Advice & Information

If you can not find the information you were looking for please contact one of our
travel advisors on Tel: 0117 904 1924 or Email: info@amanzitravel.co.uk

Our projects attract volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life. In fact it is this diverse mix of people that often provides the greatest value to our projects - students on gap years; professionals on career breaks; mature volunteers using their retirement to try something different - everyone is welcome including those who just want to have a holiday with a difference.

Take time out after your A' levels or degree to do something totally different and worthwhile whilst broadening your horizons and gaining valuable skills. After years of study a volunteer experience can not only provide a well deserved break for you but also play an important part in your future aspirations on returning home. What could be more interesting than to talk about your incredible experiences overseas when at interview - it could just give you that edge!

Increasingly organisations are recognising the value of offering the opportunity of career breaks to their staff, realising that there are significant benefits for both the organisation and the employee. By joining a volunteer project you will learn valuable new skills that you can bring to your organisation when you return, re-vitalised and re-motivated, having had the experience of a lifetime. Alternatively it could be just the opportunity you need to get away, take stock, re-evaluate and make decisions leading to a bright new future.

Having worked hard all your life, retirement has given you the time to do the things that you have always dreamed about. Now you can use the skills and experience gained over many years to volunteer and make a real difference to the people and wildlife in Africa. We have found that it is often our mature volunteers that can have the greatest impact on our projects and the communities in which they are based. Why not combine a volunteer placement with some time exploring and experiencing the beautiful continent of Africa - Amanzi Travel can create the perfect break for you. Click here to find out more.

Bored with the same holiday each year? Want to do something new and entirely different? Amanzi Travel can create an experience that you will never forget. Why not combine a short volunteer placement with an African bush adventure. There are so many amazing possibilities - let us tailor make the perfect holiday for you.

Many volunteers travel alone and this can sometimes seem a daunting prospect but this should not be a concern when volunteering with Amanzi Travel. Indeed we find that solo travellers make friends easily and can be more flexible with their travel arrangements. Amanzi Travel understands the concerns about travelling alone and ensures that customers are supported and looked after every step of the way.

Embarking on a volunteer or adventure experience with your partner can be an exciting opportunity to spend time together doing something really worthwhile that you can share for the rest of your life. Sharing those memorable experiences - the first view of Victoria Falls or the first time you bottle fed a lion cub - is a real gift.

Amanzi Travel can put together a fantastic travel experience for groups of friends, colleagues or family, providing opportunities for team building and leadership for a corporate client or an incredible adventure for a group of friends wanting to do something different. Alternatively give your teenagers a real insight into life in the developing world, where as a family you can make a real difference - this could be a fantastic family holiday before your children leave the nest to embark on their chosen career or university.

Amanzi Travel offers a wide variety of community, wildlife conservation, medical, and educational projects throughout the African Continent. Here at Amanzi Travel we are dedicated to focusing on a small number of integrated projects that combine local expertise and infrastructure with the enthusiasm and skills of our volunteers. You do not simply have to choose one project - at Amanzi we can tailor-make the perfect volunteer program for you. Below are some examples of the type of projects we offer; Click here to see all the volunteer projects available

Help hand rear lion cubs at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, work with researchers on the Big 5 game reserve in South Africa, reduce human and elephant conflict in Namibia or help care for abused and neglected horses in South Africa.

Help to reshape the lives of street kids in Cape Town, work with local Kenyans on a project designed to make local communities self-sufficient over time, or continue the invaluable house building work necessary in Mozambique after the devastating Cyclone Favio.

Teach and provide AIDS education in village schools to young orphans in Tanzania, provide sports-coaching and teach in the ill-equipped classrooms of Livingstone, Zambia, or help train and educate poverty-stricken locals on the beautiful but remote island of Zanzibar.

Work with doctors and nurses in the Bushman Medical Clinic in Namibia, assist in local clinics in Cape Town, or help at the maternity ward in Livingstone, Zambia.

Why not spend 4 nights in the bush before working with the lions at Victoria Falls? Or follow your open water diving course with a month working on community development project in Mozambique? The options are endless.

