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2 Weeks Special Volunteer Program in South Africa
Join the amazing 2 Weeks Special Volunteer Program in South Africa - Cape Town, volunteer at a Childcare/Social Welfare Center, travel around during free time/weekends with fellow volunteers.
This program places you at a Childcare/Social Welfare Center in Cape Town, where your day centers on the children there: feeding, clothing and playing with them, helping with homework, assisting with meal preparation, and running art, craft, dance and drama activities alongside local staff. It suits volunteers aged 18 and over who want a short, structured placement and have no prior experience but bring a flexible, hands-on attitude and a genuine interest in working with children.
The program runs for 2 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next intake on 27 Sep 2026. You live in a dormitory-style volunteer hostel in Observatory (4-8 people per room, self-service weekday breakfast) or, where offered, with a host family who provides three meals a day. Total cost starts at $1,094, deposit included. What sets this program apart from a standard placement is the fixed itinerary built around it: a Cape Town walking tour on your first Monday and a two-day wildlife safari along the Garden Route, including Sedgefield and the Cango Caves or Cango Wildlife Ranch.
- Be a part of a meaningful 2 weeks special volunteering and travel program in South Africa
- Project placement at a Childcare/Social Welfare Center
- Work alongside local staff and supervisors
- Teach kids and design creative/interactive games for them
- Get to travel & explore during free time/weekends with fellow volunteers
- Enjoy walking tours in Cape Town, go for a hike at the Table Mountains and more
- Experience the Garden Route Drive, “African Sunset” at Sedgefield, a trip to the Outeniqua Mountains
- Experience the Cango Wildlife Ranch in the Karoo town of Oudtshoorn
Your role on this program
- Feed, clothe, and play with the children at the childcare/social welfare center
- Assist children with their homework
- Help with meal preparation and general activities at the project
- Involve children in art, craft, dance, and drama activities
- Design creative and interactive games for the children
- Work alongside local staff and supervisors at the center
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
As a two-week placement, you support an ongoing childcare project rather than complete or run it, and duties may vary with the placement's needs. You work under the direction of local staff and supervisors at the center; you do not make decisions about a child's care, welfare, or education, and you are not left in sole charge of children.
A typical day and week
Volunteers working for childcare and social welfare program in Cape Town will be expected to fulfill the following tasks on a daily basis;
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Feeding, clothing and playing with the children
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Assisting children with homework
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Meal preparation and assistance in general activities at the project
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Involve the children in art, craft, dance and drama activities
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Program itinerary
Day 1: Sunday
Welcome! Arrival in Cape Town. We’ll greet you at the airport and transport you to the volunteer house, where you can settle in and meet your fellow volunteers.
Day 2: Monday After a hearty self made breakfast, we’ll take you to our office for a comprehensive orientation session. During this time, you’ll learn about your specific volunteer role, the impact of your work, and important cultural insights. Following orientation, we’ll embark on a guided walking tour of the city center area in Cape Town.
Day 3 - 6: Tuesday to Friday You’ll begin your hands-on work at your assigned project location. Each day, you’ll engage in meaningful activities that contribute to the community, whether it’s teaching, assisting in childcare, or supporting local NGOs. Expect to collaborate with local staff and other volunteers, with a focus on making a positive impact. After your workday, you’ll have time to reflect on your experiences, relax, and enjoy local cuisine with your group.
Day 7 & 8: Saturday and Sunday On Saturday, get ready for an exciting weekend wildlife tour. You’ll journey to a nearby reserve where you can witness the breathtaking beauty of African wildlife. Keep your camera handy, as you’ll have opportunities to see a variety of animals in their natural habitat, including elephants, lions, and zebras. After a day of adventure, you’ll return to your accommodation for a cozy evening. On Sunday, you’ll head back to Cape Town, where you can unwind or explore more of the city at your leisure.
Day 9 – 13: Monday – Friday Continue your impactful work at the project location. Each day will provide new challenges and learning opportunities. You’ll build relationships with the local community and witness the direct effects of your contributions.
Day 14: Saturday - Program Ends Enjoy your final day in Cape Town at your own pace. You can relax, do some last-minute shopping, or explore any areas you may have missed. This is a great time to pick up souvenirs for your friends and family back home. If you need assistance with airport transportation, please reach out to our program coordinator to arrange a ride at an additional cost.
2 Day Wildlife Safari Tour Details
Day 1: Cape Town to Sedgefield – Safari & Elephant Encounter
We depart the Mother City in the morning and drive towards the gorgeous Garden Route. We start the day with a morning Safari in search of lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and many more wild animals.
You then have an action packed elephant interaction - one of the must-do-activities when in Africa. We end the day at our accommodation in Sedgefield where you have time to sit back, relax and enjoy the African sunset.
