A TEAM of four young people from Okehampton have returned from the trip of a lifetime in South Africa.

The team of Jay Passmore, Abby Davey, Suzy Wood and Stacey Dufty took part in a month-long trip to complete their Gold Award with the Okehampton Duke of Edinburgh's Award Open Group, flying out to Durban on July 29.

The team took part in a residential project in the village of Wangu, the Impendulo Community Project. The main focus of the project is to provide support for orphaned and vulnerable children, creating opportunities for them and alleviating poverty and suffering as much as possible.

They were accompanied by supervisor Brenda Bourne and overseas wild country assessor, tutor and award co-ordinator Chris Bourne.

While working in Wangu, the team were allowed to stay overnight in the village. Chris said: 'The time in the Zulu village was the highlight for the team, something very few people ever do, not even fellow South Africans.

'Usually when teams visit the village they stay separate from the village and just go to work with them on a daily basis.'

As well as their residential work the group took part in a number of exciting activities. They also visited the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. Located north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The park is the oldest reserve in Africa, established in 1895 and is world-renowned for its conservation of white rhino.

The park has an abundance of other wildlife, including cheetahs, African wild dogs and the other four members of Africa's 'Big Five' along with the rhino — lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo.

Chris said: 'Prime game viewing takes place at hides overlooking pans and waterholes which enable visitors to see animals at close range.

'Activities include game drives, self-guided walking trails, day walks, boat tours on the Hluhluwe Dam and exciting all inclusive wilderness trails.'

The team also visited the St Lucia Water Game Reserve, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal.

Two team members along with Chris were brave enough to climb on the world's highest swing across Oribi Gorge. The gorge is situated west of Port Shepstone, and formed by the Mzimkulu river. The swing is at the top of the Lehrs Falls, dropping down 100 metres into the vast depth of the gorge, reaching a speed of 126 kilometres in two and a half seconds.

After their daredevil pursuits, the team flew south to take part in an expedition in the Baviaanskloof Mega Wilderness Reserve. They completed their expedition preparation, two days of orientation in the mountains, four days expeditioning in the wilderness being remotely supervised. They studied the effects of the invasive black wattle trees while on their expedition.

Now back in the UK, the team will hold a presentation about their expedition, residential project and other activities in South Africa. It is planned for Wednesday September 14 at 7.30pm in the Charter Hall. All are welcome to come along and hear about the amazing trip.