It’s always much easier to keep to resolutions when they’re inspired by what you’re passionate about though – and for us, it’s naturally all about travelling.

So don’t stress over the diets and gyms this year, why not resolve to see more of what the world has to offer, and to immerse yourself in amazing new cultures?

We’re thinking that’s a much better way to spend 2017 – and we’ve got plenty of New Year’s travel resolutions to help you do it…

Learn the language

It’s easy to stick to what we know when we travel, but learning some of the local language – even if you just aim for ten words – is a great way to widen your experience of a new country, and the interactions you have within it.

Say ‘yes’ more

A lot can be gained from an unplanned adventure – from learning surprising new personal truths, to experiencing things we would never have once expected. Make your 2017 the year of spontaneity, because a lot more can be gained from simply saying ‘no’ less.

Go on a safari

You are truly missing out if you are yet to go on a safari! It’s quite difficult to even put into words how incredible these sorts of trips are, the unique mix of magnificent wildlife and cultural encounters together with spectacular scenery is just breathtaking!

Get off social media

Checking emails and social media accounts undoubtedly stops you from fully experiencing a new environment – so switch off properly, embrace your trip and worry about the hashtags when you’re back home.

Plan an active holiday

From walking, to biking and hiking, an active holiday is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in even the smallest of details your new destination has to offer. Not to mention it’s also a great way to indulge in some delicious new foods, without feeling too guilty…

Go it alone

It’s always fun to travel with friends and family, but often travelling alone can really help to further push us out of our comfort zones, as well as giving us the time we need to not only reflect, but to recharge.

Needless to say travelling solo is a valuable opportunity to establish new, interesting friendships abroad too.

Do some good

Lastly, and most importantly of all, why not give something back this 2017? It may be volunteering for a local charity or going abroad to work with endangered wildlife. Regardless of the experience, volunteering is a wonderful way to help others, as well as creating valuable new opportunities for us to learn and grow from.

Help us to transform the way we travel this 2017 – please share this post on Twitter and Facebook! If you’re interested in volunteering this year, take a look at our life-changing range of projects, from working with underprivileged communities to caring for sick and injured wildlife.

When you volunteer, as well as creating a powerful difference in the lives of those that need it most, it’s important to remember that you’re also going to be making a positive change in your own life – meeting new people, learning valuable new skills and even exposing yourself to new cultures. These are all hugely helpful to boost not only your career, but to open up new opportunities that otherwise you may not have even considered.

Volunteering can of course be daunting when you don’t know where to start – and it’s because of this that many of us find excuses that ultimately prevent us from experiencing these incredibly valuable opportunities.

So, with this in mind – and with International Volunteer Day less than a month away now, we thought this would be the perfect time to tackle some of the common excuses that stop people from volunteering head on, because really, that’s the only way to face them!

1. ‘I don’t know where to start’

There is a huge amount of volunteering opportunities across the UK – let alone the world, so it can be a pretty overwhelming task to try and find out what you can do and where!

First things first, decide what you want to do – for example, you may want to volunteer with animals. Remember it’s important to think about why you want to do a certain kind of volunteering too, as this can be really useful in guiding your choices and ensuring you find an opportunity that you are truly passionate about.

You might even have some experience that may be relevant from a course you’re studying, or from your day-to-day job. This can really help to narrow things down, as you may be looking for a more hands-on volunteering experience, or wanting to help increase a charity’s exposure through assisting with their marketing and PR activity for example.

Once you’ve created a manageable list of volunteering opportunities you would like to do, you then need to focus on where you want to do it. For example you may want to volunteer with animals locally, such as with the RSPCA, or you may want to work with endangered animals abroad with an organisation such as us!

Once you have all this information it’s time to start looking – websites such as Do-it.org or NCVO.org.uk are helpful, and you can also use LinkedIn too! Many colleges and universities work with carefully selected organisations to provide the best experiences possible for their students – ones which are often offered as valuable course work experience, so don’t forget to talk to your teacher or lecturer to see what’s on offer.

2. ‘I don’t have the time’

We all lead busy lives between work, family, friends and all of the commitments that come with them. However the phrase ‘I’m too busy’ can often just be a mindset where we feel so overwhelmed by what we’re currently facing, that we just end up creating excuses so as to prevent us from having to deal with anything else.

