Consistently rated as one of the top travel destinations in the world, we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities in South Africa. This part of Africa offers the perfect balance of stunning nature, incredible landmarks, fascinating history, and some of the world’s most exquisite and endangered wildlife. From the metropolitan city of Cape Town to South Africa’s more rural landscapes, in remote areas like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga – Nelson Mandela proclaimed this country as the ‘Rainbow Nation’ – a country as diverse and colorful as it is exciting and adventurous.
Volunteering in South Africa
South Africa Highlights
Home to 12 official languages, South Africa is a melting pot of diversity, offering volunteers a level of cultural immersion regardless of the line of volunteering you choose. The sheer size of this country offers a variety of landscapes and climates and is home to a wide array of wildlife species, both on land and in the oceans.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Home to many tribes, get ready to immerse yourself in a multitude of cultures.
NATURAL BEAUTY
Fauna and flora abounds across the country.
AFRICAN BIG FIVE
Game drives offer a great opportunity to spot lions, elephants, leopards, rhino, buffalo and more.
SUBTROPICAL CLIMATES
Mediterranean-like climates allow South Africa to produce some of the most delicious wines.
MARINE BIG 5
The endangered African Penguin calls the Western Coast of South Africa home.
Our Projects in South Africa
Whether you want to make a social impact through education and social development, add value to wildlife or marine conservation, or join a wildlife photography course, we offer a wide variety volunteer projects in South Africa to choose from.
Important Logistics and Ground Support
Everything you need to know about volunteering in South Africa in one place!
Flights & Arrivals
South Africa has a number of International Airports. Depending on your chosen project you may be required to fly into Cape Town International, Johannesburg International, Port Elizabeth or Hoedspruit airports. Your project rates include a group shuttle service from the nearest airport to your accommodation. Most projects start on Mondays, either weekly or bi-weekly. Please refer to your chosen project page for more detailed information on which airport is best for you, as well as specific arrival details.
Locations
We offer a range of volunteer projects in South Africa, spanning from the Cape Town on the West Coast, right up to the Lowveld in the North-East part of the country. For more detailed information on your project location, please see your chosen volunteer or internship project page.
Meals
Inspired and influenced by the multi-cultural diversity of the country, volunteers can expect a mix of Cape Malay, traditional African and western cuisines. It wouldn’t be a trip to South Africa without experiencing a traditional, open flame braai (barbeque) with pap and sous, shisanyama, curries and more. All of our programs cater for vegetarians, vegans and various food group intolerances with sufficient notice.
Communication
South Africa has a number of different cellular network providers, for which SIM cards can be purchased from most shops or at any airport. Various packages allow for phone calls and/or data usage. All of our volunteer project locations offer free WiFi that enables you to make contact with home. Power and electricity supply can be intermittent in South Africa so do bring your power banks and embrace patience if you encounter an outage.
Climate
South Africa’s long coastline (some 2,800 kilometers long) influences much of the climate. On the West Coast is the cold Atlantic Ocean, and the warmer Indian Ocean on the South and Eastern Coasts. Weather in this region of the Southern Hemisphere is climate and altitude dependent, which means this country is a perfect patchwork of warm coastal subtropics, hot deserts, humid highlands, snow-capped mountains and an enclave of Mediterranean weather in the southwest.
Staff & Safety
At African Impact, our long-term success depends on working to ensure the safety of our volunteers, staff and local communities. With this in mind, we are continually committed to providing high-quality volunteer and internship opportunities in South Africa. We follow the philosophy that a safe and healthy work environment is a fundamental and top responsibility of ours. From the moment you arrive in South Africa to the end of your adventure, we take the utmost care in ensuring your comfort and safety as you carry out volunteer work. Learn more about our health and safety protocols at African Impact.
Free time and weekend activities in South Africa
You will work hard as a volunteer or intern, but there will also be time to play hard. You will have your evenings and weekends free to explore South Africa has to offer and there’s no shortage of adventure in this stunning country!
You might join a cultural tour, safari in nearby game reserves, visit historical landmarks, spend a day wine tasting, abseil down the side of Table Mountain or visit pristine beaches.
Our project teams on the ground will help you book tours upon your arrival, so you can experience it all with your fellow volunteers. There’s so much to experience in South Africa – and we can’t wait to share it with you!
