Volunteer in Africa

Volunteering in Africa can mean childcare, teaching, wildlife & animal care, sports coaching, medical volunteer and environment conservation work, depending on the program and country. Volunteers assist local staff rather than run activities alone — you support existing teachers, keepers or clinicians rather than take sole charge of children, animals or patients. Placements run across South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco and Ghana, and your in-country coordinator assigns day-to-day tasks once you arrive.

It depends on what you want to do. Kenya and Tanzania combine childcare, teaching, medical and wildlife work with East Africa's landscapes. South Africa pairs wildlife rehabilitation and medical placements with well-established bases in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Madagascar suits marine and forest conservation on Nosy Komba Island. Ghana and Morocco suit volunteers wanting teaching, childcare or sports coaching on a shorter trip. Compare all destinations before booking.

Minimum ages vary by program, from 17 up to 18 on some programs, and most placements need no previous experience beyond a clean background check. Medical, nursing and physiotherapy placements are reserved for registered health professionals or students on approved courses. Wildlife and conservation roles sometimes ask for reasonable fitness or swimming ability where diving is involved. Anyone joining childcare or teaching projects should expect to work alongside, not in place of, local staff.

Fees start from $574, with a $249 deposit to secure your place. Every program includes accommodation, meals, airport pickup and 24/7 in-country support; specifics vary by country and are listed on each program page. See how program costs are worked out for a breakdown of where the fee goes.

Placements run from 1 to 24 weeks, depending on the program and country. Most start on fixed dates rather than any day you choose, so check the start dates explorer before booking flights. The next available start across the region is 27 Sep 2026. Longer conservation placements in Madagascar and South Africa sometimes have their own minimum-stay rules.

Programs run in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco and Ghana, based in Nairobi (Kenya), Arusha and Zanzibar (Tanzania), Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Nosy Komba Island (Madagascar), Rabat (Morocco), and Accra (Ghana). Each destination has its own coordinator, partner organizations and accommodation, so day-to-day life differs from country to country even where the project type is the same.

Programs run with 24/7 in-country support, airport pickup and pre-arranged accommodation, and coordinators brief every volunteer on local safety norms on arrival. Standard precautions apply everywhere: avoid going out alone at night, let your coordinator know your plans, and carry only the cash you need. If anything feels wrong during your placement, your coordinator is your first point of contact.

Volunteering Solutions does not place volunteers in residential orphanages, and wildlife programs are welfare-first: no riding, bathing, cuddling or photo sessions with animals. Volunteers support local staff and never take sole charge of children, classes or animals. As a certified B Corp, VS builds projects around genuine local need; see the responsible volunteer travel policy for the detail.

It depends on the country. Kenya and Tanzania are driest and coolest June–October. South Africa's winter (June–August) is cooler and quieter than its summer (December–February). Ghana is hot year-round with a rainy season roughly April–October. Morocco is mildest in spring and autumn. Madagascar's dry season runs roughly April/May–October. Programs run year-round in all six countries; a wet season mainly means afternoon rain, not canceled projects.

Choose a country and program, then submit an application. You will get a welcome email, followed by a booking confirmation once your place is secured, after which you pay the balance and receive full trip details. A $249 deposit holds your spot, and the flexible booking policy lets you change program or dates free of charge up to 45 days before departure.

Some volunteers book back-to-back placements — for example, teaching in Tanzania followed by a wildlife placement in South Africa — and arrange their own travel between them. Programs are booked and run separately by each country's team, so contact the program advisors to check dates line up before booking more than one country.

Yes, in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. Medical placements in Tanzania and Kenya are reserved for registered doctors, nurses and midwives working alongside local clinicians in hospital settings. South Africa's medical program also accepts medical and nursing students. In every case, volunteers work under supervision and do not diagnose, prescribe or perform procedures alone.