PMGY’s Real Africa Encounter provides the opportunity to spend a life-changing 6-12 weeks volunteering across the world’s second-biggest continent. Get to grips with Ghana, travel the core of Tanzania and soak up the delights of South Africa. Something special about Africa touches the soul. For the reason that it is a continent of 54 immensely diverse countries. Some of these countries remain deeply troubled. On the other hand, other countries have been profoundly uplifted. On this 6, 9 or 12 week Africa Gap Year experience, you will undertake volunteer opportunities abroad in 3 of the continents most visited destinations.

Whether you’re a wide-eyed first-timer or a frequent visitor, Africa cannot fail to get under your skin. The canvas upon which the continent’s epic story is written is itself astonishing. Furthermore, Africa has few peers when it comes to natural beauty. From the endless rippling dunes of the Sahara to the signature savannah of the east, the continent will leave you amazed. In the same vein, jagged mountains, green-tinged highlands and 100s of years of culture are all to be explored. Volunteer in Africa on this once in a lifetime trip and choose the trip duration, volunteer projects and travel experiences that are right for you.

HOW IT WORKS

The Africa Gap Year experience has start dates all year round. Moreover, participants can choose the trip duration that is right for them when completing volunteer work in Africa. There is 6, 9 and 12 week gap year in Africa options to choose from on the online application. All programs commence on the first Sunday of each month, but alternate start dates can be considered on request.

Should you choose the 6-week option you will spend 2 weeks volunteering in each of Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa. In the same vein, should you choose a 9-week Africa Gap Year experience, you will spend 3 weeks volunteering in each destination. Likewise, the 12 week program will see you join us for 4 weeks in each of the three countries.

Volunteers will need to plan their flight schedules to match their country-specific trip dates. Therefore, you will need to arrange your inbound flight to arrive in Ghana for the beginning of the Africa Gap Year experience. Your outbound flight will need to depart out of South Africa once your time on the program is completed.

In addition, you will need to budget and plan your intermediary flights for your Africa Gap Year experience. More specifically, you will need to book flights from Ghana to Tanzania and then Tanzania into South Africa matching your specific trip dates. This may sound a little complicated, but rest assured, the PMGY team are on-hand for assistance.

Across your Africa Gap Year Experience, you will meet plenty of other travellers and volunteers along the way! The numbers and types of people you will encounter will change as you move from country to country. This will allow you to make many friendships and share experiences with a range of people on your Africa encounter journey!

You can choose any of the standard Africa volunteer programs in each country during the online application process. Please note, some volunteer projects may be subject to availability and you should only select one project to each destination. Additionally, there may be an additional cost associated with some projects. Any additional costs will be made clear next to the volunteer project option during the online application. You can explore your volunteer options in each destination below. It will be an unforgettable 6-12 weeks!

VOLUNTEER IN GHANA (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

Your first stop will be Ghana. It is a friendly, energetic and culturally rich country. Moreover, it is full of diverse wildlife, amazing beaches and gorgeous hinterland. In addition, we cannot forget the affable locals who make Ghana what it is. It’s no wonder Ghana is sometimes labelled ‘Africa for beginners’. From the history of Cape Coast castle to the elephants at Mole National Park, your weekends in Ghana are never dull!

During your time here on the gap year programs in Africa, you will get to experience just how vibrant Ghana is. Most noteworthy, you will embrace all aspects of day-to-day life in Ghana. This is because you will make a positive impact through volunteering in local communities Monday-Friday. In evenings and weekends, you will have the chance to embrace the cultural understanding and further exploration of Ghana.

International volunteers support community projects based in Kumasi. You can choose to help care for Ghanaian children. Alternatively, showcase your teaching English skills to help children improve their future job prospects. In addition, you can choose your volunteer project in Ghana to be a hospital-based experience. Medical volunteering provides you with first-hand experience and insight into the Ghanaian health care system. In the same vein, join our mental health project to specialise in the mental health history and procedures of Ghana. You will be able to select your volunteer in Ghana project during the online application.

VOLUNTEER IN TANZANIA (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

Your second stop is in Tanzania. Tanzania has many, many highlights but it’s frequently billed as ‘the’ place to safari. There is much to love about this magical country. For example, the country boasts idyllic beaches, world-class national parks and is topped off with the stupendous Mount Kilimanjaro. Furthermore, the exotic delights of Moshi Hot Springs and Zanzibar also await you in Tanzania. In short, the adventure travel opportunities of Tanzania makes it an unforgettable part of your Africa gap year experience.

Not only will you get the chance for adventure but also to volunteer in Arusha. As a result, you can make a huge difference in volunteering at one of our community-based projects. Teach in a school or volunteer in a children’s home in one of the most extraordinary places in the world. Alternatively, kick start your medical career combining learning with wide-ranging medical exposure in a hospital or clinic. You will be able to select your volunteer in Tanzania project during the online application.

VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

Your final stop is South Africa. The second largest of nine provinces, the Eastern Cape is situated along South Africa’s eastern coast. It is the homeland of the Xhosa-speaking nation and birthplace of Nelson Mandela. The diverse landscape ranges from the dry, desolate Great Karoo to the under-developed, lush Wild Coast. In the same vein, the Eastern Cape offers an abundance of activities for your gap year travel in Africa. For example, enjoy surf experiences, take in a `Big 5’ game reserve safari or climb Cape Towns table mountain.

Your volunteer locations in South Africa are varied, but still within the Eastern Cape. We have community-based projects in Cape Town. Alternatively, we also have wildlife-conservation projects based in Port Elizabeth. Despite a number of years of relative prosperity, Cape Town still suffers from endemic social problems. More specifically, extreme poverty still persists today in Cape Town. Port Elizabeth is a more laid-back city. The centre is surrounded by wildlife reserves home to masses of flora and fauna.

You can choose your volunteer project in South Africa to help provide childcare facilities to struggling families. More specifically, working with children who come from some of Cape Town’s disadvantaged communities. In the same vein, you can have the opportunity to learn as a teachers assistant volunteering at a local school. Alternatively, move away from the hustle and bustle of Cape Town and choose to volunteer on a game reserve on a structured conservation project. Port Elizabeth is the only project location you can engage in wildlife conservation projects on the Africa Gap Year experience. You will be able to select your volunteer in South Africa project during the online application.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ON THE PMGY ENCOUNTERS

Different Experiences Across Different Destinations - The PMGY Encounter programs are designed to provide a varied experience across some fascinating and unique destinations. Although we try and design our program set ups in the same way your volunteer experience in each destination is very varied. For example, some destinations provide a more basic accommodation set up but a high impact volunteer role, others are more touristy and therefore your role at the project is more limited, teams have different safety policies depending on the local environment etc. Therefore, please remain open-minded when joining our program across different destinations as each country offers a completely individual experience.

Flights Not Included - None of the flights the itinerary are included within the Program Fee for this itinerary. You should therefore budget accordingly for the main international flights from/to your home location and then the relevant internal flights across the Encounter destinations.