South Africa volunteering advice

“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 centre

“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 centre

“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

“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