GVI

I spent two months on Karongwe Game reserve volunteering with GVI, I meet some of the most amazing people while I was there and have made friends for life! I had once in a lifetime sightings of the worlds most amazing animals... it's not everyday that you get to see leopards hunting, lions roaring, cheetahs on a kill or even elephants in the back yard! The staff at GVI were great, they are so passionate about what they do it makes the experience even more enjoyable. I loved my time in South Africa and was sad to leave but all good things come to an end at some point and I walked away with friends for life!

Wow is the first word that comes to mind when i think of the overall volunteering experience. There is just something so calming about being in the middle of a national park with almost no connection to the outside world. The closest town was a 15 mile walk on the beach or a 45 minute boat ride. This isolation made it possible to get up close and personal with the wildlife in its natural environment. Sometimes too close, like when you wake up at 5 in the morning with a bat hanging from your bug net. The work was interesting, always a new experience every time you go out. One day you are watching a sloth swing from branch to branch in a wind storm. Then the next day you are being trained with a machete to clear one of the trails that have been blocked off by fallen trees. Personally my favourite part was the weekly jag walk and going through jag picture and identifying which jaguars have been spotted along the beach and coastal jungle. It isn't always easy when you have to identify a jaguar from very little or if the picture is blurry as it runs by. In some pictures all you see of the jaguar is its teeth as it chews and pushes around the camera out of curiosity. The people also make the experience. The staff is so passionate about the work they do and are so excited to share their knowledge. This makes working alongside them quite enjoyable and you quickly pick things up and become a key player in the work you do. Over all this is an experience that everyone should have an opportunity to do.

A volunteer experience in Nepal is difficult to break down in to a short review. But it will no doubt be unforgettable. The children are amazing and the site in Pokhara is unmatched. There is endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors on the rivers, lakes and most especially the mountains nearby. In advance, you of course pick what area you would like to participate in - whether it is childcare, teaching, construction etc. If you are lucky, and there long enough you may have the opportunity to visit more than one site. The people are friendly, the food is amazing and the host family will take very good care of you. Take the time to be proficient in your Nepali - it will take you farther.