Put simply, a lack of time doesn’t have to stop you from volunteering – you can volunteer as much or as little as you like, from a few hours here and there to a few months! Ultimately you decide what works for you and your lifestyle.

Don’t be afraid to mention any additional constraints to the organisation you choose to volunteer with too, in order to avoid creating any unnecessary pressure – charitable organisations understand that many of their volunteers have full time jobs and commitments, so make sure they are flexible in turn.

Don’t forget that volunteering can also be beneficial in reducing the stress in our busy lives. It can be a really valuable outlet to escape from the hustle and bustle of our everyday routines, offering an opportunity for personal development, as well as the chance to turn our attention to something completely new.

3. ‘I don’t have the skills’

Not true! The vast majority of volunteering opportunities simply require you to be friendly, enthusiastic and dependable, so this really is an excuse that you need to forget!

Of course there are some organisations or projects that may require certain skills – for example you may be interested in sports coaching, and therefore require knowledge of football. However, more often than not these are just basic skills which are not unachievable – not to mention a personal dedication and passion is still of fundamental importance.

Never be afraid to apply to a project that you feel you may not meet all the requirements for, just explain what other skills you can bring – the ones that can’t be learnt! What’s the worse that can happen? Many volunteering opportunities do also provide training prior to when you begin, to ensure you can fulfil the role to the best of your abilities, such as if you decide to work with the elderly or vulnerable.

Ultimately, regardless of what you decide to do or where, volunteering is an amazing opportunity to develop your skill set, experience new and challenging environments and meet new people that otherwise you may never have crossed paths with.

4. ‘I don’t have the money’

If you’re hoping to go on an expedition abroad for example and you’re concerned you may not have the funds to do so, it’s time to turn your attention to fundraising.

Much like volunteering, the whole idea of fundraising can also be very intimidating – but it’s all about breaking it down into manageable steps.

Planning is key to ensure your efforts are a success, whether you’re creating a calendar, baking cakes or going on a sponsored run, so make sure that before you embark on any fundraising initiative that you plan everything – then dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘T’s!

Here are just a few quick questions that you need to consider when you’re organising a fundraising initiative to help get you started:

• Is help required to run it?
• Where is it being held?
• Do you have the necessary skills/knowledge?
• Is any special equipment needed?
• How will it be promoted?
• When is it taking place?
• What are the financial risks?
• What is the expected cost/income/profit?
• Do you need insurance/public liability insurance?

To find even more handy information about fundraising, take a look at our very own essential fundraising guide. It’s got everything you’ll need!

5. ‘I am worried about what will happen’

It’s natural to be nervous when you’re embarking upon a new opportunity, just don’t let these nerves get in the way of an incredible new experience.

We know, we know, easier said than done – but think of what you could be missing out on. It’s important to break out of your comfort zone, not just for your own benefit but also for those in need. Any time that volunteers can give makes a meaningful difference, so just think of what could happen if your time was actually spent doing the volunteering, rather than worrying about it!

If you are particularly apprehensive, why not get a friend involved too? Or start with a local charity, before you branch out to something more adventurous!

Here at Gap Africa we find that many friends decide to volunteer together and it really helps to settle any pre-expedition nerves. We’ve found that it encourages friends to push each other to try new experiences too, so volunteering as a group is always something that comes highly recommended from us. It also means you’ll always have someone to take a picture while you’re in action (always handy!) – and once the experience is over, you’ll also have someone to relive the special memories with time and time again.

So there you have it – five excuses that stop you from volunteering, which we hope have now turned into reasons why you should!

If we could say just one last thing, it would be to take a volunteering opportunity while you can, because it may well be something you’ll never be able to experience again. And with that in mind, don’t forget to take a look at our amazing range of sustainable volunteer projects – it could really help to narrow down that search…

Please share this article on Facebook and Twitter too – together, we can make sure we inspire as many people as possible to start making a difference.

Anti-Bacterial/Mosquito Cotton Sleeping Bag – Mummy

Water-to-Go 50cl Water Filter Bottle

Solotrekk Pocket Travel First Aid Kit

Trespass Bamboo Antibacterial Travel Towel

Suncream Minis Pack

Mini Combination Cable Lock

To enter this competition, all you have to do is:

1)    Share the image on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram along with the hashtag #GappyXmas

2)    Make sure you either like or follow us on the social networks you chose to enter the competition on!

