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Don't forget to take an umbrella," calls a cheerful concierge at Blakes Amsterdam.

It's autumn in Amsterdam, air is crisp, and we are peering out front door of hotel, contemplating a sky filled with low, gray clouds. In a stand next to door are a number of large umbrellas, all black in keeping with Blakes' black and white Asian décor. They are complimentary for Blakes' guests, a practical reminder of personal service for which this upscale boutique hotel is known.

Amsterdam is a city of as many bicycles as people. In Blakes' hand-laid herringbone brick entry courtyard is a stable of bicycles. These are available for guests to use to tour city; you can feel right at home cycling with residents along picturesque canal streets.

Upon our arrival at Blakes we received a refreshing fruit juice welcome. Monique, one of several attractive young men and women in tailored black suits in reception area, asked, "Do you have any fruit allergies or sugar concerns?" before pouring our drinks.

The striking décor of Blakes Amsterdam has been created by London hotelier and internationally renowned designer, Anouska Hempel. The ambiance is high style, yet intimate and welcoming, an environment of luxurious escapism in an old European city noted for crowded accommodations.

Taking a warm top and a ‘blanky’ is OK if you're going to stay at Granny’s house, but when you're taking a gap year in Africa, these items come highly recommended...

Work Pants with zip-off longs x 2

Great for casual wading in water and getting within meters of Southern Right Whales breaching just off your sea sprayed research boat.

This is what work at O.R.C.A Foundation in Plettenberg Bay was all about. Plettenberg Bay is a coastal town located along world famous Garden Route. It's where some of worlds most fascinating marine species can be seen, anything from Humpback Whales to Great White Sharks.

My gap year travel here gave me a once in a life time chance to work with these magnificent marine species in exciting and groundbreaking marine conservation volunteer work.

My Gap year at O.R.C.A. Marine Foundation was also spent doing:

Rescue and rehabilitation of marine species Sampling, tagging, monitoring and dissection of fish species Participating in commercial marine-eco tourism activities, that included whale and dolphin watching tours, sea kayaking, township tours, and river ferry cruises Supervised collection of touch pool and aquarium species for O.R.C.A. Education Centre O.R.C.A. patrol boat trips to collect data, monitor bay and take photos of whales, dolphins and other marine species

The Fleece Beanie

The Kapama Private Game Reserve gets cold at night; I reckon fleece beanies are essential. Long nights monitoring and tracking game is an amazing experience, chills or no chills.

I found stars in sky were a thousand times brighter than they are in city. Though stars were beautiful, most of time thrill of stalking around in bush took preference. Darting parties were conducted to inspect and tag animals for conservation purposes.

The monitoring programs enable conservationists to keep records of movements and numbers of game in area.

Working at Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre involved feeding and taking care of baby animals. Quite a few species are bred here, including cheetah, which is a most interesting cat when you get to see one close up.

Other activities we were involved in: Camping in reserve to get African feeling Target shooting Capturing of wild animals when required by reserve or sanctuary Assisting in hand raised animals Elephant back safaris

Handy Gloves for Colobus Trust