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 wildlife conservation!

From US $1544 14 days ex flights
Read 17 reviews
Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa

Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa

Help re-habilitate orphaned monkeys in beautiful rural South Africa

From £769 10 days ex flights
Read 18 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 2 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 £767 7 days ex flights
Read 6 reviews
Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa

Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa

Enjoy amazing wildlife photography while giving back!

From £2295 4 weeks ex flights
Read 1 review
Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa

Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa

Care for orphaned animals in stunning South Africa!

From £530 to £2590 7 days ex flights
Volunteering with Elephants in South Africa

Volunteering with Elephants in South Africa

Study and care for elephants in South Africa

From £795 7 days ex flights
Teaching assistant volunteering in South Africa

Teaching assistant volunteering in South Africa

Help disadvantaged kids to learn English in South Africa

From £1125 4 weeks ex flights
South Africa endangered wildlife conservation

South Africa endangered wildlife conservation

Assist with protecting endangered species in South Africa

From £1195 14 days ex flights
Volunteer with elephants in South Africa

Volunteer with elephants in South Africa

Volunteer with elephants on the stunning Garden Route

From £1365 21 days ex flights
Read 6 reviews
The great white shark conservation project in South Africa

The great white shark conservation project in South Africa

Encounter iconic Great White Sharks in South Africa!

From £895 to £3995 15 days ex flights
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 2 reviews
Shark conservation in South Africa

Shark conservation in South Africa

Conserve sharks, whales and penguins in South Africa

From £829 7 days ex flights
Read 2 reviews
Big cat conservation safari, South Africa

Big cat conservation safari, South Africa

Safari with purpose to support South Africa's lions

From R 48749 to R 59536 7 days ex flights
Photography volunteer program in Cape Town

Photography volunteer program in Cape Town

Make an impact through photography!

From US $1850 to US $4850 8 days ex flights
Family conservation project in South Africa

Family conservation project in South Africa

Exciting family volunteering with the Big 5

From £599 to £899 6 days ex flights
Over 40s volunteering with elephants, South Africa

Over 40s volunteering with elephants, South Africa

Over-40s group volunteer with elephants adventure in Africa

From £1185 7 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 £1295 to £7295 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 £1345 14 days ex flights
Zululand conservation project

Zululand conservation project

Preserve iconic wildlife in the breathtaking South Africa!

From £1195 to £5195 14 days ex flights
Volunteer with elephants in South Africa, 1 week

Volunteer with elephants in South Africa, 1 week

Care for rescued elephants on the stunning Garden Route

From £875 7 days ex flights
Wildlife conservation course in South Africa

Wildlife conservation course in South Africa

Learn species conservation and habitat management in South Africa

From US $3000 4 weeks ex flights
South Africa wildlife volunteering vacation

South Africa wildlife volunteering vacation

Conservation & animal care in a South African Big 5 Reserve

From £709 7 days ex flights
Read 5 reviews
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
Sports coaching in South Africa

Sports coaching in South Africa

Coach your favourite sport & inspire disadvantaged children

From £1125 4 weeks ex flights
Big five conservation in South Africa

Big five conservation in South Africa

Volunteer with the Big Five in South Africa.

From £495 to £5765 8 days ex flights
Volunteer at a lion sanctuary in South Africa

Volunteer at a lion sanctuary in South Africa

Work with rescued big cats in Africa's largest sanctuary

From £1495 4 weeks ex flights
Wildlife conservation safari in South Africa

Wildlife conservation safari in South Africa

Join wildlife conservation experts in the field

From R 9600 to R 30000 5 days ex flights
Veterinary internship in South Africa

Veterinary internship in South Africa

Veterinary experience in South Africa

From £1195 14 days ex flights
Wildlife conservation in South Africa

Wildlife conservation in South Africa

Protect wildlife in a stunning coastal reserve

From £795 7 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 centers 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 wildlife conservation!

From US $1544 14 days ex flights
Read 17 reviews
Small group travel:
2021: 1 Nov, 15 Nov, 29 Nov, 13 Dec, 27 Dec
2022: 10 Jan, 24 Jan, 7 Feb, 21 Feb, 7 Mar, 21 Mar, 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec, 26 Dec
See all our South Africa Volunteering Vacations
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.
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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.
Volunteering holidays in KwaZulu-Natal
Volunteering vacations in KwaZulu-Natal
From endangered wildlife monitoring to community construction projects, KwaZulu Natal volunteering vacations offer a unique way to experience this vibrant South African region.
Leopard conservation holidays in South Africa
Leopard conservation vacations in South Africa
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.
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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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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