from 2,445€

Perfect 4.6rating (57)

Big Cats Caretaker

location
2 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Join us and help take are of Big Cats at the amazing Western Cape of South Africa. This big Cat Sanctuary is one of the few vetted and approved big Cat sanctuaries!

Interested in Volunteering? Animals? Why not take part in this amazing volunteering opportunity at our Big Cats Sanctuary located in Stanford, South Africa where you will have a chance of working with experienced animal caretakers/coordinators and other volunteers from around the world to care for ...

About the program

Interested in Volunteering? Animals? Why not take part in this amazing volunteering opportunity at our Big Cats Sanctuary located in Stanford, South Africa where you will have a chance of working with experienced animal caretakers/coordinators and other volunteers from around the world to care for these magnificent big cats! 

This sanctuary focuses on being a safe haven for big cats, in addition to being an educational platform to raise awareness about the truth behind the lion and tiger industry in South Africa, and to give volunteers a unique opportunity to take part in a truly purposeful and ethical project! They share their passion, love and dedication with you, and show how animal welfare plays a crucial role in giving them the best captive life possible.

Located on 40 Hectares of land filled with the unique fynbos, large trees, a natural spring and a stunning mountain view, is what we call ‘the paradise’ that is considered home to these amazing creatures! Some of the residents are; Leopard, Lions, Tigers, Caracals & Black Backed Jackals. Come be a part of this amazing opportunity and volunteer for a minimum of 2 weeks! The work with the wildlife on the Sanctuary can be physically demanding, yet very rewarding! Join the pride and learn about the many issues that these wild animals face in captivity and get a better understanding about them and also, what it takes to care for them on a day to day basis.

The sanctuary is located in Stanford, South Africa which is the rural areas situated in the heart of the Cape Whale and White Shark Coast about 140 km from Cape Town. There are various opportunities in the area to go Kayaking, Shark cage diving, Wine tasting, Horse Back riding, Quadbiking, paragliding and so much more! 

You will be volunteering together with other international volunteers and local experience staff who will train and guide you during your stay. There are no special requirements, skills or equipment needed. 

 

Typical day

The project will offer you the unique opportunity to be involved behind the scenes and as such, your daily tasks will include:

  • Caring for the amazing big cats.
  • Enrichment program (stimulation program to activate all the animals’ senses).
  • Preparation of food and feeding.
  • Cleaning and maintaining ...

Typical day

The project will offer you the unique opportunity to be involved behind the scenes and as such, your daily tasks will include:

  • Caring for the amazing big cats.
  • Enrichment program (stimulation program to activate all the animals’ senses).
  • Preparation of food and feeding.
  • Cleaning and maintaining enclosures.
  • General farm work.
  • Assisting with educating visitors.
Certain tasks will repeat itself every day for example the feeding and cleaning of these great animals while other tasks like maintenance of the compound will be more project based. 

Free-time activities

Volunteers have the opportunatiy to partake in tons of activities however,  due to the working hours you only have limited time. We therefore recommend that you do this before or after completeing the project!

Free-time activities

Volunteers have the opportunatiy to partake in tons of activities however,  due to the working hours you only have limited time. We therefore recommend that you do this before or after completeing the project!


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Required Documents

CV, Resume, Letter of Motivation, Two pics and Signed Policies and Liability form (provided during application process)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 07:00 - 18:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Fronteering Travel

The Fee includes:


  • Accommodation - You will be living in semi-private room in the Sanctuary’s guest house. Depending on how many other volunteers are attending this project at one time, you may share your room with 1 other volunteer (same sex). The house consists of 4 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms, a spacious and fully equipped kitchen for everyone to cook, a big living and dining room area where everyone enjoy dinners together, game nights, film evening or just relaxing with a nice book. Outside there is a traditional South African braai (BBQ) area, and a lovely pool with a garden to sunbath for the hot summer days!
  • Meals - Volunteers will need to prepare their own breakfasts with groceries provided by the Sanctuary, Lunches are provided and prepared by the project itself, and finally volunteers will need to purchase and make own Dinners. Full kitchen privileges are available for your use, special arrangements such as vegan or vegetarian food can be made as well. The lunches offered is 99% vegetarian. Please specify any special dietary needs before you arrive, this includes special dietary needs for medical conditions.
  • Transportation - Transfers to and from Cape Town International Airport for arrival and departure and weekly transport to grocery shop and weekly excurions
  • Ongoing service and 24/7 Emergency Contact

Airport Pickup at Cape Town International Airport

You will arrive in Cape Town where you will be met by the Project’s transport team at the arrival hall. You’ll then be transferred to the Sanctuary Guest House! 

Accommodation

You will be living in a semi-private room in the Sanctuary’s main house. Depending on how many other volunteers are attending this project at one time, you may share your room with 1 other volunteer (same sex). The house consists of 4 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms, a spacious and fully equipped kitchen for everyone to cook, a big living and dining room area where everyone enjoy dinners together, game nights, film evening or just relaxing with a nice book. Outside there is a traditional South African braai (BBQ) area, and a lovely pool with a garden to sunbath for the hot summer days.

Food & Beverages

Volunteers will need to prepare their own breakfasts with groceries provided by the Sanctuary, Lunches are prepared and provided by the project and finally volunteers will need to purchase and prepare own Dinners. Full kitchen privileges are available for your use, special arrangements such as vegan or vegetarian food can be made as well. The food offered is 99% vegetarian. Please specify any special dietary needs before you arrive, this includes special dietary needs for medical conditions.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The project prefers applicants starting and ending on Saturdays. We advise that you arrive/depart at the Cape Town International airport between 10am and 2pm on the specific date.  Should you, however, like to make alternative arrangements with them, they will do their best to accommodate you. Please be reminded that there is a fee attached to offschedule pickups.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 2,445€
3 weeks 2,935€
4 weeks (max. stay) 3,425€
Average fees 1,039€/week

Program fees

1,039€ per week 2 - 4 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Fronteering Travel during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Fronteering Travel

Perfect 4.6 rating (57 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2010

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Patrick

Spoken languages: German, English, Dutch

About the project

Fronteering arranges volunteering programs related to wildlife and indigenous people in less visited places of this world as well as more unique destinations.

Meet your organization

Fronteering arranges volunteering programs in some of the last frontiers of this world as well as more unique locations that other organizations ignore. From Field research programs in the Far north of Canada and Husky ranches in the Canadian Arctic to Amerindian community programs and wildlife conservation in the Amazon Rainforest and everything in between.

Most of our programs Focus on either wildlife rehabilitation and release, wildlife conservation & research or involve local indigenous communities.

Fronteering currently offers programs in Canada, Guyana, USA, Australia, Brazil, Borneo, South Africa, Madagascar and Panama.

True good causes: FRONTEERINGS volunteer abroad projects are either existing local projects or projects that are build from the group up by FRONTEERING. What these projects have in common is that you will be supporting a true good cause! You will have the opportunity to help where the need is the greatest. Our projects focus on helping the local communities, wildlife, indigenous people and the environment in cooperation with the local/indigenous communities. We focus on true volunteer projects where your effort really makes a difference. That’s why through Fronteering you will rehabilitate injured & orphaned wildlife with the goal to release the animal. That is the reason why will not send you to some far southern country to cuddle with tame lions & tigers with any real purpose. If you want to volunteer abroad with a real purpose, contact us!

Safety: At FRONTEERING we do our outmost best to provide the safety measures needed for our Volunteer Abroad projects and Adventure Travel Trips. However due to the fact that many of our projects and trips involve wild animals and/or are in remote locations there is a small element of risk involved. Not all of our projects and trips are for the faint at heart however we do cater to those of all walks of life. If you are not too sure about the suitability of a Volunteer Abroad project or an Adventure Travel trip then feel free to ask as we are always ready to answer any questions or discuss any doubts that come to mind. For more information please check our Safety & In-country Support section before you volunteer abroad.

