Volunteer in South Africa | The Ultimate Guide

Are you thinking about doing something meaningful in your next holiday? Volunteer in South Africa! What makes the country particularly interesting for volunteering is the variety of areas you can volunteer in: Help organizations with wildlife and environment protection, get involved in the conservation of marine animals, teach children or work in medical care.

This guide will give you important information about the social projects in South Africa, costs, the best time to volunteer and the precautions you need to take. We’ll also show you the many amazing opportunities you have in your free time. Find out about the country’s beautiful nature and landscapes as well as cultural activities. It’s not without reason that the country is called the “Rainbow Nation”: South Africa celebrates all its cultures. An interesting place to explore!

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[item title=”Top 6 fun facts about South Africa”]

• South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial).
• Its language Afrikaans is the youngest official language in the world.
• The longest wine route in the world is located in South Africa.
• South Africa is home to 10% of the world’s total bird species, which are around 900 species.
• Hippos are susceptible to sunburn, because of their exposed skin. What protects their skin is the thick sweat they produce. They also spend most of their days with just their noses out of the water.
• You can find the world’s smallest succulent plants in South Africa as well as the largest, the baobab tree.

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Social projects in South Africa

Education

Volunteering in a South African school is a great way to help children get a good start in life and thus fight poverty. The country’s rate of investment in education is one of the highest in the world. But South Africa still faces many challenges. The investment is not divided equally between all of the different groups in the population. There are not enough schools and qualified teachers, which leads to ongoing high rates of illiteracy.

As a volunteer in South Africa there are many possible ways for you to use your talents and help this cause. You could teach the children language, creative and mathematical skills or sports in a fun environment.

Animal

South Africa is the country with the third highest level of biodiversity worldwide. As a volunteer in South Africa you can help protect its immense variety of wildlife, because it’s shrinking fast. Some of the reasons for this are the loss of habitat and illegal hunting. Although the ban on African ivory helps the elephant population, hippos are now being hunted for their teeth. The African lion is not only a target for hunters but is also subject to poisoning by ranchers.

Your help is also needed in the conservation of marine animals. This shows that by volunteering within a South African animal program, you can help where it is really needed. Moreover, you’ll learn a lot about the diverse wildlife.

Environment

As a volunteer in South Africa you can make a real difference by working in a conservation project. You will be able to work and learn a lot about conservation and South Africa’s nature. You’ll also have a huge impact, for example by educating people in the community about these subjects. One of the environmental issues in South Africa is the deforestation due to the expansion of plantations, mining and changes in infrastructure.

Health Service

Volunteering in medical care in South Africa is the best way to do something really meaningful while learning a lot for your own career at the same time. You will gain a lot of experience in a completely different work environment. As a volunteer in this field your tasks can range from working closely with the patients and giving them important information to assisting the staff within the clinic.

Your tasks will depend on your skills of course. Volunteering in health services is a very important cause, because the country’s health care system faces many challenges. This is your chance to use your skills to make a real difference. 

Living costs for a volunteer in South Africa

In South Africa, living costs are not very high. An example: The country has the cheapest electricity in the world and generates 2/3 of Africa’s electricity. Pretty impressive! As a volunteer in South Africa you can expect a daily budget of around $ 21 to $ 42.

Here are some of the average prices that are interesting for you:

Hotel $ 58.85	Big Mac® $ 1.19	Coca-Cola® $ 0.47	Eating out $ 4.41	Rental car $ 156.72/week
Hostel $ 10.78	Marlboro™ $ 2.20	Beer $ 1.10	Fuel $ 0.76	Public transport $ 0.50

Additional costs: Additional costs for your volunteer stay in South Africa are the program fees, the costs for your flight and for your visa.

Tipping: It’s common to tip 10 to 15 percent at a restaurant. The bartender should be tipped a couple of rand per drink.

