Beyond the initial question, “where are we going?” the possibilities regarding what to do while in Africa are seemingly endless. When my friend and I started planning our trip, we couldn’t decide if we wanted to do a Safari or volunteer at an animal sanctuary. 

We wanted the experience of driving around in a jeep, seeing the real plains of Africa, but we also wanted to feel like we were giving back. And, in true Gemini style (which we both are), we said “why not both?!” And thus began our adventure in Zimbabwe. 

We chose Zimbabwe largely because it had both opportunities within its’ borders, so we didn’t have to worry about all the logistics of bouncing between countries — but I’m sure there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other ways to create a trip itinerary similar to ours. 

This being said, our adventure began with volunteering. We had a two hour truck ride into what felt like the very heart of Zimbabwe, and upon arrival, we set down our things in our room and laid our heads down on our pillows — as we were absolutely exhausted. 

And while a nap would’ve been perfect, my friends head squished against a foreign object in her pillow… she threw it to me, I threw it back to her, and she built up the courage to look inside — only to find a dead, exploded lizard where her head had been resting 30 seconds prior. 

It was genuinely hilarious, and we knew from that point forward we weren’t living lavish — we were volunteering in Africa, which was exactly what we signed up for. 

From that point forward, it was a lot of hard work. We woke up at 6am and would head out until noon to carry 40+ pound bags of animal food, cut down trees to build playgrounds, clean god-knows how much elephant/rhino feces, spend back-breaking hours shoveling hay, battle through thorny bushes to move beehives — and more. 

Many times, by the time we returned for lunch, our backs and arms ached, we were covered in mud/dust/thorns, we were checking each other for ticks, and itching at the thought of where we had just been. But then, we would go back out in the afternoons for something that was always a bit more fun.

Sometimes it was horseback riding, sometimes it was walking with the elephants or tracking the rhinos. But, when in Africa, nothing ever goes quite as expected. Our truck would get stuck and often we didn’t find the rhinos — but when the star would align, it was always worth it. 

We climbed to the top of a rock structure to watch the sunset, raced to the showers for the warm water, and laughed through it all. But our time came and went, and my friend and I were in for the second leg of our trip: the safari. 

We caught a flight from Harare to Victoria Falls, where we were met by our driver. He took us an hour and a half to Hwange National Park where we were met by our favorite guy: Brendan! He was our safari guide who made our time absolutely amazing.

After about a 30 minute ride into the park, we asked how much longer it would be (we expected to be there any minute). To our delightful surprise, we had a three/four hour drive into the park before we’d reach our destination. We spent the evening breathing in the sun, feeling the air blow against our faces and learning about wildlife. 

When we finally got to our resort, we were met with warm towels and sweet drinks (please compare this to our lizard-arrival we had at our volunteer camp — it’s too hilarious). In true 19-year-old fashion, I almost immediately spilled the drink all over their beautiful table and proceed to curse as a reaction. #classy.

Our few days there were nothing short of luxury. We were driven around to see the beauty of wild Africa, dined on delicious meals, drank maybe too much merlot, and made great friends with our guide. 

But our time came to an end, and we were headed to Victoria Falls: one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Again, we were still on our safari, so we were driven and escorted everywhere. We truly felt like super stars. And if you ever get a chance, see the Falls. It’s beautiful beyond words. 

So, the big question: volunteering or safari? 

It’s not a black and white answer. Some people would be better off volunteering, and others a safari. But me? Volunteering over and over. 

Something about working hard, feeling accomplished, and befriending those around you is more meaningful than any sweet drink or warm hand towel can ever be. It’s not to say I loved the safari less or that it wasn’t as much fun, because it was — but I felt like I was experiencing a different side of Africa. A side that felt more commercialized, and maybe a little less real? 

I don’t regret any of it. The fact of the matter is simply that volunteering filled up my soul in a way the safari didn’t. I often find myself thinking of my jeep rides singing songs with the local children, or laughing at the memory of myself failing miserably on a training course designed for anti-poachers. I think about the moment of serene peace I felt after a day of hard work: feeling the sun on my skin and the trees and grass blowing in the wind. I would give a lot to go back to that moment.

You have to decide for yourself what would fill your soul up more. Hopefully my experience will help you decide! But me? I’ll be volunteering every time.