Community and Cultural Group Tour in South Africa, Port Elizabeth
Seasonal Information
With this tour your group will get a chance to immerse themselves into the culture and beauty that South Africa has to offer while supporting a local community. The activities can be tailor made to your groups skills and interests including options such as teaching English, arts and crafts or drama to primary school children or pre-schoolers. Other popular community activities include small building projects, health projects or community vegetable garden development.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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This itinerary is an example to show you some of the activities that are possible. Please contact a member of our team to tailor a tour to your specifications.
Arrive in Port Elizabeth, where you will be met by a member of our team at the airport. Your group will then be taken back to the accommodation where you will receive an induction with a detailed itinerary of cultural activities and more information about the community projects and charity you will be working with. In the evening your group will be treated to a traditional welcome Braai (BBQ).
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Your group will start the day with a guided tour of Port Elizabeth including the local township communities where your community projects will take place.
The afternoon will see your group travelling to the Kragga Kamma Game Reserve for a 3–4 hour safari tour, soaking up all things wild.
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This will be your first day on your community placement activity. Whether you are teaching in a school, working in a creche, or doing some building work you are bound to meet enthusiastic township kids from 09:00 – 16:00.
The evening will be a social evening in the accommodation where games and activities will be arranged for your group.
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Your second day working in the communities will allow you to build on the relationships and work that you started on the previous day and delve deeper into the community and cultural activities of this experience.
The evening will be your chance to relax and unwind watching the sun go down close to the beach.
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Beach Day – Today your group will travel to Jeffrey’s Bay, the world famous surf capital of South Africa and home of the Billabong Pro Surf Festival . There are lots of amazing activities to get involved in, including dune boarding, surf lessons and horse riding. For those who enjoy shopping there is also the Billabong Factory Shop, with the best prices of Billabong gear in the world!
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After having a chance to relax and unwind the previous day, today you will be back working in the township communities to pick up where you left off from day 4 with a chance to really focus on what you came here to do.
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Continuing the positive work you have been doing in the townships as we take you back to the projects where by now you will have created a close connection and begun making a real difference. There are always opportunities to add on to your project or find additional work.
Previous groups have developed a community vegetable garden or painted a shipping container that was converted into a community kitchen. This session will be from 09:00 to 14:00.
After a tiring day you will head back to the accommodation for a Braai (BBQ) and various games and activities arranged for the group.
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Free Day – This could be used to explore some of Port Elizabeth’s attractions, such as the Red Location museum to learn more about South Africa’s rich history and the harsh conditions many South African’s lived through during the apartheid years. You could also take a trip to the shops to pick up some souvenirs for family and friends back home.
The evening will be a social evening in the accommodation.
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In the morning your group will be taken to one of Port Elizabeth’s local street markets, to pick up any souvenirs and bargains that you were not able to do on Day 8.
The afternoon will include a chance to head to the beach and relax or if you are feeling more adventurous perhaps get involved in some of the water sports on offer such as scuba diving, kite surfing or sailing.
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After a fun-filled, relaxing weekend it’s time to get back to your community project and pick up your work with the children of the townships. No doubt you will see some excited faces who have missed you already.
If you are on a 10 day tour, this will be your last night and you will be taken to the airport the following morning for departure.
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The morning will include a trip to Seaview Lion Park, known for their rare breed of White Lions, where getting up close to the wildlife is a must. For those more brave and adventurous types, the group will have a chance to hold a lion cub and learn important messages about local habitats and nature conservation.
The afternoon will include a trip to a Port Elizabeth beach (some of the best in South Africa) and the Boardwalk Shopping and Entertainment Centre where you will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
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By now you will have become an ever present fixture in the communities where you have been working and will have created strong bonds with the community members you are working with. As your penultimate day in the community, this is a good chance to start finalizing your project to bring it to a natural closure whether it’s putting on a dance or drama performance with the kids you have worked with or finishing off a building project or creating an art display there are a number of creative ways to finish your programme with a bang.
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This will be your last day that you will go out to the townships and run your development sessions with the kids so it is bound to be an emotional one.
The evening will follow with a meal under the stars at the renowned outdoor restaurant The Bouma! Here you will experience some exquisite, traditional South African food, cooked on an open fire. You’ll also have a chance to reflect on your trip as you sit around the camp fire.
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Your final day of activities will include a day-long cruise down the stunning Sundays River. This is a fantastic opportunity to soak up the natural beauty of South Africa and relax after two weeks of hard and energetic fun.
Your final evening will include an outdoor Braai with entertainment provided by traditional African dancers and drumming helping see you off in style.
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On saying your farewells to our South African team and packing up your newly acquired souvenirs, you will be taken to the airport ready to get your flight home.