Kruger to Coast - South Africa, Eswatini & Mozambique

There are three distinct parts to this travel experience each with its own interesting flavour.

In Kruger, you will be joining a camping safari adventure. Here your days will be spent on game drives searching for the incredibly diverse wildlife that this world-renowned national park has to offer, while at night you will be camped out under the African stars, sitting around a crackling campfire listening to tales of the African bush. While in Kruger, your guide will teach you about the animals and plants of the African Savannah and how important it is to protect this beautiful but fragile ecosystem.

When you arrive in the beautiful mountainous kingdom of Eswatini your role will switch to volunteer as you get involved in projects that aim to uplift the lives of children in the community.

You will have the option of choosing one of the following projects:
-Childcare (only for those booking minimum 6 weeks) which involves assisting the teachers at our Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs), which act as preschools for children.

-Building which involves projects such as laying bricks for new classrooms or maintaining the gardens at our NCPs.

-Sports which includes assisting with running sporting activities with our NCP children including swimming lessons (depending on the season).

-Savannah & Wildlife Conservation this project involves conducting multiple types of research with different species. Some of the conservation activities are conducted at specific times of the year whilst others are conducted all year round. Our coordinating project scientist will teach you how to assist with data collection throughout your project duration.

If you are only staying for four weeks, the final week of your experience is spent on beautiful golden and sandy beaches of sunny Mozambique. After two weeks of hard work in Eswatini it’ll be time to relax in this tropical climate and swim the blue waters of the warm and inviting Indian Ocean. Mozambique is a colourful and vibrant African country like no other and it is here that you will get to spend the last six days of your trip - a wonderful finale to an inspiring tour.

*Please note that the activities listed above are based on availability and may vary by season. These are samples of activities that volunteers are likely to participate in.

07:30: Wake up to see the sunshine, jump in a hot shower, and get yourself started for the day with breakfast!
08:00: Travel to your placement and get ready to begin your day.
09:00: Participate in your chosen project.
12:00: Lunch hour! Time to eat the packed lunch you made that morning!
14:00: Begin your afternoon’s work with a full stomach and enthusiasm!
16:00: Return back to your accommodation and share your day’s adventures with other volunteers - maybe even a quick swim in the pool!
18:30: Enjoy a delicious evening meal and relax!

IMPORTANT NOTE: When you work with children, you will be in the rural areas where modesty will be an important factor. Please make sure you dress appropriately - failure to do so may result in you missing a day of volunteering. More information about the dress code will be provided in the pre-flight guide.

Day 1: Fly into OR Tambo Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your nearby accommodation.
Day 2: The second day begins with an informative presentation that will brief you on all you need to know about the culture and country, and how to effectively contribute during your volunteer experience.
Days 3-7, Big 5 Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa: Depart to Kruger National Park. South Africa: Kruger National Park is probably Africa’s most famous Conservation area. Spanning nearly 20,000 KM2 it covers a vast array of habitats and associated wildlife. We venture on a 5-day tour into the heart of Kruger Park including four nights camping in the park and unlimited game drives exploring the vast wilderness with our wildlife guides. There is an abundance of wildlife and birds to be spotted on your Kruger safari. You will also have the exciting opportunity to take part in a guided Bushwalk (optional extra) as well as experience a night drive where you’ll go in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Day 7: Depart Kruger for the beautiful kingdom of Eswatini.

Days 8-20:You will spend this period volunteering on your selected project, please choose which option you want, this is needed before we can confirm your volunteering:
Childcare - 6 weeks program only. Volunteering will be in 2 X 2 week stints.
Teaching basic English and maths to children
Organising the children at meal times
Organising creative games & craft classes to stimulate minds
As the children become very excited about new arrivals, the frequent changeover of volunteers disrupts their studies, and a certain level of cultural understanding and training is required to be successful in this role. As such, only 6+ weeks Kruger & Volunteering volunteers will have the chance to participate in assisting with the teaching and care of the children.
Sports
Organising sports days for exercise and fun
Participating in swimming and other sports
Building
Making clay bricks and preparing land for structures to be built
Building structures such as roofing
Fencing and developing gardens to provide vegetables for the children
Conservation
Use birds counts, acoustic bat monitoring, small mammal trapping, vegetation surveys and camera traps to investigate environmental change
Monitor & ID large mammals as well as recording other ecological information to determine behaviors & effects on vegetation in the area

During this time you will also be supported to obtain your visa to enter Mozambique (the cost of a visa is not included in the program cost) and will also visit the Mantenga Cultural Village where you will have the chance to experience traditional Swazi culture and lifestyle as well as witness traditional dancing and singing. You will also be invited to participate in learning the local dance moves!

