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.
See all our South Africa Volunteering Vacations Give us a call
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

Endangered wildlife conservation in South Africa

Award-winning, Fair Trade certified conservation work!

From US $1330 14 days ex flights
Read 20 reviews
Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa

Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa

Help re-habilitate orphaned monkeys in beautiful rural South Africa

From £847 14 days ex flights
Read 15 reviews
Family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa

Family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa

Hands-on family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa

From £747 to £847 14 days ex flights
Read 4 reviews
Family volunteering and safari vacation, South Africa

Family volunteering and safari vacation, South Africa

Take your family on a truly rewarding vacation of a lifetime

From US $679 7 days ex flights
Read 2 reviews
Horse rehabilitation project in South Africa

Horse rehabilitation project in South Africa

Work hands on with horses on the South African coast

From £895 7 days ex flights
Read 1 review
Volunteer with children & animals in South Africa

Volunteer with children & animals in South Africa

Volunteer with children and wild animals in South Africa.

From €550 to €3990 7 days ex flights
Read 6 reviews
Wildlife conservation vacation in South Africa

Wildlife conservation vacation in South Africa

Assist with conservation & research in Greater Kruger Park

From £995 14 days ex flights
Read 2 reviews
Volunteer with deaf children in South Africa

Volunteer with deaf children in South Africa

Help children with hearing difficulties

From £1145 14 days ex flights
Volunteer at The Shamwari Wildlife Reserve, South Africa

Volunteer at The Shamwari Wildlife Reserve, South Africa

Conserve species on a South African game reserve

From £985 to £5985 14 days ex flights
Veterinary internship in South Africa

Veterinary internship in South Africa

Veterinary experience in South Africa

From £1090 14 days ex flights
South Africa marine conservation diving vacation

South Africa marine conservation diving vacation

Learn to dive and contribute to research in Sodwana Bay

From £1195 14 days ex flights
Dog rescue volunteering in South Africa

Dog rescue volunteering in South Africa

Care for dogs in the coastal winelands of Cape Town

From £895 14 days ex flights
Sports coaching in South Africa

Sports coaching in South Africa

Coach your favourite sport & inspire disadvantaged children

From £1239 5 weeks ex flights
Teaching assistant volunteering in South Africa

Teaching assistant volunteering in South Africa

Help disadvantaged kids to learn English in South Africa

From £1239 5 weeks ex flights
Lion rehabilitation volunteering in South Africa

Lion rehabilitation volunteering in South Africa

Care for and rehabilitate lions rescued from canned hunting

From £1475 14 days ex flights
Big five conservation in South Africa

Big five conservation in South Africa

Volunteer with the Big Five in South Africa.

From £828 to £4967 15 days ex flights
Game Reserve conservation in South Africa

Game Reserve conservation in South Africa

Exciting and rewarding conservation work at game parks

From £1795 14 days ex flights
Zululand conservation project

Zululand conservation project

Preserve iconic wildlife in the breathtaking South Africa!

From £1195 to £4945 14 days ex flights
Animal project in South Africa

Animal project in South Africa

Care for and rehabilitate injured wildlife in South Africa

From £1395 14 days ex flights
Read 1 review
Vervet monkey rehabilitation project in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Vervet monkey rehabilitation project in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Rehabilitate & release Vervet Monkeys into the wild

From £895 7 days ex flights
Read 1 review
Shark conservation in South Africa

Shark conservation in South Africa

Conserve sharks, whales and penguins in South Africa

From £999 7 days ex flights
Read 1 review
South Africa game ranger course

South Africa game ranger course

Get your game ranger qualification working with wildlife

From £2895 8 weeks ex flights
Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa

Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa

Care for orphaned animals in stunning South Africa!

From £490 to £3390 7 days ex flights
Sports coaching volunteering in South Africa

Sports coaching volunteering in South Africa

Coach a variety of sports in township communities

From £895 7 days ex flights
Primate rescue volunteer vacation in South Africa

Primate rescue volunteer vacation in South Africa

Providing rescued primates with a better quality of life

From £545 7 days ex flights
Read 1 review
South Africa volunteering expedition, Kruger to Cape

South Africa volunteering expedition, Kruger to Cape

Kruger 2 Cape expedition

From US $3440 to US $4138 8 weeks ex flights
Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa

Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa

Enjoy amazing wildlife photography while giving back!

From US $3875 4 weeks ex flights
Wildlife conservation in South Africa

Wildlife conservation in South Africa

Aid lion, elephant and rhino research in South Africa

From £995 14 days ex flights
Photography volunteer program in Cape Town

Photography volunteer program in Cape Town

Make a difference through photography!

From US $1995 8 days ex flights
South Africa house building volunteering

South Africa house building volunteering

Build a Future Swaziland

From US $909 to US $2509 14 days ex flights
See all our South Africa Volunteering VacationsGive us a call

WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T

UNDERRATED

GREAT WHITE SHARKS
Getting out of your depth with a great white shark …

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING
This is not your average family vacation, and there will …

ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
Cheetahs, wild dogs, black rhinos and vultures all fall into …

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Starts are usually early, work can be laborious and clothes …
RATED

SPORTS COACHING
PE isn't taught in many of the schools that support …

MONKEYS:

The fight for food, water and space in South Africa …

BIG CAT SANCTUARIES
Volunteering to care for lions, tigers and leopards that have …

VOLUNTEER PARK RANGER
A day in the life of a park ranger can …
OVERRATED

WHISTLESTOP HOLIDAYS
We recommend community based volunteers sign up for a minimum …

CUDDLING CUBS
Although legitimate animal welfare centres benefit hugely from volunteer projects, …

EASY ACCESS
If you're applying to volunteer with children and there aren’t …

Our top South Africa Volunteering Vacation

Endangered wildlife conservation in South Africa

Endangered wildlife conservation in South Africa

Award-winning, Fair Trade certified conservation work!

From US $1330 14 days ex flights
Read 20 reviews
Small group travel:
2019: 14 Jan, 28 Jan, 11 Feb, 25 Feb, 11 Mar, 25 Mar, 8 Apr, 22 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 3 Jun, 17 Jun, 1 Jul, 15 Jul, 29 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 4 Nov, 18 Nov
See all our South Africa Volunteering Vacations
Helpdesk
Hello. 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. Rosy & team.

More about South Africa Volunteering

Best time to volunteer in South Africa
Best time to volunteer in South Africa
Volunteers are needed all year round, so check out the best time to volunteer in South Africa in terms of temperature and rainfall.
Our top 10 South Africa volunteering holidays
Our top 10 South Africa volunteering vacations
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.
Wildlife volunteering in South Africa
Wildlife volunteering in South Africa
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.
Community volunteering in South Africa
Community volunteering in South Africa
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.
Captive animal volunteering
Captive animal volunteering
Travelers really need to do their research before signing up for a captive wildlife volunteering vacation in South Africa.
Responsible volunteering in South Africa
Responsible volunteering in South Africa
From pollution to poverty, respecting cultural traditions to respecting animals, there are many responsible volunteering issues to keep in mind...
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More relevant guides

South AfricaVolunteer travel
Written by Chris Owen

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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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