Gap Africa Projects

22/10/2026

Meet our office mates 🐾 The GAP team works from home, so our real colleagues are;
Poppy & Nayla
Indi
Thaba & Kimber
Gus
Pip
Strong opinions about lunch breaks, buffs on, adventure ready.
Guess the owners, guess the breeds 😉

21/10/2026

Three Duchy College Duchy College Sports and Outdoor Adventure students have been busy fundraising for their South Africa Sports Coaching Tour with us next year! 🇿🇦

The learners showed real initiative by organising a Big Breakfast and raffle themselves, serving 126 breakfasts on the day. With great support from their college and community, they’ve raised £2,420 towards their trip. A big thank you to everyone who got involved. See you in South Africa, boys! ⚽

21/10/2026

Three Duchy College students have been busy fundraising for their South Africa Sports Coaching Tour with us next year! 🇿🇦

The learners showed real initiative by organising a Big Breakfast and raffle themselves, serving 126 breakfasts on the day. With great support from their college and community, they’ve raised £2,420 towards their trip. A big thank you to everyone who got involved. See you in South Africa, boys!

16/10/2026

Spotting a leopard can be challenging - there are a variety of other ‘leopards’ you might see in South Africa.
🐢🦋

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘leopard’? 🐆
The obvious answer would probably be that famous feline, 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘶𝘴. But did you know that South Africa is home to a whole variety of ‘leopards’? From plants and insects to amphibians, reptiles and marine life, ‘leopards’ can be spotted across the tree of life – all named for their spotted resemblance to the iconic big cat.

Spots (or more accurately rosettes) may be some of the prettiest patterns in nature, but these markings aren’t just for show. Across the natural world, spotted and mottled patterns can serve all sorts of purposes:

👀 For camouflage: spots can break up an animal’s outline and help it disappear into dappled or patterned surroundings – whether that’s vegetation on land or a rocky seafloor.
⚠️ For warning and deception: some spots do the opposite – standing out to warn predators or mimic danger. Bold patterns can confuse, deceive, or deter.
💘 For recognition and communication: patterns can also play a role in recognising members of the same species or attracting mates.
🌿 And plants get in on it too: mottled leaves and spotted flowers arise from patterns in pigmentation and development. These can help manage sunlight, deter herbivores, or attract pollinators.

✨ Different species, different environments, different challenges, same solution: a spot-tacular adaptation to survive and thrive!

At the Cape Leopard Trust, leopards (the feline kind 😉) may be at the heart of what we do, but they are just one piece in South Africa’s intricate biodiversity puzzle. Conserving leopards means understanding and protecting all the creatures they share the landscape with. Conservation is about protecting the entire web of life – not just the iconic species 🐆🌍

How many of these ‘leopards’ did you know existed? And when it comes to spots, who do you think wears it best? 👇

Artwork ©Cape Leopard Trust [designed with ProCreate and Canva Pro by a human, no AI involved]

15/10/2026

We're delighted to share that Gap Africa Projects has been shortlisted for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award at the 2026 British Youth Travel Awards!

"It's great recognition for our team's commitment to responsible educational travel, particularly our investment in Hanover Nature Reserve, where we're reinvesting the success of our student programmes into lasting conservation benefits for future generations." – Mark

Thank you to our incredible team, our education partners and the communities and project partners who make it all possible.

The winners will be revealed on 30 November at Shakespeare's Globe in London. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

BETA - British Educational Travel Association

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day 💚🌍
The theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”

This year, 468 students told us how their GAP Africa Projects trip changed them:

🌿 89% of those who answered said their mental health improved
🔥 92% grew in confidence
💪 93% became more resilient

What makes the difference? Students told us it was being in nature, staying active and getting a break from everyday routine. When we look at a typical day on a trip, we think a few things work together: waking to birdsong 🐦, early starts and plenty of sunshine that help bodies settle into a natural rhythm ☀️, active days full of natural movement🏃, the sense of safety that comes from living and working in community with a group 🤝, the purpose of helping wildlife and local communities 🌱, and time away from screens to really be present 📵.

“It’s given me the opportunity to be more active and be out in the environment more, which has made me feel more fulfilled.” – 2026 GAP Africa Projects student

If you’ve been thinking about a GAP Africa Projects trip but feel nervous about taking the leap, consider this your sign 🌿

You can bring a bit of this home too. Step outside today, listen for the birds and check in on someone you love. 💚

07/10/2026

Our Vet and Vet Nurse groups who've joined the Gauteng Veterinary Impact Module, part of the Waterberg Wildlife & Veterinary Course, will know Pit-Track and their amazing dogs! 🐾 Our vet physio groups in particular have loved helping care for the dogs' needs.

Some wars are fought in the dark and won by a nose. Pit Track's Captain Carl Thornton and his dogs stand between poachers and Africa's wildlife.

02/10/2026

A stunning sunset from the Hanover house this afternoon, with the light beautifully highlighting the flat-lying sandstone of the Thabaneng hill.

01/10/2026

Spring has arrived at Shamwari 🌿🌺

The drive into the lodge is looking a little different as the reserve awakens with the changing season. Fresh green growth, vibrant blooms and the wildlife that calls Shamwari home come together to create a truly special arrival.

For our guests and conservation volunteers, this is more than just the road to the lodge — it’s the beginning of an experience immersed in the sights, sounds and rhythms of the African bush.

30/09/2026

As a remote team across the UK and South Africa, getting together in person is always special. At the end of August, the GAP Africa Projects team met in Richmond-upon-Thames for our 2026 Annual Meeting. 🌍

Four days, four themes: Reflect, Refine, Grow and Commit. We looked back on the past academic year and set exciting plans for 2027, with time for a Richmond Park picnic and a Thames cruise to Hampton Court. 🚤

We also celebrated Chloe Nelson's first year with us as she leads our Sports Programmes 🏆 and welcomed Jack Merrifield, our new Land-based Programme Coordinator 👋

Here's to a brilliant year ahead!