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Meals: Dinner
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Accommodation: Backpacker dorm
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Sedgefield Facilities: Shared ablutions, honesty bar, free shuttle service to PiliPili beach Bar
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Route: Cape Town to Sedgefield, around 450 km
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Travel time: Approximately 5 hours
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Included Highlight: Game Drive Safari
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Optional Activities: Elephant Encounter
Day 2: Sedgefield to Cape Town –via Route 62 and Oudtshoorn – wildlife encounters, Cango caves.
This morning we head towards the Outeniqua Mountains to the Karoo town of Oudtshoorn where you’ll have 2 options to choose from. You can either choose to explore the wonders of the Cango Caves, one of the largest cave systems in the world, or visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch, full of exciting animal encounters from Crocodile cage diving to stroking a baby tiger!
After lunch we begin our journey back to Cape Town along the spectacular Route 62
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Meals: Breakfast
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Route: Sedgefield to Cape Town, around 600 km
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Travel time: Approximately 7 hrs
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Included Highlight: Cango Caves (Adventure or Standard Tour), or Cango Wildlife Ranch
Included in the price :
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All accommodation + Bedding
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All transport in comfortable bus with AC & CD player
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1 x Breakfast, 1 x Dinner
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Cango Caves OR Cango Wildlife ranch
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Big 5 Safari in private game reserve
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Qualified and registered tour guide
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- No previous experience needed
- Open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new environment
- Passion for working with children, proactive, and able to take initiative
- Clean criminal background check report required before joining, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Travel or medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is a Childcare/Social Welfare Center in Cape Town, where you work day to day alongside the center's own staff and supervisors rather than independently. Given the short, two-week timeframe, your presence supports the center's ongoing routines and activities rather than starting or finishing a project of your own.
Because the placement involves children, a clean criminal background check is required before you start, and local staff supervise all volunteer-child interaction. Your contribution is practical and short-term: extra hands for feeding, play, homework help, meal preparation, and creative activities, working within the structure and decisions that the center's staff set.
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,094 | |
| Each additional week | +$175 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Comprehensive Pre-departure guide
- Assistance from In country support staff
- Airport pickup from Cape Town international airport
- Program orientation and walking tour of Cape Town
- Accommodation in a Volunteer Hostel
- Daily breakfast at Volunteer Hostel
- Volunteering in Cape Town region
- 2 Day Wildlife Safari Tour
- Certificate of Participation (On Request)
Not included
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- Airfare
- Visa Fee
- Return Airport Drop(Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Daily Project Transportation
- Vaccinations
- Any other personal expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the Cape Town International Airport by a representative and transferred to the volunteers hostel accommodation by a shuttle transfer. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in South Africa will have to arrive at the accommodation on their own and will not be provided with a pickup.
Orientation
All volunteers are housed at the volunteer house/hostel during the orientation period, unless otherwise stated. On the first Monday of your program, you will have an introduction/orientation session – this includes a chat with the local volunteer coordinator, covering topics such as living in and interacting with Cape Town culture, traditions, people, etc., general safety, volunteer projects and duties.
Accommodation
Volunteering Solutions arranges accommodation for volunteers in a Volunteer hostel or in home stays in local communities. The Volunteer hostel is a dormitory-style accommodation situated in the Observatory area of Cape Town.The rooms in the hostel typically have 4-8 people per room.The Observatory accommodation is located in a beautiful suburb of Cape Town, about 20 minutes from the city center. The hostel is perfectly situated close to shops, restaurants, public transport, and some of the best beaches in the world! The areas are also very safe.
Living in the hostel is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” because you will meet and live with many other volunteers from all over the globe. It’s a great opportunity to make lifelong friends and learn about different cultures. Each day you will travel to your project, usually by minibus taxi which is a very cheap and efficient way to travel in Cape Town, and is also a lot of fun! After you finish your project for the day you usually spend your evenings doing different activities with the other volunteers in the house like, movie nights in the lounge or having a braai, which is a South African barbecue.
The Volunteer House provides a clean, comfortable, safe and secure living-environment for all our volunteers – the house is strictly used for the program participants and not open to members of the public.
The volunteer house boasts the following amenities for volunteer’s comfort and safety:
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Backpacker-style dorm rooms sleeping between 4 – 8 per room
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Lockers are provided to keep valuables safe (please provide your own padlock)
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Strictly controlled access (all gates fitted with electronic keypad access)
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2 TV Rooms / Lounges with full cable and smart TV (various movie, sport & music channels)
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2 fully-equipped kitchens (fridge, stove, microwave, kettle, cutlery, crockery, etc.)
