Gap Year and career breaks to East Africa
| country: | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
| departures: | 2009: 3 Dec 2010: 21 Jan, 25 Feb, 25 Mar, 22 Apr, 3 Jun, 1 Jul, 12 Aug, 23 Sep, 11 Nov, 2 Dec |
| price: | From £4285 (10 weeks) excluding flights, from £4925 (12 weeks) including flights from the UK. Local Payment of £325 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
From the Plains of Serengeti to the deserts in the north and the snow-capped peaks on the Equator, East Africa has a greater variety of wildlife habitats than anywhere else in the world. The diversity of animal species and tribes who share these lands is simply staggering. The “Big Five”, two 5,000m peaks and five magnificent habitats, you’re hard-pressed to find more diversity in such a compact area anywhere else on Earth.
Learn Swahili, take part in a number of volunteer projects including working with a chimpanzee sanctuary in Uganda. Come face to face with natures big five, white water raft the mighty Nile and experience a desert camel trek. Finally climb Mt Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa relaxing on the exotic island of Zanzibar.
Trip highlights
Learn basic Swahili Come face-to-face with nature’s “Big 5” in Queen Elizabeth National Park Make a valuable contribution to our orphanage project in Tanzania Volunteer on a vital water-harvesting project in Uganda Sail across Lake Victoria and trek through crater lakes Help establish a chimpanzee sanctuary in Uganda Raft the mighty rapids of the Nile Experience a desert camel trek Climb Africa’s highest peaks: The mighty Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya Relax, dive and snorkel on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar Onward travel options include PADI dive school on Zanzibar
This is an all-inclusive trip, with full support and a range of services provided before, during and after the trip.
Included in the price is a UK travel safety course, all food & accommodation, cultural orientation, transport, development project funding through our Trust and activities (including safari, National Park visit, rafting, camel trek and Mt Kenya & Kilimanjaro climbs).
The “with flights” option includes return flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) or “open jaw” flights (London - KIA & Dar es Salam - London)
Not included are visas, inoculations, personal items, tips, drinks & evenings out and travel insurance. Our insurance is GB £183 (US $371) (3 months). The “with flights” price does not include taxes (approx £146), which are subject to change. These will be confirmed at your safety course, about 10 weeks before departure.
What will I be doing? Venturers will spend the first week assisting in building a water-harvesting dam. Tasks will include clearing land, erecting a fence, and building the simple structure. You will not need any particular skills but energy and enthusiasm are essential. At the weekend Venturers will have the chance to explore the centre, visit the hydroelectric power plant and relax in stunning surroundings. It is also possible to travel to Kasese, the local town where there are bars and internet facilities.
As a volunteer what skills do I need? You will be taught the construction skills that you will need for the first half of the project, enthusiasm and a willingness to get your hands dirty are the necessary pre-requisites. For the second element, a sense of adventure is required, so that you can help develop new mountain biking and hiking trails. Skills in advertising ecotourism, writing route guides and photography would be useful.
What is the accommodation like? Volunteers stay singly or in pairs during home stays. houses are fairly basic with brick walls corrugated iron roof. The families will be very excited have guests thrilled the differences between their lives and yours, this is a great opportunity to learn about Uganda.
The atmosphere is fantastic here as most people live, work and socialise in the centre so you will feel part of a close-knit community. In the evening before the sun goes down many locals choose to play badminton or volleyball. Become part of the community yourself, as you take part in a badminton match as the sun slowly descends into the lush Ruenzori Mountains
Learn Swahili, take part in a number of volunteer projects including working with a chimpanzee sanctuary in Uganda. Come face to face with natures big five, white water raft the mighty Nile and experience a desert camel trek. Finally climb Mt Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa relaxing on the exotic island of Zanzibar.
Trip highlights
This is an all-inclusive trip, with full support and a range of services provided before, during and after the trip. Included in the price is a UK travel safety course, all food & accommodation, cultural orientation, transport, development project funding through our Trust and activities (including safari, National Park visit, rafting, camel trek and Mt Kenya & Kilimanjaro climbs).
The “with flights” option includes return flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) or “open jaw” flights (London - KIA & Dar es Salam - London)
Not included are visas, inoculations, personal items, tips, drinks & evenings out and travel insurance. Our insurance is GB £183 (US $371) (3 months). The “with flights” price does not include taxes (approx £146), which are subject to change. These will be confirmed at your safety course, about 10 weeks before departure.
a day in the life of a volunteer
Kagando Volunteer Project: What will I be doing? Venturers will spend the first week assisting in building a water-harvesting dam. Tasks will include clearing land, erecting a fence, and building the simple structure. You will not need any particular skills but energy and enthusiasm are essential. At the weekend Venturers will have the chance to explore the centre, visit the hydroelectric power plant and relax in stunning surroundings. It is also possible to travel to Kasese, the local town where there are bars and internet facilities.
