How a Volunteer Sabbatical Changed My Career and My Life

In my previous life (this is what I call my life before my sabbatical), I worked as a project manager in the UK at an American insurance company called ACE Insurance. I worked all hours, earned decent money, was stuck in a rut and was going through a divorce, which like all divorces was costing me a lot of money! As I was giving away so much money, I thought I’d spend some of my own on a career break to take some “time out”.

I’d been to South Africa on holiday previously and whilst on safari, I noticed a research vehicle driving around following the animals and taking notes. I looked up the website address on their vehicle and found out that it was a volunteer conservation company, where people could volunteer with them and help with the research. So I spoke to my employer, got my sabbatical approved and booked my place on the volunteer project. As well as this, I also booked a safari guide course which I thought would give me a good understanding of the African wildlife.

So after many months of counting down the days, I was off to South Africa where I completed the safari guide course and started the volunteering project. I was in Africa, having the time of my life and didn’t have a single worry in the world! Could life get any better than this? Well you’d expect me to say “NO”, however the answer is “YES” as my life was about to make a huge directional change for the better.
To cut a long story short, one of the safari lodges on the reserve had a guide leave and I was asked to replace them for a week. A week became two weeks, which became five and by the end of my time they offered me a full time job! So I flew back to the UK, sold my house, sold my car, took voluntary redundancy (thanks ACE!!!) before flying back to South Africa four months later.

I then worked as a safari guide whilst I obtained more qualifications, became promoted to the manager of the five start lodge, and after a number of years ended up back at the volunteering company, where I worked as a staff member and eventually became manager there too!

So am I still there now?…Nope, I left and moved to Costa Rica where I set up a new company, which I then bought from the owners, moved it to the UK and now own Yomps, which is a gap year, career break and adventure travel company, selling lots of amazing trips all over the world, including the original safari guide course that started my new life!