The great escape: Five of the best volunteering holidays
If you want to help the world and travel at the same time, then volunteering is an excellent option. But, with the hundreds of volunteer projects on offer, it can be difficult to find the right one. To help you choose, here’s a selection of the trips on offer.
1. Tanzania community projects: Tanzania is both a beautiful and an inspiring place to volunteer. Projects can range from developing plots of land to house vulnerable kids to educating orphans in children’s homes. Many volunteers will be able to split their time between helping out – teaching English, overseeing play and sowing vegetable gardens – and exploring the local area. It’s a wonderful way to experience Tanzania’s communities first hand.
2. Conservation in Borneo: If you’re keen to help endangered species, why not consider a trip to Borneo? Work with orang-utans in their natural habitat, help local communities to replant forests and view crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and other amazing wildlife close up. You can also learn more about sustainable farming methods and conservation projects.
3. Southern African overland and volunteering: Those with an interest in humanitarian tours should look at the numerous volunteering opportunities on offer in southern Africa. Trips can be restricted to one country, or can include excursions around Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and even South Africa. You’re likely to find yourself helping AIDs sufferers in remote villages and teaching orphans, as well as wildlife viewing and soaking up the atmosphere of the African bush.
4. Giant Panda conservation in China: There are several volunteering projects that allow you to combine sight-seeing holidays in China with panda conservation work. You’ll find yourself assisting staff at conservation centres, feeding the pandas, cleaning out cages or helping with playtime. In your spare time, there will be the chance to see sights like the Terracotta Warriors, as well as learning basic Chinese and shopping for local handicrafts.
5. India volunteering tour: Many tours allow you to see India and volunteer along the way. See the sights of this beautiful country while working with communities and in orphanages, as well as planting trees to transform and improve wastelands. Some projects will also allow you the opportunity to try out local arts and crafts, and even to engage in adventure sports.
Anybody thinking of participating in adventure sports, or indeed any kind of volunteer work, should ensure that they take out travel insurance. Some of the countries which host volunteer projects do not have the infrastructure to support public health care, so it’s particularly important to have a back up. Try reputable providers like AA Travel Insurance or Go Travel Insurance for a quote.