And that’s it!

A winner will be chosen and announced on the 4th January and you can find the full Terms and Conditions here.

Good luck!

With temperatures of around 30°C in December, it’s very unlikely South Africa will have the white Christmas that most of us dream of in the UK! As you’ve probably guessed Christmas in South Africa takes place slap bang in the middle of their summer, which means Christmas dinner is normally eaten outside where the flowers are blooming and the sun is beaming – some businesses even shut up shop for the whole of December! We must admit, we’re a little jealous.

As gifts tend to only be exchanged between the wealthier individuals in South Africa, their Christmas is a far less commercial affair. The emphasis is very much on the religious aspects of the day and enjoying time together with family and close friends, complete with lots of joyous singing – in fact it would be impossible to talk about a South African Christmas without mentioning the singing! Carols are extremely popular and locals tend to gather and make their way around their local towns on Christmas Eve, then follow up with a good old sing song at church services on Christmas morning.

Now onto our favourite part of Christmas… the food! Like us in the UK, the traditional meat is turkey, but people also like to eat duck and roast beef. You can forget about using a conventional oven for the meat too, most people prefer their meat grilled on the braai! However, you’d be hard pushed to find roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings at a South African Christmas dinner, as the main side dish is yellow rice and raisins!

With the sun beaming down, it’s no surprise that people choose to head out to some of South Africa’s most amazing conservation areas, such as Kruger National Park and of course Shamwari Game Reserve, over the festive period. What better way to enjoy the holiday season than spotting some of the amazing wildlife and flora this special part of the world has to offer.

So there you have it, a Christmas filled with food, family. songs, sunshine and of course some magnificent wildlife!

If you want to experience a completely different type of Christmas to the one you’re used to, why not contact us today to find out about some of the projects we’re running. Christmas 2016 could be one to remember!

Hippos
Weighing up to 1,500kg, complete with a large arsenal of teeth and the ability to travel at 18mph, hippos are one animal you do not want to get on the wrong side of! Hippos can be unpredictable, especially if you get in between the adult and its young. Thankfully, attacks on humans are rare, despite hippos being considered as one of the more dangerous animals in South Africa.

The Black Mamba
This is the deadliest snake in Africa – and the largest grow up to a length of 8 feet.
They’re extremely fast, getting to speeds of up to 12mph, and have venom so potent than it can kill a dozen men within an hour. Luckily however, the anti-venom is very widely available in South Africa!

African Buffalo
People often think lions and leopards are the most dangerous of the big five, but it is often argued that it’s actually the African buffalo. This is due to their unpredictable and temperamental moods, with older males often becoming very easily aggravated.

Puff Adder
This certainly isn’t a list for those with ophidiophobia (in plain English – a fear of snakes!) Our second snake on the list, the puff adder, is thought to be one of South Africa’s deadliest creatures due to its aggressive nature – not to mention its needle like teeth and powerful venom!

Mosquito
This is the smallest animal on this list, but certainly the most dangerous to the people of South Africa. The biggest threat mosquitoes carry is the well-known Malaria virus, caused by parasites that female Anopheles pick up on by feeding on infected humans. It’s always highly recommended to get antimalarial medication prior to travelling to countries with a risk of malaria, to ensure you are protected before arrival.

Make sure you keep an eye out for the next instalment of our Top 5 blog series (it’s very different to this one!) – coming soon. In the meantime, why not get in touch about any queries you may have about our projects?

African Elephant
Easily the largest animal in South Africa, the African elephants live together in groups of around 10 females and their calves – all led by the oldest and largest female known as the matriarch. Deemed to be equal with primates, African elephants are amongst the most intelligent animals on the planet, exhibiting a wide range of behaviours such as grief, compassion, a sense of humour and memory (that’s where the saying comes from after all, an elephant never forgets!)

The African elephant is often poached for its skin and tusks, with many governments around the world recently taking the necessary steps to try and eliminate the trade of ivory.

African Buffalo
The African buffalo is often viewed as the most dangerous of the big five, as its behaviour is highly unpredictable. The African buffalo can often be found in large herds made up of both male and females, creating a protective environment for calves to be reared. Should a member of the herd come under attack from a lion, (its only known predator in the wild) then the whole herd will often look to fight back and attack the predators, as seen in the incredible Battle at Kruger footage.

