Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad
Bundled content for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad
Mountaineering and hiking abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
Mountaineering and hiking abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
Mountaineering abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
What is mountaineering?
- Mountaineering can range from hiking in the Alps to alpine climbing in the Andes, from free climbing in the Ardennes to a multi-day trek in the Himalayas. For centuries, people have been fascinated by the mountains, reaching mountain peaks and being active in mountainous areas. There are dozens of types of mountaineering, including mountaineering, mountain climbing, fat biking, free climbing, rock climbing, zip lining, ski touring, winter sports, ice diving and ice climbing. In the last century, you have also seen more and more sports in which descending the mountain in an original way has become central. You can go abseiling, base jumping, hang gliding, but also skiing or sledding.
What is abseiling (rappel)?
- Abseiling is independently descending a steep wall using a climbing rope. In climbing it is used as a technique to descend, but in canyoning it has also become part of the sport
What is alpinism?
- Alpinism is mountain climbing in terrain consisting of rock, snow and ice. The emphasis is on 'vertical' ascent, using arms and hands to get up. Rock climbing and ice climbing are forms of alpinism.
- Alpinism originated more than three centuries ago during a scientific expedition that climbed the summit of Mont Blanc. Today's alpinism is more about climbing technique, the level of difficulty or the beauty of the route, than about reaching the top of the mountain.
What are trekking and mountain hikes?
- This means that you walk along paved and unpaved paths through the mountains. When you also need your arms and hands, people quickly speak of mountain climbing. Simple glacier walking is also considered mountain hiking.
- 'Rambling' is a simple way of trekking, and 'scrambling' is a simple way of climbing where one occasionally needs the help of hands or knees.
What is free climbing and wall climbing?
- Free climbing is a form of rock climbing where you climb up using your hands and feet. It does not mean that you do not have any form of protection (that is known as free solo climbing), but it does mean that you are not allowed to use any aids for the climbing itself. Wall climbing: is climbing in a covered area on a climbing wall without aids.
What are other mountain and climbing sports?
- Bouldering is a climbing sport where you climb unsecured to a height of about 4/5 meters. If you fall, you basically fall on a thick mat. Bouldering is very similar to life, and often revolves around finding the right route.
- Hangliding: see air sports.
- Deathriding or ziplining: see air sports.
- Skiing or sledding: see winter sports
What do you gain from mountaineering?
- Better health: from respiratory tract to fitness.
- A sense of humility, and the world around you.
- An adrenaline rush or an ultimate feeling of peace.
What do you take with you when you go mountaineering?
- Bring a good basic condition.
- Bring sufficient water and food for the journey and for the duration of the trip.
- Good clothes and gear can make a great difference when doing any mountain sport
- Use your common sense (so as not to become overconfident).
- Arrange for difficult trips a guide who knows the area well
What are the risks when practicing mountain sports abroad?
- With every form of mountain sports you also run more or less risk of having an accident or breakdown.
- You can get lost.
- You can have an accident (slip, trip).
- You can be faced with rapidly changing weather.
- Your equipment can break.
To what extent are you insured during mountain sports?
- The consequences if something goes wrong during mountain sports are, if you need help and have to be taken down a mountain, or repatriated from a remote area, the costs can be quite high. The costs of deploying a rescue helicopter alone are around 5,000 euros per hour! In addition, you can be faced with the costs of a rescue team
- If you also end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself, if you have not taken out insurance that covers your mountain sports activities.
- Mountain sports abroad are generally limited by regular insurance. Usually, you also run a greater risk of having an accident or breakdown of gear.
- Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
- Read more: Verzekeren en sportieve activiteiten (NL)
Where is the best place to go for mountain sports?
Where can you go for the most beautiful mountain walks and treks?
