If you're looking for a programme abroad with total support, Concierge is our offering for you. Our all-inclusive Concierge package delivers a wide range of features as well as full pre-trip and on the ground support.
Concierge's price of £1495 makes it a great value offer in comparison with other providers (around £500 cheaper), but with comprehensive features such as additional pre-trip preparation, accommodation assistance, 24-hour on the ground support and much more. You can also access additional career-related support services such as seminars and workshops. You can stay for any length of time with our Concierge package and we'll still be around to support you for your whole trip - an offer unique to Bridging Gaps.
Four unique promises underpin our services to give you total peace of mind.
We guide you through all your pre trip preparations including assistance with visas, insurance and flights.
We provide you with a comprehensive pre-trip preparation pack which includes information on transport in Cape Town, money, tipping, mobile phones, safety, weather, activities and tours, Garden Route travel, restaurants and bars and advice on what to pack. Concierge clients also receive a welcome pack upon arrival which contains lots of additional Bridging Gaps goodies and guidance.
With Concierge, you'll have access to a number of accommodation options and we'll work closely with you to decide where you'll feel most at home.
As well as meeting you when you first arrive, we will take you back to the airport at the end of your stay in Cape Town.
On your second or third day of being in Cape Town, we will arrange your orientation day. We will show you where the best places for shopping, drawing money and eating out are and we will provide you with a comprehensive health and safety briefing. Your orientation day will also include a walking tour of the area you will be living in.
We will provide you with a sim card with some pre-loaded airtime and we can set you up with a local phone. Also, you won’t even need to think about how to power your gadgets when you’re here, we’ll take care of it. We will provide you with a universal adapter.
We will take you to your first day of placement and then we would be happy to accompany you going forward until you are comfortable getting there on your own. We'll also be around to give you continued travel advice and guidance throughout your trip.
We stay in regular contact with you to ensure you are benefiting and learning from your placement and it is the right organisation for you. We will also provide regular advice about how to make the most of your internship or volunteer programme.
We organise optional weekly social events for our interns to get to know each other and Cape Town! Some of the events we organise include:
• wine tasting trip to Stellenbosch
• surfing lessons at Muizenberg
• hike up table mountain
• picnic at Kirstenbosch Gardens
• dolphin kayaking and many more memorable activities!
We can offer you discounted rates on many of the activities on offer in Cape Town and a variety of Garden Route tours.
Enrich your Cape Town adventure with inclusive workshops and seminars, only for Concierge interns.
At the end of your placement, you'll receive two professional letters of reference to use for future academic and job interviews. You'll also benefit from being part of a supportive Bridging Gaps alumni community and we provide continued career advice and guidance.
See a selection of testimonials below from alumni that chose Concierge. Click through to read the full interviews.
I loved my host organisation! Everyone was so nice to me and always helpful. All the lawyers know so much and are willing to sit down and explain anything to you. I had such great mentors. The work they do is so important. They allowed me to get income in so many areas from research to supporting cases, going into communities to see clients and more.
I think even from when I first arrived you guys were so sweet. You met me with water and a sandwich, which seems like such a small thing but was just what I needed after a long flight. Little touches like that are really special. Also taking me to my first day and making sure I know where to go, little thoughtful details like that are what makes you guys such a great organization. Also knowing if anything happened you guys would be there.
You guys were awesome! First of all you helped organise so many events, like paragliding, skydiving and an amazing safari. You also were so helpful recommending places to go and getting us discounts! You’ve also been helpful with your constant check ins with us, and it was great to see if an intern was having a tough time, you stepped in and helped arrange a whole new internship for them within a matter of days. The social activities are also great!
We have worked very hard to streamline our process to make your experience easy, fun and highly rewarding personally and professionally. Flick through the steps below, or read about our process in more detail.
Getting your dream internship all starts with you saying hello! Just pop your details into our enquiry form and we'll reach out to schedule a conversation with you that we call a 'discovery call'.
In your discovery call, you can ask us any questions you still have. We'll talk about your options in the career fields you've told us you're interested in to help you imagine your placement and decide if our service is right for you.
If everything sounds good to you, complete your application to put into words your dream programme. This forms the basis of the 'design' of your customised placement and will be the primary framework against which we validate potentially suitable opportunities.
We maintain a large and varied network of the best organisations in Cape Town. We will identify the best potential fits for your programme goals and preferences and reach out on your behalf to assess those organisations for suitability (learn about their current projects and initiatives).
Once you've confirmed which placement offer you prefer, we'll start helping you plan the rest of your trip. We'll book your accommodation, help with your travel arrangements and provide extensive advice and information on how to get ready for your time in Cape Town. Your Bridging Gaps mentor will be on hand to make sure you're fully prepared for your placement.
Finally, every member of our team will move mountains to make sure you get what you came for and MORE! It's essential to us that you're safe, you're learning and growing in confidence and developing the most important skills for your future career.
