Protecting penguins and sharks, Axelle’s experience!

Axelle went to South Africa to preserve the region's penguins and sharks, and tells us all about her experience!

I learned a lot about marine biology during this project, what threatens great white shark species and penguins, and why they need to be preserved. I was struck by the precarious conditions in which some Africans live. No matter how well you know it, it's something else to be confronted with it (water restrictions, townships, no food wastage...). I've learned to adapt or change my habits according to this.

My best memories are those at sea. In particular, when we saw whales, a mother and her baby, and dolphins just a few meters from the boat. That's really impressive! And of course when we're in the cage with the sharks.

If you had to rate your experience...

• Pre-departure information: 3.5/5 (although I'm not at all disappointed, from what I'd read about the mission I wasn't really expecting this).
• Registration process: 4/5 (very good, except that there are "a lot" of intermediaries)
• Supervision: 5/5
• Trainee timetable: 4/5 (I would have liked us to do more activities after the sea outings, as some days we got home at 11:00 and had nothing to do all day).
• Food and accommodation: 5/5 Tip top! Accommodation is almost luxury for volunteers! The sandwiches on the boat are not exceptional, but we make up for it in the evening with the restaurants and barbecues.

I would recommend this project without hesitation, and I'm even thinking of doing it again in a year or two! I'd also recommend RealStep: there's a wide choice of projects, the booking process is really simple and the people I talk to are very friendly.