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Itinerary - Africa and Asia Venture

Itinerary

Day 1

ARRIVAL

Arrive at Johannesburg airport by mid-morning, meet up with the AV representative and transfer to an internal flight to Bloemfontein. Met in Bloemfontein and driven to Philippolis by mid-afternoon.  Settle into accommodation and relax. By the way, this tiny town has produced two South African presidents and was home to the writer, Laurens van der Post, whose extraordinary memorial you will be able to visit.

Day 2

BRIEFING AND ORIENTATION

Get to know about each other and where you are through your interactive orientation, which will involve plenty of fun whilst you learn about the history of South Africa, apartheid and current developments, and your programme, as well as being introduced to basic Xhosa and some local customs and norms.

 

Day 3

ADMINISTRATION/FAMILIARISATION

This is a day for you and your group to get your bearings, visit the nearby villages, where you will be working, do some administration and make your new home 'homely'.  You'll also be able to plan your work schedule for the week to come.

Days 4 - 25

THE PROJECT

This is the main purpose of your trip.  The work you will become involved with will include building projects, including everything from the 'heavy' work - digging, humping and dumping - to the painting and decorating, mostly in and around the five schools around the town.  For those who wish to, you will also have the opportunity to work in the pre-school, primary and high schools, helping to run lessons, as well as getting involved with environmental education, art and craft lessons, organic vegetable gardens and classroom rehabilitation.  Otherwise, there is a lot of sport and games to be organised and played and plenty of kids with endless energy to play with!  You ought to sleep pretty soundly by the time you crawl into bed!

Weekends will be fun.  On the first one, we'll take you to the very unusual (and unexpected in Africa) tiger breeding ranch, about half an hour from the town.  Here you will get up close and personal with 450lb (200kg) Bengal tigers.  These guys make the largest lions look quite puny!  You will enjoy a great weekend of partying, braais and singing around the camp fire. Get some practice in!

We will get you out and about on the others too.  The Orange River is just up the road and Bloemfontein is a well-known town that offers a bit more first world entertainment - shops, restaurants and superb rugby.

Days 25 - 27

RAFTING ON THE ORANGE RIVER

This is the sort of thing the South Africans are renowned for - outdoor pursuits in stunning surroundings.  You will spend three days on the water and the nights will be spent under canvas around camp fires on the river banks. 

Days 28 - 30

AMAKHALA GAME RESERVE

OK!  We reckon you will have earned the right to a bit of luxury now.  How about camping for three nights in a shared tent with en suite facilities in a beautiful reserve with a rich array of game?  Kudu and duiker, aardvark and the once-endangered white rhino roam around and are considered fairly common!  Giraffes feed on the thorny acacia canopy, while cheetah crouch, hidden in the grass, waiting for an opportunity to stretch their legs and test the speed of the hartebeest. We plan for you to see it all...

Day 31

ADDO ELEPHANT PARK

Now, whilst you may have seen a few ellies in your time, you won't have seen such a concentration of herds as are on view in the world-famous Addo Elephant Park.

Addo Elephant National Park is situated 72km by road from Port Elizabeth. Established in 1931 to save 11 elephants on the brink of extinction, and now home to more than 350 of them, 280 Cape buffalo, black rhino, a range of antelope species, as well as the rare flightless dung beetle, Addo Elephant Park is a perfect destination for the adventurous outdoor and nature lover. It is located in the 250,000 acres of land in the thick bushveld of the Sundays River, in the Eastern Cape.  After a great day at Addo, we will drive you to Port Elizabeth for your final night in South Africa.

Day 32

DEPART SOUTH AFRICA

There will be some time for a late breakfast before heading off to get your flight home from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg.

Day 33

ARRIVE IN UK

 

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