VOLUNTEER ADVENTURES – cultural immersion and adventure

KENYA: Project Kenya & Safari, 15 days, £1379

Highlights: Nairobi, Limuru, Volunteer Project, Game viewing, Samburu, Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara

Make a difference by volunteering with children in an orphanage and/or assisting doctors in a local medical clinic. Afterwards, track down the “Big 5” as you roam searching for the unique wildlife of Samburu, observe millions of flamingos at Lake Nakuru, and travel the vast open plains and rolling hills of the Masai Mara, camping under the big African sky.

What’s included?
5-day Volunteer Project. Entrances and game drives in Samburu Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Group Size Notes: Max 14, Avg 10 Group Leader, Volunteer project co-ordinator, Chief Experience Officer (CEO) (safari), Guide/driver, Cook.

Meals Included: 14 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 11 Dinners.

Transport:7-seat 4x4 Safari vehicle(s), supply vehicle for equipment when necessary, private minibus.

Accommodation: Simple hotels (3 nts), Full service camping (4 nts), Permanent tented camp (2 nts), Cottages (5 nts)(possibly multi-share).

What’s not included?
Meal Budget: Allow USD40-50 for meals and drinks not included.

Detailed Itinerary Please note that our itineraries are not set in stone and can be subject to change.

Day 1 Nairobi Arrive in Nairobi at any time.

Day 2-6 Community Volunteer Project Volunteer and experience life in the outskirts of Nairobi, where lives have been dramatically impacted by poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS. Volunteer in a local medical clinic working hand in hand with doctors and nurses and in an orphanage with time spent interacting with the children and providing assistance where needed. Activities may include teaching, playing games, assisting with the feeding program, painting and general maintenance. No volunteer experience is necessary.

Day 7 Nairobi Head back to Nairobi and explore the city while you wait to meet up with your safari group.

Day 8-9 Samburu Game Reserve Samburu is a wildlife haven for many species that are rarely found elsewhere. Enjoy a full day game viewing in search of unique wildlife such as the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx and the Somali ostrich to name a few!

Day 10-11 Lake Nakuru Descend into the Great Rift Valley enjoying stunning views of the escarpment on the way. Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake, renowned for its huge concentration of flamingos and over 460 species of birds. Embark on a safari within Lake Nakuru National Park, in search of the resident black and white rhino, buffalo, impala, and the elusive leopard.

Day 12-13 Masai Mara With its vast open plains and distinctive flat-topped acacia trees, no visit to Kenya would be complete without a visit here! Spend time game viewing with excellent chances of seeing the "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino.

Day 14 Nairobi Enjoy one last morning game drive in the Masai Mara, watching the animal kingdom come to life as the sun rises over the Mara plain. Continue through the Great Rift Valley on your way back to Nairobi.

Day 15 Depart Nairobi Depart at any time.

VOLUNTEER ADVENTURES – cultural immersion and adventure

TANZANIA: Project Tanzania & Safari, 13 days, £1409

Highlights: White-sand beaches and volunteering in a community on Zanzibar, game viewing in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater

Get to know Tanzania's welcoming people, witness some of Africa's most spectacular destinations, and make a lasting impact - the best of both worlds. Volunteer on a community project on the spice island of Zanzibar, and then roam from the warm waters of the Indian Ocean to the plains of the Serengeti.

What’s included?
Volunteering with community projects in Zanzibar, Entrances and Game Drives in Lake Manyara National Park, Mto wa Mbu Village tour, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge visit, Traditional dinner in local community.

Group Size Notes: Max 14, Avg 10. Group Leader, Chief Experience Officer (CEO) (safari), Guide/driver, Cook, Volunteer project co-ordinator.

Meals Included:12 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 10 Dinners.

Transport: 7-seater 4x4 safari vehicle, Walking.

Accommodation: Simple hotel (3 nts), Guesthouse (may be multi-share) (5 nts), Full service camping (4 nts)

What’s not included?
Meal Budget: Allow USD55-75 for meals not included.

Detailed Itinerary Please note that our itineraries are not set in stone and can be subject to change.

Day 1 Arrive Zanzibar/Stone Town Arrive in Zanzibar at any time.

Day 2 Jambiani Morning meeting with our African Impact project managers, followed by a drive to Jambiani to begin our work with local community projects

Day 3-6 Volunteer with Community Projects in Jambiani While in Zanzibar we volunteer at four programmes near the village of Jambiani. Assist teachers and students in local schools, participate in marine and beach conservation projects, or organize sports activities for youth from the community.

Day 7 Arusha Return to Stone Town and fly to Arusha.

Day 8 Lake Manyara Head west to Lake Manyara, and spend the afternoon touring and viewing wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park. This area is truly stunning, as the western wall of the Rift Valley escarpment provides a backdrop for your search of the park's phenomenal birdlife, hippos, and even tree-climbing lions.

Day 9-10 Serengeti National Park Visit the village of Mto Wa Mbu, part of a community cultural tourism programme, to learn about the local community. Continue on to the Serengeti to enjoy the multitude of animal and bird life through the acacia-spotted savannah of the Serengeti plains. The "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino - constantly roam this vast expanse of grassland. Along the way stop at the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, "The Cradle of Mankind".

