Thinking of taking a gap year? That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a young and wet behind the ears student. Wildlife conservation holidays are popular with nature-lovers of all ages, from school leavers, to professionals taking a sabbatical, to retirees who want an adventure. We take a look at the various generations making their way out to the Game Reserves of Africa for their gap years.

The Young ‘Uns

Many people leave school unsure as to what their next move should be. They may know that they want to go to university but have deferred entry in order to take a well-earned break from studying. Or, they may not be planning to go to uni at all, but simply need a break in which they can figure out what they want to do. Whatever the reason behind it, many school leavers need a break before stepping out into the big wide world, and a gap year works as the perfect bridge between college and the next step. This tends to be a period of zero responsibility which can be a little unnerving following the strict timetable of lessons, so for many a wildlife conservation holiday, where they can have an adventure whilst giving something back and learning, is the ideal solution.

The Young Professional

Once we leave school or university and join in the professional rat race, we can spend years rushing headlong into our careers, with little time for much else. Working long hours, and taking the bare minimum in holidays, it is not surprising that eventually people can burn out. Then comes the sabbatical; there are many people who work for a number of years in a profession building up their experience, before deciding that they want to take some time out. You’ll find many of this generation on wildlife conservation holidays. Trips can be anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, providing enough time not just to escape from the rigmarole of working life, but to recharge the batteries and reassess what is important to you.

The Carriage Clock Crew

Retirement might seem like the most inviting prospect you can imagine whilst you’re still at work, and it is very enjoyable for the first few months as you feel the tensions of working life slipping away. However for many, it is not long before boredom sets in. You could take up golf, join a gym, or even create your own mini version of paradise in your garden, but it may not be enough to keep you stimulated. Wildlife conservation holidays will not only be a fantastic holiday for you, but will keep you fit both in body and mind. With no limits on your time, you can spend as many weeks as you please at the Game Reserve, and on your return you will no longer feel restless, but you’ll be rewarded with a sense of fulfilment and some wonderful memories.

So whether you’re a young and fresh faced student looking for a way to fill a few months before you start studying again, a professional looking to pause your career and take a break, or a retiree who doesn’t feel like resting; you are never the wrong age for a gap year. With opportunities to learn new skills and see some amazing sights, wildlife conservation holidays make the perfect gap year for every generation.

Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks on wildlife conservation holidays and various adventurous gap years for adults.

Hopefully you’ll forgive the rather obvious pun of the title because shark conservation breaks offer the possibility of a fantastic and rewarding ‘new experience’.

A quick reality check

Perhaps the use of the word ‘shark’ has just sent you diving for cover behind the couch with a blanket over your head! If so, there’s a fair chance that you’ll have grown up seeing endless re-runs of ‘JAWS’ and similar epics where sharks were portrayed as just about the worst imaginable enemies of humankind. It’s also fair to say that there is often virtual media hysteria when there is any incident involving a shark anywhere in the world. Yet the reality is rather different.

It’s generally accepted that there are over 350 different species of shark around the world today (some sources cite the figure as being closer to 1000). Of those, only four species have been commonly known to attack humans, with a few others making very rare attacks. The year 2000 was one of the worst ever recorded years for shark attacks globally with a total of 16 recorded deaths (source – Florida Museum Natural History). In 2006 only 4 people were killed. By contrast, each year across the globe several thousand people are killed by lightning strikes. Hopefully this keeps things in perspective!

Why is shark conservation necessary?

If the danger of sharks to humans is often over-stated, it’s a sad fact that the dangers humans pose to sharks are too rarely discussed. Few firm figures exist, but some people believe humans kill as many as 100 million sharks, directly or indirectly, every year. All the usual activities are to blame: direct fishing and hunting of course, but also environmental habitat changes, pollution and the competition for the fish that are part of the natural food chain that sharks depend upon.

In parts of the world some species of shark are showing signs that their population is declining for all the above reasons. In other areas, the reason for the decline is less understood and more research is needed. Paradoxically, in some other locations the local shark population may be actually increasing, though the reasons for this are equally unclear. Sharks have been around on Earth living as major predators for about 400 million years, yet in many respects they remain mysterious. That’s why shark conservation is important – there’s much that’s in need of clarification and you could help play a part in that process of discovery.

What is a shark conservation – holiday or sabbatical?

There are various forms of shark related activity holidays/sabbaticals in many parts of the world, such as South Africa and some Indian Ocean countries. You will be diving with sharks and using state-of-the-art equipment to film, tag and track their movements. You’ll be collecting this data and inputting into local and global modelling systems. You may be doing likewise for other species that are known to be part of the shark’s natural food chain.

These are serious activities and you’ll probably be diving without cages. You’ll learn a huge amount about these wonderful creatures and get the chance to experience them in their natural environment, while in the company of experts. You’ll be given training of course. Some holidays may demand that you have scuba skills in advance, although others will include some basic sub-aqua training. All equipment is typically provided.

These shark conservation centres also include accommodation and food – and they don’t forget that you’re on leave! Many are based in beautiful locations and you’ll also have the chance to experience the local country other than as a tourist. There are also opportunities for those on gap years or taking a career break to stay longer and make a greater contribution.

Giving something back to the planet

A shark conservation holiday will not only offer you the chance to give something back to the Earth but also to do something that’s completely different. You can say farewell to the crowded tourist beaches and the queues to watch that local lace-making demonstration. Working in shark conservation could open your eyes to a new world!

Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks on shark conservation holidays and various adventurous gap years for adults

Nowadays, more and more people are beginning to take gap years between the years of their education. Between school and college, college and university, halfway through university and even before venturing into the real world to get a job, are just some of the times when people decide to take a year out and discover what the world is really about. Wildlife conservation holidays are a great way to spend your time and also give you the opportunity to do something good for the planet.

Contributing to the World

Wildlife conservation holidays are a fantastic way to give something back and to affect the world in a positive way. By helping to conserve some of the beautiful creatures of this earth, we are helping to prevent species’ from becoming extinct and thus keeping them alive for future generations to experience. Both worthwhile and incredibly meaningful, these holidays are not only a superb way of helping to keep species alive and make an impact on the world. They are also a great way of spending your gap year in an enjoyable and memorable way, which will leave you feeling that you have contributed to the fascinating world that we live in.

Make Your CV Stand Out

When it comes to gap years, often people can feel as though they have wasted them. Getting a job for the year may be a way of raking in some extra money and adding some extra experience to your CV, but wildlife conservation holidays are more likely to impress your future employers than a desk job or a year’s worth of stacking shelves. In an economic climate where it is hard to find jobs, you could also end up completely wasting a year and feeling as though you have not only put yourself back a step in terms of your education and experience, but also missed a great opportunity to enjoy yourself and learn different things in life. Wildlife conservation holidays show future employers, colleges and universities that you are passionate about something and that you have the ability to see things through to completion; something which is very valuable in terms of demonstrating your maturity.

The Experience of A Lifetime

Once your education is over and done, and you are settled in a job with other commitments, it won’t be as easy to just take a year off from your life and see the magical things that you could on a gap year. By going to countries that you might never get to go to again, and seeing species which, if it weren’t for your help, may become extinct, you can gain lifelong experience and memories that will never fade. The sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are contributing to saving a species is overwhelming, and you will remember for the rest of your life that you played a part in guaranteeing its survival. With gap years being a great time to experience things whilst you are still young, wildlife conservation holidays are a wonderful option.

Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks on wildlife conservation holidays and various adventurous gap years for adults.