African Lion
Living something along the lines of a dream life, lions typically rest for 20 hours a day. (If only!) 

A pack of lions is known as a pride, and typically consists of a group of females, their cubs and mates (usually around two to four). Prides rarely tolerate new members joining, with males often fighting off others looking to take their place in the pride and mate with the females. Although most of their food comes from scavenging, if the need to hunt arises it is the females who will often do this, choosing to feast on animals such as wildebeest, zebras, buffalo and warthogs.

Black Rhinoceros
The most endangered animal of the big five, rhino numbers are dwindling due to poaching, which is predominantly fuelled by the illegal trade of their horns. Rhinos are quite solitary animals, with a strong bond existing only between a mother and her calf. Due to their intimidating size, horn and thick skin, adult rhinoceroses have no natural predators in the wild – but from time to time they can be aggressive as they charge at the odd tree trunk or termite mound!

Did you know rhinos are also deceptively fast? They are actually capable of travelling up to 34mph at full speed!

African Leopard
Smaller than the lion, African leopards tend to be more stealthy and agile predators. The most obvious feature on a leopard is of course its spots – not to mention its large skull and powerful jaw muscles that help it kill prey!

Leopards are solitary animals that often rest up in tree branches. They prey on a diverse range of animals, ranging from dung beetles to bushbuck – in Kruger National Park an incredible 92 different types of prey were documented in their diet! The two biggest threats to the African leopard are deemed to be loss of habitat and intense persecution for their threat to livestock. They are considered to be at most risk in semi-desert areas where a lack of food can lead to clashes with the livestock of nomadic farmers.

If you want to see South Africa’s big five up close, why not enquire about our conservation projects today?

1. Braai
Possibly the most popular national cuisine on our projects – an authentic braai is a must do! It can be summed up as a South African BBQ and originated from butchers in Johannesburg cooking meat on the grill at the front of their shops. A braai is now a popular social custom for communities to bring friends and family together and enjoy delicious food – there’s even a Braai Day on the 24th of September!

2. Bobotie
Although it may look much like your typical lasagne, bobotie is very much a South African dish. So much so in fact, that it’s the national dish of the country! Originating from Indonesian settlers, bobotie consists of minced meat simmered with spices, dried fruit, herbs and topped off with a mix of egg and milk. It’s a really hearty meal and leaves a lovely tangy taste in your mouth.

3. Boerewors
In Britain we have the Cumberland sausage, in South Africa they have the boerewors (it’s a tricky one to say, we know – find out just how it’s pronounced here!). Derived from the words ‘boer’ meaning ‘farmer’ and ‘wors’, meaning ‘sausage’ the boerewor is traditionally made from beef mixed with lamb, pork and a mixture of spices, giving it a very distinct taste. For the best taste though, we’d have it on a braai! Once dried, boerewors also become a tasty snack known as ‘droëwors’ – a name that literally means ‘dried sausage’. They are quite different to other dried meats, as they are free from curing agents – but they’re still an incredibly popular snack, not least for their similarity to biltong!

4. Bunny chow
Don’t worry – it isn’t actually a bunny! Bunny chow consists of a hollowed out bread loaf filled with curry and is an ever popular South African fast food, particularly in Durban. Bunny chow is a very messy meal (you’ll need a lot of napkins), but it tastes wonderful. Bunny chow has also begun popping up in the UK, even in the form of a full English!

5. Biltong
Thanks to its low fat and high protein content, biltong is rapidly becoming one of the most popular snacks in the UK. Biltong is dry cured meat – beef is often the common choice – but you can get all sorts such as kudu, impala and ostrich. It’s common to find biltong with some added flavour such as garlic or chilli, along with traditional spices for an extra kick – Peri Peri biltong is one of our personal favourites, although it’s not for the faint-hearted!

If you’re drooling at the thought of some of these dishes, why not contact us to find out about some of our incredible projects in South Africa? You’ll be able to enjoy a life-changing and meaningful experience, as well as some delicious food.