No. Our placements are designed to accommodate all levels of skills and experience. Regardless of previous experience, you will find that any skills you have can be imaginatively applied to the situation in hand. Perhaps you can juggle, or have a particular card trick for the children; perhaps you could suggest different songs and games in the classroom; or you may already possess medical skills that you can share. All we ask is that you approach your volunteer project with an open mind and plenty of enthusiasm, ready for an exchange of information that will enrich your life and theirs.

As a volunteer with Amanzi Travel you will be expected to be committed to the project and work with staff and other volunteers to undertake the daily tasks of that particular programme. Although some tasks may be challenging our volunteer activity schedules are structured to be enjoyable and fun also.

The activity schedule includes allocated time off for all volunteers and evenings are a great time for socialising and relaxing.

Below is a typical day in the life of a volunteer at one of our projects in Zimbabwe:

Accommodation will vary from country to country and will range from a clean, modest but comfortable shared occupancy room with basic amenities to a small shared lodge with en-suite facilities. All accommodation is sited in convenient and safe locations. Many of the sites have their own outdoor pool and common room with a television, tea and coffee facilities and games. Most projects has a cook who prepares and serves meals. Please ask our advisors for accommodation details relevant to the project that interests you.

All short term international volunteer programmes charge a fee that covers all operating expenses but much of the money you pay goes straight to your particular project helping to make a difference to the lives of the people and wildlife of Africa.

The local organisations and projects with which you volunteer overseas have limited resources and are not able to subsidise the costs of housing, feeding, supervising and transporting you. Indeed if they did have available resources it would almost be more beneficial and cost effective to hire a local person instead.

In addition identifying suitable and worthwhile overseas volunteer projects takes time, money and experienced staff here in the UK. Amanzi Travel takes great care in placing and supporting its volunteers overseas.

Some people do manage to find their own volunteer placements independently, but this can take a great deal of time to organise, and if you've read the press stories, it is not always safe. Paying to volunteer may at first seem a strange concept but if you take into account the fact that everything is organized for you including all your accommodation, food and support from our local staff, you will start to see that in fact the project fees are great value for money. You can also embark on your volunteer trip knowing that you are guaranteed to be on a legitimate project that really helps the local people, environment and wildlife as well as knowing that everything is organized to ensure that you get the most out of your volunteer experience.

Volunteer project fees start at approximately £395 depending on your chosen project and length of stay.

Many volunteers are excited at the prospect of embarking on an Amanzi Travel programme; however, they simply can't afford the costs. All is not lost - there are many organisations, companies and individuals who are prepared to support and sponsor volunteers willing to give up their time to work on worthwhile projects in the developing world.

Fundraising and seeking financial support can often seem a daunting prospect; interestingly, for many, the process of raising the necessary funds can to be extremely satisfying and often great fun. People are very generous if it is for a good cause!

There are so many fundraising opportunities. The important thing is to see it as a challenge, think creatively and clearly communicate the value of the work you will be doing in Africa.

The first step is to calculate the amount needed including fees, flights and insurance and then the fun begins!
Below are some ideas that have been successful for other volunteers:

• Gaining sponsorship from friends and relatives for an event that you decide to undertake, like a half marathon, fun run, walk or swim.
• Organising a raffle, or prize draw at your university or place of work. Approach companies to ask for the prizes.
• Organise a car boot sale or coffee morning.
• Organise a ticketed event such as a champagne party, fashion show or concert.
• Approach your local newspaper or radio station to publicise your adventure indicating that you are looking for sponsorship. Perhaps you could write them an article on your experiences abroad.
• Make a personal approach to local companies, inviting them to sponsor you. As part of the agreement you could offer to wear a Company branded t-shirt and arrange to have their company logo on the Amanzi Travel website as a supporter (please contact us first to discuss this).
• Research and approach charitable organisations that support deserving causes or approach organisations offering grants.
• There are so many opportunities - good luck and enjoy yourself!

Yes, in fact many of our volunteers decide to embark on one of our adventure expeditions straight after their volunteer project. It is a great way to explore another part of this beautiful continent and treat yourself to a final week of excitement and adventure before you return home. We can organise all the relevant transfers for you and advise you on some of the best volunteer and adventure travel combinations. Various examples include a two-week Field Guide Course in the Kruger National Park of South Africa after a stint working at a sustainable Community Project in Port St Johns, or a Mozambique sailing adventure after your time working on the Sports Development Project in Vilanculos.