Day 11 Ngorongoro Conservation Area Enjoy a final morning game drive in Serengeti National Park, continuing on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The view from your lodge at the crater's rim is stunning, and the birdlife ever-present in the surrounding forests.

Day 12 Ngorongoro Crater/Arusha Venture down to the crater floor for your final safari experience: the incredible concentration of wildlife bound by the crater walls, including zebra, gazelle, impala, and cheetah. Experience a truly unique "local dinner" in the private home of a local family in Arusha – an authentic community experience to cherish forever.

Day 13 Depart Arusha

VOLUNTEER ADVENTURES – cultural immersion and adventure

SOUTH AFRICA: Project South Africa & Safari, 28 days, £1439

Highlights: Volunteering with community projects in Cape Town, Fish River Canyon, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Etosha National Park, Kalahari, Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, Chobe National Park, Sossusvlei.

Experience the wildlife and beauty of southern Africa while giving back a little. Volunteer with community projects near Cape Town, then continue exploring southern Africa, climbing the world's highest sand dunes, bush walking in the Kalahari, wilderness camping and canoeing in the Okavango Delta and visiting the mighty Victoria Falls!

This trip combines a 5-day volunteer experience with an extra day in Cape Town and our 3-week Dunes, Delta, and Falls Overland tour.

What’s included?
Volunteering with community projects in Cape Town, Fish River Canyon entrance, Sossusvlei Dunes entrance, Etosha National Park entrance with game drives, Okavango Delta entrance with mokoro excursion

Group Size Notes: Max 22, Avg 14 Group Leader, Volunteer project co-ordinator, Chief Experience Officer (CEO)/driver, Cook, Local guides.

Meals Included: 26 Breakfasts, 20 Lunches, 19 Dinners.

Transport; Air-conditioned private van, Overland vehicle, Walking.

Accommodation: Simple hotel (4 nts), Participation camping (14 nts), Multi-share guesthouse (7 nts), Basic bush camp (2 nts).

What’s not included?
Meal Budget: Allow USD170-225 for meals not included.

Detailed Itinerary Please note that our itineraries are not set in stone and can be subject to change.

Day 1 Arrive Cape Town Arrive in Cape Town at any time.

Day 2-6 Community Volunteer Project Travel to the Cape Peninsula, where we begin our work with local community projects. Volunteer opportunities include working with local preschools and elementary schools, assisting teachers with programs including reading, arts and crafts and sports, and helping to paint and refurbish classrooms and school buildings.

Day 7-8 Cape Town Travel back to Cape Town and spend some time exploring the city and all that it has to offer.

Day 9-10 Gariep River / Fish River Canyon Travel past large plantations of Rooibos tea to the scenic Gariep River, the natural border between South Africa and Namibia. Once in Namibia, we journey to the Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa, and take in the majestic beauty of the canyon, the second largest in the world.

Day 11-12 Namib Desert Head towards the incomparable Sossusvlei, a clay pan enclosed by the world's largest sand dunes. Spend a full day exploring the dunes and the natural wonders of this bizarre environment. Here you will really feel as though you're in the middle of nowhere...or even on another planet!

Day 13-14 Swakopmund Today you will really get a feeling for the Namib Desert, as you spend hours crossing this arid region en route to the west coast of Namibia. We will spend two nights in the area, where you can explore this historical town, the surrounding lunar landscape, and try some of the numerous activities available such as sand boarding or a dolphin cruise.

Day 15 Damaraland Journey through the beautiful desert landscapes as we move north into the stony desert landscapes of Damaraland.

Day 16-17 Etosha National Park Etosha in waMbo means "the great white place of dry water". One of Africa's highlights, Etosha National Park offers a variety of wildlife and phenomenal natural beauty. Explore the pans and the park on game drives, with excellent opportunities to spot lion, giraffe, elephant, rhino, and herds of antelope.

Day 18 Waterberg Plateau Game Park Enjoy one last morning game drive in search of the Etosha's incredible wildlife, and begin moving south to Waterberg Plateau Game Park, where in the afternoon you can take a scenic forest walk to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Day 19-20 Windhoek / Kalahari Journey through the Namibian countryside to Windhoek, the historic capital of Namibia, then cross into Botswana and travel to Ghanzi in the Kalahari Desert region. Take a walk with a local San Bushman to learn fascinating wilderness survival skills.

Day 21-23 Maun / Okavango Delta The Okavango Delta Excursion is an experience not to be missed. While based at a bush camp within the world's largest inland delta, enjoy game walks and traditional mokoro (dug-out canoe) excursions, marvelling at the wide variety of wildlife that calls the delta their home. This is truly an African experience!

Day 24-25 Gweta / Chobe River Wake up to the African sun rising over the beauty of the Delta, then continue across to the village of Gweta, located near bizarre salt pans of Makgadikgadi. Camping on the banks of the Chobe River, you will have the chance to search for the wildlife in Chobe National Park by boat or on a game drive.

Day 26-27 Livingstone, Zambia With time for a morning game drive before departing, we cross the mighty Zambezi River by ferry into Zambia. Explore the breathtaking Victoria Falls, go white-water rafting or canoeing on Zambezi, take an elephant-back safari, bungee jump over the Zambezi River, or even fly over the falls for some fantastic views in a "micro-light", a motorized glider.

Day 28 Depart Livingstone