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Volunteer Abroad Elephant Conservation African Elephant

Volunteer with Elephants in Africa

Volunteer with Elephants in Africa and discover a continent with all its fascinating species and landscapes and contribute to their protection at the same time...

Volunteer with Elephants in Africa and discover a continent with all its fascinating species and landscapes and contribute to their protection at the same time. Like the Asian elephants, their African relatives are illegally poached because of their tusks and the populations in South Africa, Kenya, and many other African countries are shrinking at an alarming rate.

Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary or orphanage to care for rescued elephants. Would you like to volunteer with the grey giant elephants in the African wildness? Join a research project to track and monitor elephant herds in the plains of Kenya, Zimbabwe or Tanzania. Volunteer abroad for wildlife conservation and help to save the elephant in Africa!

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 South Africa Wildlife Reserve Volunteers
Life On Land
🔥 In High Demand
South Africa Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Plan My Gap Year

South Africa Wildlife Reserve Volunteers

Excellent 4.9
(1307)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
643 €  per week · 1  ‑  4  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Be part of a life-changing experience that allows you to work behind the scenes on a world-class wildlife reserve in South Africa! 🦏 Details >

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 Eco Nature and Coastal Conservation
Life On Land
🔥 In High Demand
South Africa Kenton-on-Sea, South Africa
Sibuya Wilderness Experience

Eco Nature and Coastal Conservation

Excellent 4.8
(41)
⭐ Popular Flex Option
798 €  per week · 1  ‑  6  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

Eco Volunteering in Wildlife & Marine Conservation. Uncover the whole big picture of our Eco-System for a better understanding of Nature & learn how to make a difference! Details >

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 Rhino & Elephant Conservation
Life On Land
🔥 In High Demand
Zimbabwe Wedza, Zimbabwe
Imire Rhino Conservation

Rhino & Elephant Conservation

Perfect 4.7
(34)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
993 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  17+ · Has Wifi

Volunteer in Africa and help secure the future of the endangered black rhino and elephant. Experience daily life on a 10,000 acre family-run private conservancy. Details >

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 Wildlife Supporter
Life On Land
South Africa Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Stay Africa Volunteers

Wildlife Supporter

Brilliant 4.7
(194)
Video Flex Option
591 €  per week · 1  ‑  8  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Volunteer at our Big Five Game reserve, support the local staff in monitoring the animals and conserving the environment. Details >

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 Horse Riding & Wildlife Conservation
Life On Land
Zimbabwe Wedza, Zimbabwe
Imire Rhino Conservation

Horse Riding & Wildlife Conservation

Perfect 4.7
(34)
Video Flex Option
1357 €  per week · 1  ‑  2  weeks · Age  17+ · Has Wifi

Combine horseback safaris and wildlife monitoring, with hands-on rhino and elephant conservation work. All on the back of your very own bush horse! Details >

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 Endangered Species Conservation & Research
Life On Land
South Africa Waterberg, South Africa
Hamba Africa

Endangered Species Conservation & Research

Brilliant 4.8
(38)
Video Flex Option
698 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join us in South Africa Work on ecological managment and wildlife research projects. Protect endangered species as you live and work on a 35,000-hectare reserve! Details >

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 Elephant Conservation Supporter
Life On Land
Namibia Damaraland, Namibia
Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA)

Elephant Conservation Supporter

Excellent 4.8
(68)
Video Flex Option
541 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

EHRA aims to conserve the desert elephants of Namibia, through practical and realistic anti-conflict solutions. Details >

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 Big Five Conservation Assistant
Life On Land
South Africa Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The Great Projects

Big Five Conservation Assistant

Fantastic 4.5
(109)
Video Flex Option
681 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join this volunteering project in South Africa's beautiful Eastern Cape and help aid in the conservation of lions, elephants, rhinos and many more amazing animals! Details >

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 Wildlife Research & Expedition
Quality Education Life On Land Partnerships For The Goals
South Africa Limpopo, South Africa
GVI

Wildlife Research & Expedition

Brilliant 4.7
(151)
Video Flex Option
1270 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Travel to South Africa to work alongside trained field guides on critical wildlife conservation initiatives. 🐘 Details >

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 Scout Ranger Trainee
Life On Land
South Africa Gravelotte, South Africa
SanWild Sanctuary

Scout Ranger Trainee

Outstanding 5.0
(10)
Video Flex Option
1243 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

SanWild’s volunteer program is your chance to spend two weeks or more participating in the daily operations and research projects of a working wildlife sanctuary. Details >

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 Endangered Species Protection
Life On Land
South Africa Hoedspruit, South Africa
SAVE Foundation

Endangered Species Protection

Fantastic 4.6
(52)
Flex Option
992 €  per week · 2  ‑  24  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

The Endangered Species Project allows you to participate in hands on monitoring of some of Africa’s most endangered species. Details >

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 Wildlife Reserve Big Five Conservation
Life On Land
South Africa Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The Great Projects

Wildlife Reserve Big Five Conservation

Fantastic 4.5
(109)
Video Flex Option
906 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  17+ · Has Wifi