A real adventure: We do not want our volunteers to end up trying to safe or clean up some small patch of rainforest which in some places they might call a wilderness. Instead you will volunteer in the immense jungle of the Amazon rainforest or venture in to the vast Canadian wilderness! Our volunteer abroad projects are situated in the remote areas of the world and we focus on countries and regions with the lowest population densities. We at FRONTEERING focus on what works; from sleeping in the jungle underneath the stars with nothing more than your own private hammock to back-to-basic cabins in the northern tundra with a cozy smothering fireplace and no electricity! When you volunteer abroad with FRONTEERING you can be sure it will be adventure.

Off the beaten path: With FRONTEERING volunteer abroad projects you will venture to places less visited. We focus on places that are fairly undiscovered where the nature, wildlife and indigenous cultures are still common. You will have the great opportunity to see these amazing places while they are still unspoiled and pure. It is these places where there is the most to lose but even more to gain through successful conservation work and sustainable tourism. 

Community involvement: Foremost when volunteering abroad the well being of the community should come first. For all of our trips we use local guides, local transportation and local communities so that through sustainable tourism we can help to protect the environment, wildlife and sustain the way of life of indigenous cultures & communities. More and more and governments choose the long term benefit of sustainable tourism over the short term gain of mining and logging. A good example is Gabon which in 2002 after recommendations from environmental researchers set up 13 new national parks. The government of Guyana is currently considering protecting its entire rainforest region which still covers 80% of the country. Hopefully through our combined effort this dream will one day become true.

Mission
FRONTEERING specializes in organizing volunteer abroad projects to preserve the environment, wildlife and indigenous people throughout the world while giving the volunteers a real and raw experience in some of the most beautiful and often remote places in the world to make a true difference.

Vision
FRONTEERING strives to provide real off the beaten path volunteer abroad experiences worldwide that satisfy the need for volunteer projects that truly makes a difference for the environment, wildlife and indigenous people.


57 reviews · rating4.6

Deirdre Conroy rating4.2

2024 at Pantanal Wildlife Research

My experience on this volunteer program was excellent due to the hard work and planning by my host Alexine. She is a fund of knowledge and is dedicated to her project (Peccary Project, see also on Instagram, peccary_queixada_project). I also worked with an amazing team working with the giant ant ...
Cindy Lamaha rating5

2023 at Exotic Wildlife Caretaker Assistant

Dear future volunteer, The Hawaii sanctuary is not just a project where you will be taught about all the different kinds of animals and their behaviors, you will also learn a lot about humans, about yourself and you will learn how to feel home at a place that is not your own. If you thinking about ...
Hanna Somsky rating5

2023 at Exotic Wildlife Caretaker Assistant

Can get really good hands on experience with a very diverse group of animals. Ranch care takers are very knowledgeable about the animals and will gladly spend time sharing their stories and experiences with you. If you are looking for somewhere that can you know the place and people you're ...
Liliane Zistl rating5

2023 at Exotic & Domestic Animal Caretaker

I really enjoyed my stay at this program. I had the chance to work with different animals that I woudn't have gotten otherwise. The people there are very kinde and courteouse. Because the work is not always the simplest, they give you the weekend of with the possability to go to Saint Pete or Tampa. ..
Jasmine McPherson rating5

2023 at Exotic & Domestic Animal Caretaker

This sanctuary is an absolute amazing place, I'm glad I stayed. They provided a good place to stay and I learnt a lot while with them. They let me experience different situations while with them. Definitely recommend for any volunteer. ..
Sara Weber rating5

2023 at Sea Turtle Rehabilitator

Es war alles super organisiert, das Hides Hotel ist ein Budget und dementsprechend etwas alt. Die Singlezimmer sind im alten Gebäude- Bereich und leider etwas muffig. Mit tagsüber offenen Fenstern gehts aber. Die stündige Fahrt zur Insel ud wieder eine zurück auf einem Touristenboot wird mit ...

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German, English, Dutch

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