- The Inca Trail (the route to Machu Picchu) in Peru
- Mount Rinjani (beautiful volcano on Lombok, Indonesia)
- Mount Kailash (Tibet, famous pilgrimage route, high and difficult)
- Resurrection Pass Trail (Alaska, through Chugach National Forest)
- Dogon Valley (Mali, very traditional area)
- The South Downs Way (South-East England, Sussex)
- Trollheimen (Norway, several options)
- Western Way (ancient pilgrimage route in Ireland)
- Taquesi (Bolivia, from Andes to Yungas)
- Hiking route E5 (Austria, runs from Swiss to Italian border)
- Gr 11 (Grande Randonnée)(Long distance hiking route through the Pyrenees, runs from the Mediterranean to the Basque Gulf)
- Neltner/Toubkal (Morocco, in the high Atlas Mountains)
- Leh (North-East India/Himalaya, beautiful dry trekking area)
- Darjeeling/Sikkim (North-West India/Himalaya, beautiful green trekking area)
- Retezet (Transylvania, Romania)
- Wildcoast Coffeebay Trail (Transkei, South Africa, coastal area)
- Milford track (South of New Zealand)
- Annapurna (Nepal, well-known but still very beautiful)
- Chang Mai Hill Tribes trek (Thailand, multiple routes)
- The Bear Route (Oulanka, Finland)
- Fish River Canyon (Namibia, desert area and oases)
- Patagonia (Traveler's paradise with Torres de Paine)
- Great South West Walk (Australia, along the coast of Victoria)
- Overland track (Tasmania, lots of wild and varied landscape)
Mountain biking and Cycling abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
Mountain biking and Cycling abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
Mountain biking and Cycling abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
What is cycling abroad?
- Cycling is riding a bike or bicycle, either with or without electrical support
- Cycling can be done as a sport or as a way of transportation
- Depending on the terrain you can use a mountain bike, a city bike, a racing bike or gravel bike
Why should you go cycling abroad?
- Cycling can be done as sport or as a way of transportation
- By choosing a bike over a car or bus to discover the landscape or city you will become more aware of your surrounding
- By choosing a bike over walking or hiking, you will be able to cover a larger area in the same time
- Cycling is a healthy way of traveling, only under very hot or smoggy conditions it might be healthier to choose another way of transport
- When cycling you have a higher chance to get in contact with local then when you use motorized transportation
What do you need and what should you take into account when you go cycling?
- Per country and per city there is a big difference in the way people treat cyclists both when riding as when you're having a rest or are looking for a place to sleep.
- Cycling infrastructure may be great (the Netherlands, Denmark), reasonable (Austria, Belgium) or absent (most countries)
- In mountainous regions, infrastructure for mountain bikes is sometimes better than for road cycling
- When renting a bike, your equipment can be far from optimal, but when something breaks, someone will be there to fix the bike
- When you travel long distances on your own bike, you will probably be self dependant for repairing your bike. Bike repair stores can be a long way out in many countries.
- Bring a good lock, don't leave important or valuable goods on your bike when your bike is out of your sight.
What are the risks when cycling abroad?
- Cars and other motorized vehicles are the biggest danger in traffic
- On the countryside, dogs and stray dogs can be aggressive towards cyclists
- In several countries in Africa and the Middle East kids like to throw rocks at cyclists
- Falling, because of bad roads or harsh weather conditions, can be quite dangerous
- Riding a bike on a long sunny road without enough shade holds the risk of over heating or heavy sun burn
Where is the best place to go cycling abroad?
Some of the most famous or challenging cycling routes:
Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?
Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?
Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?
What is diving or scuba diving?
- Diving is staying underwater for a long time with an air tank on your back to be able to view the underwater world up close and personal.
- A diver breathes through his breathing apparatus, looks around through a diving mask, swims calmly through the water with fins and often wears a diving suit to stay warm.
- Diving is also called scuba diving.
- SCUBA is the abbreviation of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. That is the international term for a compressed air device such as that used by divers.
Why would you go diving abroad?
- Distraction: only a few things work better as a distraction than making a deep sea dive.
- Relaxation: once underwater you end up in a rare quiet environment, at a slow pace you swim through a completely different inhabited world.
