Project Orientation
Following your arrival, you will receive a detailed orientation to introduce you to Swaziland and the project that you will be taking part in. The orientation will include a presentation that will introduce you to the country, the project, health and safety and the extra activities available to you. You will then be sent on an orientation of the area that you will be living and working in.
The orientation will take you on the public transport into the capital to visit important places, such as Internet café’s, banks and restaurants.
Accommodation and Meals
Your accommodation will vary, depending on the time that you are there and the project needs. You will either be staying in a rustic cottage or camping out in tents in a National Park, where you will experience the excitement of the bush, by getting back-to basics. You will have access to communal bathrooms and kitchen facilities.
Upon arrival, during your orientation and every second weekend, your accommodation will be at a backpacker lodge in the Ezulwini valley. The lodge has a number of large dorm rooms that you will share with 3 other volunteers. You will be sleeping in bunk beds, with access to your own veranda where you can spend your evenings relaxing. There are communal bathrooms and a kitchen where meals are prepared. The lodge also benefits from a TV lounge with board games, a pool table and dartboard.
You will be provided with 3 meals a day that, if camping, will be cooked on an open fire and duties will be shared between volunteers. At the lodge, cooking facilities will be communal and quite basic in a fully operational kitchen. Generally breakfast will consist of cereals and toast, for lunch you will have sandwiches and for dinner you will have a large cooked meal.
Free Time
You will have free time at the weekends to do as you wish and try some of the excellent activities available, at your own cost. These include white water rafting, game viewing, mountain biking, hiking, adventure caving, swimming, horse riding, golf, tennis, squash or fishing. When it is possible your coordinator will arrange long weekends and expeditions of up to 5 days for you to places such as Kruger National Park, Mozambique, St. Lucia and the Natal Drakensberg. These activities will be available to you at a special reduced rate and are dependent on volunteer numbers, at your own cost. Please talk to the your programme coordinator if you would like further information.
Programme Support
Throughout your stay in Swaziland you will have the support and guidance of your coordinator and team. You will be provided with competent assistance and help with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. In addition you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number so you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants health.
