Destination Guides:Africa

Volunteer Travel in Africa

Possibly one of the most renowned things about Africa is the abundance of extraordinary wildlife it contains. Africa has an amazing variety of vast national parks, and thrilling safaris are a favorite way for many travelers to have their first taste of Africa and see the breathtaking animals that include zebras, elephants, leopards and rhinos. However, rather than just visiting the national parks, why not live and work in one as part of a GVI volunteering project in Africa? GVI runs a range of wildlife research and conservation programs that give volunteers the opportunity to meet a range of wildlife, including vervet monkeys in South Africa, rhinos in Uganda, elephants in Namibia, lemurs in Madagascar, dolphins in Kenya or gorillas in Rwanda. You could even train as a safari guide in South Africa to master the art of tracking and driving 4x4s, and go on night drives to seek out hyenas and lions.

As well as the phenomenal wildlife, Africa is also famous for the wealth of remarkable people it contains, from eminent and remarkable figures such as Nelson Mandela to the colorful Maasai tribes of Kenya and Tanzania. Yet all too often the word Africa brings to mind the array of people that require urgent aid. As so much of Africa strives towards modernization the sort of work undertaken by volunteering projects becomes ever-more important; to study, preserve, educate and build Africa towards realizing the potential of its natural resources animal, material and human. GVI programs work with local communities and local organizations to ensure the projects we operate are sustainable and fulfill the needs of the local area, promoting health through sport in HIV-stricken Zambia, for example, or working with indigenous communities in underprivileged rural Ghana. By volunteering in Africa, you will be helping some truly remarkable people, whilst you become a small part of this continents future.

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