Are you looking for a way to spend your gap year that combines adventure with making a real difference? If so, volunteering at a wildlife conservation centre in South Africa may be just the thing. There are plenty of projects that are available throughout the year to assist with the care and protection of some of the world’s most exotic and endangered animals. If you are leaning towards a career that involves science or conservation, then this experience is a great addition to your future resume. Animal lovers will find helping out in conservation projects a completely satisfying experience.

There are projects that are available in South Africa itself, or you can find projects interspersed throughout other countries on the African continent too. Before deciding on a project, make sure you know what you are getting. Since your gap year is probably one of your first journeys overseas by yourself, you may want to know what you are getting into before you arrive.

Animal Rehab Assistance

There are several projects throughout South Africa that deal with animal rehab. Injured animals are brought from all over the country and you will learn how to help them recover from their health problems and hopefully return to the wild. In Limpopo province you can sign up for a project at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre that runs between 2 and 12 weeks. Some of the tasks that you may get to help out with while volunteering at this centre include: caring for the permanent residents of the centre, hand feeding orphaned baby animals, reintroducing animals to the wild, care of injured and infirm animals, helping with veterinary care and helping with animal breeding.

Meet the Big Shots

The Shamwari Game Reserve also receives gap year students for periods of up to 12 weeks at a time. If you find the idea of hanging out with big cats appealing, then this is the place for you. The centre focuses on providing care and protection for lions and other big cats as well as engaging in habitat protection. Some of the tasks that you may be involved in while staying at Shamwari include: feeding the big cats, cleaning out their shelters, counting animal numbers, fence patrol and repair. You can also have some truly memorable experiences such as sleep outs under the stars. Your regular accommodation is within minutes of the reserve and a further benefit of this project is that the reserve is located in a malaria free zone.

Keeping Tabs on the Fastest Land Animals on Earth

At Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre you can work with South African endangered animals for periods of up to 3 weeks. This project focuses on protecting and rehabilitating cheetahs. These speedy animals need your help with feeding and caring for orphaned offspring, assisting in veterinary care, helping with capture of animals when required by the reserve and overseeing breeding cycles.

South Africa has some of the world’s most incredible flora and fauna. A gap year trip to participate in conservation and animal protection projects leaves you with an in depth appreciation for these rare and endangered animals and a better understanding of yourself too.

Author Bio: Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks on gap year and other

Category: Travel
Keywords: gap year