South Africa volunteering guide
Away from affluent areas, out of sight of Stellenbosch, and past the protected perimeters of private game reserves, there’s a side to South Africa that needs your help. Volunteer your time, skills, and enthusiasm, and you’ll find out what’s beyond the tourist highs; just make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into before you sign up with rose tinted intentions. Short stays – one or two weeks – are better suited to volunteering with animals or physical projects where the more hands on the job, the better.
Hard work, cultural shocks, emotional exchanges and obliterated clothing – if you’re still looking to volunteer and make a difference in South Africa, you might just have what it takes.
Longer stays – four or five weeks, or more – are ideal for those looking to work with people, form relationships, and get a deeper understanding of South Africa’s complex character. Passionate pupils, orphaned monkeys, great white sharks, drought damaged soil; you can visit Cape Town, safari in Kruger or beach braai at weekends but, you know what, it will most likely be the working week, the eight till five, that you miss the most.
is/isn't...
Volunteering in South Africa is...
for the kids, the teachers, the carers and the lions within us all.
Volunteering in South Africa isn’t...
a vacation or a safari; it’s much better than that.
Our South Africa Volunteering Vacations
Endangered wildlife conservation in South Africa
Award-winning, Fair Trade certified wildlife conservation!
From
US $1544
14 days
ex flights
Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa
Help re-habilitate orphaned monkeys in beautiful rural South Africa
From
£769
10 days
ex flights
Volunteer with children & animals in South Africa
Volunteer with children and wild animals in South Africa.
From
€550 to €3990
7 days
ex flights
Horse rehabilitation project in South Africa
Work hands on with horses on the South African coast
From
£895
7 days
ex flights
Family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa
Hands-on family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa
From
£767
7 days
ex flights
South Africa house building volunteering
Build a Future Swaziland
From
US $909 to US $2509
14 days
ex flights
Sports coaching in South Africa
Coach your favourite sport & inspire disadvantaged children
From
£1239
5 weeks
ex flights
Conservation volunteering for over 40s in South Africa
Over-40s volunteer vacation on a Big 5 game reserve in Africa
From
£709
8 days
ex flights
Whale and Dolphin monitoring in South Africa
Monitor dolphins & whales in their natural habitat. Amazing.
From
£945
7 days
ex flights
Social work experience in South Africa
Work with social workers who resolve family conflict
From
£1695
4 weeks
ex flights
South Africa game ranger course
Get your game ranger qualification working with wildlife
From
£3140
8 weeks
ex flights
Big five conservation in South Africa
Volunteer with the Big Five in South Africa.
From
£828 to £4967
15 days
ex flights
Volunteer at The Shamwari Wildlife Reserve, South Africa
Conserve species on a South African game reserve
From
£985 to £5985
14 days
ex flights
The great white shark conservation project in South Africa
Encounter iconic Great White Sharks in South Africa!
From
£895 to £3895
14 days
ex flights
Lion rehabilitation volunteering in South Africa
Care for and rehabilitate lions rescued from canned hunting
From
£1475
14 days
ex flights
South Africa volunteering expedition, Kruger to Cape
Kruger 2 Cape expedition
From
US $3440 to US $4138
8 weeks
ex flights
Volunteering with Elephants in South Africa
Study and care for elephants in South Africa
From
£795
7 days
ex flights
Volunteer with elephants in South Africa
Volunteer with elephants on the stunning Garden Route
From
£1295
21 days
ex flights
Volunteer with elephants in South Africa, 1 week
Care for rescued elephants on the stunning Garden Route
From
£825
7 days
ex flights
Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa
Care for orphaned animals in stunning South Africa!
From
£490 to £3390
7 days
ex flights
Veterinary internship in Chintsa, South Africa
Hands-on veterinary experience in game reserves and farms
From
£1699
14 days
ex flights
Wildlife conservation in South Africa
Protect wildlife in a stunning coastal reserve
From
£1095
14 days
ex flights
Vervet monkey rehabilitation project in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Care for, Rehabilitate, Release Vervet Monkeys into the wild
From
£895
7 days
ex flights
Sports coaching volunteering in South Africa
Coach various sports and teach in stunning Knysna
From
£1695
4 weeks
ex flights
Veterinary internship in South Africa
Veterinary experience in South Africa
From
£1195
14 days
ex flights
Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa
Enjoy amazing wildlife photography while giving back!
From
US $3875
4 weeks
ex flights
South Africa volunteering with the big five
Take part in the conservation of Africa's wildlife.
From
£475 to £5700
15 days
ex flights
Photography volunteer program in Cape Town
Make a difference through photography!
From
US $1995
8 days
ex flights
Game capture and relocation in South Africa
Learn about African wildlife conservation - very varied!
From
£1595
14 days
ex flights
Mozambique marine conservation & Kruger safari
Moz Marine conservation & Kruger
From
US $3036 to US $4630
5 weeks
ex flights
WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T
UNDERRATED
RATED
OVERRATED
Our top South Africa Volunteering Vacation
Endangered wildlife conservation in South Africa
Award-winning, Fair Trade certified wildlife conservation!
From
US $1544
14 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 4 Nov, 18 Nov, 2 Dec
2020: 13 Jan, 27 Jan, 10 Feb, 24 Feb, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 20 Apr, 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec
2019: 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 4 Nov, 18 Nov, 2 Dec
2020: 13 Jan, 27 Jan, 10 Feb, 24 Feb, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 20 Apr, 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about South Africa Volunteering or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
More about South Africa Volunteering
Volunteers are needed all year round, so check out the best time to volunteer in South Africa in terms of temperature and rainfall.
We’ve picked our top 10 South Africa volunteering vacations so you can get a better understanding of what we do, and how you can help to make a real difference.
Our wildlife volunteering vacation’s page breaks down the different types of tour that we offer as well as managing traveler expectations when it comes to what types of wildlife you can expect to see, and the sort of jobs and tasks you’ll be doing.
From endangered wildlife monitoring to community construction projects, KwaZulu Natal volunteering vacations offer a unique way to experience this vibrant South African region.
Checking camera traps and analysing photo data coupled with game drives into some of KwaZulu Natal’s most biodiverse wilderness areas; leopard conservation vacations offer volunteers a unique insight into the little-seen lives of South Africa’s most elusive big cats.
Our community volunteering vacations in South Africa require commitment in terms of time, as well as the physical, mental and emotional demands of working in some of South Africa’s poorest communities.
Travelers really need to do their research before signing up for a captive wildlife volunteering vacation in South Africa.
From pollution to poverty, respecting cultural traditions to respecting animals, there are many responsible volunteering issues to keep in mind...
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Frontier Official] [volunteering is...: Seth Doyle]
[Underrated..shark: Olga Ernst]
[Underrated..family volunteer: Pod volunteer]
[Underrated..endangered wild: Derek Keats]
[Underated..managing expectations: Frontier Official]
[Rated..sports coach: Richard Matthews]
[Rated..monkeys: Afrika Force]
[Rated..Big cat sanctuaries: Wade Lambert]
[Rated..volunteer park ranger: Frontier Official]
[Overrated..whistlestop tours: Travelers Worldwide]
[Overrated...cuddling cubs: Frontier Official]
[Overrated..Easy access: Frontier Official]
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