We’ll also be writing another blog post in the coming weeks to introduce you to some other authentic South African foods (those that don’t begin with ‘B’!) such as chakalaka and malva pudding – we’ll even be throwing in a few local beverages too…

Rhinos
The main reason Rhinos are poached is for their horns, which many believe contain healing properties, despite there being no proven scientific evidence to substantiate these primitive claims. In 2007, 13 Rhinos were poached in South Africa. In 2014 that number had risen to 1,215. These startling numbers show that we must continue to do more to help Rhinos and we urge you to visit charities like TESA, who work to protect Rhinos and other wildlife from poachers and hunters, to help raise awareness of their valuable work.

Giraffes
One of the most endangered animals in the world is the Rothschild’s Giraffe, which has been classed as endangered since 2010. It is estimated that there are less that 670 left in the wild. Hunting this breed of giraffe is so popular due to the fact their numbers are dwindling, which in turn has fuelled hunters to want to capture these beautiful creatures before they disappear completely.

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation do a fantastic job of helping this species so we would recommend looking around their site to find out more about what they do – and how you can help.

Lions
Hunters have found it easier to ‘legally’ murder lions rather than elephants or rhinos for example, due to the fact they aren’t yet listed as endangered or have specific laws protecting their skin like an elephant’s ivory does. Hunting organisations ‘sell’ lions as the biggest trophy due to their reputation as the king of the African plains and ruler of the ‘Big 5’. Although they are yet to be classed as endangered, the lion population is dropping rapidly. In 1975 there were an estimated 250,000 lions in Africa whilst there are now estimated to be 25-30,000 showing a staggering 80-90% decline.

What is being done?

Charities like TESA and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation do a fantastic job in helping to protect these incredible animals and raising awareness of the horrific impact of hunting. New advancements also help to actively discourage poachers – such as the dyeing of rhino horns, which then devalues the horns and ultimately makes them less appealing to hunters.

Conservations provide invaluable protection of wildlife, with the Shamwari Conservation having an extremely high level of security to help ensure its animals are protected 24/7. Suscon Africa is one particular organisation that provides anti-poaching patrols, which help to ensure the long-term success of key conservation initiatives and enable numerous projects to continue their vital work. Countries are also clamping down on the trade of endangered animals, with Kenya and China burning their ivory collections in recent years in an effort to dismantle the poaching culture and signify that they will not allow criminal syndicates that profit off of ivory to continue.

As mentioned in the introduction, the murder of Cecil the lion has forced the spotlight onto hunting in Africa – and if anything good can come of this it will be tighter legislation on hunting. We’ve already seen a wide range of Airlines vow to stop carrying the killings of hunters, but it remains to be seen if any individual governments will look to take action following this, and ultimately, if any real changes to protect the precious African wildlife will be made.

We hope this short article gave you an insight into how these species are rapidly dwindling, and an overview of what is currently been done to help, but we’re always intrigued by your thoughts, so please do let us know what you think of this sensitive issue and if there are any areas you’d like us to explore further.

Below is what makes the Shamwari Conservation such an amazing place in Jacob’s eyes..

The 25,000 hectare reserve of the Shamwari Conservation situated in the eastern cape of South Africa is truly a fantastic spectacle. The work and vision of Adrian Gardner, Ian Player and other’s in transforming the reserve from a vast region of farmland, desolate of native wildlife, to a biome home of Africa’s big five, is surely one of the great triumphs of conservation. Shamwari literally translates to ‘my friend’ in the native Zimbabwean language ‘Shona’, an eloquent advertisement for the congenial character and camaraderie of the conservation experience.

The People
The amount of like-minded people I met, highly motivated and interested in conservation, during my time at Shamwari was quite astounding, and the co-operative nature of the activities gave a strong feeling of community spirit. Fortunately for some, such community spirit fosters a portion of competitiveness among the volunteers and rangers. I was not of such fortunate ilk – I’m still recovering from my slow and eventual realization that table tennis is by far, not the game for me having been defeated consistently in the bi-weekly tournament held in free time around activities. I would have gotten over it had we not decided that the place finished determined the order at which volunteers jumped in the pool at the end of the day! I managed to redeem myself in the ‘Bush Olympics’, spitting an Impala Dropping the furthest by any UK representative and receiving my ‘bush gold medal’ and ‘world record status’…still haven’t heard from the Queen though! I can honestly say that the diversity of people I encountered at Shamwari, in combination with the natural group spirit during activities made volunteering one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.

