If you, like many, find yourself being driven up the wall by your holiday companion after a mere few hours in sunnier climes, there is hope yet! Why not banish the "pool or beach," "bar or hike" daily bicker and spend some time getting to know some needy four-legged friends instead – and make a lasting difference. Through GVI – a social enterprise supporting critical conservation and community development projects - volunteers can be as hands-on as they like with animals the world over, from vaccinating pets and monitoring endangered sea turtles to rehabilitating elephants. A bit of hard graft somewhere tropical has never sounded so rewarding. You're guaranteed to return home from your trip – whether it be Thailand, Costa Rica or South Africa - feeling enlightened by the challenges you've accomplished, not to mention becoming an honorary Dr. Dolittle.
GVI are proud to offer 150 different projects in 13 countries. Here are some of them:
Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand (1 – 24 weeks)
There can't be a traveler in the world who isn't wowed by the idea of working one-on-one with these gentle giants. In remote Chiang Mai you'll be able to rehabilitate elephants rescued from tourist camps by learning from local Mahouts (traditional elephant workers). Discover what makes these beautiful beasts tick while indulging your own taste for the exotic with a hike through the spectacular waterfalls of Doi Inthanon national park in your free time.
*1-week program priced at £920. GVI has departures available on September 5, September 19 and October 3, 2015.
Jo Kromberg learns to wash an elephant
Volunteer with the Big-5 in South Africa (2 - 24 weeks)
Travel to a private Big-5 game reserve in South Africa and volunteer alongside an international team assisting in vital conservation work. Learn to track animals through the bush, study their behavior and get acquainted with charismatic game species such as lion, leopard, elephant and rhino.
*This program offers durations up to 24 weeks. Costs range from about $1,600 for two weeks and there are courses through to the end of 2016.
Male lion take a nap
Volunteer with Turtles in Greece (2 – 12 weeks)
Watching the hatchlings stumble down the sands of the Bay of Lakonikos where they meet with waves for the first time is an experience volunteers never forget. This project in the southern Peloponnese is of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting areas in Greece. You'll find yourself on turtle patrol, camp duty and bamboo harvesting, all under the beating sun, and when the going gets hot, you can take a dip and snorkel with the turtles. A breath-taking trip.
*2-week program priced at £995. GVI has departures available on the September 5, 2015 and a selection of 2016 dates.
Jo Kromberg joins the turtle run
Jaguar Conservation in Costa Rica (2 – 12 weeks)
Calling all cat lovers, make your dream become a reality on this thrilling program. You'll gain an understanding of beautiful endangered jaguars while helping to maintain numbers through installing remote cameras, ID-ing and keeping a close eye on a 16-mile stretch of turtle nesting beach at Tortuguero. With Caribbean sunrises and sunsets as your backdrop, you won't regret this opportunity to come face to face with the elusive big cats in their natural habitat.
*2-week program priced at £1,050. GVI has departures available on September 5, 2015, September 19 and October 3, 2015.
For more information on GVI's huge choice of gap years, check out www.gvi.co.uk and join GVI's 213,000+ fans on Facebook
More about GVI:
- Global Vision International (GVI) was formed in 1997 to provide support and services to international charities, NGO's and governmental agencies. Through our international network of over 150 personnel in 13 countries, GVI continues to support many of the most critical conservation and humanitarian projects around the globe.
- GVI is a non-political, non-religious organization, which through its alliance with aid-reliant organizations throughout the world provides opportunities to volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development. To date over 24,000 volunteers have joined projects resulting in the direct financial support of over £25,000,000 / $35,000,000.
