If you could take a year off, what would you do? The freedom that many students have open to them when they finish school, or the freedom to take a gap year later in life, often invites an escape from day-today stresses and a chance to unwind.
But what if you could change a break from life into a 'year on' - a time of enrichment and volunteerism? The intellectual, social and spiritual rewards of investing in volunteerism for a significant amount of time are only matched by the benefits you can bring to local communities and the environment.
Give back to the environment
We all love white sandy beaches, the crisp mountain air, rich teeming jungles and rarely seen animals; but, lets face it - while tourism reaps great joy from our natural habitat for the traveller, these locations need our care to maintain their wonder and thrall. This is the role of wildlife conservation volunteering. There is great satisfaction to be had caring for cheetah and lion in places such as South Africa's Kariega Game Reserve, while at the same time ensuring these beasts continue to survive.
Enjoy a safe but challenging trip
One of the reasons you might baulk at spending your possibly once in a lifetime gap year on a wildlife conservation project is the image of dirt, strain and hard slog. But it is more than feasible to be educated and challenged on a project while also ensuring your health and safety, and, above all, having a great holiday. For example, the Shamwari Reserve Experience in South Africa gives an in-depth educational experience while also providing top shelf services and the opportunity to enjoy a safari with Africa's 'Big Five' game animals.
Have a meaningful vacation
Sometimes, the most self-indulgent time off can seem vacuous and unfulfilling. One of the common rewards of community volunteering or working in wildlife conservation is that it can inject your travel with a sense of meaning and accomplishment. As the great boxer Mohammed Ali said, "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth." Strangely enough, paying this rent can intrinsically satisfy. You can finish your holiday knowing that you helped preserve the traditions of a local community or extend the life of an endangered species.
Create bonding experiences
Travel can be as much about the people you meet on your journey as it is about the locations you visit. Take a chance to make substantial new friendships on a wildlife conservation project. Imagine the bond that can be forged watching a previously injured wild cat take its first tentative steps back into the wild, or learning how to manage lions and forge links with local communities on the Amakhala reserve.
Come back a changed person
Speaking of the return home, volunteering on your gap year can change your perspective of your home lifestyle. The challenges and excitement of investing in a gap year helping the environment or local communities can reward you by fundamentally deepening your take on life.
Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Gap Africa Projects, an online tour operator which caters to interests such as wildlife conservation and offers other Gap Africa Projects adventure holidays for adults.
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