SOUTH AFRICA
i-to-i VOLUNTEERING PROJECT in LION PARK
5 - 24 April 2007
Well, this will come as no surprise to those of you who know me really well to hear that I'll soon be off again!
I booked the above mentioned project 18 months ago though…I'll be going out 'alone again… naturally' .
This type of holiday will be very different from anything else I've done before…. A working holiday for a start (9 hours a day, 6 days a week) and very hands-on with the animals (which, to me, will be the biggest thrill and the main reason I wanted to do it). In fact, this particular project is currently the most popular volunteering project in the whole world (I'm told), hence the huge waiting list to get on it.
Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to send regular updates stating how many bites I got today from the fun-loving (!) cubs email access will be seriously limited and so I may NOT be able to update my travel blog
properly until I get back to the UK… i-to-i explained to me that people have abused internet access in the past and left huge bills unpaid so now everybody is banned from using it (except in real emergencies – which my blog will NOT be). I may not be able to send any updates unless I go back to Jo'burg, which is NOT a happy prospect as it is one of the most violent cities on earth.\
However, before my placement starts I have arranged for a (lady) driver from Jo'burg to pick me up and drive me all the way to Pilanesberg, a very scenic National Park about 2.5H's drive away from Jo'burg, where I'll be able to see all the "big five" – fingers crossed. This will be a little treat for me to relax and go on various safaris - if the minimum number of 4 is reached for each tour – I simply cannot afford my own driver over there, toooo expensive). Boy, I SO miss the African wildlife and landscape (I last went there in 2002) it will feel like 'going home' in that respect…. I'll be staying at the Manyane Resort and there should be internet access unless it's down – quite a frequent occurrence in exotic countries).
Both Pilanesberg and the lion park are in malaria-free areas. Phew ! \
I also plan a trip into Sun City to see what the fuss is all about (it's the most famous theme park in the whole of Africa pretty much), just to see what all the fuss is about (it's like a big water theme park with casinos… but I'm planning to swim, not gamble… needless to say). There are no safaris between 10am and 5pm so it could be a loooong day doing very little otherwise (this is when going alone will be a "bummer"…). So I might as well do *something* !
I just hope it won't be too cold at night since there won't be any heating in the shower cubicles (shared facilities)… but at least there will be hot water (bliss) and duvets.
Voila! i-to-i have assured me that they will do their utmost to ensure that ALL their volunteers are having a good time… I'll soon find out if it's true !
Off to the airport now, I'd better arrive early, I'm sure that the queues will be horrendous with the Easter bank holidays....
Bisous, Sylvie
i-to-i VOLUNTEERING PROJECT in LION PARK
5 - 24 April 2007
Well, this will come as no surprise to those of you who know me really well to hear that I'll soon be off again!
I booked the above mentioned project 18 months ago though…I'll be going out 'alone again… naturally' .
This type of holiday will be very different from anything else I've done before…. A working holiday for a start (9 hours a day, 6 days a week) and very hands-on with the animals (which, to me, will be the biggest thrill and the main reason I wanted to do it). In fact, this particular project is currently the most popular volunteering project in the whole world (I'm told), hence the huge waiting list to get on it.
Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to send regular updates stating how many bites I got today from the fun-loving (!) cubs email access will be seriously limited and so I may NOT be able to update my travel blog
properly until I get back to the UK… i-to-i explained to me that people have abused internet access in the past and left huge bills unpaid so now everybody is banned from using it (except in real emergencies – which my blog will NOT be). I may not be able to send any updates unless I go back to Jo'burg, which is NOT a happy prospect as it is one of the most violent cities on earth.\
However, before my placement starts I have arranged for a (lady) driver from Jo'burg to pick me up and drive me all the way to Pilanesberg, a very scenic National Park about 2.5H's drive away from Jo'burg, where I'll be able to see all the "big five" – fingers crossed. This will be a little treat for me to relax and go on various safaris - if the minimum number of 4 is reached for each tour – I simply cannot afford my own driver over there, toooo expensive). Boy, I SO miss the African wildlife and landscape (I last went there in 2002) it will feel like 'going home' in that respect…. I'll be staying at the Manyane Resort and there should be internet access unless it's down – quite a frequent occurrence in exotic countries).
Both Pilanesberg and the lion park are in malaria-free areas. Phew ! \
I also plan a trip into Sun City to see what the fuss is all about (it's the most famous theme park in the whole of Africa pretty much), just to see what all the fuss is about (it's like a big water theme park with casinos… but I'm planning to swim, not gamble… needless to say). There are no safaris between 10am and 5pm so it could be a loooong day doing very little otherwise (this is when going alone will be a "bummer"…). So I might as well do *something* !
I just hope it won't be too cold at night since there won't be any heating in the shower cubicles (shared facilities)… but at least there will be hot water (bliss) and duvets.
Voila! i-to-i have assured me that they will do their utmost to ensure that ALL their volunteers are having a good time… I'll soon find out if it's true !
Off to the airport now, I'd better arrive early, I'm sure that the queues will be horrendous with the Easter bank holidays....
Bisous, Sylvie
posted by Sylvie at 11:55 AM
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