South Africa Team Leapers Diaries
Holly Callaghan
Dear Guy,
Thanks for the emails and sorry we haven't been in touch sooner - internet access is so rare here! We are having an absolutely amazing time and can't believe we've got less than a week left at Kwa Madwala - it's gone so quickly, but a lot of us are planning to travel down to Cape Town so that will be nice.
We've spent a lot of time in the community, building a house for a young boy who is a student at one of the schools we've been teaching at. It's almost finished and tomorrow we're going to be in the local paper! I think Louise is going to send you a copy of the article. It's been so much fun and very rewarding. At Kwa we've been lucky enough to see the new lions several times - once very very close to Gazebo which was really scary!
Having such a good time we really don't want to leave! Holly x
Jon Scott
Hello!
This is a fantastic place and I'm already settling in. Everyone gets on really well and the staff are great! First game drive was last night and it was everything I'd hoped it would be, can't wait for the next one. Duties start in earnest on Monday and we're meeting the elephants some time next week, which I'm particularly excited about. All in all everything's great!
Jon
David Holland
Hey Guy!
Thought I would let you know on how everything is going. All is very good at Kwa Madwala went to Kruger last weekend and I have been working hard this week at Manyatta lodge. All was as I was hoping and I'm getting on well with the other 21 leapers - look forward to seeing you shortly.
All the best,
David
Olivia Pei
Hello!
Got into Kwa Madwala alright. I'm having a great time though it was pretty cold and rainy at first, now it seems to be warming up. We've seen a bunch of animals already... still looking for the lions that killed a giraffe this morning. :D I'll be in touch soon!
Olivia
Hey Guy,
I'm finally back home... I just spent ages putting up all of the pictures from South Africa on facebook, so feel free to take a look! I had a wonderful 6 weeks, and miss everyone there immensely. We had a great time between the volunteer work at the orphanage, traveling in the minibus to various exciting places around the area, and spending quality time at Kwa Madwala, whether it be on games drives or by the pool. Thank you very much, let me know if you need anything.Best, Olivia
Henry Browne
Hello!
Just to say that South Africa has been sensational so far and that we are so lucky to have such a good bunch of people. We are just off to Kruger in a couple of days and looking forward to that. Think the others will keep in touch as well. Henry
Olivia Halsall
Hi Guy,
Its really good having such an amazing time! The weather has improved although is on and off a bit, have had lots of power cuts! We went to the orphanage today, the children are so amazing looking forward to spending more time there. We are going to the animal rehabilitation centre in a few days which is supposed to be really good. I think I probs will extend to ten weeks as having such a good time! Hope everything at home is good.
Olivia xx
Hi Guy and Alice,
Thank you for your message, glad everything at Kwa is going well. The sunny weather has been lovely although your right it doesn't even compare to SA. I miss being at Kwa everyday, can't believe how quick it went and wish I could be back there now, it was amazing. Yep as Alice saw I did pack to much so not a great first impression but everyone was really kind and when Tash met us in Jo-berg she had two big bags and had paid for extra luggage so didn't feel as bad then!
I spoke to BoyBoy a few weeks ago and he texted me last night saying he was at Kruger, its really nice to hear from him would love to go back and see everyone some day. Thank you :)
Thanks again for everything those 10 weeks were some of the best of my life! I would be more than happy to spread the word of the leap at Edinburgh Uni when I start in September.
Love Olivia
‘From sunset game drives to swimming with Whale sharks in Mozambique my 10 week experience at Kwa Madwala was fantastic. I wold highly recommend this placement to anyone who wants to experience a beautiful country and have a great time!’
From Mrs Halsall-
‘I was very pleased that Olivia chose The Leap becuase I was always kept informaed and in touch by the company. She also enjoyed the placement and outings and has made many good friends’
Harry Crawford
Hey Guy!
The weather here has been very sporadic; one min the sun is so intense you burn in minutes, then suddenly there's rain and hail! Freaky!
Although this hasn't been too much of a disruption, it has certainly been interesting living without power for the last few days. We have had so many great experiences out here, ranging from crazy bush walks with Estian - aka Steve Irwin/Russell Crowe - microlighting with Craig, elephant riding, seeing the orphans (so moving, seeing their faces in wonder while playing with my ipod) and thousands more. Even the bush clearing was such a great bonding experience, if somewhat exhausting.
