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Trekforce or Frontier |
 Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 7:02 pm |
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| Hi, I am looking at doing some conservation work later this year or early next year and its come down to either madagascar with Frontier or Belize with Trekforce.
Has anyone done either of these? Any good or bad experiences? Also is anyone planning on going on either of these trips in the near future? Thanks David |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 13 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 7:27 pm |
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| I'm off with Trekforce to Papua New Guinea in a couple of months or so.
You should also looks at Raleigh International - I cant recommend them highly enough. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1087 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 7:58 pm |
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| Alright mate,
Im off with trekforce to belize in february....sounds wicked! I don't know anything about frontier; but for trekforce i've read so many positive articles and spoken to ex volunteers and they just seemed to love it - so that's part of the reason why i have chosen them. Depends what you want to do for your year and where. Aaron |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 10 Posts |
| Posted: Wed May 7, 2008 11:41 am |
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| Aaron, It does look amazing doesn't it? Are you doing the 5 months trip including the spanish course and teaching? Is this the first time you have done anything like this?
Also is there anyone who lives near Nottingham who has ever done any of these trips who fancies meeting up for a beer and a chat about it? Cheers, David |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 13 Posts |
| Posted: Thu May 8, 2008 10:59 am |
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| I suggest you avoid Frontier.
I signed up to their Tanzania Savannah project last year. A local charity awarded me £100 towards the project cost, and sent the money directly to Frontier, but on my behalf. However, as I'd already paid the full amount, Frontier said that they'd return the £100 to me. Despite repeated assurances that they'd return the money, they've yet to do so after a year. They say that they've sent me emails explaining the situation, though somehow none have got through. I'm thoroughly sceptical that they even attempted to contact me, and even more sceptical that they intend to return the £100, either to me or the charity that donated it in the first place. The project itself was also not as described. At the time of me signing up, the project involved monitoring puku, an endangered species of antelope. However, the project actually involved monitoring butterflies. According to the Tanzanian staff, we weren't able to get out to the puku as Frontier London weren't willing to repair the truck necessary to transport us from camp to the plains. Tanzania is a wonderful place, and the Tanzanian staff are wonderful people. But Frontier, as an organisation, has been wholly untrustworthy in my experience. On the Trekforce front, I know a girl who went to Belize with them and had a great time, and came back with no complaints. Enjoy. [Edit: after I posted this message, Frontier returned £95, retaining a £5 "administration fee". Whether there was a causal relationship between this post and them returning the money I can't say] |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 4 Posts |
| Posted: Thu May 8, 2008 2:14 pm |
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| Thanks. I booked to go on the Belize trip with Trekforce next year last night. Looking forward to it. | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 13 Posts |
| Posted: Fri May 9, 2008 5:39 pm |
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| Wicked mate!
Yeah i'm doing the whole shebang 5months: jungle, trek, teaching, spanish and maybe diving. Then hopfully travelling around central america for 2months. which bits are you doing? Well i've travelled independantly and i do voluntary work locally but no i've not done anything quite like this before. what about you? Aaron |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 10 Posts |
| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:27 pm |
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| Yeah I am doing the whole 5 months and diving. Can't wait it looks awesome.
I went to Australia for 4 months last summer and travelled up the east coast. I started doing some conservation volunteering locally just before christmas but they had to stop it for a while. Typical!! Do you know anyone else who is doing it? David |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 13 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 4:45 pm |
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| yea bring february on! no haven't found anyone going on this expedition yet.
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 10 Posts |
| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:16 pm |
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| Avoid Froniter, Iv hear Raleigh, GVI are really good | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 21 Posts |
| Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 2:05 pm |
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| I’ve just got back from a project in Tanzania- can’t believe how quickly it went, the whole experience was amazing and I’m gutted to be home already. I’m already missing the crew out there loads, everyone got on so well and I’ll definitely be meeting up with some of them for a night out soon. The place it self is like something out of a film- unbelievably beautiful and the weather is bloody amazing- which meant the beach parties were very cool! I went from being an absolute beginner at diving to passing my PADI open water and I am hooked for life, its totally addictive and seeing seven whale sharks in one day was a once in a lifetime experience. Even working at the school which I thought would be boring was an unexpectedly mindblowing experience- the culture is so different from what any of us were used to but the people were legendary- really friendly and so appreciative of our work. The beach clean ups were knackering but spending time threre makes you want to help with environmental work. Would definitely recommend Frontier- staff were nice and no problems in terms of organization. | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 6 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:21 am |
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| I would totally endorse what Tanzania trek
says about Frontier. It is a scam. I have spent the best part of £1,000 and had no support, guidance, input from them. They have glossy brochers, but nothing substantial behind them. They take your money and abandon you. Avoid them altogether. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 3 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Jun 1, 2008 12:11 pm |
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| David mate, whats your email? | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 10 Posts |
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