I recently went to visit a number of the Worldwide Experience projects to see for myself why the gap year volunteers can’t get enough of our conservation experiences. While I was there I got chatting to some of the students, and thought wouldn’t it be great if we created a checklist of all the stuff that we wish that we had known before jetting off on our gap year. It looks like between us we got a great mixture of the sort of stuff that you’d read in tourist information guides and the slightly more pressing issues of what to wear when you’re spending July in an African game reserve!
Create an emergency fund!
No, not for that overpriced Zulu warrior mask that you’ve seen in the gift-shop at Shamwari Lodge and convinced yourself that you can’t live without, but for the slightly more sensible reason; travel insurance! We’re not saying that you’re likely to be gorged by an over-excitable young rhino – though isn’t it better to be prepared? But if you do find yourself in urgent need of medical attention, you might become slightly greener around the gills when you’re faced with the cheque from your stay in a South African hospital. Yes, your travel insurance will pay – but it’s YOU that has to pay the initial amount. So put aside a little extra or you could find that the most you can stretch to in the gift-shop is a Shamwari rubber-topped pencil!
Check you don’t need visas
There’s nothing worse than enduring the super long flight to Johannesburg and then finding that you don’t have the necessary visas to enter South Africa. Not that that’s ever happened – but just the idea should be enough to have you double-checking the FCO website. If you’re English, American, Canadian or Aussie you don’t currently need a visa to enter South Africa, but requirements can change at short notice.
Let Worldwide Experience know….
Vegetarian, Pescetarian, Rastafarian? Whatever your dietary requirements make sure that you let Worldwide Experience know so that we can cater for you. The same goes for medical requirements, if you have any medical requirements then make sure you let us know. Not just because we’re nosy – but because it’s often a requirement of your travel insurance that you make your tour operator aware of any medical requirements before you travel.
Africa isn’t always hot
You’re probably heading off to Africa with images of the hot African sun beating down over the dry savannah. I hate to burst your bubble, but Africa isn’t like that. Or at least if you travel during the winter months of June, July and August it isn’t. The average temperature during these months is 19C, but with plenty of wind! Therefore, you’re more likely to find our volunteers donning fleeces and combats – especially early in the morning when they’re carrying out their game counts in an open-top jeep – then safari shorts and vest tops. The weather in South Africa can be quite temperamental, so it’s a good idea to pack both shorts and fleeces. There’s no need to over-pack though as all your washing on our projects is done for you – it’s just like being at home, but with better animals!
Prepare to be hounded
Girls, do you want be hounded by lots of nice South African men? Because when changing planes at Johannesburg (Tambo) airport you will be; actually so will men for that matter! We’re talking about the over-eager airport porters that are just itching to carry your heavy suitcases as you walk over to the Port Elizabeth check-in desk. A simple “no, thanks” is enough to keep them away, but if you find that you actually could do with a porter’s help then at least make sure he’s accredited with a name-tag and fetching blue and orange uniform. Porters at Tambo are not paid by the airport and they only work for tips, so please make sure you tip something – the airport guidelines are R5 per suitcase.
Got any tips of your own?
If any of you have any of your own tips, helpful, funny or just damn right bizarre, we’d love to hear them. Please add them into the comments section below and we’ll elaborate on some of the best in future blog posts.
By Amy Watkins
Picture by Malias
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