There are lots of different ways to see the world, and we’re not just talking about picking between budget or luxury travel. Volunteering is another great way to travel with some added bonuses thrown into the mix—but more on that later, no spoilers for now.
There are around 195 countries on this floating rock, which means you’ve got a heck of a lot of places to choose from, but for now we’re going to throw the spotlight on one country in particular: South Africa.
One word to describe South Africa: diverse. It’s like somebody thought of every possible landscape and threw it all into one place. We can barely scratch the surface of the reasons to volunteer in South Africa.
From Hermanus, you can spot whales, dolphins—basically the whole “Finding Nemo” cast. Moving inland and away from the cliffed beaches and dramatic waterfalls, you’ll stumble across the vast national parks and nature reserves like Addo, some of the best places to see rhinos and elephants. And when you’re done soaking up all of this incredible wildlife and nature, you can dip into the country’s apartheid history and Zulu culture.
Lucky for you, there are many opportunities that will let you make the most of your stay in this kaleidoscope of a country.
11 reasons to volunteer in South Africa
Consider this your sign that you’ve found your destination to volunteer.
You’re still reading, which means you’re interested in South Africa—good choice! We could write pages and pages about why you should volunteer in South Africa, but nobody’s attention span is that good. So, we’ve decided to keep it to 11. Without further ado, here are our reasons why you should volunteer in South Africa:
1. Travel opportunities
We’d be lying if we said this wasn’t a big reason to volunteer. Now, we’re not saying that volunteering is one big jolly doss around. There’s a lot of work involved—it’s not just sipping mojitos at the beach. But on the days you have your downtime, the travel opportunities are waiting and ready for the taking—and it’s definitely a more affordable way to travel.
When you’re not volunteering, check out cities like Cape Town or Durban. Or head to the national parks on a safari. If that doesn’t float your boat, try your hand at surfing in favorite local spots like Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape.
Putting it simply, there’s a lot to choose from. And don’t forget some volunteer projects like animal conversation or rehabilitation will have some travel involved.
2. Making a positive impact
We always hear about the benefits of making a positive impact and the importance of everyone doing their bit. It could be saying no to a plastic straw in your iced latte, choosing to walk to work rather than drive, or carrying all of your groceries in your arms like a newborn baby rather than accepting the plastic bag.
Thing is, with these positive impacts we don’t actually see the difference that our actions make, which is probably why so many people aren’t consistent (but that’s an article for another day). With volunteering, you actually see the impact you’re having.
If you choose to volunteer at a school, then you’ll see the child’s progression in front of your eyes. If you’re volunteering with a construction project, then you’ll see how your efforts went from transforming the skeleton of a building into a school, or home, or hospital. If you prefer animals to people (and who would blame you) you’ll see improvements in the conservation of their habitat or the numbers of their population.
3. Gaining new skills
Your experience volunteering in South Africa makes the perfect addition to your resume.
Volunteering is a chance to get new skills. You could be a student fresh out of school looking to flex up your resume, or you can be someone in their late 30s looking for a career change or to make an impact.
Whatever stage of life you’re in, volunteering can add a bit of shzoom to your professional career, which given competitive job markets, is a solid reason to volunteer in South Africa. You don’t need to have years of experience in your back pocket either.
4. The chance for personal growth
Right, so we’ve spoken about how volunteering will do wonders for the local community you’re serving, for your travel opportunities, for your resume—well, let's talk about all the wonders it will do for you as a person. You’ll be in a new country, with new challenges, surrounded by people who you’ve never met before.
Sounds daunting? Well, it is a little—but so worth it. You’ll notice the change in yourself. You’ll grow in resilience, self-confidence, adaptableness—the list is a long one.
Who knows? Maybe after a few months you’ll find a few talents that you never knew you had. We can’t think of many opportunities where you can gain this kind of life experience, and it’s just one more reason to volunteer in South Africa.
5. Cultural immersion opportunities
Now let’s talk about South Africa. We’ve mentioned it already. Check out the definition of “diverse” and you’ll see a little picture of South Africa pop up (OK, maybe that doesn’t happen but the point is, it should).
It’s a cultural melting pot. Think we’re exaggerating? South Africa has 11 official languages—yep, that’s before including all of the non-official ones.
Volunteering will give you something that’s harder to come by when you’re traveling—cultural immersion. You’ll spend long stretches of time working with locals and contributing to their community. You don’t get that kind of experience when you’re only with other backpackers.
READ: How to Practice Cultural Sensitivity During Meaningful Travel
6. Contributing to sustainable development
Volunteer projects are changing—and for the better. They’re becoming more sustainable, which means you know you’ll be working on initiatives which directly help the community.