Our adventure expeditions attract people of all ages and from all walks of life friends and couples going on holiday, students on gap years; professionals on career breaks; mature volunteers using their retirement to try something different - everyone is welcome.

Some of our adventure expeditions do require a certain level of fitness. Please contact Amanzi Travel to discuss individual expeditions if you are concerned.

Our adventure activities offer something for everyone - whether you are an adrenalin junkie desperate to dive with Great White Sharks off the coast of Cape Town, an adventurist looking to expand their skill-set by learning to scuba dive with PADI in the amazing Mozambique channel, or a keen naturalist who wants to learn some bush ranging skills in one of Africa's teeming National Parks. We also offer less specific Adventure Expeditions throughout Africa that can last up to 28 days and will include a whole range of adventure activities like bush awareness programmes, climbing Mount Kenya, rafting on the Nile and a Kenya Camel Safari. Click here to view all our Adventure Expeditions

Accommodation for Adventure Expeditions varies from luxury camp rooms and comfy rustic beach lodges to tented bush camps and sleeping out under the stars. Generally the accommodation will vary along the trip as you are rarely staying in one place, and this variety is half the fun! Please see individual Adventure Expedition overviews for details of accommodation.

Adventure Expedition prices start at approximately £500 depending on your chosen expedition and length of stay.

Overlanding is a great way of travelling across several countries in an effective way that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the culture of a country without flying straight over it and missing those mini-adventures you are bound to have on any of our truck trips. In countries with minimal infrastructure and expensive flight prices, overlanding is a great option for the adventurous traveller who doesn't want to spend their trip waiting at a series of backcountry bus stands. You are also guaranteed to make new friends and see many new sights on the road. Our overland expeditions can also be a great way to link up different volunteer projects and adventure expeditions.

All trucks are fitted with comfy, spacious seating, big windows, plenty of storage space and an onboard library and sound system. Well-designed trucks are easy to unload and, within half an hour of arriving at your campsite, a comfortable little tent village will be set up and you will be sat around a fire enjoying that first beer of the evening.

We welcome all nationalities and personalities, as we know that a diverse and openminded group represent the most important factor in a successful trip. There is no maximum age limit and the average age is actually increasing as more 30-plus career-gappers discover overlanding. Most of our groups are constituted by a diverse selection of adventurers, though you can always get a group of friends or family together and charter the entire truck.

Some tours carry a cook - often a local, who may also be the most knowledgeable guide on the trip - but otherwise passenger teams cook on a rota system. Most operators expect you to lend a hand in daily chores. After all, it's part of camping and if there are a dozen tents to pitch, few people could stand by and watch the crew sweat through the lot.

Following 20 people through some third-world market is just not a part of most overland trips. In towns, for example, you will naturally split up to wander, either in small groups or, if you prefer, alone. No one will invade your space if you want to be alone - everybody expects some downtime - but overlanding is essentially a team sport.

Overland trips start from approximately £135 for a 3-day trip, and from £445 for a 21-day trip. Prices vary depending on the range of activities and stops within a trip, as well as the length of the trip. In addition to the tour price most operators require a 'local payment', which must be paid directly to the driver/coordinator in cash at the beginning of the trip. This is for a food kitty, some accommodation, park fees etc and any day-to-day running expenses. In this way overland companies cut down on their overheads and keep the entire package price lower.

