Gap year: Where can i go?

Phoca Sibirica · #1 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 10:43 PM

Here's the gist, I'm on my gap year but I'm stuck for where to go.
I want to go somewhere i can properly lose myself in the wilderness, wild camping that kind of thing or somewhere with great wildlife spotting where I can get close to and study the animals.
So the killer question is where should I go?
I look forward to your suggestions.
Cheers, Steve

tufftie · #2 (**permalink**) 27-10-2008, 11:20 AM

You could do voluntary work in Ecuador - the cloud forest. My friend runs it with her hubbie and his family. It's expensive to get there but once you are it's cheap to live. Though if you go you must promise to send us regular photos!

DebbieP · #3 (**permalink**) 29-10-2008, 01:10 PM

West Coast of Australia - we spent 3 months travelling down, unlimited places to camp in the wild and hardly any people - you'll drive for hours without seeing another car! Lots of wildlife, you'll get kangeroos and wallabies, wild horses, maybe the odd camel, lizards galore - my boyfriend went for a sneaky wee in a bush one day to be disturbed by a rustling in the bushes in front, he was rather disturbed only to find out it was nosy kangeroo!! On the coast you've also go the ningaloo reef, which has whales, sharks, turtles and every fish going. Massive eagles all over the shop. I'm a fan can you tell!?

ChrisJB · #4 (**permalink**) 30-10-2008, 07:58 PM

Get up above the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia. Not cheap, but mountain, coastal and forest scenes, and wildlife of great majesty. Sperm and Killer Whales, White Tailed Sea Eagles, Moose, Reindeer, Long Tailed Skuas, Siberian Jay, Lemmings, etc. Also, you have North Cape at the very top of Norway. It's magic.

Regards, Chris

burntfacedjake · #5 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 08:12 PM

I would try and include Borneo and Sumatra. They are surprisingly easy to get to. There is a low cost airline called Air Asia which has started flying from Stansted to Kuala Lumpur. From there you can get to Borneo for £40.

Even a few days in the rainforest is awe inspiring. There are orang-utan, gibbons, elephants, (slim) chance of leopard, reptiles and amphibians galore, stunning birdlife and insects like you've never seen

There are some brilliant dive sites off the Borneo coast as well, namely Sipadan. So do your PADI Open Water certificate when you're out there (its's cheaper). From Kuala Lumpur Air Asia also fly to Brisbane so you could combine the Australian trip with a trip to Borneo. There are some charities that offer conservation placements where you pay your own way and help with fieldwork but check them out carefully as I've heard some people have been scammed.

Wherever you go, enjoy yourself!

deer boy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 12:38 AM

As all the places mentioned so far are abroad why not travel around Britain & try to get close to our amazing wildlife

Vectisbirder · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 11:38 AM

I would also recommend Ecuador. I went there twice in 2007 and it is an amazing country. The birdlife is spectacular (1600 species) and if you're into plants there are tons of orchids and interesting trees.

StuartDH · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deer boy

As all the places mentioned so far are abroad why not travel around Britain & try to get close to our amazing wildlife

Glad you mentioned it Deer Boy. Go Wild About Britain in the Highlands, Cornwall, Norfolk, Shetland/Orkney etc, do a bit of diving on top and you'll see some incredible wildlife around the UK

Stu

deer boy · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuartDH

Glad you mentioned it Deer Boy. Go Wild About Britain in the Highlands, Cornwall, Norfolk, Shetland/Orkney etc, do a bit of diving on top and you'll see some incredible wildlife around the UK

Stu

Great minds think alike