Meaningful Tour: The South Africa Adventure and Conservation Experience

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks and 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: various dates available

Description: Be part of it with i-to-i!
Our goal is to achieve 400yrs of combined volunteering all over the world by the end of 2008.

So far we have achieved 325yrs which when broken down means we achieved the following:

- Over 5500 children cared for on our community projects around the world
- A minimum of 13,000 children and adults taught English in schools and community centres
- Hundreds of animals protected including Turtles, Pandas, Elephants, Monkeys and more
- At least 80 homes and structures built for families and communities in need
- More than 8000 trees planted which are enough trees to offset the CO2 emissions of over 2,000 cars

Are you feeling adventurous?

If you're the sort of person who wants to see the 'real Africa' then get off the beaten track, as well as over a few swamps and over a mountain or two and find yourself in the middle of the rugged Africa landscape with lions, cheetahs, crocodiles (and guides who know what they're doing- we promise!). This project is a trailblazing tour through some of the continents most iconic scenery. Starting with a welcoming glass of wine along the beautiful Route 62, you'll quad bike, gorge drop, bungy jump and zip slide your way along the famous Garden Route through a private game reserve, stunning mountain passes and wildlife ranches. It may be easy to forget when you're having so much fun but you'll also be contributing to a valuable project during your 10-day stay on a wildlife park which helps endangered animals.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights: What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?

"My favorite part of the trip was the bungee jump and also getting hands on experience with cheetahs and tigers! Probably the best part though was getting really close with not only my group, but the guys who worked at the ranch. We all cried when we left each other and already are making plans to see one another again!" (Chelsea Copenhaver)

The trek begins in Cape Town and runs down the Garden Route, which is not named for its cultivated gardens as many expect, but rather for the splendor of its wild unspoilt coastline. The Khoi San, who are one of the first people of Southern Africa, called it Outeniqua, meaning "man laden with honey", which is a reference to the distinct smell of wild flowers that are prevalent in this area. The Garden Route is within easy reach of beautiful, unspoiled beaches, great fishing and spectacular forest scenery, as well as dolphin and whale watching.

Qualifications: You don't need to be a specialist or rocket scientist to take part in this experience, but a little love, care, patience, commitment and enthusiasm will go a long way! Keeping an open mind will also help you enjoy the best experience possible. Therefore, all you need to get the most out of this tour is a sense of adventure and a willingness to get stuck in and get your hands dirty!

Cost in US$: US$ 1990.00 for 2 weeks

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 and up

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994