2 min summary Best time to volunteer Our top 10 Wildlife Community Captive animals Families Tips Responsible tourism All our South Africa guides

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. From volunteering with monkeys and working at animal rehabilitation centres to cage diving with great white sharks and coaching sports at a school in the suburbs of Port Elizabeth, this is where you get to pick your favourite from our top ten.

Home\Africa\South Africa

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 centres 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.

Give us a call to help with your itinerary

Our South Africa Volunteering Vacations

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. Wildlife conservation in Kruger

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.

Endangered wildlife conservation

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 centre 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.

Great white shark conservation

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.

Lion sanctuaries

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 centre, 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.

Sports coaching

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 deaf children

Wildlife conservation in Kruger

10. Wildlife conservation in Kruger

Kruger National Park is renowned for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinoceros. Volunteering to join a scientific research team here offers unparalleled access to see these animals, and a host of other mammals and bird species, from a highly insightful perspective. Undertake bush craft training and collect data on wildlife as part of a two week wildlife conservation vacation in Kruger.

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.

Toll free 1-866-821-6866

Calling us from outside the US?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Toll free 1-866-821-6866

Calling us from outside the US?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

More about South Africa Volunteering

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.

South Africa volunteering guide

Volunteering in South Africa is life changing, and not only for the communities and wildlife that you’ll be assisting.

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

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

Travelers really need to do their research before signing up for a captive wildlife volunteering vacation 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...

More relevant guides

Written by Chris Owen

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

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] [Wildlife conservation kruger: Frontier Official]

Our top 10 South Africa volunteering vacations