杏吧原创

This program will run from May 17- May 31, 2027.听

Below is a proposed itinerary for 2027. Please note that this itinerary is subject to change and a final program itinerary will be provided to participants before our departure at the pre-trip meetings.听

Day 1: Monday, May 17 | Departure for Johnnesburg

• Leave 杏吧原创 campus late afternoon and travel by bus to Toronto. Fly from Toronto to Johannesburg

Day 2: Tuesday, May 18 | Arrival听

• A local team member will meet you upon arrival at the Johannesburg airport.听Together, we will travel to our lodgings for the night, settle in, and enjoy a light听dinner at the accommodation.
• Overnight: Emerald Guest House听

Day 3: Wednesday, May 19 | Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township
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• After breakfast, we will visit the Apartheid Museum and take part in cultural听engagement activities in the Soweto Township, learning about the culture and听history of Apartheid. We will have the chance to experience the Soweto culture,听meet locals, and try local food during lunch, and visit a local market.
• Overnight: Emerald Guest House听

Day 4: Thursday, May 20 | Transfer to Eswatini听

• This morning, we will transfer to our lodgings in the Ezulwini Valley, the Zulu word听for paradise, and settle in to our new accommodations.
• Overnight: Lidwala Lodge

Day 5: Friday, May 21 | Orientation, Craft Market and Lobamba Village Tour

• After a thorough program orientation in the morning, we will visit a craft market.听After lunch we will take a tour of Lobamba village, the spiritual capital of the听nation. This is where the Houses of Parliament are found, and where King Mswati听III rules the Kingdom with his Queen Mother, or Ndlovukazi/She-Elephant. During听our tour, we will learn about the history of Eswatini and its culture.
• Overnight: Lidwala Lodge

Day 6: Saturday, May 22 | Malolotja Nature Reserve听

• Today we will make our way for an overnight at Malolotja Nature Reserve, a听picturesque highland reserve. On the way we will stop at Sibebe Rock (the听second largest monolithic rock in the world and 3 billion years old) and the听Maguga dam. While at Malolotja, we may see blesbok, zebra, blue wildebeest,听antelope and more. It is also home to a wide variety of bird and plant species.
• Overnight: Malolotja Nature Reserve Cabins

Day 7: Sunday, May 23 | Malolotja Canopy Tour听

• After breakfast we will have a canopy tour within the Malolotja. We will zipline听along the Sihlotswane Gorge and view the scenery and wildlife from above. After,听we will make our way back to Lidwala Lodge with a stop at Lion Cavern (an听ancient mine) and Ngwenya Glass Factory.
• Overnight: Lidwala Lodge

Days 8-10: Monday - Wednesday, May 24-26 | Project Work听

• Today, we will begin the experiential service component of our program, simultaneously working on local nutrition, sports and education initiatives and听familiarizing ourselves with the community.
• Overnight: Lidwala Lodge

Day 11: Thursday, May 27 | Project Work and Presentations听

• We will continue our project work in the morning and present on the findings of听the week. In the afternoon we will join the Thursday Computer Club to take part听in technology learning. In the evening we will have time for reflection as a group. A speaker on the impact of USAID in local development initiatives will talk to our group as well.
• Overnight: Lidwala Lodge

Day 12: Friday, May 28 | Transfer to SRC and Shewula Primary School Visit

• Today we will have an early transfer to the Savannah Research Center, which will听be our home for the remainder of the program. We will arrive by mid-morning for听an interactive engagement with Shewula Primary School. We will continue to听Shewula Mountain Camp for a traditional lunch and exploration of the area.
• The evening we will settle into the our new lodging.
• Overnight: Savannah Research Center

Day 13: Saturday, May 29 | Hlane National Park Excursion听

• Today we will visit Hlane National Park for a morning game drive. After the drive,听we will have time to explore the main camp and visit the bird hide. We will then听take part in a presentation and discussion on conservation in Eswatini. Hlane is听Eswatini's largest protected area, home to elephant, rhino, lions, and leopards all听reintroduced to the conservation area. You may also see giraffe, zebra, hippos,听impala, kudu, wildebeest, and over 300 bird species!
• Overnight: Savannah Research Center

Day 14: Sunday, May 30 | Khabane Cave and Free Time听

• This morning we will start on a hike in the Mlawula Reserve to Khabane Cave. This听cave holds anthropological significance, showing evidence of human occupation听in the Middle Stone Age and ties to the Dlamini Clan. This afternoon we will have听some free time to relax or explore the area in groups. We will then come together听for a campfire dinner to reflect on out time in Eswatini.
• Overnight: Savannah Research Centre

Day 15: Monday, May 31 | Departure听

• All good things must come to an end. It is time to say farewell to the locals we听have met along the way. After breakfast, we will transfer to the Johannesburg听airport as a group with a stop along the way at Swazi Candles.
• Evening flight from听Johannesburg

听Day 16: Tuesday, June 1 | Home

• Arrival in Toronto mid afternoon. Travel by bus back to 杏吧原创 campus.听

The group will reside at a series of comfortable and secure volunteer houses, lodges and retreats: Backpackers Connection or Emerald Guest House in Johannesburg; Lidwala Lodge in Ezulwini Valley; Shared Cabins in Malolotja National Reserve ; and the Savannah Research Center. With room to relax and often spacious gardens and areas for communal activities, students will enjoy their stay. Monkeys and a wide range of bird species often rest in the trees!

The program fee in 2027 is $4,550.00

Program Fee Includes:

• Round trip airfare
• All hotels and accommodation
• All meals part of the itinerary
• All in-country transportation
• All projects, activities, workshops, etc.
• Travel Insurance
• Tour guides
• Excursions and entrance fees

Not Included:

• Passport (must be valid at least 6 months past the return date of the program). Contact Josh Fess as soon as possible for assistance with applying for or renewing your passport.
• Additional meals (meals not in the itinerary)
• Miscellaneous expenses (such as souvenirs, personal care items, etc.)

Funding Sources:

For SPARK eligible students, you will receive the $1,500 SPARK Grant from the Center for Life's Work. Your final cost is $3,050.00.

For non-SPARK eligible students, you are eligible for $700 in funding through the Center for International Education. Your final cost is $3,850.00

Visit the following sites to see the recommended immunizations and medications for your program. Talk with your family and your physician to understand which ones you may need to travel.听

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There are two steps in the application process.

Step 1: Please complete the by November 8th.听

Step 2: Please complete the Student Application Checklist 听You can print it out and bring it to GAC 121 or email it to Chrissy Miller at cmiller81@naz.edu.