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South Africa occupies the southern tip of the continent Africa. The countries main attraction is cape point; the point where the two biggest oceans in the world come together.
 South Africa is country full of beautiful wildlife. The most famous are the so called ´big 5´ of the mammals: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Around the coastline you will find an ocean which is rich of fish. There are over 2,000 different species in the ocean around South Africa, including the white shark. You can also see the biggest mammal of all: the blue whale, which can grow up to 108 feet / 33 meters. During your South Africa GAP year you will see the most beautiful animal concentration in the world.
A lot of the projects are focused in the southern part of the country because it is a safer area then the north. The south is also the most beautiful part of the South Africa. Along the coast line, golden beaches, dunes and wild forests are numerous. The area enjoys nice warm days most time of the year. The temperature is ranged between 18C and 30C.
South Africa is number two on the list of most popular GAP year destinations. This has two good reasons. First, the country has an amazing nature, wildlife and a pleasant climate. The second one has to do with the negative side of the country. South Africa suffers under the quick spreading disease HIV and a high crime rate.
If these two doesn’t scare you of, there is a lot for you to find in this beautiful country. You will be able to contribute in the battle against HIV and criminality. Make a big difference in the lives of some of the 500.000 HIV positive orphans in South Africa or educate little children to give them a future without crime.
You can do all these things in a breathtaking landscape with a wildlife not be compared with other parts of the world.
 As a lot of countries in Africa, South Africa has a couple of issues. Their biggest problem is the spread of HIV. An estimated 20% of South African adults are infected with the disease. In total, around 5 million people are infected. This is one of the countries where you really can make a difference. A lot of GAP organisations are in need of people looking for volunteer Africa GAP jobs. Africa has a lot of opportunity but little money recourses. In most cases, you will receive a training course about HIV/AIDS. You will visit local schools to raise the awareness of the decease, while working on a structural behaviour change amongst young people in Africa. Most of the HIV/AIDS related Africa GAP jobs will be volunteer-education types.
Another possibility is teaching and activity instructor. These two GAP year jobs are often combined. During the morning you will be a teacher in a class of schoolchildren. And in the afternoon you can choose between being a sports instructor, a HIV awareness instructor or an environmental worker. You don’t need to have teaching experience or a university study. If you have a good basic knowledge of a certain subject it will do. Some organisations offer a training course, even for qualified or qualifying teachers.
Naturally you do not have to work both GAP jobs at the same time. It is possible to only become a teacher or a sports instructor. When you want to become a sports instructor you often can choose between some popular sports such as: football, rugby, hockey and cricket. It is not necessary to have any coaching experience; although it is a plus if you have played the sport yourself for a couple of years.
Within the different sort of GAP jobs there are several functions and work places available. These are just a couple of examples of GAP Year job offers in South Africa. |