- Adrenaline: some dives can provide encounters with special fish species or large coral inhabitants. You will never forget the thrill of swimming quietly past or through them.
- Love of nature: you will encounter so much beauty that you will often put protecting the underwater world higher on your list.
What do you need when you go diving abroad?
- Good health: diving can involve risks if you are not fit enough or suffer from certain ailments.
- Respect for the underwater world: as a diver you can destroy more than you would like.
- A bag with useful items for diving, for before and after the dive (water, sunscreen, etc.).
To what extent are you insured for the risks of diving abroad?
- On average, diving is no more dangerous than most other sports.
- However, preparation and learning about the dangers of diving are more important, so you are well prepared when you face challenges.
- It is not without reason that the diving schools first require you to obtain your diving certificate (for example PADI) before you can go out on your own. But even with your diving certificate in your pocket, it is often wise to go out with a local dive master.
What are the consequences if something goes wrong while diving?
- If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.
- If you are insured for diving abroad is generally subject to restrictions by regular insurance.
- You usually also run a greater risk of having an accident or bad luck.
- Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for backpacking abroad
- Read more: Verzekeren van duikactiviteiten in het buitenland (NL)
What are the best dive destinations?
- Micronesia: Palau
- Red Sea: Egypt, Djibouti
- Indian Ocean: Maldives, Pemba & Zanzibar
- Caribbean: Bonaire, Cayman Islands
- Indonesia: Sulawesi (Bunaken!), Lombok (cheap) Raja Ampat
- Malaysia: Borneo (Sipadan!)
- Papua New Guinea: multiple options
- Australia: Great Barrier Reef, if in the right location
- Central America: Honduras, Cozumel (Palancar reef), Panama (Bocas del Torro), Belize
- India: Andaman Islands, Ladakshadweep Islands
- Oman
Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it and what is the best place to go?
Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it and what is the best place to go?
Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go and are you insured?
What is rafting?
- Rafting is going down a fast-flowing river in a large inflatable boat.
What is canoeing?
- Canoeing is sailing with 1 or more people in a narrow and open boat where you propel yourself forward with paddles.
- In a canoe you use a paddle with a blade on only one side.
- Canoeing is usually done on calm water, but in certain countries, for example, fishermen also use a canoe on the open sea.
What is kayaking?
- Kayaking is sailing in a narrow boat that you often close in around your waist and where you can easily capsize and come back up.
- When kayaking you use a paddle with a blade on both sides to push yourself off in the water. Kayaking can be done at different levels, varying from small rapids with mostly low waves to long stretched rapids with high, irregular sharp bends, difficult breakers and whirlpools.
- With sea kayaking, the type of coast and the weather determine the risks and level of difficulty
What is river trekking?
- River trekking is floating down a fast-flowing river with a life jacket and a protective helmet.
What is tubing?
- With tubing, you float down a river in an inflated tire.
- Because tubing is usually offered on not too wild rivers, it is also a good way to experience the landscape.
Why would you go rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rivertrekking or tubing abroad?
- Relaxation: once on the water you will find yourself in a rare quiet environment, where you are surrounded by nature.
- Adrenaline: some kayak and raft routes provide adrenaline to every fiber.
- Love for nature: you will encounter so much beauty that you will often put protecting nature higher on your list.
What is the best place to go if you want to canoe, kayak or raft abroad?
- Canoe or raft trip on the Zambezi (at the Victoria Falls!) or on the Orange or Doring river in South Africa
- Kayaking trips to Mumba Island, Malawi
- White Water Rafting in Bali, in the Andes or the East Coast of Australia
- Kayaking, diving or surfing course in Panama
- Kayaking course on a wild river in Turrialba, Costa Rica
- By canoe (hollowed out tree trunk) down the rivers (with rapids!) of the immense Amazon region
- Kayaking trips around Vancouver (Canada)
- River rafting on the Apurimac and Urubamba rivers (Peru)
- Combine a canoe trip with wild camping and discover the Swedish lakes or the island-rich coast
Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?
Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?
Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?
- What does it mean to be a sports instructor abroad?
- What does it mean to be an outdoor trainer abroad?
- Why would you become a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?
- What do you need, or what skills can you acquire as a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?
- Where can you become a sports trainer or outdoor trainer abroad?
- To what extent are you insured for the risks?
What does it mean to be a sports instructor abroad?
- A sports instructor is someone who teaches sports in theory and practice. You teach how to master a certain sport, or learn to practice it better.
- In addition, you are often busy with all kinds of practical matters concerning the requirements for the sport in question.
What does it mean to be an outdoor trainer abroad?
- An outdoor instructor is someone who teaches the theory and practice of an outdoor activity. You teach how to master a certain activity, or learn to master it better.
- With many outdoor activities, you pay extra attention to safety while practicing the activity.
- In addition, you are often busy with arranging and organising all kinds of practical matters around the activity.
Why would you become a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?
- Helpfulness: it is rewarding work that you get a lot in return. You are busy transferring knowledge to others.
- Involvement: it strengthens your sense of connection with people and nature.
- Experience: You gain unique experiences in another country, in another nature and in another culture.
- Sense of freedom: especially when you are working outside in a beautiful environment.
- Self-insight: you learn independence, to trust yourself and how to react in difficult situations.
What do you need, or what skills can you acquire as a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?
- Empathy: feeling for the people you teach or guide.
- Having courage: you should not be too fearful in some sports.
- Being aware of the environment, respect for the flora and fauna and the culture in which you work.
- Being aware of the organization: you must always be able to remain alert, because you are responsible for yourself and your students.
- Flexibility: the weather conditions and seasons, the physical condition of yourself and your students can have an influence.
Where can you become a sports trainer or outdoor trainer abroad?
A short list of popular outdoor destinations
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Germany
- Iceland
- Norway
- New Zeeland
- Switzerland
- United States
To what extent are you insured for the risks?
- Are you insured as a sports instructor abroad?
- When you become a sports instructor, special rules apply and there are also specific insurance policies that take into account the risks you can run into
- Read more:Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
- Read more: Verzekeren van activiteiten als sportinstructeur in het buitenland (NL)
Snorkeling abroad: what is it, what is the best place to go, and are you insured?
Snorkeling abroad: what is it, what is the best place to go, and are you insured?
Snorkeling abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?
- What is snorkeling abroad?
- Why should you go snorkeling abroad?
- What do you need and what should you take into account when you go snorkeling?
- What are the risks when practicing diving abroad?
- What are the consequences if something goes wrong while snorkeling?
- Where is the best place to go if you want to snorkel and have an unforgettable experience?
- Where else in the world can you snorkel really well?
What is snorkeling abroad?
- Snorkeling is swimming with a windpipe and diving goggles to be able to view the underwater world from above.
- You usually wear flippers to make it easier to move, or to be able to dive a few meters deep.
- A snorkeler breathes through his snorkel and looks down through his diving goggles.
Why should you go snorkeling abroad?
- Experience: Unforgettable impressions: the first time you snorkel among the many colorful fish is an unforgettable experience for everyone. In real life it is much more intense than you would have expected.
- Involvement: Snorkeling increases your awe for nature underwater, whether you go snorkeling with dolphins, come face to face with enormous manta rays or encounter a sea turtle while snorkeling, your view of nature will never be the same again! Stability and stress reduction: Snorkeling is not only the ultimate relaxation, it is also fantastically beautiful to float among thousands of fish and coral species, to let yourself be carried by the current along a rock wall with bright red fan corals and parrot fish that calmly look at you.
What do you need and what should you take into account when you go snorkeling?
- Environmental awareness: for example by using coral-friendly sunscreen, by not standing on corals, and by touching as little coral or fish as possible.
- Health: snorkeling can sometimes involve risks if you are not fit enough and there is a strong current.
What are the risks when practicing diving abroad?