Why Choose African Impact in South Africa
To us, epic adventures and sustainable impact go hand-in-hand. We firmly believe in the power of responsible volunteering to positively transform the lives of volunteers and local communities alike. Developing our volunteer projects in South Africa with local community stakeholders, everything we do is measured, designed, and implemented with the community’s goals in mind. As a volunteer in South Africa on one of our projects, your work will not only be a life-changing experience for you, it will also make actual, sustainable impacts on the lives of locals. This combination of incredible adventures, responsible impacts, and cultural immersion allows us to go beyond the conventional understanding of “volunteering abroad” and offer innovative African volunteer travel experiences that – while unpaid – can truly transform lives!
Our impact on communities in South Africa
South Africa Image Gallery
Volunteer Experiences in South Africa
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Recent South Africa Volunteer Project Reviews
South Africa FAQs
WHY VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA?
South Africa is a country with a rich history and diverse culture, and it is also home to many beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Despite its natural wealth, it is facing many social challenges. There are many communities and areas of society that need help, and volunteering in South Africa can be a great way to make a difference.
ARE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN SOUTH AFRICA?
Yes! There are many organizations that need volunteers in South Africa, and not enough people to fill the roles, which means that there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers of all skill levels. Volunteering in South Africa can make a real difference in the lives of the people living there. You can help to improve the lives of those who are living in poverty, provide education and support to children, and so much more.
IS SOUTH AFRICA A SAFE PLACE TO VOLUNTEER IN AFRICA?
South Africa is a safe destination for volunteers. The crime rate is high in some areas, but there are also many safe and welcoming communities. With a little bit of preparation, you can enjoy a safe and rewarding volunteer experience in South Africa, especially with African Impact guiding you along the way. Read our recommended safety tips or get in touch with us directly to ask any safety questions.
DO VOLUNTEERS GET PAID FOR VOLUNTEER WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA?
At African Impact, our mission is to provide the best international volunteer programs in Africa that create real, sustainable impacts on local communities. While our South Africa volunteer work may be unpaid, we absolutely believe that epic adventures and sustainable impacts go hand-in-hand. We firmly believe in the power of responsible volunteering to positively transform the lives of volunteers and local communities alike. By developing our volunteer projects with local community stakeholders, everything we do is measured, designed, and implemented with the communities’ goals in mind. As a volunteer on one of our projects, your work will not only be a life-changing experience for you, you will also make an actual, sustainable impact locally.
I WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA! WHERE DO I SIGN UP?
Take a look through all the African Impact volunteer programs in South Africa above. Compare each one and choose a program which most aligns with your interests and goals. There are step-by step instructions to apply to join us on each one of our volunteer program pages.
Other Destinations in Africa
African Impact offers exciting and diverse volunteer and internship projects in 6 different destinations in Africa, each with their own impact areas. Scroll left and right to view them all.
11 PROJECTS
SOUTH AFRICA PROJECTS
This part of Africa offers the perfect balance of stunning nature, incredible landmarks, fascinating history, and so much more. There’s a reason this incredible country is consistently rated as one of the top travel destinations in the world!
4 PROJECTS
KENYA PROJECTS
This East African country is a favoUrite travel destination for many travelLers – with world-renowned sites like the Maasai Mara Game Reserve on your doorstep, you can see why! And we believe it has some of the best wildlife viewing on the continent.
2 PROJECTS
MOZAMBIQUE PROJECTS
Think endless white sandbanks, crystal clear turquoise waters and breathtaking marine life. Home to some of the world’s finest beaches, stretching along the coast of the characteristically warm Indian Ocean, Mozambique is like no other.
9 PROJECTS
ZAMBIA PROJECTS
With one third of the country made up of national parks as well as being home to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Zambia holds everything that there is to love about Africa. This unique landlocked country is big, it’s bold and full of incredible wildlife.
2 PROJECTS
ZANZIBAR PROJECTS
This tropical island paradise, located just off the coast of Tanzania, boasts palm tree-lined beaches, crystal clear waters teeming with marine life, and a unique blend of cultures. And don’t forget the white sand beaches you’ll see everyday.
2 PROJECTS
ZIMBABWE PROJECTS
A beautiful setting that boast an abundance of diverse wildlife and varied landscape – ranging from vast grassy savannas to tropical forests. This is the place to be if you are interested in the conservation of Black Rhinos!
