Why join a South Africa Expedition?

What an incredible experience! On a bit of a whim, my friend and I booked an expedition with Operation Wallacea to South Africa for two weeks. My only regret? That I didn’t book for longer! I had the most fantastic time, with the most fantastic people, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Before going, I was a little worried about what daily life at camp would be like – so let me put your mind at ease. Each morning, we woke up early enough to catch the tail end of the beautiful African sunrise before heading out in the truck for our first activity of the day. These included game transects, elephant monitoring, bird point counts and, my personal favourite; vegetation surveys. I never imagined I’d learn so many Latin names for South African plants- some very niche knowledge that probably won’t win me the next pub quiz, but I loved it.

Photo by Callum Evans

Afternoons were just as engaging. After lunch, we’d have a fascinating lecture about the local wildlife, before heading out on another survey or hike. We were even lucky enough to hike in protected areas where lions were not allowed to roam (thankfully!) and turning a corner to see giraffes, zebras or skittish wildebeest never got old.

What made the experience even more rewarding was seeing the bigger picture of the work happening there. The team is currently expanding the reserve and studying its carrying capacity, ensuring the wildlife and habitats thrive sustainably for years to come. Being able to watch that process unfold and understand the science behind those decisions gave me a whole new respect for the dedication and planning it takes to protect these incredible ecosystems.

Evenings at camp were some of my favourite moments. We cooked and ate together, shared stories, played games, and enjoyed the peace of life away from home. On Fridays, we had a Braai – a must-try experience, but take it from me, never call it a “BBQ” in South Africa (I learnt that the hard way!).

The camp itself was lovely, and the food was great. I even improved my cooking skills along the way, which I didn’t expect.

Photo by Lara Jackson

Since returning to the UK, I’m itching to go back. Seeing elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and countless antelope species (please don’t quiz me on their names) was surreal- a once in a lifetime experience that I’ll never forget. This expedition left me calmer, more inspired, and even more excited about my final year at university. I already loved my course, but my time in South Africa strengthened that passion and reminded me why I chose it in the first place.

Title photo by Roger Poland