SOUTH AFRICA VOLUNTEERING ADVICE
CHOOSING A PLACEMENT
Choosing a placement
Ellie Petrie, from our supplier Pod Volunteer, shares her volunteer travel advice:
“Think about whether you want a structured placement with a stricter timetable. We often find that with animal placements, you wake up at six, do a feeding, you’re cleaning at 10, and then there’s another job to do. We have teaching placements with a similar structure. In some projects we have our own volunteer coordinators on-site – I’d recommend this sort of project if you’re slightly nervous or if you haven’t volunteered before. Placements with less structure might suit a more confident person who wants to grab things by the horns and get really involved. If we think a volunteer isn’t suitable, for whatever reason, we’ll tell them at the application stage and in most cases recommend they join a different project where their skills and experience will be of more use.”
Our South Africa Volunteering Vacations
Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa
Help re-habilitate orphaned monkeys in beautiful rural South Africa
From
£769
10 days
ex flights
Endangered wildlife conservation in South Africa
Award-winning, Fair Trade certified wildlife conservation!
From
US $1463
14 days
ex flights
Volunteering with Elephants in South Africa
Study and care for elephants in South Africa
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 at The Shamwari Wildlife Reserve, South Africa
Conserve species on a South African game reserve
From
£1295 to £7295
14 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
HOW LONG TO VOLUNTEER FOR
How long to volunteer for
Jon Arnold, from our volunteer vacation supplier Oyster Worldwide:
“It’s got to be a longer term volunteering project when you’re working with people in a teaching environment. A two week vacation teaching in a school wouldn’t benefit the volunteer or the project, at all. Two week vacations work better for volunteer projects with animals, where you can get stuff done on day one. But when you’re working in a community or in a school, with basic living conditions, in a lot of cases, it takes time to find your feet as a volunteer. It also takes time for the school to work out your skills and how best to use them, and if you’re only there for one or two weeks the opportunity’s gone before you know it.”
WHERE YOU’LL BE LIVING
Where you'll be living on wildlife conservation vacations
Erin Sparks, from our supplier, Pod Volunteer:
“If anything, we describe the accommodation as more basic than it is. It’s very difficult because everyone has different expectations, but all accommodation is of a very liveable standard; just remember that if you are working with animals, often in an earthy and wet environment, it’s impossible to keep living spaces pristine. Some are dorms, others you share with between two to four people – it varies and volunteers are responsible for keeping their area clean and tidy. You’re there to slot in and help out as opposed to be waited on hand and foot.”
HEALTH & SAFETY FOR VOLUNTEERS
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top South Africa Volunteering Vacation
Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa
Help re-habilitate orphaned monkeys in beautiful rural South Africa
From
£769
10 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
Departures can be arranged at anytime to suit you, all year round
Departures can be arranged at anytime to suit you, all year round
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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SOUTH AFRICA TIPS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful South Africa volunteering advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your placement – and the space inside your suitcase.
Being so ‘hands on’ with the baboons and vervets was amazing and so rewarding![]()
“Being so ‘hands on’ with the baboons and vervets was amazing and so rewarding, and seeing a group transferred into an Intro (the next phase before release) was really inspiring. Be prepared for hard work. Also take plenty of old clothes and warm ones too, it's really cold at night and in the mornings.” – Gillian McGowan, volunteering at a monkey rehabilitation center
“At less busy times of the year you get some afternoons off and more excursions, but during my time (baby season) we worked hard seven days a week. The upside is you get adorable babies to look after. If I could go back in time and choose to do it again I definitely would, but I am glad that I booked only three weeks as keeping up that intensity for longer would be difficult.” – Sarah Dakin, volunteering at a monkey rehabilitation center
“No popping down the shop, so take all the stuff you might need. Take a mosquito net if you're going in summer. Buy a South African SIM for your phone. The mobile signal is more reliable than the wifi. Binoculars are essential and a fairly decent digital camera with a good zoom. You'll be expected to take your turn at cooking, so jot down some basic recipes if you aren't good at improvising. The kitchens are pretty well stocked. Finally, you don't have to be young! Most of the promo material features young people but I'm rather too close to 70 for comfort and no-one for a second made me feel out of place or any less valued than the younger people volunteering.”.” – Sue Shearman, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
“At less busy times of the year you get some afternoons off and more excursions, but during my time (baby season) we worked hard seven days a week. The upside is you get adorable babies to look after. If I could go back in time and choose to do it again I definitely would, but I am glad that I booked only three weeks as keeping up that intensity for longer would be difficult.” – Sarah Dakin, volunteering at a monkey rehabilitation center
“No popping down the shop, so take all the stuff you might need. Take a mosquito net if you're going in summer. Buy a South African SIM for your phone. The mobile signal is more reliable than the wifi. Binoculars are essential and a fairly decent digital camera with a good zoom. You'll be expected to take your turn at cooking, so jot down some basic recipes if you aren't good at improvising. The kitchens are pretty well stocked. Finally, you don't have to be young! Most of the promo material features young people but I'm rather too close to 70 for comfort and no-one for a second made me feel out of place or any less valued than the younger people volunteering.”.” – Sue Shearman, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
The ultimate priority is the animals. You are not on a game drive and you will not be looked after as a traditional tourist. However, you get to see and experience things you would never even get close to during a traditional safari. ![]()
– Karin van Volen, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
“This is not a safari so be prepared to contribute during the daily monitoring sessions and around the camp. There are daily tasks that need doing to keep the camp running smoothly and you’ll be asked to help out the monitors who work extremely hard. Go with an open mind and heart, be respectful and kind to your environment and colleagues; enjoy yourself.” – Sharon Williams, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
“You will spend your time with knowledgeable and highly experienced people who will be happy to share their experiences and let you experience things you would never be able to do on a standard safari vacation. I really feel that two weeks is not enough and to get the full benefit you need to stay at least a month, possibly up to two or three. However, if you are just looking for a cheaper safari vacation, or something to just fill time during a gap year, this may not meet your expectations as you will also have to do work. Take part in all the activities which often means getting up early and don't expect too much luxury, although everything provided is more than adequate.”- Michael Dantas, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
“The longer you do this the more you will get out of it. If you can visit more than one reserve then do – they make for a fab contrast and you will have a more diverse experience. It is worth bearing in mind when you go that the wildlife is not delivered on a platter, like on some safaris… if you immerse yourself in the projects and take an interest in all the flora and fauna you will start to understand the biodiversity and how everything needs to work in harmony together. Definitely don’t forget to take some good binoculars and any nature guide books so you can make the most of what's around you.” - Sophie Tanner, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
“You will spend your time with knowledgeable and highly experienced people who will be happy to share their experiences and let you experience things you would never be able to do on a standard safari vacation. I really feel that two weeks is not enough and to get the full benefit you need to stay at least a month, possibly up to two or three. However, if you are just looking for a cheaper safari vacation, or something to just fill time during a gap year, this may not meet your expectations as you will also have to do work. Take part in all the activities which often means getting up early and don't expect too much luxury, although everything provided is more than adequate.”- Michael Dantas, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
“The longer you do this the more you will get out of it. If you can visit more than one reserve then do – they make for a fab contrast and you will have a more diverse experience. It is worth bearing in mind when you go that the wildlife is not delivered on a platter, like on some safaris… if you immerse yourself in the projects and take an interest in all the flora and fauna you will start to understand the biodiversity and how everything needs to work in harmony together. Definitely don’t forget to take some good binoculars and any nature guide books so you can make the most of what's around you.” - Sophie Tanner, volunteering on endangered wildlife conservation projects in KwaZulu-Natal
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.
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...