Days 21-26, Mozambique Beach & Whale Shark Tour: Mozambique is world-famous for its idyllic tropical beaches on the Indian Ocean. As a former Portuguese colony that has come out of a prolonged civil war, it is now booming as quite possibly Africa’s top beach destination. Tofo is a laid-back beach village in southern Mozambique and offers some of the best opportunities in the world to snorkel in the wild with the world’s biggest fish - the whale sharks. With diverse coral reefs, whales, manta rays, dolphins, and nesting turtles, Tofo is a marine paradise and yet it is relatively close to the vibrant historic trading port of Inhambane.

We venture on a 7-day tour to Tofo where you will experience the laid-back lifestyle of this colourful and vibrant country. You will take an ocean safari to snorkel with the magnificent whale shark and also have a full day boat trip in a traditional dhow across the blue waters to the palm-fringed islands in Inhambane Bay. If you are a certified diver you will have the opportunity of exploring the spectacular fish life of the coral reefs!

There is also the option to take part in an Internationally Accredited Open Water or Advanced Dive Course (extra cost) should you wish to dive. Here you’ll have the opportunity of exploring the spectacular fish of the coral reefs and the chance to find the “Tofo Big-5” - whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins and humpback whales.

Day 27: Travel back to Eswatini.

Day 28, Ezulwini, Eswatini: You will have a full day to relax, pack up and make preparations for your departure the following day (4-week volunteers).

For 4-Week Option
Day 29: Return home. Sadly all great adventures must come to an end and on your final day you will leave Lidwala Lodge in Eswatini and transfer by road to Johannesburg to catch your flight*.

For 6-Week+ Option
Day 28 Onward: You will head back to your assigned volunteer project and have more time to contribute to your project.

Weekends are free for you to relax or to see more of the scenery and activities!

Many of our projects work with school-aged children. Because of this, our projects may vary from the project brief descriptions during public holidays and/or school breaks. Our project coordinators will arrange additional activities for vounteers to work on during this time, or you may assist on another project druing these times until work returns t the daily norm.

Return transfer
Accommodation
Three meals a day
5-Day Camping Safari in Kruger National Park
7-Day Tour to Tofo, Mozambique, including ocean safari and full day dhow boat trip
24/7 support from All Out Africa staff
Projects specifically designed to enable you to make an active contribution during your stay.
In-field supervision by the All Out Africa staff
Comprehensive orientation to country, culture, and your role upon arrival.

- Minimum age of 18
- Police Clearance Form

Most nationalities are able to obtain a 30-day visa on entry for a minimal cost - with two 30-day extensions possible in-country - however there is a significant cost to extend beyond 30 days. If you are from a visa exempt country, you will still be required to register your intention to travel to Mozambique at least 48 hours before arriving. This is done on the Mozambique government's eVisa online portal (https://www.evisa.gov.mz/). You will receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at the end of the process. Should you need to apply for a visa in advance, you can use the same eVisa online portal (https://www.evisa.gov.mz/) or a traditional process through the nearest Mozambican embassy. Wait times depend on the country from which you are applying, but generally last between 2 to 6 weeks. All Out Africa will send a letter of invitation needed for the visa/ETA application within a few business days of deposit and registration; if not received, please reach out to your point of contact or [email protected].

You will need to present the ETA (printed or digital) upon arrival, along with a passport and other supporting documents such as: Proof of accommodation, return ticket, and evidence of means of subsistence (for tourism purposes).

This can be done when you are in Eswatini - Our volunteer partner will help you locally with the application.

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.