Free Time
28-Day Kruger National Park Field Guide Course in South Africa

Participating with GVI not only allows you to work on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield either before or after your program. Below is some information on trips and travel options in South Africa.

Included Side Trips

Participants will visit one of the rural schools in the area, go on several full-day safaris in the Kruger National Park and enjoy a panorama tour of the area to see the spectacular scenery, including the Blyde River Canyon. There are also 2 trips per month to the Nelspruit Riverside Mall for shopping or to use an Internet cafe. Please note the itinerary may be subject to change.

Optional Side Trips

Induna Adventures is a local adventure centre based just outside Hazyview. If students have time to fit in extra activities during their time on the course, they offer white-water rafting, geckoing, quad biking, zipline, horse trails, paint ball, mountain boarding, abseiling, mountain biking and kayaking.

Elephant Whispers in Hazyview offers interactions and rides with elephants. Experience the thrill of being close to these magnificent creatures and witness their intelligence, compassionate nature and sheer delight interacting with humans.

Chimp Eden, outside of Nelspruit is a sanctuary caring for chimps who were abused or abandoned.

Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre near Hoedspruit is the largest animal rehabilitation centre in South Africa. It is about a 3 hour drive from base and would require students to hire a car to get there. Whilst possible to do during the course, it may be better to do it afterwards.

Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre has established itself as one of the leading private research and breeding facilities for endangered species. This is also about 3 hours drive from base and would require students to hire a car to get there. Again, might be better to do after the course has finished.

Further Travelling Opportunities

South Africa has such a wealth of fantastic opportunities for further travel. Possibilities include the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, the beauty of the Kalahari Desert, the historical Zululand, the vibrancy of Cape Town, the fantastic Southern Coast, the world-renowned National Parks of Kruger and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, and many more.