The Rangers
Shamwari’s distinctive nature was summarised perfectly by Konrad, who has a wealth of knowledge that verges on the obscure and obsessive. A friend of mine asked ‘what do Giraffe’s eat?’, to which Konrad explained the reliance of the Giraffe on a particular species of ant that inject growth hormones into acacia thorn for housing and the simultaneous benefit on the Giraffe’s diet. Whilst they do seem around fifty percent textbook, fifty percent Indiana Jones, I can confirm that the ranger’s are in fact one hundred percent human and are some of the loveliest, most memorable people I’ve met. From the minute you entered the reserve the likes of Konrad, Cindy and Jens were genuinely interested in where you were from, what it is you wanted from the Shamwari experience and in doing so made us feel welcome, and contributive to the ‘behind the scenes’ happenings of the reserve. Without comparing the ranger’s to hooved mammals, a similarly warm welcome was given to us on entry to the reserve by a lonely and stubborn veteran giraffe, who proved quite the obstacle to the taxi driver’s Ford Mondeo, adamantly refusing to move from the road, with his pleasantries forcing us twenty minutes late for dinner.

The Experiences
During my time at Shamwari, one thing that struck me is that no two weeks on the conservation experience are ever the same. The dynamic nature of the activities shifts to meet the needs of the rangers – the volunteers could be needed to assist in the darting, capture, treatment or relocation of larger mammals, required to feed big cats, work alongside the fantastic, highly sophisticated anti-poaching unit, or clear alien vegetation to maintain the fauna of the reserve, to name but a few tasks I was involved in. I was lucky enough to take part in the relocation of an imperialistic hippo that seemed to have no concept of territory, consistently fighting other males for access to females, and unfortunately not accepting defeat. The Hippo required immediate medical attention, and so had to be darted and moved to an area of the reserve where it wouldn’t encounter more foes. Johan, the head vet gave us a briefing on the tactics behind darting an animal as large as a hippo, and believe me they genuinely double in size as soon as you step off the confines of a Land Cruiser. To be involved in a medical and transport procedure that saved the life of a hippo was a breathtaking highlight.

Whether or not I have a pathological desire to not finish last in a table tennis tournament, or to have a continued involvement with my interests in conservation, I am ecstatic to be able to visit the reserve for a second time in the coming weeks. Speaking to a few friends from the last trip of my next adventure to South Africa, they’ve since been inspired to visit again, and I think this is real testament to the amazing wildlife experiences we’ve all shared together, as well as the congenial nature of the volunteering program.

Poaching had unfortunately started to become all too common in South Africa, and it was certainly something I was aware of, but I was not prepared for what I saw had happened to three rhinos. On the 2^nd March 2012 poachers had entered Kariega Game Reserve, a small privately owned reserve in the Eastern Cape. The animals had been darted and their faces hacked for their horn. Sadly one of the rhinos passed away that night, but two were alive and Dr William Fowlds and the rest of the amazing people at the Kariega Game Reserve made the decision to try and save the rhinos and give them the chance at life.

The two rhinos were named Thandi (meaning love in Xhosa) and Themba (meaning brave and courageous), Thandi was the female and Themba the male. Unfortunately Themba’s health slowly deteriorated due to the way he had fallen, his back leg had lost circulation and nothing was able to save it. Sadly, 24 days after the poaching Themba passed away at a water hole where it is believed he just lay down, gave up and died.

Fortunately Thandi went from strength to strength, and in late 2013 it was discovered she was pregnant – a miracle in itself. A rhino’s pregnancy lasts 16 months, so a long wait! But it proved worth it when on the 13th of January 2015 Thandi give birth to a female calf named Thembi (meaning hope in Xhosa).

It was the courageous spirit of Thandi that inspired me to start a small organisation known as Thandi’s Fund Raiser in 2012, this then grew to Thandi’s Endangered Species Association in 2014 which is now an Isle of Man registered charity.

Since 2013 Gap Africa projects has supported and contributed to the organisation. With their help many rhinos have been protected and we thank them for their continued dedication and contribution to helping to protect the rhino and look forward to our partnership developing.

– Angie Goody

To find out more about Thandi’s Endangered Species Association, please head over to www.tesawildlife.org