1. Volunteering opportunities in South Africa
South Africa 🇿🇦 is the perfect destination to discover amazing sceneries and engage in various volunteering fields at the same time. No matter, if you prefer to volunteer for biodiversity or help local communities, opportunities to do something meaningful are numerous in the country of Nelson Mandela.
You'll find plenty of opportunities to volunteer in Wildlife conservation as it is one of the most popular safari destinations. Among them, projects choose to act in favor of the most endangered species: the Big 5 (Lions 🦁, Leopards 🐆, Rhinos, Buffalos, and Elephants 🐘).
Other very popular project focuses in South Africa are:
We understand that this process may seem overwhelming, so we recommend you look into the different programs and options available. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We are excited about you joining the volunteerism movement and your inclusion among our community of our over 3 million travelers from all over the world who have been and are doing amazing work abroad.
2. Tipps around volunteering in South Africa
2.1. The best time to volunteer in South Africa
Generally, December to February are the peak periods for volunteering in South Africa as many organizations offer programs that coincide with school breaks. Nevertheless, the ideal time to volunteer in South Africa largely depends on the kind of volunteer job you have in mind and the particular organization you are going to work with. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities across the year too, so it would be beneficial to contact the organizations you are interested in and ask when they require the most volunteers.
2.2. Is it safe to volunteer in South Africa?
Knowing the safety stats in the cities and areas you visit is very important when traveling. Although Cape Town usually is a relatively safe destination, some areas should be avoided, so it's best to do some research prior to your journey.
In addition to your common sense and gut feeling, here are some useful tips for your adventure abroad to keep you safe during your trip:
Avoid deserted areas at night.
Don't wear expensive jewelry and don't carry a lot of money on you. Leave valuables at your accommodation.
Don't leave your bags or camera on the passenger car seat while driving.
When paying by credit card, ask for the machine instead of handing the credit card to the waiter.
Smoking in public areas is prohibited. This doesn't only apply to restaurants and shops, but also to places like sidewalks and parking areas.
2.3. Health advises
Check your vaccination status against:
MMR
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
Chickenpox
Polio
The US-based health protection agency CDC recommends further vaccinations to prevent diseases from contaminated water and food. Specifically, if you are volunteering with animals and spending a lot of time outdoors, you will also need additional preventive vaccinations and medication against:
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Rabies
Malaria Medicine
2.4. Packing Tipps
Depending on where you are staying in South Africa and what your volunteer work involves, the type of luggage you will need may vary. However, we do recommend that everyone bring certain essential items:
Light and comfortable clothes for hot summer days
Long-sleeved clothing for sun and mosquito protection
A hat and sunscreen (even in winter)
Because of the summer rain, it's wise to pack an umbrella and raincoat too
Comfortable walking shoes (especially if you want to hike in spring and autumn)
This is a blog post on the ultimate packing list that may be useful for your trip.
2.5. Budget to volunteer in South Africa
Generally speaking, you can expect to need US$28 to US$50 on a daily basis while volunteering in South Africa. This price estimate provides a good reference point for the cost of the services and items you may need during your stay so that you can make plans and plan your budget accordingly.
Additional costs you should consider will be:
Additional costs you should consider will be:
program fees
flight tickets (find cheap flights to South Africa)
travel insurance (find your travel insurance)
fees for your visa
personal expenses
2.6. Visa best practice
There are some general requirements you need to fulfill prior to traveling to South Africa:
Check the current validity of your passport. The passport should be valid for at least 3 months after your expected return date. We recommend traveling with a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport at all times.
Make sure your passport has at least two blank visa pages. South Africa requires that you have an adequate number of unused pages in your passport, allowing for any necessary stamps upon arrival and departure.
Make sure you have a valid return ticket.
Check out the following sections below to find more details on travel and visa regulations for South Africa:
👉 Short-Term stay
👉 Short-Term stay
If you are a resident of Australia, Switzerland, the USA, or the EU (including the UK), you can volunteer in South Africa on a holiday visa for up to 90 days. This holiday visa can be obtained at the airport upon arrival. Once in South Africa on a holiday visa, you can apply for a three-month extension for an additional fee to extend your stay up to six months.
👉 Long-Term stay
👉 Long-Term stay
If you are planning to volunteer in South Africa for more than 90 days, you should apply for a volunteer visa, which is a temporary residence visa. It takes a bit more effort and documentation but lasts up to three years! To make this step as easy as possible, you can find the application form via the link. Make sure to submit the completed application form to the South African Embassy or Consulate in your home country. They will provide you with further information and give you a checklist of documents to be submitted. Please remember that the application process can take more than a month so we would advise you to start far in advance.
Disclaimer: There are no liability claims against Volunteer World if entry is not possible due to individual visa requirements.