If you are interested in a life changing experience you want to consider one of ten African Conservation Experience projects in South Africa and Botswana. Volunteers can visit any project from two to 12 weeks, making them ideal for part of a gap year.

African Conservation Experience was the first UK company to offer this kind of interactive conservation adventure and its expert team consists of highly qualified conservationists, botanists and biologists, setting the company apart from its competition.

Activities on these projects are diverse and exciting. Volunteers find themselves face-to-face with wild buffalo or school children, hand-rearing baby warthogs and lioncubs, identifying dangerous species, learning how to drive a 4×4 or shooting a rifle in the bush, horse-riding by moonlight and sleeping out under the stars to the background noise of lions and hyenas.

Tasha Craft, a volunteer at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, South Africa, says: “With African Conservation Experience I achieved more than I could dream possible: I raised a baby cheetah called Porsche who slept in my hut at night along with a baby jackal, a warthog, two sun weavers and occasionally a lion cub! Not a day goes by where I don’t apply something I learned about myself and the world around me.”

Two weeks start at £995 pp including accommodation, all meals and all project-related costs. Flight inclusive packages are also available.

For more information call 0870 241 5816 or visit their website at www.conservationafrica.net.

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Suriname has dense cover of tropical rain forests along with a terrain of rolling hills, swamps and coastal plains. It is also blessed with varied and diverse plant and animal life. This makes it a boon for the nature lovers and naturalists. Suriname has a tropical climate and the highest point is Juliana Top at 1,230 m. The country is sparsely populated along the coastline.

Suriname is the smallest country in the northern region of South America. It was earlier the colony of Dutch Guiana or Netherlands Guiana. Suriname is also the smallest independent nation in the continent of South America. In the northern area, it has a coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. On the other side it is bordered by French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana. Suriname is divided into ten districts for the purpose of administration. These ten districts include Brokopondo, Coronie, Commewijne, Nickerie, Marowijne, Paramribo, Para, Sipaliwini, Saramacca and Wanica. The main cities of Suriname are Paramribo-the capital city, Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paranam and Wageningen.

Getting In and Around Suriname

The tourist ought to ensure about the visa papers being in proper order. There is a daily flight of KLM Airlines from Amsterdam. Recently, Martinair has started flights to Paramribo twice in a week and this is a cheaper alternative. Suriname has no train services. Suriname is accessible by road from Guyana and the tourists can take mini-buses. There is also a regular ferry service across the river between Suriname and Guyana. Traveling in Suriname is costly as tourism is still in its infancy. The tourism expenses will work out to be much higher than your regular American and European holidays.

Tourists Interests in Suriname

Suriname has plentiful nature reserves and parks like the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, Brownsberg Park and Galibi Nature Reserve. The other tourist attractions are Awarradam, Palumeu, Kasikasima, Bigi Pan or Nickerie, Cola kreek, Carolina Creek, Baboen hol, Blaka Watra, Matapica, Stuwmeer White Beach and Palumeu Republiek.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve or CSNR is an excellent place that preserves Earth’s most ancient, remote and untouched wilderness. This reserve is a linking corridor for 3 of the most significant protected regions of Central Suriname – Tafelberg Nature Reserve in central area, Eilerts de Hann Gebergte Nature Reserve in the southern area and Raleighvallen Nature Reserve in the northern area. There are many endemic species of plants and animals in this reserve. Suriname is concentrating its efforts on conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development. Unique tourists facilities are being developed on Foengoe Island located within the CSNR complex and this is going to be a premier ecotourism destination in the near future.

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve has achieved international fame for being a monkey and bird paradise. You will get to see nearly more than 400 bird species in addition to parrots, macaws and toucans. The headquarters and tourist lodges of the reserve are situated on Fungo Island. The tourists must visit the interesting Voltzberg Mountain. Galibi Nature Reserve is world renowned for being the nesting site for endangered species of sea turtles. The Brownsberg Park is easily accessible by car. Enjoy the lovely waterfalls, forests, jungle sounds, rains, gushing streams, beaches and islands and please yourself to the hilt in the lap of nature in Suriname.

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Suriname has dense cover of tropical rain forests along with a terrain of rolling hills, swamps and coastal plains. It is also blessed with varied and diverse plant and animal life. This makes it a boon for the nature lovers and naturalists. Suriname has a tropical climate and the highest point is Juliana Top at 1,230 m. The country is sparsely populated along the coastline.

Suriname is the smallest country in the northern region of South America. It was earlier the colony of Dutch Guiana or Netherlands Guiana. Suriname is also the smallest independent nation in the continent of South America. In the northern area, it has a coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. On the other side it is bordered by French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana. Suriname is divided into ten districts for the purpose of administration. These ten districts include Brokopondo, Coronie, Commewijne, Nickerie, Marowijne, Paramribo, Para, Sipaliwini, Saramacca and Wanica. The main cities of Suriname are Paramribo-the capital city, Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paranam and Wageningen.

Getting In and Around Suriname

The tourist ought to ensure about the visa papers being in proper order. There is a daily flight of KLM Airlines from Amsterdam. Recently, Martinair has started flights to Paramribo twice in a week and this is a cheaper alternative. Suriname has no train services. Suriname is accessible by road from Guyana and the tourists can take mini-buses. There is also a regular ferry service across the river between Suriname and Guyana. Traveling in Suriname is costly as tourism is still in its infancy. The tourism expenses will work out to be much higher than your regular American and European holidays.

