Program Reviews

Last March I have completed the field guide course in South Africa and really enjoyed this! Booking the experience was easy and I got all info needed upfront. It was amazing to spend so much time in the game reserve with all the other volunteers and field guide participants! I have learned so much and would love to go back! In 8 weeks we learned everything about African nature and had the best experiences. The staff is very kind, helpful and knowledgeable. During the weekends we also got the opportunity to explore nearby areas which was a lot of fun!

I loved every second of my time in South Africa. All the staff at the reserve were fantastic, especially the rangers who were really knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the conservation that was happening there. There was a really good blend between all aspects of the course, including the classroom learning, field learning and also participating in some of the volunteer activities as well.

The volunteer house on the reserve was really nice and well looked after. It was great that although there were 6 participants on the course with me, the house was also used by the conservation volunteers as well, so I met lots of great people from around the world.

After I became qualified I stayed in touch with the reserve and arranged to return to intern with them to gain more experience in the field.
This was a 10/10 experience and would recommend to anyone with an interest in the environment, or who wants to get into the guiding industry.

I am blessed I had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica and participate in the Diemaster program through Gap Force and Ocean's Unlimited. Coming from a place where there is no ocean, a very dry climate, the shift in culture was truly a breath of fresh air. I had never done Scuba before, but ended up getting my divemaster after 8 weeks. We dove almost everyday, I met some of my best friends, and the homestay family didn't speak a lick of english but they were as sweet as can be! It was beautiful!

I loved my time abroad in Quepos, Costa Rica! I did a four week program, which I felt was the perfect amount of time. The staff was very welcoming and I became good friends with the other interns quickly. The best part was all of the wildlife we saw while scuba diving. We conducted fish surveys, searched for sharks, tended to the coral nurseries, and practiced diving research techniques throughout the program. We also had classroom sessions and presentations. On our days off we were able to go hiking, swimming, and exploring around town. The lifestyle is so laid back compared to the US and I absolutely loved having a change of pace. This program is perfect for getting hands-on experience in the marine science field.

It was a bit scary going into this without knowing anyone, but I instantly clicked with a few people, and came to be comfortable with everyone within a week and made some really good friends by the end. That's not to say that it was always easy being in new places with new people- I did have a couple days of breakdowns because I didn't keep a balance of alone time and being with the group. This trip is a good way to get to know yourself in new environments and gain some independence. There will be difficult moments, like walking uphill for ten minutes at the hottest time of the day, trains getting delayed, missing your family, but looking back on it, I mostly just remember the fun times.

This trip was unforgettable, i’d definitely recommend doing as soon as possible because you’re only young with money to waste for so long. It’s the perfect way to travel especially solo since you make friends so easily. I really appreciated how independent you were able to be on this trip. For example we were able to plan our own days with as much freedom as we wanted and fit it to our wants. Overall highly recommend this month trip, the only negative i can think of were the few steep hills and no iced coffees.

Had so much fun on this trip! Made so many friends and got to know people from all over the world. The europe trip goes to 11 main cities in europe so there is alot to do in every location. all the hostels we stayed in were a very fun, safe and cool environment to experience. A lot of the food was provided and was super good and all of the travel was prearranged by the group leader which meant we didn’t have to worry about the transport while enjoying the trip. Gaz was our trip leader and he was super helpful, fun and supportive. Would definitely recommend this trip if you want to explore europe in a group without the stress of booking your own trip.

"Having found this program on the internet I was a little hesitant at first about the reliability of the offer, ultimately I have no regrets about this wonderful stay! Peru and Ecuador have left me with truly unique memories that I won't find anywhere else. The locals are friendly and warm, the culinary diversity is qualitative, the natural landscapes are breathtaking!

Our guide (Colin) was caring, very kind, funny and gave very good advice! It was a pleasure to speak in English, Spanish AND French with him!! The local guides were all wonderful. Our youth group was friendly. All the activities offered were great.
Volunteering was incredible and one of my greatest life experiences! I was able to improve my Spanish during this stay while helping others and enjoying it, what more could you ask for?

I am grateful to have been able to participate in this program and I highly recommend it."

