Africa is an amazingly diverse place with many different regions providing unique experiences. You have come to the right place to find volunteering in Africa tips.
Always make sure to think about your “why” when volunteering. Do you want to help people with their living conditions? Do you want to focus on wildlife and keep nature thriving?
You could volunteer in a rural village in Ethiopia and experience the tribal way of life. If that’s not for you, you could volunteer in a less isolated city like Cape Town and help disadvantaged communities.
You can choose from many more options, but what it comes down to is what you want to experience abroad while volunteering in Africa. You decide how much or how little you push yourself on your adventure. While there are many tips for volunteering in Africa, here are ten crucial tips you should not ignore to have a worthwhile trip you will never forget.
10 best tips for volunteering in Africa
We’ll dive into our volunteering in Africa tips so you can make the most of your experience.
You probably have tons of questions before embarking on your volunteer adventure in Africa! Thinking about what you need to bring and what kind of conditions you can expect can stress you out. Researching and thinking practically is essential. Let’s break down 10 tips to provide the best advice for volunteering in Africa:
1. Take your time choosing a location.
We weren’t all made for rural life surrounded by bugs and wild animals, but some are! Look into programs that have you interacting with animals and going on safaris. If you think you might do better in cities, research programs and locations that match your interests.
Perhaps you thrive in fast-paced and high-stakes environments. A hospital might be a great place for you to volunteer if that’s the case! Don’t rush into a decision when picking a location to volunteer. Take your time and ask questions about yourself and the program.
2. Choose a cause you are interested in and passionate about.
Whether you’re interested in working with kids, communities, or any other initiatives, you’ll find a meaningful opportunity.
There are many opportunities for volunteers in Africa. Help is needed in education, health care, wildlife conservation, community building, and more. Think about what interests you most and see what options you have.
If you are interested in education, you can teach multiplication skills or the English language to children who are eager to learn. There are also many opportunities to inform children and adults about the best health care practices they can use in their daily lives.
On the other hand, if you are more passionate about animals and conservation efforts, there are plenty of programs that offer this option for you to serve. If you’re not sure what you want to do, take some time to think about where you could be most helpful and what skills you want to learn.
3. Pick a trusted and reputable provider or organization.
There are so many great programs to choose from, it might get overwhelming at first. Start with GoAbroad’s options for volunteer programs in Africa for your initial search. Then look into reviews and all the details provided for each program. Once you see what is out there, you can make a better and more confident decision about which program is right for you.
4. Look for sustainable programs.
Doing your research into sustainable programs will help ensure your volunteer efforts support the community and wildlife where you go.
Not all volunteer programs make a lasting impact on the community or location volunteers travel to. You need to make sure the projects you’re looking at are run in a sustainable way. Be sure to ask questions about how the organizations ensure volunteer work is maximized to make the biggest impact.
Find out what the project has achieved in the past and how this is measured. Another way to make sure your program is legitimate and sustainable is to do research online and look at reviews of the program.
5. Talk and interact with locals.
Make the most out of your African volunteer adventure, and do some research into the local people, history, culture, and wildlife of the place you are visiting. Immerse yourself by learning a few phrases in the local language.
Also, some advice for volunteering in Africa: Make sure you do some research into why sustainable development is so important. The more you put in, the more you get out!
Immersing yourself in a local culture is one of the best parts of traveling. Your worldview expands and you learn more about yourself when you step out of your comfort zone. Push yourself and engage with the local community as much as you can.
6. Think about your timeline.
Plan out your timeline now so you can find a volunteer opportunity that meets your needs and goals.
How long are you willing to dedicate your time to a cause? Do you get volunteer hours at your place of work? Can you take off work to volunteer overseas? All of these are crucial questions you need to ask yourself before you pick your program.
Perhaps you aren’t able to go abroad in the next year, but if you plan ahead, maybe you can soon. In the meantime, you can always look into volunteer programs that help African countries and communities right from your own home.
There are virtual options and sometimes options in your hometown that can help support causes abroad. Start with a simple Google search or look at GoAbroad’s volunteer programs.
