Responsible Travel - Health & Safety

African Impact offers a safe and supervised environment for all volunteers, gap year students, interns and travellers to encounter our remarkable continent.

Our Safety Guidelines for Travel in Africa

We know that parents, guardians or friends have many questions too, so we have tried to answer a few:

Will my child be met at the airport?
Yes. An African Impact volunteer manager or representative meets all African Impact volunteers at the airport.

What if my child becomes ill?
Although this is by no means a regular occurrence, volunteers do sometimes get ill whilst on placement. The volunteer coordinator for the project will ensure that your child receives immediate medical assistance. In the event of a serious illness or accident each volunteer will be covered by their insurance policy, which is why we require all volunteers to have adequate insurance. We will keep in contact with you to advise you of their progress. Browse through the sections below to find out further useful information. Travel insurance

What if my child is homesick?
Many of our volunteers are traveling away from home for the first time. It is not unusual for volunteers to feel homesick from time to time. We make every effort to help them integrate with the other volunteers and encourage them to fully engage with the project that they are on. We find the homesickness goes away pretty quickly!

How do I know where my child will be?
Every African Impact volunteer is given the full details of their destination before departure. This includes the address & contact telephone numbers of their accommodation and project location, if different. Before their departure, we also provide the details of the volunteer coordinator for the project who can be contacted in case of emergency. To get a rough idea of your child's placement location, then look below to read about each country and the volunteer program it offers. Look at our African map to find out where the countries are in relation to one another to plan your family holiday to visit your child!

How can I keep in contact with my child?
Communication to, or within Africa is not always as it is in the Western world – it can sometimes be slow and difficult. A telephone will always be available for you to call your family member/friend, and on most of our projects there are also internet connections available. We encourage all volunteers to call home to let you know that they have arrived safely, and to regularly phone or email to tell you about all the fun they are having.

Is the project that they are on safe?
We make every effort to ensure all volunteers are safe during their placement. All volunteers are briefed fully about the area that they are living and working in, with advice on how to go about their daily life as a volunteer. Obviously caution always needs to be taken when working with wild animals on a conservation project; however, our experienced staff will provide training and support throughout the placement to ensure the safety of every volunteer.

What support network and emergency procedures are in place?
Throughout your placement each volunteer will have the support and guidance of our experienced volunteer coordinators. They are part of our greater African Impact support team, which will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance. In the event of an emergency, professional and skilled operators such as medical air rescue services and competent medical practitioners are available as part of the support network.

Are there any hidden extras in the cost of the placement?
All costs include transport to and from the project specific pick-up point, as well as all accommodation and meals. Volunteers should bring money to pay for telephone calls and internet use and for items of a personal nature such as toiletries or gifts. In addition, on many of our projects, volunteers have the option of enjoying organized trips to nearby sights and attractions. There is an additional cost to be paid locally to cover these excursions, and any visas they may require for border crossings.

How do I know African Impact is a real company?
During the last year of operation alone, African Impact has had over 300 successfully placed volunteers. Some of our projects are regarded as the most exciting in the world. If you would like details of past volunteers that you are able to make contact with about your placements, please contact us.

Are the countries safe?
Africa is a dynamic continent, and sometimes situations can arise within a country that can give cause for concern, as they can in any country in the world. We at African Impact take the safety of our volunteers very seriously indeed. Should an unforeseen situation arise which warrants a volunteer’s removal from that country or region, we would do so immediately. When traveling with us in in Africa, we offer the following:

- 24-hour field support
- Guidance and assistance from experienced project managers/tour leaders
- A welcome into the local communities

Safety Guidelines for Volunteers, Interns and Travelers:

Be Informed:
Do your research and don't believe everything the media portrays. Rather read through reputable travel guides and publications, such as the Lonely Planet guide. Look through travel websites for blogs and forums of others who may have travelled to the same destinations that you plan to visit.

Be Prepared:
Check the web - Updates of projects / countries are regularly posted on the website by African Impact. We would never encourage a traveler to go to a country we feel is unsafe. Stay in touch - Inform friends or family of how they can reach you whilst you are on your gap year placement. Your cell phone will work in most countries if it is activated with international roaming - contact your cellular provider about this before you leave! Keep copies - Prepare additional photocopies of your important travel documents to carry with you as well as to leave with friends or family. Please visit our visas and travel documents *(please link to new visas page) section if you are unsure about the facts regarding visa, passports, work permits and other travel documents that you might need while in Africa. Luggage – We advise that you bring sturdy, lockable and non-descpript luggage.

On the road:
Stick together - Travelling alone isn't advisable; it’s best to stay in a group of people that you trust. Tell others your destination, route and ETA. Health and Vaccinations - Ensure you have the correct vaccinations before you depart. Please review our detailed pre-departure information with regards to the recommended vaccinations that you need to get before you go on holiday.