Kruger to Coast Volunteer Adventure

Days 1-2
You fly into Manzini International airport in Swaziland for the beginning of your adventure in South Africa. A backpacker lodge in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley will be your home for this first couple of days and while you’re there you’ll have a couple of days’ orientation and detailed briefing with your expedition leader.

Day 3-7
Your tour starts in one of the most famous conservation areas in Africa – Kruger National Park. Its varied habitats and wildlife is an opportunity for an amazing adventure experience! Offer some of the very best opportunities to see Africa’s big game animals.

We’ll spend five days in Kruger – camping of course – and get right into the heart of the Park. You’ll be with an expert guide and get to really explore the area and learn about this wild place. That means – game drives, a guided walk through the bush to search for big game, a night drive in search of nocturnal wildlife. This a wild place and these are wild animals, so no guarantees – but you have a good chance of catching sight of lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard and wild dog.

We then turn southwards and head for Swaziland. It’s time to prep for your community development projects. 

Day 8-20 Community projects, Ezulwini, Swaziland
A couple of weeks working with communities that really need your help. You’ll be in care centres that support the orphans and children left vulnerable and alone in the wake of the AIDS pandemic. There’s a variety of work to be done – all badly needed and hugely welcomed: everything from helping with building to running sports days, teaching the children to assisting on medical projects – the list is very long.

The work you take on during your two weeks will differ depending on whether you have booked the four or six week South Africa adventure trip.

The 4-week trip
Gives you the opportunity to work in care centres on a variety of really useful and helpful projects. Here are some examples:

• Organising creative games and craft classes and practical projects to stimulate young minds.
• Organising sports days – exercise and fun.
• Planting a range of crops that can improve their nutrition.
• Just being there for the children and giving them the attention and kindness they need.

The 6-week trip

This gives you the opportunity to get involved with teaching and day-to-day care at one of the local NCP's (Neighbourhood Care Points). The age range of the children is from 3 to 13 and the average is around 4 years old and working with them for this longer period is a more rewarding experience. You can get involved with:

• Basic teaching of English and Maths.
• Organising the children at meal times and in the mornings before classes.
• Stimulating, creative games and craft classes.
• Arranging sports days for exercise and fun.

Whilst you’re in Ezulwini you’ll visit the Mantenga Cultural Village to learn something about Swazi culture, lifestyle and traditional dancing. 

Day 21-27 Marine conservation tour, Tofo Beach, Mozambique
We’re heading for a week of relaxation on the idyllic tropical ocean beaches of Mozambique.

The first night we spend in a Mozambican bush lodge en route to Tofo in southern Mozambique. Then on to the stunning Inhambane peninsula, where we’ll be staying at a beautiful laid-back beach village. Ever wanted to swim with wild whale sharks? This is your chance. Tofo is a marine paradise with coral reefs, whales and nesting turtles. Nearby is the vibrant historic trading port of Inhambane.

We’ll be here for five days, so there’s plenty of opportunity to try out beach life Mozambique-style and you’ll be living right there in reed huts, dorm-style, among the coconut palms on the very edge of the ocean. There’s an ocean safari – get up close and personal to whale sharks in the balmy ocean (what an adventure!) And there’s a unique opportunity to go on an ocean kayak expedition, crossing calm blue water and exploring the beautiful islands of the Inhambane Bay. South African paradise.

If you have a dive certificate you can get down and swim amongst the amazing coral reefs with one of the local dive operators. Of course, there’s plenty of time for chilling on the beach. There might just possibly be one or two parties as well.

Day 28

If you’re a 4-weeker you’ll spend the final full day of your South Africa adventure back at the backpacker lodge in the Ezulwini Valley where we started out. Time to relax and catch your breath after an amazing month. Then it’s time to pack, say some tearful farewells and swap mobile numbers. Day 29 will see you transferred to Manzini for your flight out of Swaziland.

6-weekers – you’ll return to your volunteer project for a final couple of weeks and on day 41 return to the Lodge in Ezulwini and spend a full weekend relaxing. Or you can get in some last-minute hiking and exploring before preparing to leave after the weekend.