As a volunteer what skills do I need? You will be taught the construction skills that you will need for the first half of the project, enthusiasm and a willingness to get your hands dirty are the necessary pre-requisites. For the second element, a sense of adventure is required, so that you can help develop new mountain biking and hiking trails. Skills in advertising ecotourism, writing route guides and photography would be useful.
What is the accommodation like? Volunteers stay singly or in pairs during home stays. houses are fairly basic with brick walls corrugated iron roof. The families will be very excited have guests thrilled the differences between their lives and yours, this is a great opportunity to learn about Uganda.
The atmosphere is fantastic here as most people live, work and socialise in the centre so you will feel part of a close-knit community. In the evening before the sun goes down many locals choose to play badminton or volleyball. Become part of the community yourself, as you take part in a badminton match as the sun slowly descends into the lush Ruenzori Mountains
day-by-day itinerary
| Week 1: | Learn. A week is a long time in Africa. You’ll spend your first few days meeting the locals and adjusting to their pace of life, learning some Swahili and acclimatising to the food, weather and varied rhythms of this alternately laid-back and frantic continent. |
| Weeks 2,4-5: | Volunteer. During your volunteering phase you will participate in two different projects in Tanzania and Uganda: |
| Weeks 3,6-10: | Explore. The exploration aspect of your Venture is rich in essential African experiences. From a safari in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, the “pearl of Africa” with its vast range of wildlife, including hippos, leopards, elephants and chimpanzees – around every corner lurks sights that will stay with you for a lifetime. You’ll trek through crater lakes and perhaps, most impressively, climb two of Africa’s highest mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain and reaching the summit of this famous mountain will be the highlight of your adventure. We white-water raft at the source of the Nile and overnight on a mid-stream island, and if you have any adrenalin left….the mighty Nile High Bungee is available. Your final week is for relaxation and where better than the pristine beaches of exotic Zanzibar. Snorkelling and diving options are available. Your adventure finishes in Dar es Salaam. |
gap year & career breaks
Gap Year ventures are for school leavers, aged 17-20, taking time off before entering University or employment. Career Gap ventures will appeal to those taking a career break or sabbatical. There is no upper age limit although the majority of participants are aged between 21 and 35 years old.
how this holiday makes a difference
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This venture supports both the HISANI Orphanage project and the Kagando community development project.
Kagando Project By helping to provide a reliable water source in the area, neighbouring villages can replicate the facility for their own use. Thus, the presence of fresh running water will spread throughout the community. By developing the eco-tourism potential of the area the income of the Community Centre will increase. This means that they will have more funds to spend on water sanitation and the hospital will be less dependable on charitable donations. HISANI Project "Hisani" is Swahili for "kindness." Hisani in Tanzania is an NGO whose main focus is the support of orphaned children in the Mwanza Region. These children are forced onto the streets, where they collect rotten food and beg to survive. On the streets, they no longer possess the right to be treated when they are sick, to obtain an education, or of sleeping under a roof on a full stomach. Hisani provides orphans and street children with these basic rights. At the orphanage, children are taught how to read, write, garden, work with wood, and play sports. They are given a chance of a better life! As well as our guides you are also accompanied by local guides and project partners. Groups are kept to a maximum of sixteen people, big enough to help the local communities, but not big enough to have a negative affect themselves. Back in the UK we also have our own environmental policy and we believe this is where responsible travel should start, prior to departure. It is simple things that help and perhaps the biggest impact in the office comes from recycling paper, as a rule where possible we print on both sides of paper and it is not until it is completely beyond use that we then send it to be recycled. All our development projects have been carefully chosen to satisfy several criteria. They are of definable and sustainable benefit to the indigenous community and allow us the opportunity to work in tandem with the host community. Funding for the projects comes directly from the our Trust. For each person that joins the us, we, as a company, give at least US $400 (GB £215) to the Trust. 100% of the money the Trust receives is spent on the projects. All development projects are over-seen by a resident Project Manager whose role is to co-ordinate the adventures, the funding and the project's objectives. We are committed to direct patronage within the local economies of the countries in which we operate. We pay local tutors to teach languages; accommodation throughout the adventure is in locally owned hostels or based in the project locations; and the entire expedition budget will be spent by the team at local "grass roots" level |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |