Work with animals in South Africa and access loads of opportunities to help improve the lives of stray domestic animals or injured seabirds. Here are some of the tasks you will help with:
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Shadow full-time carers
As an Animal Care volunteer at either of our placements, you will initially spend a lot of time observing the full-time carers. This will help you gain first-hand experience of the way animal rescue centres work in South Africa.
Use this time to ask questions and learn more about the animals in the placement’s care. This will come in handy later on when you take care of animals on your own.
Take care of the animals
There will be ample opportunity to get involved with hands-on work like feeding, exercising, and rehabilitating the animals under your care. As with any volunteer placement, you get back what you put in. Showing initiative and a willingness to get involved will result in your experience being very rewarding.
Spend time with domestic animals
If you join our placement at the shelter, you will be working mostly with domestic animals. Many of them would have gone through a traumatic experience, such as abuse or abandonment. By playing and spending time with them, you can help prepare and socialise them for adoption.
Help rehabilitate injured or ill seabirds
If you have a special interest in conservation, you could opt to help rehabilitate African penguins and other seabirds. Here you will assist in preparing food, feeding the birds, cleaning out cages, and rehabilitating injured or oiled birds. As you work, you’ll get the opportunity to learn about the local ecosystem and work with some unique bird species.
Your day will start with a healthy breakfast around your South African host family’s table. From here, you will head to the animal shelter or seabird sanctuary using public transport. Our staff will show you the way on your first day.
Your work day typically starts around 8am and finishes at around 5pm.
If you’re based at the animal shelter, much of your morning will be dedicated to feeding the animals their morning meal and checking that all is well with them. Once you’ve finished with that, you will be able to help out with other necessary tasks around the shelter. This might include cleaning kennels or doing administrative tasks the regular staff might not get around to.
If you’re working at the rehabilitation centre for seabirds, your morning will start with a similar routine of feeding and checking on the birds currently in your care. However, if there is an emergency, you might be roped in to help clean oiled birds, or stand by as vets work to heal an injury.
After a morning of hard work, you will get an hour and a half’s lunch break. If your host family lives close by, you can head home to eat and rest for a bit. Alternatively, you will be able to enjoy a packed lunch.
During the afternoons, you will typically spend some time with the animals. If you’re working at the shelter, this would include taking dogs for walks, playing with cats or doing some basic training. If you’re at the rehabilitation centre, this would typically mean checking on each of the recovering birds and updating the local staff about their wellbeing.
Evenings and weekends are your free time to explore. Make the most of your time in this magnificent country by going on weekend excursions with fellow volunteers. Also, enjoy plenty of meals with your local host family and spend time conversing with them. It’s the very best way to learn more about their life and culture.
Known as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa has a diverse mix of cultures. Our projects are based in Cape Town, a region filled with an exciting variety of activities to do during your free time.
You can catch a wave at Muizenberg beach or just relax in a seaside restaurant. There’s plenty of local cuisine to try, including delicately spiced Cape Malay curries and the creamy milk tart dessert.
South Africa has a difficult past, which you can learn more about at the District 6 Museum and Robben Island.
For an awe-inspiring experience, you can spend the day getting lost in the towering silos that make up the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Arts Africa. Finally, no trip to Cape Town would be complete without a cable car ride up iconic Table Mountain.
We run many different projects in South Africa, so there’s sure to be other volunteers in the country with you. So if you want to travel with a group, you’re sure to find like-minded people who’ll join you on your adventures.
Accommodation
Food (three meals a day)
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Full induction and orientation by an experienced staff member on arrival
Transport to and from your work placement
In-country support and 24-hour back-up from our team of full-time local staff
Emergency assistance from our international emergency response team
Project equipment and materials, including access to our database with thousands of resources
A supervisor/mentor at your work placement
Training and workshops from our experienced local staff
Regular social events and community activities with other volunteers and interns
Access to our local office with internet connection
Certification of project completion
A cultural awareness course
Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch
Your arrival airport for our volunteer projects in South Africa will be Cape Town International Airport (CPT). One of our staff members will be waiting for you at the airport, clearly visible with a Projects Abroad sign. Being greeted by a friendly, smiling face is sure to put you at ease during your first moments in South Africa!
This staff member will then take you to your host family. You’ll get to meet the different family members and have some time to settle in and rest.
Depending on where you stay, the drive from the airport to your host family will be between 20 and 40 minutes. The airport is located about a 20-minute drive from our main offices in Cape Town. We’ll cover the cost of your trip to and from the airport, so you can enjoy a stress-free drive watching the sights race by the car window.
You'll stay with a host family in Cape Town. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of South Africa and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
This program is paused due to COVID-19
Animal Rehabilitation Assistant
Gain practical experience with animals and support staff at a shelter or help rehabilitate seabirds at a rescue centre
$583/week
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