HOLIDAYS WITH A HEART

Cuddle lions, help street children and see the world at the same time. This year's hottest way to globetrot is volun-tourism

By Gilly Pickup

HELP THE BEARS
Where: Near Brasov, Romania
Great if you’re… an animal lover who enjoys being outdoors
What will I do? You’ll help to rehabilitate beautiful brown bears back into the wild after years of misery in circuses or as tourist attractions in cages. The sanctuary is set in the mountains and is surrounded by breathtaking views of Romania. You’ll feed and monitor the bears and may see them being released back into their natural environment. And as it’s just a 25-minute drive from Brasov (home of Dracula’s castle), you’ll be able to sightsee too.
Get there: A week-long placement with Oyster World Wide costs £795, including transfers plus twin bed and breakfast accommodation. Visit Oysterworldwide.com or call 01892 770771. Flights not included.

LOVE THE CHILDREN
Where: Lima, Peru
Great if you’re… self-motivated, fun and love kids
What will I do? Give lots of care and attention to street kids who have never had a real childhood or been part of a loving family. There are so many things you can do to help, from playing games to doing activities like finger painting, arts and crafts or simply playing hopscotch. You can help to teach them English and how to prepare basic meals and clean up afterwards. You’ll need to have patience, understanding and affection – but be prepared for heart-warming rewards.
Get there: Two weeks in Lima with Gap Year For Grown-Ups costs £399, including transfers, accommodation and two meals a day. Visit Gapyearforgrownups.co.uk or call 01892 701881. Flights not included.

SAVE THE WHALES
Where: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Great if you’re… adventurous and a nature lover
What will I do? This is an adventure and a half! You’ll be joining a team in a 5.4m inflatable boat, spotting threatened whales and dolphins on Scotland’s scenic north-east coastline. You’ll learn to identify and photograph them as well as recording any relevant data. You might also find yourself called on to assist with any live whale or dolphin strandings.
Get there: An 11-day break in Scotland costs from £895, including accommodation, training and food. Visit Earth watch.org/europe or call 01865 318831.

REBUILD THE BEACHES
Where: Kuraburi, near Phuket, Thailand
Great for… beach lovers with a conscience
What will I do? Since the tsunami, tourism has become the most important economic resource for this traditional fishing village. This trip is all about sharing cultures and experiences, while helping people to rebuild their lives and their environment. You’ll stay with a host family and, as well as learning traditional fishing methods, you can visit environmental youth projects, enjoy picnics on the beach and explore the hidden mangrove forests.
Get there: A two-week trip costs from £850 per person based on two sharing a twin room. This includes accommodation, transportation and most meals but not flights. For details visit Godifferently.com or call 01799 521950.

"YOU COULDN'T CUDDLE A LION ON A NORMAL HOLIDAY"
Johanna Baxter, 29, a National Trade Union Officer in London ‘volun-toured’ in Lion Park, South Africa
“I really wanted to take a holiday where I’d do something different and Lion Park – one of South Africa’s premier conservation projects – was the perfect choice for me. One minute I was at my desk in drizzly London, the next I was helping care for lions, cheetahs and leopards with an amazing bunch of people. We stayed in a shared army tent which was pretty basic but that added to the camaraderie, especially as we all mucked in to make our own meals.
A volun-tour project is so much more than a normal holiday. You get a real feel for the country by working alongside local people and not just seeing the tourist attractions. You also learn new skills – incredibly, I even found making up giraffe food in the sun extremely therapeutic.
I have so many wonderful memories from the holiday – having a lion cub fall asleep in my arms in the middle of a thunderstorm, being kissed by a giraffe, licked by a leopard and even assisting a vet with surgery on a lion. I can’t wait to start planning my next trip.”

Johanna travelled with I-to-i.com (0800 011 1156). Two weeks at Lion Park costs £995, which includes shared accommodation but does not include flights or food.

WORDS BY: GILLY PICKUP PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOLIBRARY.COM, GETTY IMAGES