Gap Year Experiences

Updates and info from on the ground during our 11 week and 5 week Experiences in South Africa

Fun times from the Five Week Experience

Wednesday 19 August 2009










You weren't here for a long time, you were here for a good time!!!

Sunday 16 August 2009


Sadly our 5 week experience has come to an end but it has been packed with many absolutely great times. We have had an amazing time with all of the crew and have been kept very entertained all along the route. A big thank you to everyone as you guys have been enthusiastic and got stuck in to whatever we have thrown at you. Every single one of you had your little touch to add to the trip which made it so much fun. Many, many, many incredible moments and memories! You guys really did shake it up! Go Team!!!!!!

Enjoy the last couple weeks of summer and keep checking as we will put up a batch of photo's in the next week.

Till we meet again,
Pip and Doug

Pepper theme song to Aladdin's "A whole new world"

Sunday 16 August 2009

They can show you South Africa,
Sand, mountain and sun,
It is so much fun on the magic Pepper Bus
With all of us (don't you dare close your eyes)
Every stop has a new surprise
They take us everywhere, even the air,
Let us share our Pepper Experience with you.

It is such an amazing experience
And then we will go soaring, tumbling and
Screaming through the bungy and skydive
But we are still alive.
That's so lank rad, not a moment has been bad,
Everything we have done is mad,
Which makes us very glad.

They can take us on safari
With pools that we can swim under
We have seen no clouds or thunder
Good times we share, even cutting Doug's hair
Thank you Pepper for this experience.

Love Vicki

Fiona's final words

Sunday 16 August 2009

These past five weeks have flown by and I can't believe it's over. It seems like yesterday that we arrived in Cape Town and went out for sushi and cocktails on our first night. But we have done so much since then.

From Cape Town where we did surfing and volunteering, hiking and partying and saw the most incredible views and sunsets ever. To Plett where we did the unforgettable bungy jump and sky dive - one of my favourite parts of the trip. On to Hogsback, Coffee Bay and Secret Spot which showed us three very different aspects of life in this amazing country. Then the Drakensberg with more incredible views and where we took the plunge and went swimming in a freezing cold rock pool which was really cool. After the Drakensberg we waved goodbye to Danielle after a cool night out and one of the biggest cocktails I've ever seen!

The last week of safari has been a fantastic end to the trip. It was an experience camping and living with no electricity but it was so much fun and we were really lucky with the people we met and the animals we saw.

The whole trip has been absolutely amazing, I have honestly had the time of my life. Would like to say a massive thank you to Doug and Pippa for putting up with us and Vince and Johnny for all their hard work as well.

We are now on our last journey in the Pepper bus on the way to the airport. It's so sad that the trip has come to an end but I wouldn't have changed a thing. Fantastic people, amazing places and an awesome time all round. For anyone sitting at home wondering whether or not they should have the Pepper experience, please do it, I promise you will not regret it!

Love Fiona

Victoria's last words

Saturday 15 August 2009

The whole Pepper experience has been incredible; it's been crazy, the fun has never ever stopped and I've loved every minute of it! The most recent thing we've experienced has been the game reserves where we had extremely knowledgable guides tell us how to track animals and live in the bush with no electricity. It was cool going on a night drive and looking at stars, even saw shooting ones and learning to use them to get directions.

It's also been amazing to eat traditional African food like potjie and pap and fun to try things like warthog and ostrich! To spend an evening eating and dancing at the chief's hut in Coffee Bay on the Wild Coast was awesome and it was cool to experience a lively meal at Mzoli's in a township in Cape Town.

All the places we've been to have been amazing for different reasons; from Cape Town where I learnt a lot about photography and got to help out in the community to Plett where we had spectacular views and sunrises and it was awesome because we all stayed together and it was like a little family. It was action-packed with bungy jumping, sky diving, kayaking and even made time for sushi and cocktails and lots of fun drinking games. I loved the Secret Spot because it had a talking bird and adorable dogs and pretty beaches. The Drakensberg was stunning as it was sunny and had snow on the mountains. The safari and game reserves was crazy because we saw so many animals and the lions had just been on a kill and looked like they were wearing lipstick. We got up close and personal to rhinos, giraffe, zebra and hippo's but I always stayed close to Mark with a gun because it was scary!

Last night was our last night and was a fun one. We ate, drank and danced the night away. The cocktails were yummy and we had to end with our tradition of Pepper shots. The people here have inspired us and made us learn so much and really have had an experience to remember, which was mainly down to Pippa and Doug, they have been amazing fun.

We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time. Pepper-they really do shake it up.
Love Victoria