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Communal Showers and Toilets
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Indoor and Outdoor braai/barbecue facilities
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Pool Table, Table-Tennis table and dart-board
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Hi-Speed uncapped Wi-Fi (a local SIM card will be provided for mobile data when outside the house)
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On-site Hostel manager and daily cleaning staff
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We provide volunteers with the option to stay with a host family in one of Cape Town’s vibrant local communities, located about 30 minutes from the city center. This arrangement offers a deeper cultural experience, allowing volunteers to immerse themselves in the daily life of a local family. Most projects are within walking distance, and public transport is readily available. Some host families may even offer transportation to and from the projects. Three meals per day are included in the stay.On the weekends you can either spend your leisure time with your host family or book yourself into a backpacker in town to explore the city center during the day and experience Cape Town nightlife.
Volunteers staying four weeks or longer have the option to split their time between the volunteer house and a host family. Keep in mind that this arrangement may require transitioning to a different project.
Meals
Volunteers staying at the hostel accommodation are provided with self-service breakfast at the hostel on weekdays (Monday – Friday).Supplies such as cereals,eggs,bread with various toppings, coffee/tea, selection of fruits are provided.Lunch, dinner and weekend meals are not included but can be eaten out at any of the affordable eateries or ordered to home as well. Volunteers can also purchase supplies locally and prepare meals in the house kitchen.
For those staying in a host family, you will be provided 3 meals a day, prepared by your host. Breakfast before your project, a packed lunch to take with you and a delicious home cooked meal for dinner.
During your Free Time
Cape Town has so much to offer for travelers and there is a lot to do on the weekends and during the free time. Volunteers usually take the Garden Route tours on the weekend or explore the beautiful beaches of Cape Town. You can also do a full day Cape Point Tour and head south to Cape of Good Hope. On a free day you can trek Table Mountain or just chill out at the Waterfront area. There is a lot to do and you will never have a dull day in the beautiful city of Cape Town. You have the option to book your weekend trip in South Africa from the add on tour options provided.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in South Africa
Airport pickup
You are met at Cape Town International Airport by a Volunteering Solutions representative and taken by shuttle to the volunteer house. Volunteers arriving independently or already in South Africa make their own way to the accommodation.
First night
You settle in at the volunteer house and meet the other volunteers staying there.
Orientation and city tour
On the first Monday, after breakfast, you attend an orientation session covering your role, the project, and Cape Town culture and safety, followed by a guided walking tour of the city center.
First project days
From Tuesday you begin hands-on work at the childcare center, usually traveling there by minibus taxi, and work alongside local staff and other volunteers.
Ongoing support
In-country coordinators and a 24-hour emergency contact line are available throughout the program.
From volunteers in South Africa
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing at the project?
You will feed, clothe, and play with children at a Childcare/Social Welfare Center, help with homework, assist with meal preparation, and run art, craft, dance, and drama activities alongside local staff.
Do I need experience or qualifications to join?
No previous experience is needed. You need to be at least 18, flexible and open-minded, and have a genuine interest in working with children.
What are the hours like?
The source material doesn't set fixed daily hours; you travel to the project on weekdays and your schedule follows the center's routine and its needs on the day.
How long is the program and when can I start?
The program runs for 2 weeks, with start dates every week (sundays). The next start date is 27 Sep 2026.
What does the price include and what does it cost?
The program starts at $1,094, deposit included, and covers airport pickup, accommodation, weekday breakfast at the hostel, orientation, the Cape Town walking tour, the two-day wildlife safari, and in-country support. Flights, visa fees, return airport transfer, daily project transport, vaccinations, and personal expenses are not included.
Where will I live and what meals are provided?
You stay in a dormitory-style volunteer hostel in Observatory (4-8 people per room) with self-service breakfast on weekdays, or with a host family who provides three meals a day. Lunch and dinner at the hostel are not included but are affordable to buy locally.
How does airport pickup work?
A representative meets you at Cape Town International Airport on your arrival day and transfers you by shuttle to the volunteer house. Return airport drop-off can be arranged separately at extra cost.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
In-country coordinators are based in Cape Town and there is a 24-hour emergency contact line throughout your stay.
What about visas, insurance, and vaccinations?
Travel or medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges. Visa fees and vaccinations are not included and specific guidance is sent to you before departure.
Is a background check required for this program?
Yes, because the placement involves children, you must provide a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date before joining.
Does the wildlife safari happen automatically or is it optional?
The two-day wildlife safari along the Garden Route, including Sedgefield and the Cango Caves or Cango Wildlife Ranch, is built into this program's fixed itinerary and included in the price.
Who is this program best suited for?
It suits volunteers aged 18 and over with limited time in South Africa who want a short, structured placement with children combined with a set travel itinerary, rather than an open-ended or highly specialized role.
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