Tourists Interests in Suriname

Suriname has plentiful nature reserves and parks like the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, Brownsberg Park and Galibi Nature Reserve. The other tourist attractions are Awarradam, Palumeu, Kasikasima, Bigi Pan or Nickerie, Cola kreek, Carolina Creek, Baboen hol, Blaka Watra, Matapica, Stuwmeer White Beach and Palumeu Republiek.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve or CSNR is an excellent place that preserves Earth’s most ancient, remote and untouched wilderness. This reserve is a linking corridor for 3 of the most significant protected regions of Central Suriname – Tafelberg Nature Reserve in central area, Eilerts de Hann Gebergte Nature Reserve in the southern area and Raleighvallen Nature Reserve in the northern area. There are many endemic species of plants and animals in this reserve. Suriname is concentrating its efforts on conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development. Unique tourists facilities are being developed on Foengoe Island located within the CSNR complex and this is going to be a premier ecotourism destination in the near future.

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve has achieved international fame for being a monkey and bird paradise. You will get to see nearly more than 400 bird species in addition to parrots, macaws and toucans. The headquarters and tourist lodges of the reserve are situated on Fungo Island. The tourists must visit the interesting Voltzberg Mountain. Galibi Nature Reserve is world renowned for being the nesting site for endangered species of sea turtles. The Brownsberg Park is easily accessible by car. Enjoy the lovely waterfalls, forests, jungle sounds, rains, gushing streams, beaches and islands and please yourself to the hilt in the lap of nature in Suriname.

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Uruguay is South America’s next smallest country after Suriname. It has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean on the southern side. Uruguay is situated like a diamond in an upside down position between Argentina and Brazil. It is also the smallest Spanish-speaking nation of South America. The tourists looking for an extra bit of adventure and off the beaten track destination must surely take a Uruguay vacation. Uruguay comprises of 19 departments. The capital city is Montevideo. The other important cities of Uruguay are Colonia de Sacramento, Chuy, Juan Lacaze, Fray Bentos, Nueva Palmira, La Paloma, Paysandu, Piriapolis, Punta del Este and Salto.

The meaning of Uruguay is a river of colorful birds and it is based on the name of Guyana or Arawak Guyana, the region of many waters. The landscape of Uruguay is mainly a low lying one. The highest point of the country is Cerro Catedral at a height of 514 m. Uruguay enjoys a subtropical climate.

Gaucho Country

As Uruguay mainly comprises of grasslands, it is rightly called the cowboy country or Gaucho Country. The complete prairie terrain is wind blown and an untamed one and the vacationers can join in the ranch activities or just relax on the estancias and ranches to see time pass by. Most of the ranches in Uruguay have opened up ample opportunities for tourism.

Reaching Uruguay and Getting Around

Montevideo has an international airport and there are connecting flights of the Uruguayan airline, Pluna from Madrid and Sao Paulo. American Airlines operates a direct flight from Miami city to Montevideo in the winter season of North America. Montevideo has limited services of commuter trains and the tourist trains do not follow fixed timings. The highways in Uruguay are quite good and car travel is quite comfortable. Convenient bus services are available from different Brazilian cities. Uruguay is easily accessible by ferries from Buenos Aires in Argentina. The tourists can comfortably explore Uruguay by way of buses, taxis and hitch hiking.

Tourist Attractions in Uruguay

The places of tourist interest in Uruguay are aplenty. The capital city of Montevideo is full of colonial plazas, beaches, restaurants, outdoor cafes, casinos and nightclubs. Punta del Este is the southernmost tip of Uruguay in the shape of a finger. It is highly popular among the tourists and overflows in the summer season from December to March.

The adventure lovers can explore the Gaucho Country on horsebacks. You can spend a day or night at the converted ranches and estancias. Rio de la Plata can be reached by taking a ferry ride and you will get to see the oldest church of Uruguay in Colonia del Sacramento. The places worth watching here include the only bull ring of Uruguay, Plaza de Toros, a fortress, historic center and contraband port. This complex is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The tourists must see the beaches on the southern coastline along the Atlantic Ocean like the Cabo Polonio, Fortaleza de Santa Teresa and Punta del Diablo. The birdwatchers are in for a treat at Rocha.

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The Garden Route runs along side the beautiful coastline in the southern region of Western Cape. It starts in the western region from the Still Bay to a slightly ahead of Plettenberg Bay in the eastern side. This narrow strip of coastal plain is densely forested and is bounded by widespread lagoons that run beyond the sand dune barriers and lovely beaches of white sand. The inlands of the Garden Route are home to the ranges of Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua, towering at heights between 1000 m and 1700 m. These mountain ranges are crisscrossed by stunning road passes that divide the coast from the semi desert area of Karoo.

The backpackers will find the best facilities in the Garden Route region. There is availability of abundant hostels that are quite affordable. You will find the hostels offering most competitive prices. The hostels in the Garden Route region make it possible for the budget travelers to stay at reasonable prices, even during the peak tourist season of summer. The prices are generally soaring at all other places. It is advisable to book in advance and the best place for a base in the region is Knysna, followed closely by Plettenberg Bay.

Garden Route has major areas of indigenous forests in South Africa with various wildflowers and giant trees of yellowwood along with the commercial plantations of pine and eucalyptus. Garden Route enjoys a pleasant weather throughout the year and it is much wetter than other places in the country. The area is popular for all types of water sports and adventure activities. You can enjoy sailing, diving, quad biking and bungee jumping. The places where you can enjoy peaceful stays are Herold’s Bay, Buffalo Bay and Mossel Bay.

The major transport center for the Garden Court area is George. The township of George also affords a pleasant stay. You can take the tour of Stellenbosch and the Garden Route and marvel at the breathtaking natural beauty, see the ample wildlife, sample world’s excellent wines and explore the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. This tour takes you to Cape Town, Bonte Bok National Park, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn and Stellenbosch. You will get to see the various museums like Drosdy Museum and Diaz Museum at Plettenberg Bay. The Cango Ostrich Farm at Oudtshoorn gives you a chance to see the ostrich from close quarters.

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