Overview

Volunteering Solutions provides a great opportunity for volunteers who are interested in having a true African experience while making a difference to the local wildlife and environment. The Wildlife Volunteering Program in South Africa is an exciting opportunity for all wildlife enthusiasts looking to volunteer abroad with animals.

Volunteers under this program are placed at a wildlife reserve area, which is a huge 6000 hectares land, located around 45 minutes outside mainland Port Elizabeth; filled with a variety of game, birdlife and wild animals, including the BIG 5! The wildlife program will capture your imagination, leaving you physically and mentally rejuvenated, soulfully inspired, and delayed in awe of this magnificent slice of South Africa.

When working to volunteer for wildlife in South Africa, a mystical blend of nature and history awaits to awaken the body, mind, and soul. Set in the splendor of the malaria-free Eastern Cape, within the heart of Frontier Country. In addition to the mixture of grasslands, sub-tropical vegetation, fynbos and bushveld, the reserve also has naturally formed pockets of water, amazing rock formations, and splendid flora.

Want to see other ways to make an impact? Check out our Volunteer in Africa programs.

Volunteer Work Schedule

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;

Monday - Arrival in Port Elizabeth
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, behaviour, food, and other suggestion over things to do in South Africa, Port Elizabeth.
Wed to Fri - Volunteer Work
Breakfast - 09:30 am to 10:00 am
Working hours - 07:30 am to 04:00 pm (all other activities; such as meals and breaks are adjusted within this time)
Lunch - 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
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.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Activities for this programme vary on a day to day basis and are dependent on weather and other factors. There is an itinerary of all the activities which are scheduled for each week. The itinerary is designed in such a way that volunteers are divided into groups of up to 10 volunteers per group, depending on the number of volunteers. Each group will have an outdoor volunteer coordinator as a leader and mentor. The groups will be engaged in different daily activities, but will all do the same type and number of activities by the end of the week. In some cases all the groups might do the same activity at the same time depending on the type of activity e.g. game capture.

At the reserve will notice that your activities include some but are not limited to:

Removal of alien vegetation in and around the reserve
Lion tracking and monitoring
School feeding schemes (speak to us if you would like to go as this is voluntary)
Wildlife structures
Tree planting and landscaping
Game drives
Predator interaction and caring
Elephant sanctuary
Fauna and flora work in the nursery
Wilderness trail walks and patrols
Fence patrol
Game counts
Game capture
Anti poaching efforts

Project Requirement

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working outdoors and should have a keen interest and love for animals and wildlife. All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program.

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Living

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.

Port Elizabeth, Wildlife- Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Dates

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Costs

Duration	Program Fee	Choose your currency
1 Week	$900
2 Weeks	$1350
3 Weeks	$1750
4 Weeks	$2225

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. A 5% international banking fee is charged for credit card payments of program fee in USD/AUD.

What are you 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.

What's NOT Included?

Airfare
Visa Fee
Vaccinations
Any personal expenses

FAQ's

Accommodation, Meals and Daily Life

Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?: Participants in the Wildlife Reserve program, participants stay in shared Volunteer House located within the reserve compound. The accommodation is simple yet comfortable and provides a friendly, social setting where volunteers from around the world can connect.Transportation by jeep to and from volunteer activities within the reserve is included in the program fee. The accommodation offers shared common areas with basic facilities, Wi-Fi in the main lounge (subject to availability), and access to recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and tennis courts. A weekly paid laundry service is available, and the reserve is secured with on-site security personnel for added safety. Your basic breakfast would consist of cereals, bread, butter, jam, tea, coffee, and cheese, but at times you will be served eggs, sausages or baked beans, and sometimes a combination of the above.As for lunch and dinner, you have a wide variety ranging from burgers, chicken and chips, vegetarian dishes, potato casserole and so on.
Can vegetarians be accommodated?: Yes, however, you must inform us in advance and also mention about any dietary requirement in your application form.
Do we have the options for excursions and weekend sightseeing?: On weekends, you will be sent out for excursions which will come for an extra cost. The excursions will either be to Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Jeffrey’s Bay, or any other nearby destination. On these excursions, please note that the reserve will only provide you with accommodation and transport to and from your destination. Accommodation will be in dorms and if you would like an upgrade, you are welcome to do so but you will have to bear the expenses.You are also free to organize your own excursion, but for this again the expenses will have to be covered on your own. You are also free to stay behind during the weekends to relax and unwind at the reserve. Some other facilities and activities available at the reserve include the following :-
Entertainment Room
Swimming Pool
Tennis Courts
Cricket & Soccer Field
Movie Nights
Library & Chill Zone
Horse Riding - chargeable extra
Quad Biking - chargeable extra
For how many hours will I volunteer every day?: Volunteers usually work from 07:30 hrs and finish at 16:30 hrs. The activities of the day will be divided into three slots - 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM.However, volunteers need to be flexible, open minded and understand that work requirements can change as well on certain occasions.

