2 - 12 weeks
from € 1.590
South Africa

Volunteer work in the wildlife reserve in South Africa

  • In the middle of nature
  • animals in the wild
  • Varied activities

During your volunteer work in a wildlife reserve in South Africa, you will be actively involved in research, conservation management and education. You will learn everything about wildlife protection and with your help you will ensure the important work of the assignment site. Observe wildlife, collect data and much more - in the 10.000 hectare private nature reserve!

Location icon Port Elizabeth
Minimum age icon from 18 years
Icon Duration 2 - 12 weeks / from €1.590
Departure days icon Monday
SDG 15 - Life on Land
life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-SÜ122

As a volunteer
South Africa

2 - 12 weeks / from €1.590
to the cost overview

Register now

What's the matter?

South Africa has an incredible variety of animals and plants and is considered a true paradise for nature lovers. Unfortunately, poaching and increasing habitat destruction are causing a worrying decline in biodiversity here as well.

The African elephant is on the list of endangered species due to the excessive ivory trade, and the number of rhinos is also declining dramatically. In addition, lion hunting is legal in some areas. In view of this problem, the deployment site makes a significant contribution to species conservation by offering the animals a protected and controlled habitat in the wildlife reserve.

The location for your volunteer work in the nature reserve in South Africa is a 10.000 hectare nature reserve (approx. 150 km from Port Elizabeth), which has been privately owned for several years. With expertise and great respect for nature, the formerly agricultural area was restored to its original natural state.

The landscape of the valley forms five different habitats with access to two rivers, the wooded hills and the savannas. As a result, it offers ideal living conditions for a large number of animal species, including the famous Big Five.

Please note: As the animals roam freely through the reserve, it is necessary that you stay within the property fence in your accommodation. You can't just jog or walk for safety reasons! Also note that touching the animals is not possible here! Unless it is a sick or pregnant animal that needs medical help.

Your tasks as a volunteer

As a volunteer in the nature reserve in South Africa, you will work in the areas of research, conservation management and education/enlightenment.

In the Research area, you use remote measurement techniques to observe, for example, the movement patterns of the elephants in order to determine their use of the nature reserve area and their impact on the vegetation. Similar tasks apply to the leopard, lion and rhino populations.

In Conservation Management you can expect a wide range of other tasks, e.g.: counting wild animals, checking irregular vegetation, collecting data on the sex and age ratio of certain species such as the eland antelope or giraffe, parasite control, ie administering medicine, controlling soil erosion and cleaning up -Actions and maintenance work.

Once a week you have the opportunity to get involved in the work in a soup kitchen. There you help with cooking, washing up and cleaning. You can also play, sing, paint, do handicrafts or learn English with the children between the ages of 3 and 13. You and the kitchen staff look forward to your support!

During your volunteer work, you will work between seven and nine hours a day, Monday to Friday, depending on the season and the weather. You lend a hand wherever your help is needed and thus get an insight into all areas of responsibility in the nature park.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer House in the nature reserve

You live in the middle of the nature reserve in a comfortable, fully furnished house. There are shared rooms and a shared bathroom. The Volunteer House also has a lounge with a pool table and TV, a dining room, and a well-equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, oven, microwave, and dishes. A safe is available for valuables such as passports and cash. The house has a garden where you can relax with the other volunteers after work - there is also a pool and a BBQ area.

Attention: It should be noted that the house is in the middle of an animal sanctuary where the animals roam freely. It is therefore necessary for your own safety that you remain within the fenced property!

Meals consist of three meals a day. Teams always take turns cooking. Groceries for this as well as fruit and vegetables are provided. The volunteers are jointly responsible for keeping the house, their rooms, bathrooms and kitchen as well as the grounds clean.

Location

Port Elizabeth

For the wildlife project you live in the middle of a 10.000 hectare nature reserve. The landscape of the valley forms five different habitats with access to two rivers, the wooded hills and the savannas. As a result, it offers ideal living conditions for a large number of animal species, including the famous Big Five.

The project site is near the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, also known as "PE". This is located at the southern tip of South Africa and is known for its beautiful beaches! Along with other surrounding regions of this coast, the bay on the Indian Ocean is also known as "Nelson Mandela Bay". Port Elizabeth is known as a surfer Mecca. So it's worth spending a few days there before or after you get involved in the project!

Looking for a way to get up close and personal with South Africa's wildlife? Then this location is a good choice! Here you live for a while in the middle of nature and you can also combine your stay with exciting activities in Port Elizabeth!

Free time in the Port Elizabeth region

Your free time in the Port Elizabeth region

As a volunteer in the Port Elizabeth region, you have plenty of exciting leisure activities at your disposal. On your days off or after your volunteer work, you can try them out as you please.

On Wednesdays, the volunteers always have the opportunity to visit the Beach Pub and party wildly there. The beach is just 16 kilometers from the project site. Depending on the weather, camping trips are also offered. A unique opportunity to sit around the campfire with other volunteers and admire the beautiful African starry sky.

Excursions to nearby towns are regularly offered from your project location, for example to the small coastal town of Kenton-on-the-Sea, where you have the opportunity to go shopping.

In any case, you should also pay a visit to Port Elizabeth. Fantastic beaches await you there, which are not only suitable for swimming and relaxing. Port Elizabeth is considered an absolute surfer Mecca and a paradise for windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing. Sardinia Bay and Kings Beach are particularly suitable for this. But Port Elizabeth also has a lot to offer for diving enthusiasts. Discover the fascinating underwater world between reefs and shipwrecks.

Within the city, the best way to get an overview is from the Donkin Reserve, where you can admire an old lighthouse and a pyramid. It's also a good starting point for a trip to Castle Hill, a house-museum that immerses you in the life of a Victorian-era settler family.

In general, there are plenty of things to do in the Port Elizabeth area and in the city itself. From horseback riding to skydiving, sandboarding and canoe tours to bungee jumping - it's guaranteed not to be boring here!

On-site procedure

Arrive in Port Elizabeth

Landed in Port Elizabeth, you will be transferred to the project location. The journey takes about two hours. Immediately after your arrival at the assignment site, you will get to know the team with project coordinator Jaco and other participants.

Orientation program in the wildlife reserve

After you get to know the volunteer house and your sleeping place, the orientation program starts. This consists of a so-called sit-in and a drive. At the sit-in you will receive an introduction to the project work, the rules of conduct and the house rules, together with the volunteers who have arrived on the same day. After or before you will go on a drive through the reserve grounds. Sit-in and drive will take two to three hours.

There is no fixed start or process for the orientation, so be flexible and use the free time you have to get used to it. Little by little you will get to know the different areas of application and activities.

Your first day in the project

After the introductory program, you will start directly with your work in the project. You will be instructed in the individual activities by one of the team members or an experienced volunteer and can then support you with the various tasks.

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.590, -
    2 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 570, - / week
    up to 10 weeks respectively

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Accommodation at the job site
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Airport transfer on the day of arrival and departure (bookable for approx. €45 per trip)
  • Daily drive to the project
  • Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

Port Elizabeth Team
site

You learn in the project Helena, the manager of the project, and the volunteer coordinator Jaco know. You will work with him most of the time. Jaco is an outdoor fan and enthusiastically shows you everything about the work in the wildlife reserve and how important it is for people to live together in harmony with nature. He has a lot of experience in the field of nature and wildlife and is happiest when he can share his knowledge with others. Jaco is certain: your assignment in the wildlife reserve will be an unforgettable adventure!

Portrait team in Port Elizabeth

Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!

Testimonials

Field report from the Big Five Wildlife Reserve in South Africa

I can recommend the voluntary service to all young people who have a great desire to see the animal world and support species protection and who want to learn a lot about it.
Testimonials

Experience Report - Big Five Project in South Africa

Overall, I can only say that I enjoyed every single second of the project. Even after 4 weeks you learn something new every day and I learned so much during my time in the reserve and made great friends.
Testimonials

Game reserve in South Africa

During my stay I experienced and saw things that cannot be described in words. I simply advise you to experience it for yourself.
Testimonials

Volunteer work in the wildlife reserve in South Africa

I would like to tell you about my six-week stay in the wildlife project in South Africa. South Africa is a poor country, but with a big heart!
Testimonials

My volunteer work in a wildlife reserve in South Africa

This adventure will be unforgettable. Once you have seen the animals in the wild, you understand what “life” really is.

More testimonials
Browse our magazine

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need for South Africa?

You can apply for a tourist visa for South Africa when you arrive at the airport. This is valid for 90 days.

What language skills do I need for the project?

In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

Are there age restrictions for the project?

Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 can take part in this project.

What are the requirements for the animal welfare project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.

What do I have to bring?

For the project, you should bring comfortable clothing that can get dirty and is easy to wash.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to get involved as a volunteer in South Africa? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

Register now

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

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