Why Take a Gap Year in South Africa?

There are so many ways to explore South Africa that it can be overwhelming to pick the right avenue! Enter: gap year. Why take a gap year in South Africa? Because it gives you a little more structure than a free-for-all vacation but allows more flexibility than moving there and getting a full-time job. Plus, you’ll be in one of the most beautiful and incredibly diverse countries in the world!

South Africa practically *screams* adventure for your gap year!

Wait…why take a gap year in the first place?

Traveling for a cause has become commonplace these days, and gap years are a great way to fit in a life-changing moment no matter what stage of life you’re in. Just finished high school? Take a gap year! Making a decision on college is something you can get back to later! Just got your degree? TAKE A GAP YEAR! How can you be expected to be an industrious employee without digging a little deeper into what you’re looking to get out of life?

Taking a gap year can open the door to your dream job or simply give you a break from school or work. It can be as intense or laid back as you like. And there’s no better backdrop for your momentous gap year than South Africa.

READ MORE: Why You Should Take a Gap Year

11 reasons to take a gap year in South Africa

Cape Town will be the perfect setting for your gap year in South Africa.

1. Explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world

Why take a gap year in South Africa? For a chance to live in Cape Town (honestly we could stop this list here)! The second-most populous city in South Africa is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Beauty may be subjective, but it’s hard to argue with Cape Town’s allure.

The Cape of Good Hope provides stunning views of the rocky peninsula and crashing cerulean waves. Table Mountain watches over the city as a quiet and comforting landmark, creating a sense of “city meets nature” no matter where you are.

You can also visit Lion’s Head mountain, which is part of the backdrop of Cape Town’s cityscape. Part of Table Mountain National Park, the allegedly lion-shaped peak, is surrounded by city suburbs.

Plus, Cape Town is known as “a floristic region”, which pretty much means the plant life is on another level. It’s home to the greatest non-tropical concentration of higher plant species in the world (Read: Insta-worthy)!

There’s no doubt about it—taking a gap year in Cape Town is the experience of a lifetime.

2. Career-making internships are all around

If you’re taking a gap year in South Africa, the projects available through internships can open doors to exciting careers, global networking, and much more. Organizations like VACorps go out of their way to customize your internship placement to make sure what you end up doing is something you’re actually interested in.

Not only that, taking a gap year in South Africa offers an excuse to “work” while you explore one of the coolest countries in the world! Many programs have built-in activities and excursions that will help you network with peers and discover new interests.

Explore internship opportunities in South Africa

3. A gap year in South Africa is actually…affordable?!

And the experiences will be priceless.

That’s right folks, living in South Africa is less expensive than you might think. Sure, you can splurge on high-end adventure safaris, and the plane ticket might be a little pricey, but once you’ve arrived things aren’t so bad.

If you’re coming from the US, the dollar holds up pretty well against the South African Rand, so you can expect to pay something like $2 for a nice coffee. Besides, it’s free to hang out on the beach and go for a hike, so soak up that free natural beauty!

4. There’s a wide range of project-based gap year programs

From volunteering to internships, there are tons of programs that offer different ways to get involved during your gap year in South Africa. Projects range from teaching children to wildlife conservation, and often times you can get your accommodation covered when you sign up for them!

A lot of the programs are quite affordable (some only $250 per week) and are available year-round. You can choose to do a ton back-to-back for a packed gap year, or take some time in between to do solo exploring.

Explore volunteer programs in South Africa

5. Explore countries around the continent

A gap year in South Africa is a great place to hang—there is plenty of the country to explore! But how often do you find yourself all the way at the southern tip of the African continent?

Before you close off your time in South Africa, pop over to Namibia for eerily beautiful Sossusvlei, or to Zimbabwe’s epic Victoria Falls. But of course, no one is stopping you from country hopping all over the continent!

6. Adventures abound during a gap year in South Africa

If adventure is calling, South Africa has all the answers.

Take an adventure gap year in South Africa for a truly memorable experience! The country’s diverse landscape means you can partake in marine-based excursions like kayaking, sailing, and even scuba diving.

Or, head to the mountains for some backpacking, biking, or bungee-jumping. You can also hop on a safari to see animals galore—cheetahs, ostriches, and elephants. Oh my!

Explore adventure travel opportunities in South Africa

7. Soak up cultures from around the world

South Africa is well-known as the Rainbow Nation because it’s made up of so many diverse cultures and religions. Whether you’re a first-time traveler or a seasoned globetrotter, you’ll only stand to benefit from immersing in such a nuanced country. We don’t doubt that you’ll learn a thing or two about the world.

8. Learn new languages

Often times a program abroad offers the opportunity to learn a new language. But South Africa takes it up a notch with eleven official languages!

Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu are some of the most prominent languages in the country.

There is a smattering of smaller groups speaking unofficial, yet protected, tribal languages throughout. So why take a gap year in South Africa? For a chance to expand your linguistic ability.

9. A change in perspective

You’ll be exposed to all kinds of learning experiences.

There’s something special about living abroad that’s hard to put your finger on until you do it. Moving to South Africa for a gap year will undoubtedly change your perspective—and not just because it might be in the opposite hemisphere from your home!

Yes, winter may be summer, and vice versa, but you’ll also be face-to-face with history and culture starkly different from the typical U.S. or European experience.

10. The food

With so many cultures colliding in South Africa, it’s no surprise that the food scene is something to get excited about. Dutch-influenced pastries and sausages complement traditional mixed veggie medleys (chakalaka) and braai (the best BBQ you’ve never had…yet).

You’ll also find aromatic curry dishes from Indonesia, India, and Malaysia, and melktert, a British-style custard.

11. Something to brag about

Let’s face it, taking a gap year abroad is incredibly cool. Not only will you have a million new adventures under your belt, but you’ll be able to elevate any small talk coming your way.

How’s the weather? Instead try, “How was the time I went bungee-jumping in South Africa?”

All jokes aside, South Africa is an incredibly humbling place full of life-changing moments. It’s not a place you’ll easily forget, and you’ll be itching to return for years to come.

Get matched with 5 gap year programs in South Africa—it’s free!

Your gap year in South Africa will be nothing short of amazing

You’ll be telling these stories for years to come!

Even with all these reasons to take a gap year in South Africa, it really comes down to what you need. What will make your experience truly meaningful? Will it be an invigorating internship? Or a heart-melting wildlife volunteer program?

The reasons to take a gap year in South Africa are ultimately up to you. Just remember, you’ll only get out what you put in. Luckily for you, the ingredients are all there waiting for you.

Are you ready to change your life?

Explore ALL Gap Year Programs in South Africa on GoAbroad.com

This article was written with help from VACorps. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, VACorps offers sensational internships in Cape Town only, allowing them to give their interns undivided attention. They offer internships in law, human rights, and journalism, as well as gap year experiences.