

SIOBHAN SCARLETT
British
Care for Children with Physical and Mental Disability in Cape Town

Working in BP school with special needs children. It was amazing to see how the children really appreciated the one on one time you were able to give to them as a volunteer. Even though it may not have been anything substantial, you could see that the extra attention they may not be getting when just in a class really made them feel good about themselves.

During some one-on-one time with a lovely girl in the junior classes who had speech problems and was confined to a wheelchair, we were playing a small game to help with numbers where she had to pick a block with had a certain amount of holes in it and fit it onto something with the corresponding poles sticking out of it. When she got one right I congratulated her with a simple 'well done' and clapped. Her face immediately brightened and she became so happy she hugged me.

It's small moments like this that help you realise what a difference your presence is making, even if you feel like what you're doing isn't really helping. Seeing her so ecstatic for such a small congratulations shows just how much they gain from the smallest amount of attention!

SOPHIE BUFTON
French
Care for Children with Physical and Mental Disability in Cape Town

Denver Road? Taxi to Denver Road!”. I break away from the crowd shuffling out of Claremont station at 7:50am Thursday morning. Squeezing onto the minibus, I take the 33 South Backpacker muffin out from my pocket and nibble it as we drive. In this beat-up minibus, seat-belt free, we pass schools of children play-fighting in the playgrounds and texting on mobiles. I dismount at my stop and feign ignorance of the cat-calls coming from the teenage school kids up the road, and walk to BP School for Mentally and Physically Impaired Children. Two schools within a 10 minutes walk of one-another; two very different realities.

Arriving at the school I am greeted by a multitude of students I have never seen before in my life. None-the-less they don’t hesitate to come up and hug this stranger, ask how she is, tell her that they love her, and follow this humbled girl to class.

At the Nursery, the children spill out onto the play ground as in any school. Callum, on the other hand, is wheeled out. For he has a severe form of spastic cerebral palsy, meaning his limbs constantly swing around, uncontrolled, making the most basic actions like communicating and eating a serious and sometimes impossible challenge. I take him out of his chair, over to the sandpit. I lay him on his belly, across my legs, which allows him to feel the sand with his hands. Noticing that he can direct his hands in certain motions, enough to dig areas of sand away, I collect some different coloured spades and bury them in front of him; “Callum,” I whisper, “can you find me the pink spade?”. His movements calm for a moment. Then he begins to move the sand and uncovers the pink spade. We play this game for the rest of playtime, finishing with a perfect score.

It is a place of daily struggle for many children, but the first thing that hits you at BP (second to the embraces of small children), is a rare thing: innocent loving-kindness. There is a lot of love at BP.

Children here have difficulties ranging from being kinesthetic learners to suffering from crippling cerebral palsy. Yes they may be dependent on the care of others for their whole lives, but this is not to forget that their life is just another way of being a human being. So one thing I can truly say I have taken away from this experience is that there is no ‘normal’ way of live, only a common way of life.

The children here have very different abilities, but they all share a desire to please you, propelling them to learn at all levels from literacy to buttering toast.

So if Callum can reach out so desperately determined to prove his understanding, there can never be an excuse in my life for not trying, for taking pity on my limitations, and no excuse for not to striving to overcome them.

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