About the Program
The South African
Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SANCCOB), a non-profit organization
in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; is focused on the care of sick or injured
African Penguins (also known as Jackass Penguins) as well as other marine birds
such as gannets, cormorants and seagulls. The work of SANCCOB is vital for the
safety of the largest breeding colony of African Penguins in the world which is
situated on St Croix Island right off the shore of Port Elizabeth in the Indian
Ocean.
This is the only centre in Port Elizabeth that has the capacity to collect washed-up penguins who are sick, hurt or exhausted; and to treat any diseases they may have, give them a vitamin boost, fatten them up and release them into the bay again.
They will re-learn how to catch fish independently with a definite advantage, being made fit and fat by volunteers.
There are currently only 25 000 breeding pairs of African Penguins left in the world, and 21000 of those are mostly right here on our doorstep in Algoa Bay.
The centre’s purpose isn´t just to rescue and rehabilitate, but also to inform and educate the general public through their different programs. The extensive displays at the centre give tourists, school groups and other visitors the opportunity to learn about these endangered birds but also a wider variety of marine life in the beautiful and incredibly diverse Algoa Bay.
Volunteers are needed for the diversity of tasks that come with caring for the penguins and other rescued birds, as well as the educational purpose of the centre. Volunteers will feed and clean the penguins, maintain their enclosures, welcome visitors and guide them through the educational centre, go out on occasional rescues and assist with releases.
Typical day
As a volunteer you will generally work closely with the people who work at the rehabilitation centre from 8.30AM until 5PM including the following tasks.
- Hands-on work with penguins and other marine birds
- Assistance on educational visitor tours
- Cleaning and feeding of the penguins
- Helping to release rehabilitated birds
- General, centre-related tasks
Free-time activities
The Eastern Cape and the surroundings of Port Elizabeth show a large variety of natural beauty and make PE a great central place to visit the variety of South Africa. To the East you will find the Wild coast (former Transkei and Ciskei) which is mostly rural and undeveloped, but closer you will find Addo Elephant Part and great coastal villages such as Port Alfred. To the North you will find the great Karoo; a semi desert area with wide open spaces, large nature areas and long open roads with historical places such as Graaff Reinet, the Baviaanskloof Wilderness and much more. To the East towards Cape Town, you will be amazed by the Tsitsikamma National Park, holiday villages such as Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and natures Valley or the surf mecca of Jeffrey’s Bay. This gives you plenty to see and visit while you are here.
In Port Elizabeth there are a lot of things to do as well. You can go sandboarding on the Sunday river, to Sardinia bay for a day on the beach or visit one of the museums from Nelson Mandela.
Music
Snorkling
Zoo
Opera
Program Requirements
Included Services
Before your journey
On-site services
- Information and assistance before departure - Pick up on arrival and drop off at the end of your stay - A welcome pack with an information guide, free SIM card and maps - All meals - Accommodation in our beachfront volunteer house - Daily transport to and from the project - City Tour and Introduction Program - Direct donation to the project - Free social activities
Your airport pickup is included in your fee when arriving on Monday or any other day of the week. If you choose to arrive on a weekend, we will gladly organize a cab to pick you up (or you can take an Uber) to any accommodation of your choice. We will collect you there on Monday morning at 9AM to start your stay with us.
If you prefer to come to us directly over the weekend, as well as when you depart again, we will charge an extra Weekend Fee of R200 (15 EUR) for your pick up or drop off. An additional R250 (20 EUR) per night for any extra nights outside of your booking dates. Please discuss your personal preference with us to make sure all is prepared for you.
The volunteer house is located in the popular beach front area of Humewood, and is only a 5 minute walk away from the beach. Shops, beachfront cafés, restaurants and access to other facilities are all within easy reach. It’s the perfect location to enjoy the beach after work or during weekends. The volunteer house offers spacious living conditions and is shared with other volunteers. It is fully furnished and has all the facilities needed and more.
Our full time cook will provide all meals at the volunteer house on a daily basis. This means you will be able to enjoy great South African home cooked meals, learn how to cook some of these specialties and have a House Mother to comfort you when needed. Our cook is a lady with a warm heart and even bigger embrace for those that need it and she will look after the house and the meals to provide the best possible.
We believe in participation, so volunteers will not be sitting back and get served, they still need to help her cook at times, chop vegetables, clean dishes and warm up the food for dinner themselves.
Our cook will create weekly menus offering breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as alternate meals like stews, curries, stir-fry, soups, pastas and other wholesome options. Meals will be prepared and cooked from Monday to Friday, where on weekends volunteers will only have to heat up a meal or make their own similar meals.
There is free coffee, tea and cordial juice available at any time. For breakfast you will have toast, fruit, yogurt, cereal and/or eggs. For lunch you can have sandwiches with cheese, marmalade, cold meats or other spreads. Please tell our coordinators about any wishes, vegetarian wishes and allergies concerning food.
Program Fees
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