- Snorkeling is relatively harmless.
- Do inquire well about the local dangers such as currents and certain dangerous fish species.
- To have a pleasant night's sleep afterwards, you better make sure that you do not burn your back and legs, that happens very quickly!
What are the consequences if something goes wrong while snorkeling?
- If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you do not have insurance that covers your activities.
- Are you insured for snorkeling abroad?
- Snorkeling abroad is generally not restricted by regular insurance
- Be careful not to take unnecessary risks. If there is a red flag in connection with the visit of a white shark or dangerous jellyfish, skip a day of snorkeling because your insurance will not cover you if you are careless
- Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
- Read more: watersport en duikactiviteiten verzekeren (NL)
Where is the best place to go if you want to snorkel and have an unforgettable experience?
- Australia: top locations you will find the Great Barrier Reef
- Bonaire: check the right places
- Egypt: top locations you will find in the south and in the Sinai
- Philippines: besides Palawan and Bohol there are several top locations
- Honduras: for example around Roatan and Utila
- Indonesia: such as on Lombok (cheap), Sulawesi (Bunaken!) and Pulau Weh (Aceh)
- Maldives: on many of the islands you can snorkel super
- Malaysia: the Perhentians and Sipidan (on Borneo)
- Panama: for example on Bocas del Torro
- Tanzania: on Pemba and Zanzibar
Where else in the world can you snorkel really well?
- Canary Islands
- Curaçao
- Greece
- Cape Verde Islands
- Malta & Gozo
- Turkey
- Thailand
Visiting caves abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
Visiting caves abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
What is a cave?
- Caves are natural cavities beneath the earth's surface. Caves are often formed by the weathering of rock and can extend deep and far underground.
- Real caves are formed naturally: by groundwater/chemical weathering, wind, rain, waves, or even lava.
- Some types of caves you may encounter abroad include stalactite caves, wind caves, lava caves, ice caves, and sea caves.
Which caves are among the most beautiful caves in the world to visit?
- Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, United States: the largest cave system in the world
- Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, United States
- Cueva de los Cristales, Mexico: cave filled with giant crystals
- Gruta de Huagapo, Peru: also used for cave diving
- Eisriesenwelt, Austria: 42-kilometer-long ice cave
- Fingal’s Cave, Scotland: sea cave on the Hebrides, accessible via boat tours
- Raufarhólshellir, Iceland: large lava cave
- Scărișoara cave, Romania: magnificent ice cave, for icicle lovers
- Waitomo Glowworm caves, New Zealand: You sail through a cave lit by the New Zealand glowworms that live there.
- Naracoorte Caves, Australia: this World Heritage cave is known for the many fossils that have been found there.
- Cango Caves, South Africa: in addition to impressively large chambers, you will also find ancient San drawings here.
- Sof Omar Caves, Ethiopia: 15 kilometers long and with a rich cultural history.
- Snowy Jade Cave, China: three floors with white, jade-like tunnels and chambers.
- St Paul's Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines: accessible by boat; choose a longer route for fewer crowds.
How dangerous is it to visit a cave and what to consider when doing a cave tour?
- Most large caves can only be visited with a guide.
- Have you lost your guide and is it dark? Stay where you are, as the guide will probably be able to find you because he knows the way. The chance of you finding the guide is smaller.
- Visiting caves without a guide can certainly be dangerous, although this varies greatly depending on the type of cave and the size of the cave or cave system
- Do not visit a cave alone, so that in case of an emergency there is a better chance that someone will be left behind to get help.
- Perhaps the most dangerous caves are those that flood during heavy rain or high tide.
- Frequent and prolonged stays in caves with many bats pose a risk of disease transmission, but this is not really an issue in caves that are open to tourists
- Other risks in caves include falling rocks, getting lost, hypothermia, claustrophobia, and injuries from falls
Visiting volcanos abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
Visiting volcanos abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
What is a volcano?
- A volcano is an opening in the earth's crust through which magma escapes.