7. Do not avoid travel prep.
As great as it sounds to drop everything and just jetset off to Africa, that’s not the best way to go. You need to prepare for a journey to Africa. Make sure your passport is updated, research if a visa is required, and look into travel insurance.
Also, it would be very smart to get a health check up before you go. You can talk with your doctor about your limitations or medication you should take when you go abroad.
For example, people going to African countries commonly take malaria pills. Furthermore, there may be recommended shots you will want to get before you expose yourself to an unfamiliar environment.
8. Prioritize safety and security.
Volunteering in Africa can be an amazing experience, so choose a program that prioritizes your safety while you’re there.
Reputable volunteer providers and organizations are serious about protecting volunteers and the people they are serving. This is why most programs require volunteers to undergo a background check. Not all volunteer organizations require this, but the best certainly do.
As for when you arrive in the country you choose to volunteer in, make sure you keep your guard up, especially when you first arrive. One way to stay safe when you first arrive is to arrange an airport pick up before you fly to Africa. Sometimes the organizations or providers will arrange these for you, but if not, make sure you have a plan in place to get to your destination safely.
9. Have fun!
Make sure to enjoy yourself and keep some time to travel. Research what there is to do in the area and how you can spend some time before and after your volunteer assignment. Go out and see more of what makes this continent special!
10. Reflect on your experience.
Before, during, and after you participate in a volunteer program in Africa, think about your experiences. Write it down, take photos, draw pictures, start a blog, collect meaningful souvenirs, and so on.
Once you return, share your experiences and spread the word about volunteering abroad. Tell your friends and family, post a photo on Instagram, create a TikTok to share, make a scrapbook, and leave a review about your program.
The more you help spread the word, the more interest and excitement you will create, which may lead to more volunteers in Africa making a positive impact.
Get matched with 5 volunteer programs in Africa right now
3 ways to volunteer in Africa
Wherever you go in Africa, you’ll travel meaningfully when you volunteer!
There are a vast amount of opportunities available for people who want to volunteer in Africa. With so many choices, it might be overwhelming to try to narrow down all of your options. Think about where you want to go, what you want to do, and for how long you are willing to volunteer. Then review these three hand-picked program options with legitimate and trustworthy providers:
1. African Big 5 and Wildlife Conservation in South Africa
- Highlights: Go on an African safari and see elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, buffalos, and more! Your goal for this program is to protect these magnificent endangered species. African Impact will train you on how to help support their mission to prevent poaching, starvation, and culling. The program duration lasts from two to 12 weeks, so you can pick an option that meets your needs.
- Where? South Africa
- What? Animal welfare, conservation, environment, and wildlife
- Read African Impact reviews
2. Sports Volunteering Abroad in Swaziland
- Highlights: This volunteer program has volunteers playing games, sports, and exercising with kids under 6 years old. How fun is that? On the weekends, volunteers are free to hike the mountains, see wildlife, shop at local markets, and more. This program is for people with lots of energy who can keep up with kids. If it sounds interesting to you, check out their website for more details.
- Where? Swaziland
- What? Sports, teaching, youth development, and youth
- Read Kaya Responsible Travel reviews
3. Zanzibar: Dolphin Research & Marine Conservation
- Highlights: Want to spend your volunteer trip at the beach or in the ocean? This might be the program for you. Marine Impact in Zanzibar has volunteers contributing to marine conservation initiatives. Volunteers observe human interactions with dolphins. Then they help spread the word about the best practices for tourism in the area to keep dolphins and other marine life safe.
- Where? Tanzania
- What? Biological research, community development, conservation, environment, and marine conservation
- Read Marine Impact reviews
Explore ALL Volunteer Programs in Africa on GoAbroad.com!
Volunteer in Africa and make an impact!
These tips for volunteering in Africa are sure to help you pick a great program. Then you will be well on your way to making a positive difference in the lives of others in Africa!
Deciding to volunteer abroad is an exciting, scary, brave, and fun process. These volunteering in Africa tips will help you along your journey before, during, and after your program.
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