A gap year in Zambia

Gap years in Zambia

Incredible wildlife parks and the chance to shriek down the Falls on a piece of string: it’s no surprise backpackers are heading for Zambia. Naturally rich but socially poor, Zambia is the target of many international aid agencies and a little research will yield appeals for volunteers. The country’s abject poverty and burgeoning tourist industry have created opportunities for volunteers right across the nation, including the chance to provide safari tours to visitors or teach conversational English to children. Whatever you choose, you can be sure your trip will make a real difference.

Gap Year Opportunities

Zambia is brimming with exciting opportunities for gappers. Whether you take a short placement and continue your itinerary elsewhere, or spend some time getting to know the country in depth, you’ll find it a very rewarding place to be. Getting hands-on experience with a voluntary position gives you an insight into the country’s people, culture, and etiquette. What’s more, this is a place where you can make a genuine difference to the community you’re in.

Here’s a taster of some of the opportunities that might be available in Zambia:

• Become part of a safari team running trips and lodgings in some of the world’s most dramatic National Parks.
• Work in deprived communities to help children improve their English skills
• Help promote awareness of HIV and Aids among adults and children
• Help to provide basic health services in rural and deprived areas
• Become a classroom assistant or sports coach

About Zambia

Although making economic progress, the country has a lot of work to pull itself out of abject poverty and underemployment. Life expectancies are low and infant mortalities high; it is hoped that diversification of industry, educational reform and, of course, the improved tourist income will help to resolve some of these underlying problems.

Landlocked in the centre of Africa, Zambia is ranged across a series of lowlands and plateaus. It’s prime safari territory; you’ll see most wildlife in the hot season, Sept-November, but pay the price in terms of comfort. May-August is Zambia’s ‘cool’ season, with temperatures as low as 24 degrees by day and 7 degrees at night.

Historically Zambia’s trade has been primarily agriculture, but today it’s enjoying something of a tourist boom. Zimbabwe’s loss is Zambia’s gain, as tourists flock here for safari trips and a look at the famous Victoria Falls. A UNESCO protected heritage site, and one of the seven wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, ‘The Smoke That Thunders’, has been colonised by tourists. You can now bungee, raft, or fly over the impressive ravine – and thousands do.

Where to go in Zambia

Once you’ve marvelled at Victoria Falls head downstream to the Mana Pools and Lower Zambezi reserves. You’ll have to take an organised safari, but this lush national park is home to so many elephants, hippos, big cats and zebras that it’s money well-spent.

The capital Lusaka is the economic, cultural and industrial centre of the country. It’s best seen by day: take a minibus or taxi (agreeing your price upfront) and visit the Soweto Market for cheap clothes and consumables, and Kabwata Cultural Village for local crafts and art. You’ll find a couple of ‘game ranch’ centres in the city, offering miniature safari trips – plus lodge-style lunches and swimming pools. After a day of dusty sight-seeing, kick back with a Zambian beer – they’re pretty good and extraordinarily cheap!