- An active volcano regularly experiences earthquakes and small or large eruptions.
- A dormant volcano has not been active for a long time (many years), but it is expected that it will erupt again at some point.
- In the case of an extinct or dead volcano, scientists assume that the volcano will not become active again in the future.
What is visiting a volcano?
- On many volcanos it is possible to hike up to the crater, have a look (and smell) and then go walking down again.
- Local tour agencies might offer guided hikes or transport to the start of the trail.
- Depending on the local climate and the terrain of the volcano, this hike can vary greatly in intensity.
- In some dormant volcanos you can even climb down a bit into the crater
- On others, like Villarica in Chile, you can go sledging down on the snowy slopes
Which volcanos are among the most beautiful volcanos in the world to visit?
- Kawah Ijen, Java, Indonesia: with a unique blue crater lake and the experience of having to wear a gas mask around the crater
- Bromo volcano, Java, Indonesia: although there are sometimes quite a lot of people who want to see this special sunrise with you
- Mount Pinatubo, Luzon, Philippines
- Mount Fuji, Japan: you don't even have to climb it to appreciate the beauty of this volcano
- The volcanoes of the North Island, New Zealand
- Cerro Negro in Nicaragua: sandboarding on a volcano
- Acatenango, Guatemala: with a view of the active volcano Fuego, a particularly special phenomenon in the dark
- Vesuvius, Italy: often combined with a visit to Pompeii
- Thrihnukagigur, Iceland: the only volcano you can visit inside, after which you can visit many other volcanoes in Iceland
- Cotopaxi, Ecuador: popular with hikers, multi-day routes also possible
- Villarica, Chile: sledding down the mountain
- Mount Cameroon, Cameroon: from the jungle, you can hike to the top of this remarkable mountain, the second-highest peak in Africa, in a few days
How dangerous is it to visit an active volcano or go hiking on a volcano?
- In which countries do volcanic eruptions occur?
- How can you prepare for a possible volcanic eruption?
- What are the dangers of a volcanic eruption?
- What can you do if you are caught in a volcanic eruption?
- Are you insured for the consequences of a volcanic eruption?
- Read more about the dangers of volcanos
Visiting waterfalls abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
Visiting waterfalls abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
What is a waterfall?
- A waterfall is a point in a river or meltwater stream where water flows down a vertical slope or series of steep slopes.
- Most waterfalls are formed where a hard rock transitions to a softer rock. The faster wear of the soft rock creates a difference in elevation, and that difference in elevation causes the water to come over those soft rocks even harder and faster, accelerating the process itself
Which waterfalls are among the most beautiful waterfalls in the world?
- Angel Falls: Venezuela: the water falls down so long that it often doesn't even touch the bottom
- Ban Gioc-Detian Falls, Vietnam and China: great difference in experience between dry season and rainy season
- Gullfoss: Iceland
- Iguazu, Argentina and Brazil: can be visited by hiking or by boat trip
- Niagara Falls, USA and Canada
- Plitvice, Croatia: a system of small waterfalls that ends in a turquoise lake
- Tukad Cepung, Bali: in a cave with beautiful light
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia: in summer you can swim here in devils pool but the falls are a lot smaller
- Patagonia, Argentina: on various locations there are opportunities to see and even climb ice waterfalls
What should you think about when visiting a waterfall?
- the season: not every waterfall is active all year round. In the rainy season some waterfalls are extra impressive, while others lose charm due to the muddy water flow
- swimming gear: check with tours in advance if swimming is possible, with water shoes you will gain some comfort and have less chance of broken soles
Is a waterfall dangerous to visit?
- At the largest waterfalls, the area is usually pretty strictly set up for visitors. As long as you do not climb over the fences for special selfies, it is safe
- At smaller and remote waterfalls and seasonal waterfalls, there is usually no supervision and you will have to judge for yourself how close you can get
- At the top, just before the waterfall, the current is extra strong and sucks you towards the abyss. That's also where people often get sucked underwater against rocks and tree trunks.
