OUR TOP 10 SOUTH AFRICA VOLUNTEERING HOLIDAYS
Our wildlife volunteering vacations take place in private game reserves and managed national parks where vast wilderness areas provide natural habitat for animals to roam wild and free from harm. Sites for primate rehab centers and animal sanctuaries in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, for example, have been chosen so as to avoid human conflict and allow animals to be released back into their natural environment. Port Elizabeth, on the south coast, provides an altogether more urban existence with volunteers needed at schools supporting some of South Africa’s poorest townships. Shark conservation projects invite volunteers to experience life close to Cape Town with free days at Boulders Beach adding extra bite.
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
Volunteer with deaf children in South Africa
A very worthwhile and satisfying teaching project: Cape Town
From
£1695
4 weeks
ex flights
South Africa volunteering expedition, Kruger to Cape
Kruger 2 Cape expedition
From
US $3440 to US $4138
8 weeks
ex flights
Game Reserve conservation in South Africa
Conserve Wildlife in 4 Game Reserves: Exciting and varied!
From
£1895
14 days
ex flights
South Africa house building volunteering
Build a Future Swaziland
From
US $909 to US $2509
14 days
ex flights
Volunteering with Elephants in South Africa
Study and care for elephants in South Africa
From
£795
7 days
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
Family conservation project in South Africa
Exciting family volunteering with the Big 5
From
£599 to £899
6 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 volunteering with the big five
Take part in the conservation of Africa's wildlife.
From
£635 to £5778
8 days
ex flights
Mozambique marine conservation & Kruger safari
Moz Marine conservation & Kruger
From
US $3036 to US $4630
5 weeks
ex flights
Game capture and relocation in South Africa
Learn about African wildlife conservation - very varied!
From
£1595
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
Animal project in South Africa
Animal Welfare in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre & Hospital
From
£1395
4 weeks
ex flights
Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa
Enjoy amazing wildlife photography while giving back!
From
US $3875
4 weeks
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
Veterinary internship in Chintsa, South Africa
Hands-on veterinary experience in game reserves and farms
From
£1699
14 days
ex flights
Photography volunteer program in Cape Town
Make a difference through photography!
From
US $1995
8 days
ex flights
South Africa game ranger course
Get your game ranger qualification working with wildlife
From
£3140
8 weeks
ex flights
Veterinary internship in South Africa
Veterinary experience in South Africa
From
£1195
14 days
ex flights
Dog rescue volunteering in South Africa
Care for dogs in the coastal winelands of Cape Town
From
£995
14 days
ex flights
South Africa marine conservation diving vacation
Learn to dive and contribute to research in Sodwana Bay
From
£1345
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
Volunteer at The Shamwari Wildlife Reserve, South Africa
Conserve species on a South African game reserve
From
£985 to £5985
14 days
ex flights
Whale and Dolphin monitoring in South Africa
Monitor dolphins & whales in their natural habitat. Amazing.
From
£945
7 days
ex flights
Sports coaching volunteering in South Africa
Coach various sports and teach in stunning Knysna
From
£1695
4 weeks
ex flights
1. Endangered wildlife conservation
2. Family volunteering with monkeys
3. Great white shark conservation
4. Horse rehabilitation
5. Lion sanctuaries
6. Monkey volunteer
7. Sports coaching
8. Teaching assistant
9. Volunteer with deaf children
10. Volunteer with elephants
2. Family volunteering with monkeys
3. Great white shark conservation
4. Horse rehabilitation
5. Lion sanctuaries
6. Monkey volunteer
7. Sports coaching
8. Teaching assistant
9. Volunteer with deaf children
10. Volunteer with elephants
Endangered wildlife conservation
1. Endangered wildlife conservation
Cheetahs, black rhinos, wild dogs and vultures are all on South Africa's endangered wildlife list and volunteering to assist on an award winning habitat and conservation project in the game reserves of KwaZulu-Natal will go some way to supporting the efforts of the WWF and Wildlands Conservation Trust. Learn how to observe, track and identify endangered species in the real African bush.
