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Wildlife Volunteer Projects in South Africa
Be a part of wildlife volunteer program in South Africa, located near Port Elizabeth and get an opportunity to ethically experience African wildlife and make efforts for their preservation. The project is based at a Big 5 Game reserve just outside the city of Port Elizabeth.
You are based at a 6,000-hectare Big Five game reserve about 45 minutes outside Port Elizabeth, in South Africa's Eastern Cape. Day to day you work in a team of up to ten volunteers led by an outdoor volunteer coordinator, on tasks such as removing alien vegetation, tracking and monitoring lions, patrolling fences, counting game, planting trees and supporting anti-poaching and game-capture work. The program suits anyone aged 18 or over with an interest in wildlife and outdoor work; no previous experience is required.
Placements run 1–8 weeks, with starts every week (every week (mondays)); the next start date is 21 Sep 2026. You live on site at the reserve in shared dorm accommodation and take all meals there, seven days a week. Prices start at $1,149 (deposit included). Weekends are free, with transport arranged to Port Elizabeth, Jeffreys Bay or Grahams Bay so you can explore beyond the reserve.
- An opportunity to ethically experience African wildlife and make efforts for their preservation
- Placed in a wildlife reserve, volunteers in this project engage in different preservation activities each day
- The Wildlife reserve is 6000 hectares in land area, located around 45 minutes outside mainland Port Elizabeth; filled with a variety of game, birdlife and wild animals, including the ‘BIG 5’
- Take up activities such as- Removal of alien vegetation in and around the reserve, Lion tracking, and monitoring, Tree planting, and landscaping, Fence patrol, Game counts, Game capture, and work for Anti-poaching efforts
- Explore the city on weekends and travel around
Your role on this program
- Remove alien vegetation in and around the reserve
- Track and monitor lions as part of the reserve team
- Plant trees and carry out landscaping work
- Patrol fences and take part in game counts
- Assist with game capture and anti-poaching efforts
- Support wilderness trail walks and patrols
- Work in the reserve's fauna and flora nursery
- Join game drives and assist with predator interaction and care under staff supervision
- Help build wildlife structures, and join the voluntary school feeding scheme if you choose to
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You handle animals only under the direction of reserve staff, and there is no riding, bathing, cuddling or posed contact with wildlife. Each group of up to ten volunteers is led by an outdoor volunteer coordinator, and duties are assigned week by week and may vary with the reserve's needs, the season and the weather.
A typical day and week
Volunteers joining the wildlife reserve program in South Africa, Port Elizabeth are accommodated at the reserve itself making the daily schedule highly flexible and focused more on volunteer work for animals at the reserve. A typical schedule for volunteers looks something like;
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Monday – Arrival in Port Elizabeth
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Tuesday – Orientation + Introduction to the project. Orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in South Africa, Port Elizabeth.
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Wed to Fri – Volunteer Work
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Breakfast – 09:30 am to 10:00 am
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Working hours – 07:30 am to 04:00 pm (all other activities; such as meals and breaks are adjusted within this time)
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Lunch – 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
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Dinner – 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Weekends – Free to explore the city, and do activities such as;
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
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.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- No previous experience with wildlife or conservation work required
- An open mind and a flexible attitude for physical outdoor work in all weather
- A genuine interest in and care for animals and wildlife
- A clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date
- Travel or medical insurance, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is a working Big Five game reserve in the Eastern Cape, not a research station or sanctuary open to the public. Volunteers are split into groups of up to ten, each led by an outdoor volunteer coordinator who sets the weekly itinerary and directs all animal-related tasks, from lion tracking to predator interaction and care.
Because tasks include work around predators and anti-poaching operations, animals are approached and handled only when and how staff instruct, with no independent contact. Your contribution is practical labor that supports the reserve's day-to-day operations, work like clearing vegetation, patrolling fences, planting, nursery care and recording game counts, carried out under supervision rather than as an independent conservation role.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in South AfricaCountry-level partner context and standards
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $1,149 | |
| 2 weeks | $1,599 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,999 | |
| 4 weeks | $2,474 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Return Scheduled transfers from Port Elizabeth Airport
- Guided Wildlife Tour
- 1 Reserve T-shirt
- 1 Reserve Peak Cap
- Orientation
- Food – All Meals
- Accommodation in Shared Dorms in the reserve
- Weekend transport between Saturday and Sunday to either Port Elizabeth, Jeffreys Bay or Grahams Bay.