- Especially in the rainy season or even after a short upstream rainstorm, waterfalls can carry quite a lot of branches, pebbles and rocks in addition to extra water. An idyllic shower under the waterfall then suddenly turns out differently
- When you swim under a waterfall it can push you down by the weight of the water and the white water under the waterfall gives much less buoyancy. Do not be alarmed and swim to the side to get out of the current
- Jumping off a waterfall gives a special feeling, but in unfamiliar territory it is wise to check whether, for example, the water level at that moment allows you to jump safely.
Watching the great animal migrations abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
Watching the great animal migrations abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
Watching the great animal migrations abroad
What are large animal migrations?
- Animal migrations are the periodic movements that animal species make in search of food, mating grounds, or a pleasant climate.
- The term “The Great Migration” usually refers to the migration of more than a million wildebeests, antelopes, and other herbivores in East Africa.
Where and when can you encounter large animal migrations abroad?
African savanna animals
- The Great Migration takes place between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.
- July, August, and September are the best months to see the animals in large numbers and witness a spectacular crossing of one of the rivers up close in Masai Mara National Park.
Bats
- In Africa, there is another large migration that may attract fewer tourists but is the largest mammal migration in the world. With 8 million straw-coloured fruit bat gathering in Kasanka, Zambia, it is truly a wonderful natural phenomenon.
- From October to December, the fruit bats gather here from across much of Africa.
Butterflies
- You will experience a completely different atmosphere during the migration of monarch butterflies. These butterflies travel from North America to Mexico in the fall.
- The best time to see the monarch butterflies in Mexico is December, January, or February. During this time, there are certain areas of forest where every tree is covered with these beautiful butterflies.
- El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary in Ocampo is a good place to experience this natural phenomenon.
Caribou
- The caribou of northern Canada also migrate in large herds from summer to winter grounds and vice versa. It is particularly worth visiting in the spring when small groups slowly merge into large herds.
Red crabs
- You can see a colorful but also somewhat creepy sight on Christmas Island in Australia.
- The red crab migration takes place in October and November, when 120 million crabs migrate from the forests to the coast to lay their eggs.
Sardines
- In a number of places around the world, hundreds of thousands to millions of sardines gather. These include the Philippines and Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa.
Whales
- Every year, 10 to 20,000 gray whales pass along the coast of Vancouver.
- Humpback whales swim past in large numbers at several locations during their migration.
- Other whales may not migrate in large numbers, but even seeing a small number of whales swimming by can be quite impressive.
Watching the northern light abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
Watching the northern light abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?
What is the northern lights?
- The northern lights, also known as aurora or polar lights, are a natural phenomenon best seen in northern Europe, Russia and Canada
- The northern lights occur when charged particles from the sun are guided by Earth’s magnetic field into the upper atmosphere near the poles
What is the southern lights?
- For its counterpart in the south, the southern lights (Aurora australis), good viewing locations are rarer. In winter, Antarctica is the best place, but because of the climate, you can't really go there.
- Therefore, the southernmost inhabited, approachable places to see the southern lights are Tasmania and the far south of New Zealand
When is the best time to see the northern lights?
- Because it never gets dark in the far north and deep south during the summer months, you can see the northern lights particularly well in winter and late fall.
- Aurora is difficult to predict and especially the most intense varieties with lots of action and various colors are rare.
- To increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, it is best to travel to places with few clouds (for example, the interior of Lapland)
- In tourist resorts, a few people often keep watch and then wake sleeping tourists as soon as the northern lights are visible.
Why should you go see the Northern Lights for yourself?
- Because of the many online photos with long shutter speeds, seeing the northern lights can turn out to be a deception.
- What you see in real life is usually a green glow that sometimes moves slightly.
- In contrast, the truly spectacular northern lights are an experience you absolutely cannot capture with a photograph.
- The colors purple, green and pink dance through the sky in all sorts of rapidly changing formations.
