If you’ve heard the term ‘Gap Year’ bandied around, chances are you’ll either know, or figure out, what they’re all about. People take a gap year for many different reasons, the most common being the ‘gap’ between finishing high school education and moving into another three or four years of hard slog at university. They usually head off to foreign climes to assist in animal conservation projects or something like that. Gap years are a great way to not only help conserve some endangered animals in their natural habitat, but to also have an adventure in a foreign country. But what if the tables were turned? What if the very animals that we humans are working so hard to conserve were able to go on their own gap year to repay the favour? What do you think they would do…?

The Elephants

Many gappers head off to the Eastern Cape of South Africa to work in elephant projects like the Addo Elephant Park. But if these gentle giants headed off on a gap year perhaps they would go further west in Africa to somewhere like Mali, where they would use their strength to assist in the building of schools. They could work on the construction sites moving timber, bricks and other materials knowing that their efforts would make a huge difference to providing valuable access to education for these deserving children.

The Monkeys

In Kenya, the Colobus Monkey Trust provides much-needed assistance in primate conservation. Many people volunteer to spend part of their gap year working in the sanctuary in various capacities. But if the monkeys were to brave the big world on their own gap year, maybe they would venture to Zambia or Uganda to work in a children’s orphanage. These delightfully mischievous creatures would brighten up anyone’s day and they could spend their time entertaining the children with their antics and cheekiness.

The Lions

Despite his strength and majestic personality, the King of the jungle still needs human help in order to secure his safe future. Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa is very popular with people on their gap year wanting to get up close and personal with the lions and other big cats. So, where would the King head for his own gap year? We tend to think that maybe he would tackle the problem of poaching somewhere like Zimbabwe, Botswana or Namibia. A huge threat to his animal subject the elephant, poaching is an illegal but still prevalent problem as the international demand for ivory continues. The stout-hearted lion could offer protection to the elephants and act as a very strong deterrent to the evil poachers and their senseless reign of terror.

There are many other animals in Africa, India and around the world who are helped by people on their gap year. These projects continue to educate and promote the ideals of animal conservation in an exciting and proactive way. The work on these projects is vital and the rewards the volunteers gain far outweigh the hard work they put in. So would these beautiful animals pay us back if they could? We like to think so…

Author Bio: Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering a gap year project and other adventurous holidays for adults.

Category: Travel
Keywords: gap year