Volunteer with the 'Big Five' and the Born Free Big Cat Foundation in one of South Africa's finest game reserves. Details >

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 African Elephant Welfare Research
Life On Land
South Africa Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
African Elephant Research Unit

African Elephant Welfare Research

Outstanding 4.9
(23)
Flex Option
432 €  per week · 3  ‑  12  weeks · Age  15+ · Has Wifi

Join our volunteer program, which offers those with a passion for elephants, the chance to contribute towards elephant husbandry, welfare, research and conservation! Details >

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 Endangered Wildlife Monitoring and Research
Life On Land
South Africa Sontuli, South Africa
Volunteer Int. Adventures

Endangered Wildlife Monitoring and Research

Brilliant 4.8
(67)
Video Flex Option
796 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Volunteer with endangered species with a team of dedicated conservationists, researchers and wildlife experts on protected reserves- a true African bush experience Details >

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 Safari & Community Outreach
Life On Land
Tanzania Arusha, Tanzania
Siret Volunteers

Safari & Community Outreach

Perfect 4.7
(24)
Video Flex Option
292 €  per week · 4  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Experience an incredible Serengeti safari, visit the famous Maasai and Kilimanjaro while directly contributing to the local community and making a profound impact. Details >

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 Siyafunda Wild Experience
Life On Land
South Africa Hoedspruit, South Africa
Go With Khaya

Siyafunda Wild Experience

Great 4.4
(19)
Flex Option
831 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Volunteers get to live in the African bush while you work hands-on with many animals, at a well-organised game reserve in the magical landscape of Limpopo. Details >

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 Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo Research
Life On Land
South Africa Karongwe Reserve, South Africa
GVI

Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo Research

Brilliant 4.7
(151)
Video Flex Option
1270 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Travel to South Africa to work alongside trained field guides on critical wildlife & Elephant conservation initiatives. Details >

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 Pioneering Wildlife & Ecological Research
Life On Land
South Africa Ledig, South Africa
Hamba Africa

Pioneering Wildlife & Ecological Research

Brilliant 4.8
(38)
Flex Option
760 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Support a leading field research centre in South Africa. Backed by universities, a unique opportunity to take part in scientific investigation & practical conservation. Details >

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 Animal Care Supporter
Life On Land
Ghana Kumasi, Ghana
Our Generation Voluntary Organization

Animal Care Supporter

Very Good 4.4
(53)
Video Flex Option
200 €  per week · 2  ‑  24  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

OGVO is asking for volunteers to assist with a unique opportunity to work in animal care and wildlife and environmental conservation projects. Details >

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 Supporter for Big Five Conservation
Life On Land
South Africa Hluhluwe, South Africa
The Great Projects

Supporter for Big Five Conservation

Fantastic 4.5
(109)
Video Flex Option
678 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Aid Africa's wildlife conservation by tracking extraordinary animals at some of the country's top game reserves, with a focus on the iconic ‘Big Five’! Details >

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Volunteer Abroad Elephant Conservation African Elephant

Volunteer Projects and Internships with African Elephants

Elephants have always been admired by humans for their sheer size and most of us would love to see one of the gentle giants in their natural habitat one day. Believe it or not, with us you have the possibility to get very close to African elephants, the largest land mammals on earth. Being a volunteer in Africa offers you the experience of your lifetime. There are three species of the African elephant, namely the African bush elephant. the African desert elephant and the smaller African forest elephant. The biggest can reach up to 7.5 meters long and 3 meters high at the shoulder. In comparison to their Asian cousins, the African elephants have two opposing extensions at the end of their trunks. Living all over Africa the elephants are most often seen in herds, consisting of females and their calves. The male elephants are usually alone or in smaller herds with other bulls. Sadly, the African elephant is in constant danger due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and illegal wildlife trade and therefore relies on the helping hands of volunteers.

🐘 African Elephant Conservation Status in 2025

Latest updates clarify that when talking about the Conservation of the African Elephant you have to differ between the African Forest Elephant and the African Savanna Elephant. Whereas the African Savanna Elephant has now been listed as endangered, the IUCN Red List notes that the population of the African Forest Elephant is even declining at a higher pace, resulting in their status being updated as Critically Endangered. Unfortunately these amazing creatures are under constant threat and their conservation has suffered significant losses throughout the last century. Due to different threats, it is estimated that the population of the African elephant was reduced to up to 80%. Today, there are about 415.000 African elephants left in the wild. There are multiple factors responsible for the decline of the African elephants:

  • poaching and illegal ivory trading
  • habitat loss
  • general human-wildlife conflict

🐘 Why Are African Elephants Endangered?

There are several threats to the survival of African elephants. Let's take a look at the main factors:

Wildlife Trade

Sadly, the biggest threat to the African elephants still to this day is illegal wildlife trade. Even though a global ban on international ivory sale was enacted in 1989, thousands of elephants are still killed every year for their ivory that is then sold on illegal markets. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 2011 was the year with the most confiscated illegal ivory since global records began in 1989. The remote elephant habitat and the lack of resources to stop illegal poaching complicate the governments’ fights against this problem. Therefore, the help of international organizations and volunteers is much needed in order to protect African elephants.

