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SINCE 2004

AWARD-WINNING Volunteer & Internship Projects in Africa

A logo featuring the phrase '20 Years of Impact'

Why African Impact

We are leaders in volunteer travel, helping to create lasting change

Since 2004, African Impact has delivered life-changing and responsible volunteer and internship projects across Africa. We are award winning experts who live and breathe everything Africa. Our projects are developed and grown hand-in-hand with local communities, so join us and be part of something good!

Volunteer in Africa

Volunteering in Africa is a transformative experience. It not only challenges and dispels stereotypes about the continent and its people but also fosters a cultural exchange that enriches both you and the local community.

Intern in Africa

Looking for adventure with purpose? An internship in Africa might be just what you need, whether you’re taking a gap year, wrapping up your studies, or exploring a career change. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in your chosen field or to find out if it’s the right path for you.

Need Guidance? Start Here

Are you unsure where to start, or would prefer to speak with one of our team members? Just answer a few questions and we’ll find something suitable together.

Make an Impact as a Volunteer or Intern in Africa

Deep dive into our Impact areas, each designed hand in hand with the communities.

Why Volunteer or Intern With African Impact?

We Live and Breathe Africa


Volunteering and interning in Africa is what we do, it’s in our DNA. We’ve built our very own projects – hand-in-hand with local communities – since 2004!

We Are About Real, Measurable Change

Truly understanding the impact of our projects – and your contribution – is the only way to justify bringing you here and what makes us industry leaders.

We Are With You All The Way

It’s our responsibility to ensure that every aspect of your experience is incredible – we really care about that.

Our Commitment in Africa to Sustainable Development Goals

Our African Impact owned and run projects are committed to supporting 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in 2025.

SDG logo

Awards & Affiliations

There are many responsible tourism awards that we take great pride in being affiliated with. These awards not only affirm the high quality and responsible management of our projects but also give recognition to our project teams who work so hard to create a great volunteer experience on the ground.

Safety & Support

Our projects prioritize the safety of participants, staff, communities, and the environment through comprehensive measures.

Our comprehensive approach demonstrates our commitment to creating a safe environment for all involved in our projects, balancing prevention, immediate response, and ongoing risk management.

Recent Reviews

We love our projects, but it is always more powerful to hear it from others.
Here is what our volunteers have to say about us:

Simone Baptiste, 27, AustraliaCommunity School Volunteering, Cape Town, South Africa

The best decision I have ever made in my life was to volunteer with African Impact in the early childhood education program. The children, staff and other volunteers I met on this journey have made a huge impact on my life as I hope I did theirs. I would 10/10 recommend doing this and hope I can do it again some time in the future!

Katharina Nowak, 31, GermanyReforestation & Environmental Education Project, Kenya

Working as a volunteer on this project for six weeks was an absolute pleasure! The Placement Manager at African Impact made it easy for me to book last minute and helped with all the preparations. The team in Kenya took great care of me and went above and beyond to make my stay perfect. I learned a lot, had fun, and was thrilled to contribute to such an important project. The team is young, motivated, and focused on leading ecological restoration in Kenya, making the work exciting and varied. I also enjoyed exploring the country, experiencing the culture, and making great friends. Thanks to everyone who made this experience amazing!

Grant Mauthe, 25, USAPublic Health Internship, Zambia

My month as a public health intern was truly life-changing. I highly recommend staying for a full month if possible. It takes time to settle in, but once you do, the variety of impactful work is incredible. From cleaning wounds and supporting clinics to teaching after-school clubs, every day was fulfilling. As a public health intern, I helped complete a pilot study on the local population, which was incredibly rewarding. The best part was the amazing staff and volunteers who became lifelong friends. I was initially nervous but ended up being pleasantly surprised by the entire experience.

Ria Syal, 19, CanadaMedical Volunteering Program, Kenya

If you’re looking to build clinical skills as an undergraduate, this program is fantastic. I joined after my second year of undergrad in North America and had the chance to do hands-on tasks like drawing blood and vaccinating babies. Getting involved with the medical team is key. The volunteer coordinator, Neema, was incredibly supportive, checking in daily and arranging things like night shifts at the hospital. The accommodations at Brackenhurst conference center were great, with minimal mosquitoes due to the high altitude. Overall, I gained valuable experience and would highly recommend this program.