- If you want to see this during a week in Lapland, you'll need some luck.
Is a trip to the northern lights dangerous?
- The northern light itself is not dangerous.
- Because the best places to see the northern lights are often quite cold and snowy, hypothermia is a risk to consider.
- What some also need to watch out for are high expectations; as with most natural phenomena, reality can be quite different from that ultimate photo used by your hotel, travel agent or favorite influencer.
Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
What is a gap year abroad?
- A gap year is a longer period between two courses, between a course and a job or between two jobs. Where you more or less consciously choose not to switch directly from one to the other.
- A gap year is generally not literally a year but can vary from a few months to a year.
- The international term for a gap year is 'gap year', although gap year is more often used when it comes to a less serious way of spending the period.
How can you fill a gap year abroad?
- You can perfect your language skills and you can take classes in subjects of your choice, from art and history to media studies.
- You can also gain work experience and improve your skills by doing an internship at a local company.
- You can help yourself and someone else by doing volunteer work.
- You can fill your backpack with experiences by making a long or world trip.
- You can also do it all and not make it a gap year, but the starting year of the rest of your (meaningful) life.
Why should you take a gap year abroad?
- work or study experience in those areas that may be important for your study choice or career. Before you choose a direction, it is nice to know a little about what you are getting into.
- experience with immersing yourself in another culture, without being bothered by your friends, family or other limitations.
- a mountain of self-knowledge that you will continue to benefit from your whole life.
- a lot of new friends or acquaintances.
What do you need for a gap year abroad?
- A sufficient budget to last as long as you want, or enough work ethic to earn money there.
- The realization that when you return, you may want to leave again immediately.. so take enough time to acclimatize at home.
- The realization that after the period that you have been away, you may think very differently about your future.
- The realization that after the period that you have been away, you might think exactly the same about your future.
What is the best place to go during your gap year?
- Become an au pair: Argentina, Australia, China, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Austria, Spain and the United States.
- Backpacking and earning money: Australia, Canada, Curacao, Europe, New Zealand.
- Learn Chinese in China: for example in Beijing.
- Become a divemaster and teach diving: Greece, Egypt, Indonesia.
- Learn German: (Berlin), Austria or Switzerland.
- Learn English abroad: Australia (Sydney), England (Brighton, Cambridge, London), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), the United States (New York, San Francisco), Malta, South Africa (Cape Town).
- Learn French: Biarritz; Nice, Paris, Switzerland.
- Learn Italian in Italy: Florence, Rome, Siena, Venice.
- Learn Spanish in Spain: Barcelona, Granada, Malaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia.
- Learn Spanish in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic.
- Learn Spanish in Central America: Costa Rica (Turrialba), Guatemala (Antigua), Panama (Bocas del Toro).
- Learn Spanish in South America: Argentina (Bariloche, Buenos Aires), Ecuador, Peru.
- Learn Swahili in Africa: Kenya (Kilifi), Tanzania (Zanzibar).
- Volunteering with children or the elderly: you can do volunteer work in almost any country in the world. Check the JoHo country pages for an indication of the work or projects.
- Volunteering as an animal caretaker: Australia (koalas, kangaroos, horses), Curacao (dolphins, dogs, cats), Indonesia (orangutans, street dogs), South Africa (monkeys, cheetahs, sharks, penguins, rhinos, elephants).
- Volunteering: protect sea turtles: Sri Lanka, Costa Rica.
- Travel the world: Southeast Asia, Latin America and Australia.
What are the risks of a gap year abroad?
- Your health insurance coverage may lapse if, for example, you go and will work abroad.
- You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
- You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
- What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in a hospital?
- If you end up in a hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.
- Are you insured for a gap year abroad? A gap year abroad can be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you do not go abroad for too long, do not undertake paid work or special activities. In most cases, special insurance is recommended or really necessary.
- Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
- Read more: Vezekeren van een tussenjaar het buitenland (NL)
Activities abroad: home bundle
Activities abroad: home bundle
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