Habitat Loss

Another big threat for the African elephant is habitat loss and fragmentation. Resulting from expanding human populations and the need for land for agricultural reasons, the elephant’s habitat was reduced from three million square miles in 1979 to little over one million square miles in 2007. Additional reasons for the habitat loss are:

  • commercial logging
  • the emergence of plantations for biofuels and other industries such as mining
  • civil conflicts and the displacement of people

Humans

There is a growing conflict between African elephants and humans. As the elephant’s habitat and migration corridors border on farming land, damages to crops and villages are the results. This often leads to conflicts, a conflict that the elephants lose because people shoot the animals in order to protect their land and villages.

You can see that the African elephant is in great need of protection through organizations and their volunteers. There is a lot that needs to be done in order to protect these animals and their shrinking habitat. Combining your travel experiences with volunteering will make you part of the improvement of the African elephant’s lives and gives you the chance of achieving something amazing. If this sounds like something that you want to be part of, keep on reading. In the following, you will get more detailed information on everything you need to know to become an elephant conservation volunteer.

🌍 Best Places to Volunteer with African Elephants

Before you start packing your back for your travel to Africa, there is one essential decision that needs to be made. And that is, of course, the choice of the location. As the world’s second-largest continent, there are many different countries in Africa where you can spend your time volunteering:

Africa
  • Ghana
  • Malawi
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Zimbabwe

Choosing the perfect place for you surely is not easy and relies on a few factors. At first, you need to think about what you expect from the country you are staying in. Do you want to stay close to the sea? What climate do you prefer and do you want to volunteer in a more remote or touristic area?

South Africa, Malawi, and Zimbabwe

The summer in South Africa is rather hot and dry, whereas Malawi has a rather long rainy season and is a country with an average temperature of about 20 degree Celsius. Volunteering with Elephants in South Africa also offers you the possibility to be close to big cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg, whereas other countries like Zimbabwe offer you the most amazing and stunning rural sights with mountains and waterfalls.

Botswana and Namibia

Right next to South Africa, you can find the beautiful and less traveled country of Botswana. Becoming a volunteer in this part of Africa means that you will get to know both cultural tradition and urbanity. Namibia, on the other hand, has one of the oldest deserts in the world. Furthermore, the country has rich coastal and marine resources that are mainly unexplored.

Tanzania and Kenya

Do you like mountains? Then your place to be is Tanzania where the Kilimanjaro is located. Lastly, you also have the possibility to stay in Kenya that is not only the biggest but also the most advanced economy in east- and central Africa and a popular travel destination.

🌍 How Can I Help Save the African Elephant?

There is a variety of different projects that rely on your helping hands in order to protect the African elephants. Depending on what you are looking for during your time volunteering.

There is a variety of different places where you can volunteer at, such as elephant sanctuaries or in a national park and wildlife reserves, where you will also get into contact with other animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and many more.

📋 What Will I Do During My African Elephant Volunteer Program?

During your volunteer time abroad your help will be needed in various fields, of course depending on the project you are going to choose. Some of these tasks require you to work closely with the endangered animals but there can also be days where your help is for example needed in the office or in the field of community work or sustainable tourism. In order for you to get an idea of what your daily do’s can be, please take a look at the following list:

  • cleaning elephant’s enclosures
  • feeding the elephants
  • fence patrol
  • bush clearing and plant control
  • assisting with tours for visitors

Other projects focus more on research and the collection of important data on the animals living in the wild. This work is also of great need as it contributes to future projects and the general monitoring of the elephant’s development. Here your work can include the following:

  • observation and research of the animals (can also include lions, leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs)
  • tracking of the elephant herds
  • monitoring the social dynamics of the elephants
  • monitoring the spatial movements
  • collection and analysis of data
  • creation of reports

🎁 5 Benefits of Volunteering with African Elephants

A New Experience

As you have seen in the overview, there is a lot that needs to be done in the field of elephant conservation in Africa. Being part of a volunteering project will probably be one of the most adventurous and exciting experiences of your life.

Broaden Your Horizons

You will not only be part of something meaningful but you will also grow on a personal level. Getting out of your comfort zone will give you the confidence to take on other adventures in the future.

Meet New People

Furthermore, you will be part of a whole group of people from all over the world that came to Africa for the same reason: to help in the field of African elephant conservation and to improve the circumstances of the elephants.

Boost Your Resume

Volunteer experience looks very good on your resume because it's a great way to differentiate yourself from others. Future employers love people who take initiative and responsibility!

Health

Volunteering and traveling have proven to increase people's happiness and be beneficial for people's health. Contributing to a greater cause is a big happiness inducer because it gives people a sense of purpose and connection. Travel, on the other hand, activated a different part of the brain which is very beneficial!

Volunteering with African elephants is an experience you cannot miss out on. Go ahead and start to plan your trip right now! If there are any questions do not hesitate to get in touch with us, because we would love to help you find the perfect volunteering program for you!

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