See you soon - should I ever choose to come home!
Harry x x
Pip Lee-Woolf
Dear Guy,
I hope all is well! I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for my trip to South Africa. I really did have the time of my life. It was an amazing experince in so many ways, and I enjoyed every challenge that was thrown my way.
John, Luke and Seth at Kwa Madwala were brilliant, it wouldn't have been what it was without them coordinating it. - Particularly John, he deserves a special mension! Everyone at The Leap has been absolutely terrific! - very enthusiastic, informative and I felt supported all the way. Indeed, I have already recomended you to several friends!!
All the best, and thanks once again,
Pip Lee-Woolf
Cassie Hall
Hey Cassie here!
Just a quick update on what I’ve been up to, to inspire future leapers!
I was staying at Kwa Madwala for 10 weeks so decided to do some traveling after the Leap. I have family out there so stayed and travelled with them so don't know how much it would cost to travel normally but i would seriously recommend it to anyone who is visiting South Africa!
After flying back to Johannesburg we went up to Sun City which was amazing. Its got so many activities to do such as parasailing and jet skiing on the lake, a water park, horse riding, crocodile park and big entertainment centre with a theatre and arcades. its quite expensive (cheapest hotel £150 per room per night) but you only need to stay one night to do everything.
I then travelled down to cape town (spending a night in Kimberly where 'The Big Hole' is) and spent a few nights there. There was soooo much to do from a cable car up table mountain and helicopter rides to just chilling on the beach! Cape Town was such a good place especially for travelers and people our age because there is always something to do!
I traveled down the coast to Port Elizabeth after that (stopping off and doing the worlds highest bungee jump which i would definitely recommend :D) where there are nice beaches and shops as well!
I found that there are so many different sides to South Africa and seeing as i was there already it was good to see other parts! I would definitely recommend Cape Town to people who want to travel after the Leap. There is lots of transport available (flying straight from Nelspruit and different coaches) and its not too expensive to stay in hotels n hostels especially if there is a lot of people traveling as you can get lots of big apartments. Its also cheap to eat-around £5-6 for a main meal in a nice restaurant.
I had a really awesome time both at Kwa and traveling afterwards and other leapers really should and try travel around if they can as there is just so much to do and see!
Hope this helps a little. Ive sent some pictures over facebook to Guy because hotmail wouldn't let me attach many. If anyone has any questions about anything you can always give my facebook page or email. :)
Cassie x x x :)
David Waldren Smith
Hi Guy,
Everything is going great out here and i think everyone is surviving
thus far. We've literally just got back from the Mozambique trip, which was awesome. The accommodation i think if anything is better than I had anticiapted and there’s plenty to see and do here. As you say time is flying by.
Archie Vey
Dear Guy, Kay, Alice and Michaela,
I am writing on a better late than never policy! I am afraid that I have been useless in getting my photos printed and then copied. I have only recently managed to organize it all. Incidentally I found this site called photobox.co.uk. It may be something you want to advertise future leapers to look in to for when they have returned…or anyone in fact! Its really easy to us and very cheap…only 5p a print!
I have put some photos together, which I think will show prospective leapers what an amazing time we all had. I have written on the back of each picture where the photo was taken.
I really just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU for all your help and organization towards my placement in South Africa. I was looking forward to South Africa hugely but to be honest I really didn’t think I was going to get so much enjoyment in 7 weeks! As cheesy as it sounds, it really was the happiest 7 weeks of my life to date!
I hope that you are all well. I will definitely not hesitate to contact you if I ever am able to go away for another long period of time. In the mean time I will most certainly be singing The Leap’s praises here.
Thanks you once more and best wishes for the future!
Archie
Justine Manning
Hello Guy!
I have really enjoyed my time in South Africa. I first want to thank you so so so much for giving me this chance that I've had, its fulfilled my dream!!!! It has also opened up my eyes and made me really dedicated to return and work out there! It feels like home being there and to be a ranger would be the best thing in my life!!!
I spoke to Michaela last week and she said to email you as you can give me advice on how I can return and learn to be a ranger to then work. Could you help me please .
