Page 120 iStudy Guide 2019/20
P. 120
120
iStudy
2019/20
Upon taking a gap year between sixth-form and
university, I knew a stint of travelling over the
summer months should be on my agenda, and
South Africa had always been high on my hit-list.
Having dreamt of doing a safari in South Africa from
a young age (mainly attributed to a childhood of
watching ITV’s ‘
Wild at Hear
t’ on Sunday evenings), I
couldn’t resist the opportunity to book a trip.
Looking into the best options available to suit my
budget and safety concerns as a solo traveller,
volunteering immediately stood out as the best
choice. I was particularly interested in animal-
based projects which focused around conservation
and sustainable tourism – I knew it would allow
me to help endangered animals and immerse into
authentic South Africa too. After trawling through
endless volunteering choices, I came across
Siyafunda – a wildlife and conservation company
with various bases and volunteer projects available.
Aimed at offering volunteers a taste of a South
African safari centred on learning, their Research
Camp in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve
sounded like the perfect place to experience South
Africa. So without further ado, I booked a two-week
project and flights to Johannesburg.
Volunteering with
wildlife in South Africa
By Anna Hardy
iStudy
2019/20
Upon taking a gap year between sixth-form and
university, I knew a stint of travelling over the
summer months should be on my agenda, and
South Africa had always been high on my hit-list.
Having dreamt of doing a safari in South Africa from
a young age (mainly attributed to a childhood of
watching ITV’s ‘
Wild at Hear
t’ on Sunday evenings), I
couldn’t resist the opportunity to book a trip.
Looking into the best options available to suit my
budget and safety concerns as a solo traveller,
volunteering immediately stood out as the best
choice. I was particularly interested in animal-
based projects which focused around conservation
and sustainable tourism – I knew it would allow
me to help endangered animals and immerse into
authentic South Africa too. After trawling through
endless volunteering choices, I came across
Siyafunda – a wildlife and conservation company
with various bases and volunteer projects available.
Aimed at offering volunteers a taste of a South
African safari centred on learning, their Research
Camp in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve
sounded like the perfect place to experience South
Africa. So without further ado, I booked a two-week
project and flights to Johannesburg.
Volunteering with
wildlife in South Africa
By Anna Hardy