Family volunteering with monkeys
2. Family volunteering with monkeys
Watching monkeys in the wild is as wondrous for parents as for children. Now imagine being part of the process that enables rescued infant monkeys to begin the journey back into their natural habitat. Volunteering with monkeys as a family in an African bush rehab center allows your troop to get stuck into conservation work, as well as plenty of ‘ahhh’ moments.
Great white shark conservation
3. Great white shark conservation
Observing a great white in its natural environment is an absolute thrill and certain to dispel any negative preconceptions as quickly as you can say 'we're gonna need a bigger boat'. Volunteers will learn how to cage dive safely – no experience needed – and will become part of a boat crew, as well as assisting marine biologists with their on-going shark conservation projects.
Horse rehabilitation
4. Horse rehabilitation
Four weeks is the minimum recommended duration for volunteers wishing to care for neglected horses in South Africa in South Africa although there are still lots of horse related jobs to do if you can only spare a week or two. It takes more than just a quick fix for horses to trust humans again and volunteers will be handpicked to ensure horses are helped on the road to recovery, just a few kilometres ride from the Indian Ocean.
Lion sanctuaries
5. Lion sanctuaries
Many of South Africa's big cats have suffered at the hands of man.Volunteering at a lion sanctuary will place you where you're needed most as you help become an active member of a big cat welfare team caring for lions, leopards and non-native tigers that have been hurt or displaced by private game hunters and ill-conceived zoos. Monitor behaviour, prep food and allow lions in South Africa to regain their crowns.
Monkey volunteer
6. Monkey volunteer
The relationship between South Africa's primates and its humans is far from harmonious. Hunting, the illegal pet trade and traffic accidents are just some of the reasons why infant monkeys and baboons become orphaned and in need of care. Volunteering at a primate rehab center, close to Kruger National Park, lets you fill the parental void and help baby monkeys on their journey back into the wild.
Sports coaching
7. Sports coaching
Although South Africa is often considered to be a southern hemisphere heavyweight when it comes to rugby, cricket and tennis, not all of its population are lucky enough to come from similar backgrounds to the country's international elite. Volunteer as a sports coach in an established Port Elizabeth sports foundation and inspire kids from the poorest communities to become the sports stars of SA's future.
Teaching assistant
8. Teaching assistant
Volunteering as a teaching assistant in South Africa should be seen as a long term project with some of the poorest communities in the Port Elizabeth area crying out for help with lessons and extracurricular activities. This is an opportunity for flexible, positive and fun-loving people willing to work alongside local teachers in and out of the classroom. Experience of working with kids is an advantage, although not essential as full training is given.
Volunteer with deaf children
9. Volunteer with deaf children
There's a wonderful school for deaf and partially deaf children aged three to 13 in Cape Town's Observatory suburb, one of the poorer areas of the city. Volunteer classroom and life orientation assistants, especially those who know sign language, are welcome for a variety of 'mainstream' and signed lessons, and sports coaching. School starts at 8am and finishes just after 2pm – don't be late!
Volunteer with elephants
10. Volunteer with elephants
Poaching, habitat destruction and natural disasters have all contributed to the rapid decline of the world’s wild elephants. Volunteering with elephants in South Africa offers a great way to get up close to elephants roaming freely in their natural environment as well as contributing to on-going conservation projects through research, monitoring, feeding and maintenance of park perimeters.
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:
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
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.
Volunteering in South Africa is life changing, and not only for the communities and wildlife that you’ll be assisting.
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] [Giraffe silhouette: Fyre Mael]
[Endangered wildlife: Vince Smith]
[Family volunteer/monkeys: Flowcomm]
[Great white shark volunteer: Tim Sheerman-Chase]
[Horse rehab: Pod Volunteer]
[Lion sanctuaries: Derek Keats]
[Monkey volunteer: Frontier Official]
[Sports coaching: Frontier Official]
[Teaching assistant: KHYM54]
[Volunteer deaf children: Travelers worldwide]
[Volunteer with elephants: Frontierofficial]
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