First you must decide upon the right project for you after having a look at our website and talking to our advisors
Then contact us with your specifications, either by phone or email
We will then check availability and reserve a place for you.
Go online and fill out an application form. This can either be downloaded as a PDF and emailed/faxed/printed and posted to us, or you can fill the form out online.
A deposit of £180 must be either be sent with the PDF as a cheque, bank transfer, or on a credit/debit card; alternatively you can pay online at the bottom of the online form. Please note that if you are travelling within three months full payment will be required
You will receive an email to confirm your booking and our confirmation of your deposit payment
We can arrange flights and insurance if necessary, and will offer quotes at this stage if you are interested. If you book your flights through Amanzi Travel our ATOL licence will cover your entire project fee along with your flights - giving you extra security and peace of mind
You will be sent your comprehensive pre-departure pack and an invoice for the balance of your project fee that will need to be paid 8 weeks before your departure date
We will liase with you regularly to answer any questions or advise of any changes in the pre-departure details
We will of course contact you before you go to wish you well and check you don't have any last minute question

Yes, Amanzi Travel has teamed up with Endsleigh Insurance to offer its UK customers comprehensive travel insurance at competitive prices. We can certainly recommend insurers for our non-UK customers though regretfully we cannot arrange the insurance for you eg IMG Global Click here to find out more

Yes, Amanzi Travel is pleased to work in association with Thornton's Travel Services and the Fligth Centre to provide you with excellent flight deals for your trip. We can arrange flights for both UK and non-UK customers although for volunteers outside of the UK we have found that you can find better flight prices if booked from the country of residence. We always advise that you get a changeable flight. As we are committed to responsible travel we have teamed up with the carbon offsetting company Climate Care so that we can offer an optional carbon offsetting fee to be added to your flight price. Click here to find out more

Amanzi Travel is committed to ensuring that all our customers are supported and looked after throughout their experience in Africa.

As part of this commitment we offer the following support services:

Before Your Trip

Yes, we will ensure that you are picked up and transferred from the nearest airport to your project destination by one of our local staff, who will be holding up a board with your name/project name on it as you arrive. (There are one or two projects where airport transfers are not included; however we will be happy to discuss the alternatives eg taxi, local tourism buses but if you would prefer us to arrange this for you, we will be happy to do so.)

Amanzi Travel have teamed up with Nomad Online Travel Store to offer you 10% of all your travel goods. Simply use this promotional code to get your 10% discount: AT1000

The comprehensive pre-departure information pack and follow-up emails from Amanzi Travel will fully prepare and excite you about your trip. It will include information about what you will need to take with you, necessary visas, important documents, safety advice, project information, project staff, vaccination and malaria advice etc. The Amanzi Travel team will also be more than happy to discuss any aspect of your trip with you over the phone or via email.

The little town of Arusha in North Tanzania is home to several fantastic pre-schools, schools and orphanages, all of them in demand and in need of a fresh supply of altruistic volunteers. The schools are very limited in terms of supplies and educational material, and their directors will warmly welcome any new resources, from pencils to innovative ideas. If you are about to embark upon a few invaluable weeks sharing your skills and unleashing your inner maestro, you may want to think about bringing some unexpected provisions to add even more excitement to the children's daily lives.

Bringing simple stationary along to the school can make a world of difference to each child. The older schools will welcome ball-point pens, pencils with rubbers, exercise books, and coloured pencils. The walls of these schools are typically bare, so bringing posters or postcards along will be a quick and easy way of making a lasting and lively impression.

Another way to reward good children is to award them stickers - you'll be amazed what incentive a gold star or smiley face will provide to ensuring homework is done! It is possible to get 2000 stickers from large stores like Macro or Costco, and your pre-planning will be rewarded by the enthusiasm and smiles when stickers are bestowed.

Obviously baggage restrictions will deny you bringing a huge amount of any material, but any old clothes or school uniforms you could bring will no doubt prove useful as a sports kit or for general use.
Other items you could bring might include tennis balls, juggling balls, a Frisbee, packs of cards, a cricket set, or even a small radio. Games play a huge part of the curriculum and are essential for providing fun and respite for the little children, teaching them to play together.

You should also bear in mind that these children will be fascinated by your appearance, clothes, culture, and accent, and if you brought photos of your family, pets, and house they will surely be rapt.

So much for the physical supplies - as long as you arrive with a fresh perspective and sense of fun you will be able to implement new games and songs that may last longer than any amount of pencils!

Think back to your childhood and do your research, and there is no end to the new and interactive games you can introduce. Some suggestions include blind man's buff, sleeping lions, and musical chairs; you could teach them some tongue twisters or nursery rhymes; you could encourage drawing and spelling; devise a singing competition; or bring some teaching aids like informative posters (as printed in the Guardian) or basic language skill books.

