Botswana Conservation and South African Discovery School Trip

Days 1 - 2
Land in Johannesburg and travel straight to your hotel to enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

The next morning, it's time to explore the fascinating city of Johannesburg. Embark on a full-day tour of Soweto, the bustling, photogenic 'city-within-a-city'. You'll learn all about South Africa's history and culture, visiting iconic landmarks such as Mandela House, Soweto Towers, and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Then, head to the Apartheid Museum where you'll learn about the history and struggle of South Africa during apartheid.

After the museum, head into Johannesburg City and enter the inspiring Constitution Hill and Court, where political activists like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were once held.

After a busy day of exploring, head back to the hotel for an early night, ready for your journey to Botswana in the morning.

Days 3 - 4
Set off first-thing for the 6-hour journey in your private minibus over the border to Botswana. Watch as the landscape changes from bustling city into wilderness, before you arrive at the eco camp that will become your home for the rest of your trip. The surrounding wilderness is home to a rich array of wildlife - elephants, giraffes, zebras, leopards, hyenas, and more - so keep your eyes peeled to spot some of these amazing animals right from your camp.

Once you arrive, you'll be given an orientation and introduction to the project work and meet the local conservationists who you'll be working with.

The next day, it's time to dive into your project work! Start by maintaining the area around camera traps, conducting mammal surveys, and preparing materials to combat soil erosion, a vital part of preserving the local ecosystem.

Days 5 - 6
For the next few days, you'll be getting your hands dirty on a variety of practical conservation projects. You'll be supporting anti-poaching patrols by helping to remove snares, and building on your knowledge of conservation work during a workshop and debate with local experts.

Preventing soil erosion is another important focus of the conservation work here, as this can reduce soil fertility, increase flood risks, and reduce water quality, as the soil can be deposited into waterways.

One evening, you'll get the chance to head out for a safe wilderness sleep-out experience - an incredible opportunity to feel truly immersed in nature. You'll take a night drive to observe nocturnal wildlife activity, before sleeping under the stars in the wilderness.

Days 7 - 8
Your days will begin by continuing with ongoing conservation activities in the mornings.

In the afternoons, you'll spend your time immersed in the local culture, starting by learning to weave using traditional techniques and materials. Visit a nearby village to experience the culture and community, taking a scenic walk to the hills to watch the sunset.

The next day, head out on a Limpopo River excursion that includes walking and conducting a bird, crocodile, and giraffe census. After a picnic lunch, continue with river activities focused on wildlife monitoring and exploration along the Limpopo.

Days 9 - 12
Spend your second week supporting different project efforts on the reserve, surrounded by the wildlife you are striving to protect. Start by keeping the roads and paths clear from debris and vegetation, maintaining waterholes, and cleaning solar panels.

Support elephant and crocodile censuses that provide vital data to inform future conservation efforts, participate in vital reserve maintenance activities, and remove invasive plant species to protect the native ecosystem. You'll even get the chance to review camera trap footage and see the results of your hard work.

Everything you do will help contribute to the protection of existing species, the preservation of biodiversity in the region, and smooth running of the reserve.

When you aren't working, you'll enjoy a variety of delicious meals cooked by our chef, embark on stunning walks around the area, and play games at the camp. One night, you'll take a guided sunset walk to Kopjie (a rocky hill), an opportunity to take in the landscape and spot wildlife in the golden hour.

Days 13 - 14
Wrap up your final conservation activities in the morning and say goodbye to the local team in Botswana, before heading onto the bus to make your way back to Johannesburg. You'll spend one final night in a hotel in Johannesburg, enjoying a farewell dinner before your flight home in the morning.

Reflect on the once-in-a-lifetime journey you've undertaken - think about life on the reserve and how it compares to life back home, and reflect on the work you've done with pride!

You will have gained newfound confidence, skills, and memories during your journey - these will stay with you for the rest of your life.

All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place with every 9 students.

Disabled facilities can be offered on request.

Projects Abroad holds the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge and operates in compliance with BS 8848 standards for overseas activities. For school leaders and governors, this means the programme meets recognised national benchmarks.

We provide comprehensive risk assessments, safeguarding policies, and approval-ready documentation for every trip, supporting SLT, governor, and district approval processes. The team that plans your trip is the team on the ground when you arrive.

By travelling with us, you also contribute positively to local economies, environmental protection, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Don't take our word for it; we're B Corporation Certified! We're committed to setting the new sustainability standard in school travel by offsetting 110% of carbon emissions associated with your in-destination programming.

Our Partnerships Team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!