Program fee includes: 

• Placement in a suitable project and volunteer house
• Placement inventory information prior to arrival in South Africa 
• Transfer from the airport to the STAY AFRICA house 
• Transfer to STAY AFRICA office for Orientation 
• Orientation program, including welcome session and Orientation Session 
• Accommodation 
• Breakfast at volunteer house

At additional cost: Weekday Lunch and Dinner; Weekend meals; Transportation from the accommodation to the project site and back. 

Please note that once you have paid the balance of your program fee (typically 1 month prior to your arrival), cancellations will result in a 50% cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellation within 7 days of your arrival. No refunds will be issued for early departures - a credit voucher will be issued to you, and you can then return to complete your program at a future date.

Volunteers will be collected at Cape Town International Airport on the Set Arrival Date. A representative from our partner transport company, Backpacker Bus, will have a signboard with STAY AFRICA VOLUNTEERS (and/or your name) on it to meet you. If you are unable to see anyone, please make your way to the information desk in the main terminal as the driver will page for you.

The Stay Africa volunteer house boasts the following features: 

• Accommodate up to 40 volunteers at a time (11 dorm-style rooms sleeping between 4-8 people) 
• On-site, live-in house Manager 
• 2 Fully-equipped Kitchens (stove, microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge, etc.) 
• 2 Communal Lounge Areas with satellite TV (numerous sport, movie & music channels) 
• Fully-fitted bathrooms with a total of 7 showers and 8 toilets 
• Individual lockers for each volunteer (bring your own padlock) 
• Bedding is included as well as linen which are all provided during your stay on the programme, however, you need to bring your own towels and toiletries. 
• Uncapped high-speed Wi-Fi in the house 
• Located centrally on transport route close to supermarkets, Internet Café, Laundrettes, restaurants, etc. 
• Self-service Breakfast served at the house every morning (Monday – Friday: 06h00 – 08h30) – consists of cereals, bread/toast with various toppings, coffee/tea, variety of fruits. 
• Lunch, Dinner and weekend meals excluded - Kindly note that should you have any special dietary requirements, i.e. gluten-free, lactose intolerant, etc. you have to be prepared to financially cater for this.

The Area 

Observatory, or “Obs” as the locals call it, is Cape Town’s most bohemian suburb and lies about 15mins (drive) east of the city centre. Located just 2km from the University of Cape Town, this student town is a vibrant, multi-cultural community that attracts young travelers from all over the globe, all year round. Our volunteer house is a 10min walk from Lower Main Road - the main entertainment area and heartbeat of Obs. You’ll find quirky restaurants, easy going bars, live music (everything from Reggae and Afro-jazz to Contemporary) and tons of cozy little coffee shops and cafés. During the Apartheid era, Observatory was one of the few “grey” suburbs – areas where people of mixed race, religion and cultures were allowed to live together. This spirit has lived on and has resulted in a suburb unique in its diversity. Our volunteers will definitely love the sights and sounds of Obs. Within a 5km radius of Obs, you’ll find the Newlands rugby and cricket stadiums, various shopping centers, museums, art galleries and stage theatres, hiking trails and of course The Old Biscuit Mill - this vibrant spot is home to night and day markets, designer stores, delicious farmstalls, decadent cafes as well as an awesome line-up of festivals and events

Breakfast is provided on weekdays (Monday to Friday only). Lunch, Dinner and weekend meals are the volunteer's expense. 

Breakfast is self-service and includes coffee, tea with bread/toast, eggs, at least 2 cereal types, and a selection of fresh seasonal fruits. 

The volunteer house is located within walking distance of numerous restaurants (everything from steak houses and burger joints, to Sushi/Asian cuisine) and small corner cafes and coffee shops (for light meals), as well as well-known fast food outlets (KFC, McDonalds, Nandos, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc.). Uber Eats offers a delivery service for most of these. Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal options are available at most restaurants and supermarkets.  

Volunteers also often buy groceries from the nearby supermarket and have home-cooked meals together in groups - great bonding experiences and often loads of fun!! Just try not to burn down our kitchens!!