Alex Taylor, 32, UKWildlife Photography & Conservation Project, South Africa

The photography course with African Impact exceeded all my expectations. It was well run and organised, catering to all skill levels. I came as just a hobbyist photographer and have developed my photography and editing so much in my time here. Outside of game drives our time was spent on assignments, editing photos and assisting the research group in the identification of animals through our photos and physical conservation. The accommodation was comfortable and tidy and included a community room to get your head down. All in all I would recommend this project to anyone with an interest in wildlife conservation who also wants to focus on their photography.

Carter Spawn, 21, USAPublic Health Internship, Zambia

This internship was absolutely incredible. I felt like I was doing valuable work in the communities and schools and was able to truly see the conditions and issues in Livingstone. The accommodations were good, despite load shedding.

Ben Pickering, 27, UKTeaching & Adult Literacy Volunteering, Zanzibar

The experience provided what I was looking for and surpassed my expectations. African Impact organised the experience very well - in terms of making their own school (for adults), coming up with the curriculum / exams, and marketing it well so it’s well attended by locals, with the exams recognised by local businesses. As a teaching assistant I felt I had a positive impact on the students I taught, which I found quite rewarding. African Impact also were quite accommodating in providing a rounded cultural experience - through organising various different experiences (e.g. Q&A and dancing with local Maasai tribe). I found the base very comfortable, meeting all my needs, and the food was very good.

Alys Fallon, 24, BelgiumDolphin Conservation Volunteer Project, Zanzibar

I loved my stay in Zanzibar! I had done another volunteering project with a different organisation in the past and it wasn’t really ethical, but this time I could see how useful I was and how big of a difference our stay was for the project. Seeing the dolphins, getting to know them, was just amazing! the locals are incredibly nice and welcoming as was the team! I will never forget my stay in Zanzibar.

Kayleen Labuschagne, 22, IrelandWildlife Conservation Internship, South Africa

The research internship I had participated in for 12 weeks was the best experience of my life! I had never done anything like this before and was quite nervous when I arrived but the staff and other volunteers/ interns made me feel right at home. The facility is amazing and kept clean twice to three times a week and the food is delicious! Being located right next to the olifant river gives you a first hand experience with the wildlife and there’s nothing as surreal as a herd of elephants coming up to camp. This internship has changed my life and would recommend it to anyone questioning themselves on whether to come here or not. Do it, you won’t regret it!

Latest News & Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT FEES?

Unlike many volunteering organizations, at African Impact we aim to include as many costs associated with volunteering within the project fee that we advertise. The project fee for all of our projects include;

  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Project equipment & resources
  • Arrival & departure transfers

Costs not included in the advertised project fees are;

  • Visa costs & travel insurance
  • Private transfers
  • Optional weekend activities
  • Snacks & souvenirs

WHAT LANGUAGES DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN ORDER TO JOIN A PROJECT?

English is the most prevalent language across all of our projects. It is how you will communicate with our teams at the bases, and may even be how you communicate with community members during interactions. Our project coordinators are versed in multiple local languages, depending on where they are based, and will always be able to provide translations if necessary. 

For Teaching Volunteer projects, you will be required to have a good level of English in order to teach learners whose first language is not English.

HOW DO VOLUNTEER PROJECTS DIFFER TO INTERNSHIPS?

Internships run from a minimum of 4 weeks onwards and most available internships require you to have some level of existing experience. Please refer to the Participant Requirements section of the internship project pages for more details.

DO VOLUNTEERS USUALLY TRAVEL TO PROJECTS ALONE OR IN GROUPS?

Most of our volunteers embark on their journey solo, though we also welcome group bookings. Given the popularity of our projects and our limited start dates, it’s quite common for multiple volunteers to arrive simultaneously. This shared arrival often fosters an immediate sense of camaraderie among participants. You’ll likely find yourself in the company of fellow volunteers from diverse backgrounds, all eager to begin their African Impact experience.

WHAT ARE THE VISA REQUIREMENTS TO TRAVEL TO AFRICA?

It would be advisable to check with your local embassy, or government website of the country you plan on visiting. Our team of Destination Specialists are also able to assist you and provide guidance if you require it.