Thank you to Hannah Clark for this fantastic summary of her past two weeks in South Africa with the rest of the group. Over the last two weeks, the team have been based at one one of the largest Game Reserves in South Africa specialising in conservation, with a focus on ecology, wildlife and community work.
Before we got there I had no real idea of what to expect from the game reserve but from the moment we arrived I was instantly blown away.
Spending two weeks as part of the game reserve conservation programme was such an amazing experience. For the entirety of our stay we slept in huge outdoor tents with beds and en suites, unlike anything I’ve ever stayed in before.
It was so amazing to fall asleep to the sounds of all the animals, the ambience there was a once in a lifetime experience.
For the two weeks we were guided by a ranger called Chanel who was an amazing woman and so much fun to be around.
For most of our stay we would take daily drives in huge land cruisers, doing labour in the morning such as road maintenance and clearing, then have game drives scouting out animals in the afternoon.
On some days we would do extra activities, for example one evening we did a night drive and came across a huge heard of elephants that were so close to us you could reach out and touch them. On another night we camped out in sleeping bags around a fire under the stars.
We also took trips to the sites rehabilitation centre and their born free foundation where we came face to face with lions, leopards and baby zebras. There was so much to learn and do at the game reserve that boredom could never be an issue. The staff were so friendly and accommodating and the food was incredible. It definitely had to be one of the main highlights of my trip so far, and if you’re an animal lover a must see experience!
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Are you thinking about a gap year in South Africa? We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions on your mind. We have places remaining on our upcoming January and April departures!
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