Furthermore, if you have the time before you travel out with us then why not develop a lesson plan that will run smoothly for an hour and that will incorporate the five senses for the young children.

Amanzi Travel was initially created with the aim of protecting and maintaining specific local projects like the Zambia Teaching and Community Development Project and the Lions' Rehabilitation Project in Zimbabwe. As our company has enlarged we have made sure we never deviate from our aim to passionately give back to the communities in which these projects are developed. By engaging in a volunteer placement or adventure tour with Amanzi Travel you are choosing to partake in community tourism - we are fully committed to benefit and support local communities by maintaining a positive contribution to local projects, local people, and the local environment and wildlife. We are dedicated to open the world of volunteer and adventure travel in Africa by promoting ethical travel, actively minimising the negative effects of conventional tourism. Every program we support can proudly describe their contribution to local community or environment. By becoming part of the local team for the duration of your stay, you too will become an integral part of the ongoing infrastructure designed to support and maintain worthy projects.

Amanzi Travel offers a wide range of extremely worthwhile community and wildlife conservation volunteer placements throughout Africa. We welcome volunteers with drive and enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference. Our volunteers do not need to have any specific skills to help on a volunteer placement except an open mind. However we also offer skills-based placements like our medical projects, so if you would like to use your specific training and experience to further your contribution please speak to one of our advisors. Our medical and teaching projects are also open to enthusiastic volunteers with a desire to help in these areas. By embarking on a volunteer placement with Amanzi Travel you will play an important role in our company's ambition to promote ethical tourism. Here are a few suggestions to facilitate your transition from tourist to responsible traveller:

Before you go, you may want to do some research of your own. We recommend you start by reading or watching some of the wonderful books and films that have either come out of Africa or focus upon this continent.

A History of South Africa - David Harrison
A Safari Companion - Dick Estes
Circles in a Forest - Dalene Matthee
Cry of the Kalahari - Delia and Mark Owens
Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton
Disgrace - JM Coetzee
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight - Alexandra Fuller
I Write what I Want - Chris Hani Diaries
King Solomon's Mines - Rider Haggard
Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela
North of South - Shiva Naipaul
Out of Africa - Izak Dinesen
Scramble for Africa - Thomas Packenham
Serengeti Shall not Die - Bernhard Grzimek
The Conservationist - Nadine Gordimer
The Constant Gardener - John le Carre
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
The Story of an African Farm - Olive Schreiner
West with the Night - Beryl Markham
Rage - Wilbur Smith
A Grain of Wheat - Ngūgi wa Thiong'o

Films

Born Free (1966)
Cry Freedom (1987)
Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988)
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Out of Africa (1985)
Shooting Dogs (2005)
The Constant Gardener (2005)
The Gods Must be Crazy (1980)
The Lion King (1994)
Tsotsi (2005)
Zulu (1964)
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Blood Diamond (2006)

6:00	Bottle feed the cubs in camp ranging in age from 3 weeks old to 7 months
6:30	Meet your guide and the safari camp guests and join them for a lion walk, taking cubs from 7 months to 16 months out into the bush. Watch as the cubs practice their hunting skills. Alternatively spend the morning working with the elephants and their trainers - possibly including an elephant ride
8:00	Buffet style cooked breakfast
9.00	Cub feeding time again! They require a lot of care and attention!
9:30	Be involved in various duties including enclosure cleaning, cub walking, snare sweeping, boundary patrols or feeding meat to the older cubs
12:30	Buffet style cooked lunch
2.00	Afternoon bottle feed for the cubs
2:30	Afternoon duties could include cub walks, making fences, horse rides or conducting a game count of the park's many antelope species
6.45	Group briefing on the following day's activities
Evening	Three course buffet style cooked dinner with fellow volunteers. Evenings are a time for socializing and relaxing around the campfire. On some nights the larger cubs are taken for a night hunt where volunteers observe them stalking, chasing and catching their prey - all practice for their eventual release into the wild. Volunteers get one official full day, as well as one morning and one afternoon, off each week.