Cape Town to Durban Volunteer Safari

This tour starts in Cape Town and ends in Durban, South Africa.

The aim of the tour is to give you a great holiday while at the same time giving you the oppurtunity to help uplift the local communities that you will visit along the way.

The tour starts off with a visit to the Oudtshoorn, capital of the Ostrich region of South Africa, you will visit the Cango Caves and then assist in the Rastafarian community of Knysna.

Its then off to the Tsitsikamma Forest and Hogsback for some great hiking. We then visit the Lusikisiki community project where you will help out. From here we head for the Drakensberg and on to the Amphitheatre Donga Reclamation Project where you will help out rehabilitating the land that has been damaged by erosion.

We then head on to Durban where the tour comes to an end.

Day 1 Cape Town To Oudtshoorn

We meet at our office in Cape Town for a short briefing over coffee. Your guide will be assessing everyone's skills for the volunteer projects ahead as well as answering any questions you have. On our way to Oudtshoorn we will stop at a wine farm to taste some of South Africa's excellent wine while getting to know one another. In the afternoon we will be travelling to Oudtshoorn along the longest wine route in the world on Route 62, before we get to our first camp, where we learn about the vehicle and how to put up the tents.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Cango Caves And Knysna

After an early breakfast we will be visiting the world-famous Cango Caves for a guided tour of this magnificent natural wonder. In the afternoon we will be travelling to the coast of the Garden Route at Knysna, the site of our first volunteer project.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 / 4 Knysna And The Judah Square Rastafarian Community

For the next 2 days we will be assisting the local Rastafarian community in Knysna. Based on your skills assessment you can volunteer with one of the following tasks: Assisting in the creche's or orphanage, youth training, maintenance of the Health Garden, Community Centre or the upkeep of the Khayaletu River Trail. As we have 2 full days here, you will get to experience more than one aspect of this vibrant community upliftment project. On Day 4 we depart late in the afternoon to the Tsitsikamma Forest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Judah Square Rastafarian Community

NB: It is extremely important to note that as we are volunteering at a Rastafarian Community you need to be aware that all alcohol is strictly forbidden and that the tabernacle needs to be respected as holy ground.

On the morning of day 3 and the whole of day 4 you will enter the surrounding community in order to become involved in a variety of activities. Those of you who go to the Creche will assist the in teaching and caring for the children. Those that go to the orphanage will change nappies, bath babies, make lunches and help with the rest of the duties involved in bringing up children. Clients helping out on the river trail will help maintain the paths and bridges, remove alien vegetation and clean out litter. Those at the health garden will help with the weeding, watering planting and harvesting or help in the workings of the community centre. Clients with teachable skills, such as mechanics, cooks, seamstresses and the like will be able to assist in training the townships youth at the Sinethemba youth centre. In the evenings, members of Judah squares bands often practise in the music room which interested parties can attend.

Day 5 Tsitsikamma Forest

Tsitsikamma is one of South Africa's most famous natural heritage areas and there are many different ways in which to enjoy this scenic destination. For the brave, there is the worlds highest bungee at 216m, but for the rest of us there are some wonderful hiking trails and also the opportunity to rent Mountain Bikes or ride a horse through the forests here. Many people choose to walk the first few kilometres of South Africa's famous Otter Trail. Optional Activities: Bungy jumping (highest in the world), treetop canopy tours, hiking, mountain biking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Hogsback

From Tsitsikamma we head to Hogsback in the Eastern Cape, a fairly long drive, but extremely scenic. We will arrive in the late afternoon in time for a hike (weather dependant) in the mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 / 8 / 9 Lusikisiki Community Project

The Eastern Cape is one of the least developed provinces in South Africa, and Lusikisiki is one of the least developed areas in this province. The project in this community will change from trip to trip as we assist with building and providing necessary infrastructure. One of the community projects is involved in the production of leather sandals, you will learn how to make these sandals while spending a day with the workers, at the end of the day you will get to keep and wear the sandals you have made. Tree planting, teaching basic English skills and alien vegetation clearing can all form part of your contribution to this impoverished area. Optional Activities: Abseiling, Hiking and Zip-line

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lusikisiki Community Project

This project lies right in the heart of the traditional Xhosa homeland and as such we need to be extremely sensitive about our level of impact. You need to be aware that in this extremely remote rural area we are ambassadors of western culture, which is much aspired to. As difficult as it may be, you are required to meet any requests for physical goods, even water, with a polite and firm no. We do not want to create a village of opportunists. Our camp is on the verge of the community and there is no separation between us and them, so overt displays of wealth are not advised. The ablution facilities are basic and you will need to carry your own water from a nearby spring for ablution purposes. As we have 2 days here there will be different activities on each of the days. On one day we will plant trees and on the other we will assist with the leather workshop.

Day 10 / 11 Drakensberg

On day ten we depart Lusikisiki and have a fairly long drive to the Drakensberg in Kwa Zulu Natal. On reaching this magnificent mountain region we have a day free to relax, or take a day trip in to neighbouring Lesotho, the Mountain Kingdom. Optional Activities: Day trip to Lesotho, mountain biking, Heritage site hike, rock climbing and horse riding.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Amphitheatre Donga Reclamation Project

No high-level skills are required today, just enthusiasm and the knowledge that you will be making a positive environmental impact. The Gully (Donga) Reclamation project aims to return the land to a more sustainable state, where the ravages of erosion have been repaired and native plants reintroduced. Fencing needs to be erected to keep livestock out of sensitive areas, vegetation needs to be re-introduced and gullys need to be filled.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amphitheatre Donga Reclamation Project

No high-level skills are required today, just enthusiasm and the knowledge that you will be making a positive environmental impact. The Reclamation project aims to return the land to a more sustainable state, where the ravages of erosion have been repaired and native plants reintroduced. Fencing needs to be erected to keep livestock out of sensitive areas, vegetation needs to be re-introduced and gully’s need to be filled. The exact nature of this project is weather dependant however, as high rainfall in advance can make progress impossible. As such we may also assist with repairs, general maintenance and landscaping all around the community centre with a focus on the re-introduction of indigenous plants.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Durban

Durban is one of South Africa's largest cities and is situated on the Indian Ocean coastline. We will arrive in the late afternoon and visit one of the colourful local markets before we check in to our hostel. This evening we will go out to one of Durban's many superb restaurants for a meal and for those that want to check out the local nightlife there will be ample opportunity. . Optional Activities: Dinner and night out in the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14 Tour Ends

After breakfast the Cape Town to Durban Volunteer Safari comes to an end. Please let us know if we can arrange any further travels for you.

Meals: Breakfast

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