Best time to volunteer in South Africa

Did you know that the harbour town Mossel Bay made it into the Guinness Book of Records for having the second most moderate climate worldwide? Well, in case your volunteering trip to South Africa doesn’t take you exactly there, we want to show you what the weather looks like in the other parts of the country:

Summer (Oct – Feb)

South Africa is famous for its sunshine. The summers are, not surprisingly, hot and sunny. The maximum average temperatures reach up to 36 °C (97 °F). In most of the regions it also rains in the summer, but the afternoon storms clear quickly.

Autumn (Feb– April)

It’s still warm in autumn but not as hot as in the summer and the regions get less rainfall. Cape Town for example is great in autumn, as the days are hot and sunny while the nights are pleasant.

Winter (May – July)

The winter climate in the higher regions is characterized by dry days and cold nights. Only the Western Cape is a winter-rainfall region. The warmest regions in winter are the coastal regions, where the average temperature can go up to 26 °C (79 °F).

Spring (Aug – Oct)

The spring season, as well as autumn, tends to be short. Because of the moderate climate, these seasons are best for hiking. Spring in South Africa is also famous for the annual blooming of millions of wild daisies in the Northern Cape. Don’t miss this spectacular event when volunteering in South Africa!

One does not only obtain a memorable experience from the volunteering project itself, but also becomes aware of the bittersweet heart of Capetown, a city which stands out for its valuable, relevant history. – Michelle (22), volunteer from the Netherlands

What precautions should I consider as a volunteer in South Africa?

Before starting your volunteer experience in South Africa, it’s important to think about the cultural norms you’ll need to adjust to. In addition, learn about the precautions you might need to take. Here is a list to help you with that:

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• You should avoid deserted areas at night
• Don’t wear expensive jewellery and don’t carry a lot of money on you, it’s better to leave expensive things at your place/ in a safe
• Don’t leave your bags and camera on the car seat while driving
• When paying by credit card, ask for the machine instead of handing the credit card to the waiter
• Click here or ask your doctor about vaccines you might need – especially when travelling to areas that are common for malaria

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[item title=”Religion”]The majority of people in South Africa are Christian (around 80 %), 1.5 % believe in Islam, 1.2 % in Hinduism, 0.3 % in African traditional belief and 0.2 % in Judaism. You’ll find many places of worship for all of the different religions and it goes without saying that you should act respectfully and appropriately in these places. The African Independent Church combines the traditional beliefs with Christianity and you’ll see them meet and pray in fields or at riversides on the weekends. This is believed to bring them close to nature.[/item]
[item title=”Law”]In South Africa, smoking in public areas is prohibited. This doesn’t only apply to restaurants and shops, but also to places like sidewalks and parking areas.[/item]
[item title=”Packing Essentials”]

• Light and comfortable clothes for hot summer days
• Wear long-sleeved clothing for sun protection
• A hat and sun cream (even in winter)
• Because of the summer rain, it’s wise to pack an umbrella and rain coat too
• Comfortable walking shoes (especially if you want to hike in spring and autumn)
• Don’t forget to pack light and leave room for things you’ll buy there

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How to spend your free time as a volunteer in South Africa?

So now that you know all of the facts about volunteering in South Africa, it’s time to plan some adventures for your free time! Learn about the top places you need to visit to experience the country’s great outdoors. Furthermore, read our facts about the South African wildlife and about interesting cultural activities. There is a LOT you can get excited about.

The great outdoors

Our list of places you need to see:

