Gap Africa Experience

Group Travel
The Gap Africa Experience is a group travel of maximum 10 international travellers aged between 18 and 25 years’ old. It is a unique experience where you discover South Africa with peers and get to know her culture and people. We choose our partners with care so we can guarantee that you gain the most valuable experience and that your efforts go to the right organisation.

Each trip will start in Cape Town and from there you travel to the next destination of your choice. On every location you will work as a volunteer during the week. Weekends are for you to explore your surroundings. This way you gain valuable work and life experience and learn new skills. You can choose to travel to Kruger National Park and work in an Eco Village or Bush School. Or travel to Hluhluwe and Kosi Bay where you will work in a nature reserve and learn everything about nature conservation.

Travelling by yourself
The Gap Africa Experience is also perfect for individual travellers, offering the flexibility to select one or multiple projects based on your interests and goals. And don’t worry, you won’t be alone—each project includes other solo volunteers from all over the world, creating a supportive, social environment. This setup allows you to engage meaningfully with your work while building connections with fellow travellers on similar journeys.

GAP EXPERIENCE

What to Expect

Explore together: Travel South Africa with up to 10 peers (ages 18-25).
Explore idenpendently: and connect anytime through our network.
Impactful Volunteering: Weekday projects with trusted local partners.
Diverse Locations: Work near Kruger, Kosi Bay or in Cape Town.
Trusted Partnerships: Work with carefully selected volunteer organisations.

INCLUSIONS

What is included

24/7 Support: Access our Cape Town-based SOS service anytime.
Gap Community: Connect with fellow Gap travelers before departure.
Airport Shuttle: Convenient transport to and from the airport.
All-Inclusive: Accommodation and meals covered throughout your stay.
Weekend Exploration: Experience South Africa’s nature and culture

The Community Experience:

Cape Town: Fleetwood Town FC

Are you ready to spend six months chasing your football dreams while exploring the world? FTIFA, the South African branch of the UK’s Fleetwood Town FC Academy, invites you to beautiful Cape Town for an unforgettable gap year.

In partnership with HBUFC, our program blends intensive soccer training, learning, volunteering, and immersive experiences. Live and train at the Dreamfactory, where you’ll have access to a full training kit, gym, and daily sessions with UEFA-qualified coaches, plus opportunities to connect with local and international scouts.

Each week, you’ll benefit from guidance by our sports scientists and mental performance coaches, supporting your holistic development both on and off the field.

Volunteering placements with local clubs, charities, and schools are tailored to your interests, giving you a chance to give back and grow within the community. Enhance your English skills, make meaningful connections, and experience life in a whole new context through thrilling adventures across Cape Town—from scenic hikes to ziplining and beyond.

For those interested in academic development, we also offer optional certifications in Coaching Science, Sports Management, or Fitness, plus an on-site English language course.

This program is great for sports fanatics, it offers daily soccer training with UEFA-qualified coaches and a unique blend of intensive training, community engagement, and thrilling Cape Town adventures.

The Ciy Experience:

Cape Town

Cape Town is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, nestled between Table Mountain and two oceans.

In Cape Town you will find numerous beautiful beaches and nature reserves such as Table Mountain and Cape Point Nature Reserve. The city is not limited to a center but is spread out in different neighborhoods, all of which have something unique to offer. In addition to nature, the city also has a rich history and a vibrant center. During your stay in Cape Town, you will work as a volunteer in an after-school surfing program for children from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Your tasks vary between assisting with homework and helping with the surf lessons.

You will stay in Muizenberg, a real surfer’s town. In the mornings you can attend surf lessons and yoga. You’ll learn to surf like a pro and you are accommodated in a cozy hostel by the sea. During the weekend you go out and discover the beautiful Cape Peninsula, climb Table Mountain or go snorkling in the mysterious kelp forest.

This program is a great way to immerse yourself in the local community, contribute positively to children’s lives, and enjoy a surfers lifestyle! If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask!

The Wildlife Experience:

Hluhluwe & Kosi Bay

Hluhluwe is a reserve of 96,000 hectares of bush located in KwaZulu-Natal that has a beautiful hilly landscape and is home to the famous ‘big five’.

Kosi Bay is a three-hour drive from Hluhluwe, just below the Mozambique border. Kosi Bay is on the UNESCO World Heritage list because of the beautiful iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Kosi Bay is also called the aquarium because of the clarity of the water and the enormous range of fish species that live there.

During your stay you will work in a reserve in Hluhluwe and learn all about the plants and animals that live there, and you will also help with nature conservation. You stay in a group accommodation with a kitchen where you prepare your own meals. You learn to recognise tracks and conduct research into the variety and populations of wildlife. Together you travel to Kosi Bay where you learn about marine life and enjoy the surroundings on a kayak or with a snorkel. You stay in a tented camp, prepare your food on a campfire and look at the endless starry sky.

