Animal Rehabilitation Assistant

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.