Volunteer Work & Gap Year

Coastal regions, arid desert lands, mountain ranges and stunning wildlife reserves mean that South Africa offers a something of everything of Africa's best. Whether you're a wine lover, a curious adventurer or intrigued by culture, heritage and wildlife, South Africa is home to all this and more. Your journey begins here!

South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa and is a nation of over 47-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs. It is the economic powerhouse of Africa and is abundant in natural resources, with its gold reefs being some of the richest in the world.

Known as the Kingdom in the sky, Lesotho is encircled and entirely landlocked by its larger neighbour, South Africa. A peaceful country with a rural African atmosphere, a reputation of a fantastic adventure holiday destination and friendly and welcoming local people, a volunteer or working holiday in Lesotho is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

The country is called the Kingdom of the sky for good reason - it is made up of mostly highlands and ringed by mountains, which make for a rugged and captivating landscape. There is splendid scenery on offer for any traveller and a chance to explore remote valleys and craggy mountainous areas.

Namibia is a favourite with travellers who are looking to do volunteer work in an untouched barren paradise, such as at our Medical Volunteer Project in the Caprivi Strip near the border with Botswana and Zambia.

Namibia adopted its name from the Namib Desert and is a country of compelling beauty, abundant sunshine, unspoilt landscapes and a large variety of game. With its looming red sand dunes, the turbulent Orange River, a variety of adventure activities, traditional towns, deep canyons and spectacular bronze sunsets it is sure to become one of your favourite destinations!

'The Land of the Giants' is how locals fondly describe Botswana. This is because her vast tableland allows for elephants, giraffe and baobabs to tower above the horizon and attest dramatically to their sheer size.

A land of sunshine and peace, the Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country famed for its wildlife, herds of elephants and the incomparable Okavango Delta. The country has enjoyed peace since its independence in 1966 and enjoys a strong economy and nearly unrivalled natural beauty.

Zimbabwe is really the true home of African Impact, as we were founded there in 2004 and still have operational offices in the beautiful capital city, Harare. Whilst in some minds the name Zimbabwe evokes a picture of political unrest, the reality - particularly in recent months - is quite different.

Our first volunteers were welcomed to Zimbabwe at our Antelope Park Lion Rehabilitation Project with open arms in late 2004 and there are many reasons that we have hosted over 1000 travelers as volunteers to our Zimbabwe projects in the past 5 years.

With over 2500km of coastline stretching up the East coast of Africa, fed by warm Indian Ocean waters, this stretch of the continent's South East coast is a true African tropical paradise... White sands, coconut palms and the spectacular turquoise waters stretching as far as the eye can see... Mozambique is as exotic as it sounds.

However, there is also more to Mozambique than meets the eye. Though it is one of Africa's most stunning tropical paradises, Mozambique has a past riddled with civil war and hardship. It is testament to the character of this nation that they are now proudly rising out of the depths of some of the most staggering poverty that Africa has seen...

Where explorers wander... and in the past they've included names of such repute as the intrepid missionary Dr David Livingstone, and for good reason. Zambia shares with Zimbabwe the privilege of providing a site for the Victoria Falls, one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of the World!" This is where the adrenalin-lover can indulge in the exciting adrenalin activities that take place as a result of these thundering waters. Zambia is also a great destination to see an unbelievable variety of wildlife in the national parks.

Described by many as "The Real Africa", Zambia is a country of of wide open spaces rich in wildlife, with magnificent forests, wild rivers and wetlands - studded with lakes and impressive waterfalls.

Kenya is Africa's quintessential Safari destination. In Kenya's native Swahili, the word Safari translates to 'journey'... the land that inspired some of Ernest Hemingway's greatest classics. A visit to this East African destination offers the best in wildlife, Masai and Samburu culture and community volunteering and wildlife volunteering experiences.

Kenya is the ideal all-in-one holiday and volunteer option as it proudly boasts sun and sea on its beautiful unspoilt beaches and warm tropical waters, and prime savannah in it's carefully protected wildlife reserves.

As we prepared this information on Tanzania for you, it was probably one of the countries that required the most editing, as there is an almost endless list of 'must-sees'... We've narrowed it down as far as possible though, and what remains is that Tanzania is one of Africa's most-famed nations, and for good reason.

Tanzania is East Africa's largest country, and one of its most diverse. It boasts some of the best game viewing on the continent, and fascinating ancient cultures that belong both to this dark continent and to the travellers that brought with them spicy Eastern as well as stoic British Colonial influence.

Once famously described by Winston Churchill as the 'Pearl of Africa' this beautiful country is home to an array of striking scenery, varied wildlife and diverse environments and has the best of everything Africa has to offer packed into one small country.

Home to the highest mountain range in Africa, the 'Mountains of the Moon' in the Rwenzori National Park, the country is largely undiscovered and offers visitors the best of both worlds, from tropical forests and mountains of Central Africa to the sun drenched savannahs of East Africa - superb safari destination to get the best of both worlds.

Famous for its pepper, vanilla and possibly most well known its lemurs, Madagascar is ringed with golden beaches and palm trees. It is found off the south-east coast of Africa and separated by the Mozambique Channel and hundreds of kilometres of ocean expanse. Behind the islands beautiful coral beaches travellers will find an almost continuous line of picturesque lagoons.

The creatures to be found on this, the fourth largest island in the world, are like none other found on earth. Separated from the mainland 165 million years ago, 75% of all the unique animals which call this island home are endemic to Madagascar.

Experience the unparalleled blend of magnificent blue waters, rolling landscapes, lush forests and unspoilt wildlife in one of Africa's most culturally rich destinations...

The country lies within the Great African Rift Valley, with Lake Malawi as its centrepiece, boasting breathtakingly clear waters, palm trimmed beaches and a variety of over 600 species of fish unequalled anywhere else in the world. Lake Malawi National Park located at the southern end of Lake Malawi and it is the only national park in Malawi that was created to protect fish and aquatic habitats.

Often referred to as "Africa for beginners", Ghana is a friendly and welcoming country and home to a number of diverse people and cultures. Travellers will find hundreds of kilometres of coast shared by beautiful palm-fringed beaches, ruined European forts, national parks and reserves surprisingly rich in wildlife and lively markets and fishing villages.

Grassy plains stretch from the coast inland, widening in the East while dense rainforests cover the south and west of the country. Rainforests are being developed into national parks and game reserves, and although arguably smaller than reserves found elsewhere in Africa, are well worth the visit and travellers will have the opportunity to see antelope, lions, monkeys, elephant, beautiful birds and butterflies, amongst many others!