Less replacing paid local workers and more learning from them. It’s not a take-take-take situation. Both parties will benefit in different ways, and both will contribute to long-term solutions.
7. Flexibility
You can pick a volunteer opportunity that fits your schedule, traveling needs, and goals to make a difference.
Volunteer programs are flexible, which is great for you. If you’re thinking about going into teaching but not sure that it’s the right move, then you can volunteer as a way to dip your toes in the water before committing. When you’re ready to move onto the next big adventure, there won’t be any need to think about three months notice or anything like that. Bonus.
8. Promoting cross-cultural understanding
We’ve already talked about how diverse South Africa is (well, it’s not called the “Rainbow Nation” for nothing) and with this diversity comes the chance for some cross-cultural exposure. You’re probably wondering why this is a big selling point, but think about it—if you’re only exposed to the environment that you grew up in then you’ll most likely have a very tunnel-visioned outlook on life.
Working with different cultures breaks stereotypes and gives you a chance to learn about another culture. There’s lots of volunteer opportunities out there, but this reason is a perfect example of why you should choose South Africa.
9. Meeting new people
We’ve mentioned how volunteering helps with kicking down some cultural barriers. Next up: meeting other like-minded travelers.
Whatever volunteer project you choose, you’ll probably be doing it with like-minded people. They’ll have the same interests as you, the same hobbies, and (no surprises here) a love for traveling too.
If you’re traveling solo then it’s a great way to meet people. With volunteering, you’ll be in each other’s company for a few weeks, maybe months, which makes for a nice change from the quick turnover that happens when you stay in a hostel.
10. Making lasting memories
Views like this will stay in your memory for years to come.
We’re sure you’re getting the idea now. Volunteering in South Africa comes with innumerable experiences, especially when it comes to traveling and meeting people. And with all this, you’ll have the chance to make some memories that will last long after you return home.
Wherever you find yourself next, you’ll definitely be telling people about the things you saw in South Africa, the people you met along the way, and the volunteer work you dove into. Looking back in your photo album at the ripe old age of 80 you’ll be pleased you chose to volunteer in South Africa.
11. Supporting local economies
The whole ethos with volunteer schemes is based on the concept of giving back to the community. Well, volunteering in South Africa is no different.
You’ll be giving back to the local community, be it teaching at a school, coming up with solutions for unemployment, or working with animal rehabilitation. In your time off, you’ll still be supporting the community when you buy your groceries from locally sourced producers, pay for accommodation, and check out the local activities.
Get matched with 5 volunteer programs in South Africa right now
3 recommended volunteer programs in South Africa
So you’re all up to speed on the reasons why you should volunteer in South Africa, but now onto the next big question: Which provider should you volunteer with? Fear not, we’ve listed some of the top programs to get you started on your search.
Our advice: Be thorough with your research and make sure to check out the volunteer role. That way, you’ll know that the volunteer work aligns with your interests and abilities.
1. African Big 5 and Wildlife Conservation in South Africa
- Why? Want to study lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and buffalo? Look no further than this program in South Africa. Collecting data, tracking animal movements, aiding in habitat restoration, and tackling poaching are just some of the ways that you’ll be contributing to conservation efforts. Staying in a private lodge in the African wilderness, you’ll be immersed in the nature that you’re helping.
- Where? Greater Kruger
- Read African Impact reviews
2. Volunteer in South Africa - Expeditions With Purpose
- Why? This program lets you engage in community-led projects aimed at finding solutions to social issues like poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, and underfunded education services. It doesn’t stop there. You’ll also be working on the restoration of habitats and sharing the land with Africa’s “Big 5” animals under the experienced eye of a local ranger. Choose between a four-, seven-, or 10-week long expedition.
- Where? Greater Kruger
- Read Raleigh International reviews
3. Volunteer and Teach in South Africa
- Why? A volunteer teaching program with IVHQ means teaching that makes a difference. You’ll be working at low-income schools and supporting the demanding workloads of other teachers. It’s a project with tangible results, not to mention a supportive work environment and a flexible schedule. Choose how long you can commit to (from one week to 24) and rest assured that you’ll be supported the entire time, thanks to the IVHQ team.
- Where? Cape Town, Kruger, Table View
- Read IVHQ reviews
Explore ALL Volunteer Programs in South Africa on GoAbroad.com!
Immerse in South Africa and make an impact!
With so many reasons to volunteer in South Africa, you know you’re making a great choice!
South Africa and all of its volunteer opportunities are calling you! See this as your sign to stop sitting on the fence and start looking into making your volunteer dreams a reality.
You’ve got dozens of options to choose from, and you can commit to as long (or as little) as you want to experience the innumerable reasons why you should volunteer in South Africa. Oh, and you’ll be doing this work in an incredible country. What’s holding you back?
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