This experience blends hands-on conservation work with educational workshops, offering participants the chance to immerse themselves in nature and wildlife preservation. Life in the bush is unpredictable, offering new and exciting challenges each day.

The Bush Experience:

Hoedspruit: Bush school

Hoedspruit is also called the gateway to Kruger National Park. The famous Kruger Park is an extensive wildlife park of no less than 19,485 km². It is the natural habitat of the big five and attracts nature lovers all year round.

This NGO is located right next to Kruger and you will work with children from neighbouring villages. The Bush School offers a unique program for children from the area where they learn everything about their environment and the importance of nature conservation and the animals that live in it. Every week, 8 children come to live on campus and follow a carefully developed curriculum. You help in the camp, during lessons and activities. There is also a shelter for wild animals. You help care for the rehabilitation of injured or orphaned animals. In your free time you can hop on a jeep and go on game drives, explore Blyde River Canyon or visit one of the small villages where you can meet the locals and learn all about their culture.

This program is ideal for individuals looking to make a tangible impact on both the local community and wildlife conservation efforts while enjoying the breathtaking landscapes of the bush. If you have any specific questions or need further information, feel free to ask!

The Community Experience:

Hoedspruit: Eco Village

This organisation is all about Immersive Volunteering. They offer learning opportunities for people that are passionate about conservation, research, or gaining new skills, encouraging participation in dignity-centered tourism.

The Eco Village is the beating heart of various projects that have been set up to support the surrounding communities. You can participate in the nutrition program – working in the garden or helping out in the kitchen – help to grow vegetables or assist in workshops about sustainable agriculture. There are many education programs for young and old. If you have the technical skills you can use these for computer education.

The camp looks beautiful, partly because of all the materials that are carefully recycled and incorporated into beautiful projects. This organisation offers a very broad range of experiences where you have the opportunity to learn new skills and find out where you passions are. In addition, the Eco Village is a good place to hang out with other volunteers and will be your home away from home.

This program is ideal when you want to explore new skills and intercultural learning in a vibrant Eco Village with a great community feel. If you have any specific questions or need further details, feel free to ask!

The Ciy Experience:

Houtbay: Imizamo Yethu

Hout Bay

The Hout Bay municipality runs from the beach through the valley to Table Mountain. It is cosy, photogenic and close to the beach. Imizamo Yethu (also called Mandela Park) is an informal settlement (Township) and is located in Houtbay. All projects of this organization take place in or on the border of this township.

Support classes in English are of particular importance at Hout Bay Primary School. Although English is one of the official languages of South Africa, the reality is often different. The students mainly speak isiXhosa or other home languages at home, so they only come into contact with the English language when they enter school life. In order to facilitate this introduction for the students, we identify competencies and deficits and try to work on these as best as possible in remedial classes.

Many children stay home alone after school because their parents work until late in the afternoon. To prevent the youngsters from being unsupervised for several hours, the program offers aftercare from Monday to Friday from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM for about 35 children.

This program is ideal for those who want to make a positive impact on children’s education and well-being while experiencing the culture and beauty of Hout Bay.

Choose your Experience

Experience Packages

Volunteer Surf School
Volunteer Bush School
2 destinations
South Africa
1 domestic flight
Shuttle service
24 hour support by our Gap Team
based in Cape Town
Exciting day trips
Volunteer Training
Accomodation
Meals

Volunteer Surf School
Volunteer Eco Village
Volunteer
Nature Conservation
3 destinations
South Africa
2 domestic flights
Shuttle service
Travel with a peer group
24 hour support by our Gap Team
based in Cape Town
Exciting day trips
Volunteer Training
Accomodation
Meals

Volunteer Surf School
Volunteer Eco village
2 destinations
South Africa
1 domestic flight
Shuttle service
24 hour support by our Gap Team
based in Cape Town
Exciting day trips
Volunteer Training
Accomodation
Meals

Gap Africa Experience

Gap Africa Experience

What to Expect

What is included

The Community Experience:

Cape Town: Fleetwood Town FC

Cape Town: Fleetwood Town FC

The Ciy Experience:

Cape Town

Cape Town

The Wildlife Experience:

Hluhluwe & Kosi Bay

Hluhluwe & Kosi Bay

The Bush Experience:

Hoedspruit: Bush school

Hoedspruit: Bush school

The Community Experience:

Hoedspruit: Eco Village

Hoedspruit: Eco Village

The Ciy Experience:

Houtbay: Imizamo Yethu

Hout Bay

Choose your Experience

Experience Packages

6 Weeks Experience

8 Weeks Experience

6 Weeks Experience

Your journey doesn't begin until you take your first step

Your journey doesn't begin until you take your first step