Gap year in Africa: Namibia good for wildlife volunteering

When considering gap year travel to Africa, people who want to undertake voluntary work with animals should think about visiting Namibia, an expert has suggested.

Rhys Powell, sales and marketing manager for Namibia Tourism Board, said that while the country is gaining a reputation with tourists for luxurious spas and high-end properties, its wildlife offering should not be overlooked.

"In fact, some of the guides for Africa say it's one of the best safaris they've ever seen. There is no poaching that takes place in Namibia either, which at the moment is big news in Africa," he added.

Mr Powell went on to say that people who visit Namibia on their gap year in Africa can actually stay in the wildlife sanctuaries, allowing them to get involved with voluntary work to help release creatures into the wild.

Last week, Robbie Newton, 20, from Edinburgh, told the Scotsman newspaper he would soon be following up youth work in the UK with a volunteering trip to Namibia.

See the different gap year destinations on offer