En ayant trouvé ce programme sur internet j’étais un peu hésitante au départ quant à la fiabilité de l’offre, finalement je n’ai aucun regret de ce merveilleux séjour!
Le Pérou et l’Équateur m’ont laissé des souvenirs véritablement uniques que je ne trouverai nul part ailleurs. Les habitants sont aimables et chaleureux, la diversité culinaire est qualitative, les paysages naturels sont à couper le souffle!

Notre guide (Colin) était bienveillant, très gentil, drôle et de très bons conseils! C’était un plaisir de parler à la fois en Anglais, en Espagnol ET en Français avec lui!! Les guides locaux étaient tous formidables. Notre groupe de jeunes était sympathique. Toutes les activités proposées étaient géniales.
Le volontariat était incroyable et fait partie de mes plus belles expériences de vie! J’ai pu améliorer mon espagnol durant ce séjour tout en aidant les autres et en profitant, que demander de plus ?

Je suis reconnaissante d’avoir pu participer à ce programme et je le recommande vivement.

When I was choosing my gap year program I had a checklist of everything I wanted to get out of the experience.
1. Meeting new people from around the world. Check. In my group I made friends with people from England as well as South Africa, Ireland and Martinique! It was so cool to be put in a group of people who have different life experiences and stories to share. We had lots of fun debating on the different ways to say words and exploring how our lives differ in school and social life. I was so happy with the bonds I’ve made and the friendships that will always be remembered for future travel buddies!
2. Adventure. Check. This trip was everything I could have hoped for in terms of adventure. Zip-lining, white-water rafting and bungee jumping were some key highlights that made sure, there was never a dull moment. The adrenaline rush I got from these activities was very unforgettable! I can also never forget waking up to tea at 5am in a tent ready to start our hike on the Salkantay trek up to Machu Picchu! This trek held so many cherished memories like going for a dip in the glacier water river, singing our way down a mud slide as it poured down on us and so many more! I can say that my thrill seeking was fulfilled!
3. Volunteer work with animals. Check. The volunteer work on this program was very unique and incredible. We had the opportunity to work at the Yanacocha animal rescue center which was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity! It felt good to be doing hard work feeding, cleaning pens and completing extra work around the sanctuary. The owner and volunteer coordinator made many efforts to make it a fun work environment with the other volunteers. We had chants in the mornings to pump us up for work and fun games in the evening after work was done! You could tell they loved it there and their hearts were in it for the animals! The sanctuary was filled with macaws, pumas, tayras, owls, baby racoons, toucans, ocelots, caymans, many kinds of monkeys and so many more. It was devastating leaving because of the love I developed for these animals. We also had the unique chance to go through gap forces terms and conditions for volunteering to make sure it is ethical and the animal walfare is good. From working there for a week we already knew the sanctuary was amazing and had all the right intentions and going through the paperwork verified that. We even got to release a toucan and sloth into the jungle which was an incredible experience! As I’m done the trip this volunteer experience was definitely my favourite part of the entire trip!
4. Lastly experiencing the jungle. Check.
We stayed at the ecolodge Tamandua which was a close tie to my favourite part of the trip. We had an amazing view over the tree tops and spent our nights stargazing on the decking that hung over the trees. Our days were spent either walking to hidden waterfalls, making bracelets and chocolate, reading in hammocks and enjoying the peace that the jungle brings. Another once in a lifeline opportunity we had was sleeping in hammocks in the jungle! We set up the hammocks and shelter ourselves, even making one out of leaves and sticks! We fell asleep to just what you can imagine a jungle would sound like at night and woke up to the birds singing and the sunrise! I even had the opportunity to do it twice which I jumped at the chance to. As a kid I dreamed of being in the jungle and what I got from this trip was so much better!
Overall all of my wishes were checked off and fulfilled way beyond I could have ever hoped! Thank you GapForce

Cannot recommend this programme enough! The dive teaching is exemplary, the method of supporting coral reefs is clear and feels gratifying, and the staff are super welcoming and friendly- lots to do in free time and special shout out to Jade and Ciara who lead the programme for their support and joy every step of the way!
From what I’ve seen, what makes Roctopus stand out are its incredible conservation department and it’s diving community, which is an amazing way to explore what the island has to offer.