Not included
- Airfare
- Visa Fee
- Vaccinations
- Any personal expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfers
Volunteers are picked up from the Port Elizabeth Airport. Scheduled transfers are arranged to and from the airport to the reserve. The reserve is approximately 45 minutes from the airport. All volunteers need to arrive at Port Elizabeth Airport on Monday before 4pm, as transfer is provided till that time only.
Orientation
The volunteers would be a given a basic orientation with guidelines and instructions by the project coordinators. A weekly itinerary is also prepared assigning roles and responsibilities to the volunteers.
Accommodation
Volunteers are housed in dorm style accommodation. The dorms are alotted on same gender basis. In cases where volunteers want to stay as a couple, this can be arranged at an extra cost and also depends on the availability of rooms unless arrangements were made prior to arrival. Volunteers are more than welcome to socialize in the common area such as the entertainment area, lounge, TV area etc.
Internet service is also available during certain designated hours.
Meals
Volunteers are provided with meals on all seven days of the week. Your basic breakfast will consist of cereals, bread, butter, jam, tea, coffee and cheese, but sometimes volunteers are also served eggs, sausages or baked beans, and sometimes a combination of the both.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in South Africa
Airport pickup
Scheduled transfers meet you at Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ) on your Monday start date; arrive before 4pm, as transfers run only until then. The reserve is about 45 minutes from the airport.
Orientation
On Tuesday, the project coordinator runs an orientation covering safety, culture, language, food and things to do in Port Elizabeth, and sets your weekly itinerary of activities.
First work day
Volunteer work runs Wednesday to Friday in your first week, with breakfast, lunch and dinner set at fixed times around the working day.
Ongoing routine and support
The same weekly schedule continues from week two onward, with weekends free to travel. You work within a group of up to ten volunteers led by an outdoor volunteer coordinator, and a 24-hour support line is available throughout your stay.
From volunteers in South Africa
Frequently asked questions
What do I actually do on this project?
You take part in practical reserve work such as removing alien vegetation, tracking and monitoring lions, tree planting, fence patrol, game counts, game capture, anti-poaching support and nursery work, assigned in a weekly itinerary by your outdoor volunteer coordinator.
Who can join, and do I need experience with animals?
You need to be at least 18 with an interest in wildlife and outdoor work; no previous experience with animals or conservation is required.
What does a typical day look like?
Working hours are 7:30am to 4pm from Wednesday to Friday, with breakfast, lunch and dinner at set times; Monday is arrival day and Tuesday is orientation.
How long can I stay and when do projects start?
Placements run 1–8 weeks with starts every week (every week (mondays)); the next available start date is 21 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $1,149, deposit included, and cover staff support, pre-departure information, return airport transfers, a guided wildlife tour, orientation, meals, dorm accommodation and weekend transport to Port Elizabeth, Jeffreys Bay or Grahams Bay. Airfare, visa fees, vaccinations and personal expenses are not included.
Where do I stay and what do I eat?
You stay in shared, same-gender dorm accommodation on site at the reserve, with common areas for socializing. Meals are provided all seven days of the week, with breakfast typically including cereals, bread, eggs or sausages, and coffee or tea.
How does airport pickup work?
You are picked up at Port Elizabeth Airport on your Monday start date; transfers to the reserve, about 45 minutes away, run only until 4pm, so plan your arrival flight accordingly.
What support is available once I am there?
An outdoor volunteer coordinator leads your group day to day, an in-country coordinator runs orientation, and a 24-hour emergency contact line is available throughout the placement.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations or insurance?
Visa fees and vaccinations are not included in the program price, and specific guidance is sent before departure. Travel or medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges.
Is a background check required?
Yes, all volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of their start date before joining.
Will I get close contact with lions or other predators?
Predator-related tasks such as lion tracking and predator interaction and care are carried out under direct staff instruction only; there is no riding, bathing or cuddling of wildlife.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers 18 and over who want hands-on, physical outdoor work on a game reserve rather than close or hands-on animal contact, and who are comfortable with variable daily tasks depending on weather and reserve needs.
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