FINAL preparations are being made by a group of Okehampton College students to head off on an expedition to South Africa at the end of the month. The students will undertake a five day outdoor expedition as well as a community project to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Fund raising has brought in approximately £12,500 ? nearly all the money needed for the trip to an area north of Jefferies Bay in South Africa. The group has completed all their preparation training which has included lighting fires and cooking backwoods. Leader Chris Bourne said: ?The group will be staying in caves throughout the expedition, one of which is a ?leopard cave? ? where a night vigil will have to be undertaken to ensure we are the only ocupants for the night!? The Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council has awarded a grant of £1,000 to research the possiblity of an exchange with a group from South Africa at a future date. Discussions have also been held with Okehampton College principal Daryll Chapman regarding this exciting possibility.