Thank you ever so much!!!! love justine xxxxxxxxxxx
Georgie Swinglehurst
Hi Claudia,
I have only just realised that I had this email today! I actually ended up managing to stay at Kwa for an extra week as I was having such an amazing time that I managed to change things around at home so that I could go to Mozambique which was of course awesome and very eventful!
Although it is nice to come home I think i definitely am suffering from reverse culture shock but everyone tells me that that means I must have had a good time if I don't want to be home and want to go back! Thank you so much for organising this trip, i truly had such a brilliant experience out there and will be sure to send you lots of photos as asked for.
Many Thanks
Georgie
Emma Shepherd
I’ve just returned from spending 6 amazing weeks in South Africa, with some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life! I went away to South Africa with the Leap, who were so helpful and friendly, unlike other Gap year companies that reel off automated emails, the Leap staff are always at the end of the phone, happy to answer even the most silliest of queries, and send you personal emails! Whilst we were away they called our parents to let them know we arrived safely and kept them updated throughout the trip, which definitely gave the parent peace of mind!
Whilst in South Africa I stayed at Kwa Madwala, a private Big 5 Game reserve in Hectorspruit, which is just south of the Kruger National Park, where we really were surrounded by the wildlife. One evening, we came across 5 Hippos on the lawn at the end of our driveway, with two little babies that were only about a month old! There were often Giraffes wandering by, warthogs running about and an abundance of impalas! You only had to drive a few minutes into the bush and we were encountering the Big 5 and more!
Half of our time was spend on the game reserve, carrying out conservation work, which consisted of taking part in anti poaching walks to look for snares and traps hidden by intruders; cutting back trees and bushes that were obstructing the roads, so that the Game Drive vehicles could pass down them more easily and also repairing the road surfaces! As well as this we were able to go on many game drives and bush walks, where we were tracking animals, and going in search of the lions!
The other half of our time was spent at the local township, where we built a room onto the side of the orphanage, did some teaching, and played sport with the children at the school.
Within my 6 weeks I had a micro-light flight over the game reserve, a elephant interaction day, a trip to Swaziland, went to the Kruger National Park, and spent 5 days in Mozambique where we were able to do Whale Shark diving! On Sunday afternoons we played football against the locals, which was so fun and a great way to meet the community.
I think by far the most rewarding and inspiring thing of the trip was spending my time at the local orphanage, in the Hectorspruit Township. As soon as you arrive and step out of the 4x4, you are instantly surrounded by the children, who grab your hand and lead you off to play. You become a human climbing frame for the day, as they all want to be picked up and played with.
The thing that shocked me most when I first visited the orphanage is that none of the children had shoes, and the majority were wearing the same clothes each time I saw them. But these were the happiest children I have ever met, always smiling and laughing and so excited to see us- when they saw us coming they would be running from all directions to greet us.
Our job at the orphanage was to complete one of the rooms that had been built by one of the previous groups, so what started as just the brick wall skeleton, had to be plastered, a floor put in and a roof! I can honestly say that I have never worked so hard in my whole entire life- mixing 5 bags of cement with 25 wheelbarrows of sand, is something I wouldn’t usually be doing at 7:30 in the morning!
The most inspiring thing about the township is the children. They are so content with the little that they have- the porridge they get for breakfast at the school, and the rice or pap they get for lunch at the orphanage. They loved being at school and wanted so much to learn. The children were packed into colourful classes, with little tables and chairs, and each class I went into I saw only smiling and enthusiastic faces!
The children at the orphanage have taught me so much about life. They just wanted to be loved, and to have attention, and that’s what I’ve realised is important in life, to be around those that you love, it’s not about material possessions, or clothes or money, it’s about friends and family.
I noticed a huge change in myself as the weeks went by whilst I was away, and I definitely became a lot braver, and gained much more self confidence. I was holding snakes, spiders, frogs and beetles, where as before I would have just screamed and ran a mile!
I’ve now realised that there is so much that I can do with my life, I don’t just have to be stuck in the normal 9-5 office job, I could actually make a real difference to individuals, families and communities. I’m already starting to plan my next trip away! I would love to go back and do some more teaching and work at an orphanage.
I would 150% recommend anyone on a gap year, to consider choosing one of the Leaps placements. I had the best 6 weeks of my life, made the most amazing friends, and have memories that I will treasure for a lifetime!