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[item title=”Vredefort Dome”]The Vredefort Dome is the oldest meteor scar in the world and also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The scar, located near Parys, is 2 billion years old.[/item]
[item title=”Table Mountain”]Table mountain is located in Cape Town and supposedly one of the oldest mountains worldwide. It is home to over 1500 species of plants, which is more than you can find in the entire UK.[/item]
[item title=”The Garden Route & Klein Karoo”]This region, containing forests, mountains and beaches facing the Indian Ocean, is one of the most beautiful regions of South Africa. It stretches up the south-eastern coast of the country.[/item]
[item title=”The Panorama Route”]The Panorama Route offers some of the most scenic and breathtaking views in South Africa. In this region you’ll see the Blyde River canyon, which is the largest green canyon in the world. The only two canyons that are bigger – The Grand canyon in the U.S. and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia – are both very dry. The area also contains God’s Window, the Mac Mac Falls, Long Tom Pass and the Berlin Falls.[/item]
[item title=”iSimangaliso Wetland Park”]Located in KwaZulu-Natal, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park has a size of 332000 ha and is South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Its vegetation is incredibly diverse, containing 8 different ecosystems![/item]
[item title=”Bloukrans Bridge Bungy”]Some days you just feel like jumping off a bridge? 😉 South Africa has the highest bridge (710 feet) for commercial bungee jumping![/item]
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A friend recommended this to me and now I am recommending it to people as well. If you volunteer here, go out and make the best of it because South Africa has so much to offer. – Dan (19), volunteer from the USA

Wildlife

As a volunteer in South Africa you’re in the perfect place for watching and learning about the wildlife. The country is famous for its population of the ‘Big Five’, but it also attracts whales, meerkats and a penguin colony that loves the cold currents on the west coast. South Africa is also perfect for bird watching, because it’s home to African birds, migrants but also bird species that can only be found there. Another fun experience is visiting an ostrich farm.

Tip: You should definitely plan a trip to the Kruger National Park during your volunteer stay in South Africa. It’s one of Africa’s largest game reserves and has the greatest variety of wildlife of all of Africa. 

Beaches

South Africa’s coastline stretches over thousands of miles and has many magnificent beaches with white sands and turquoise waters. As a volunteer in South Africa you’ll find spots for all kinds of activities – from sunbathing and lazing on the sand to water sports and activities. Here are some tips for places you should check out:

• Clifton Beach: A famous array of four beaches close to Cape Town. The place is sometimes referred to as the “French Riviera of South Africa” and is nice in the summer and the winter.
• Dairy Beach: This beach in Durban is a tip for everyone interested in surfing. It regularly hosts surfing competitions, offers consistent waves and warm water temperatures.
• Camp’s Bay Beach: This beach in Cape Town looks fantastic with its mountain range stretching along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is host to many events, like the popular Summer Beach festival.

Culture

The rainbow nation is known for its cultural and ethnic diversity. As a volunteer in South Africa you’ll become a part of the community and get to know the culture very well. Below are some of the places and events that’ll help you to learn about the culture:

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[item title=”Robben Island”]The Island is the place where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail and today is a symbol for freedom and the triumph of democracy.[/item]
[item title=”KwaZulu-Natal’s battlefields”]Visiting the battlefields is another great way to learn about the South African history. It is the area where the Anglo-Boer War and the Zulu Wars took place over 100 years ago.[/item]
[item title=”Wine tasting”]South African wine is famous all around the globe – for a good reason. Don’t miss out on a trip to the winelands in one of the many wine regions in the West and North of South Africa and treat yourself to some of the delicious local food too. Cheers![/item]
[item title=”Kaapse Klopse (January, 2^nd)”]What better way to experience a new culture than by celebrating with the locals? The Kaapse Klopse festival is one occasion to do just that. It takes place in Cape Town when Tweede Nuwe Jaar is celebrated and everybody is wearing bright outfits and umbrellas while singing traditional songs.[/item]
[item title=”Knysna Oyster Festival (March)”]Another festival is the Knysna Oyster Festival, which will bring you closer to the traditional South African cuisine. The food festival takes place along the Garden Route and should definitely make it onto your bucket list.[/item]
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Volunteer requirements

• You need to be 18 for most of the volunteer programs
• In some programs you can also volunteer when you’re 16
• You need to at least have basic English skills
• Depending on the work you’re interested in, you might need a criminal background check and a health declaration

How to find Volunteer Opportunities in South Africa

Now go explore the Rainbow Nation and find your very own volunteer opportunity in South Africa on Volunteer World. This platform makes planning your volunteer experience in South Africa simple and transparent. Featuring more than 500 volunteer programs and over 600 social projects in 70+ countries, Volunteer World is a one-stop resource for volunteer abroad opportunities.