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions South Africa alumni as well as other former and current volunteers?: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions South Africa program participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer page on our website.
Can you put me in contact with other volunteers who have done this program?: We can only provide contact details for former volunteers who have consented to having their data shared. However, there is a Facebook group for past and current volunteers which you are welcome to join. There are also hundreds of reviews online from our former volunteers as well as social media posts on Instagram, TikTok and our You Tube Channel.

Flights, Arrival and Visa Information

Will Volunteering Solutions help with Visa?: All travelers coming to South Africa need to have a valid visa.The citizens from most of the European (including UK & Ireland), African and South American countries as well as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do NOT need to obtain a visa beforehand and can stay in the country for a period of up to 90 days. However, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months period.

All participants joining the South Africa volunteer projects for more than 90 days, need to apply for volunteer Visa at the nearest South African Embassy or Consulate. Along with the Visa application, you need to attach the required supporting documents. Volunteers are provided with the necessary supporting document for their South African Visa application. More detailed information shall be provided after you become a Volunteering Solutions’ enrolled participant.
What are the recommended airlines to fly to Port Elizabeth, South Africa?: Port Elizabeth (now officially called Gqeberha – PLZ Airport) is well connected via major hubs in South Africa. Since there are no long-haul international flights directly into Port Elizabeth, travelers usually connect through Johannesburg (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT).

Health, Safety and Support

How safe is South Africa in general?: Like in any new country, you need to take general precautions for safety. You will be given safety precautions and instructions by the local coordinator team during the orientation as well as in your Pre-departure handbook after you become an enrolled participant.
Do I need to buy a health insurance?: Yes, for all participants, it is mandatory to have a valid travel medical insurance for their trip. Volunteers have the option to purchase Travel and Medical Insurance at a nominal extra cost from Volunteering Solutions. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider. To view details of the insurance offered by Volunteering Solutions, click here

If you already have a valid Travel and Medical insurance, you can email us a copy of the same. It is also advised to bring along the Insurance documents during your trip.
What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?: All participants are recommended to consult their physician or travel doctor before traveling to South Africa. To view the general list of vaccinations recommended for your travel to South Africa, click here.
What happens in case of a medical emergency or if I am ill?: A well equipped first aid box is available at the Reserve and can be accessed by the Lodge Team Leader or the Reserve Team Leader. They do have trained staff on site to see to minor injuries and bruises.In the case of a more serious problem, you will be taken to the closest doctor or medical center. The cost of all doctors’ visit and medication will be from your own account.

Program Overview and Application Process

How do I apply for a program and when do I need to pay?: You can book your slot by filling the online application form and pay the application fee. You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments, however, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior the start of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form. The initial application fee is refunded in the unlikely event that we’re not able to offer you a place on the program, and you have the flexibility to request a change of start date up until the 45 day payment deadline (this is subject to availability for other dates).
How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: <p>Usually, it takes around 10-12 working days for the application to be processed and placement to be confirmed. After we review your CV and documents, your booking is confirmed and the booking confirmation is updated in your ‘My Account’ and you can view the information in your account. The application acceptance depends on the availability of seats in the project as well as the eligibility criteria of the program (age, skills and experience etc.).</p>
Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the Port Elizabeth volunteer programs?: Below are the necessary requirements to participate in the Port Elizabeth, South Africa volunteer projects:
Volunteer must be at least 18-year-old at the time of joining the project
Volunteer needs to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment
The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference
The participant must be in good health
Can I volunteer as part of a group?: Yes, you are welcome to take part in South Africa Volunteer Program as part of a group. We welcome families, friends, college/university and corporate groups to volunteer together in the South Africa programs. Volunteering Solutions has hosted student groups as well as families coming to volunteer in the program.
I haven’t traveled or volunteered abroad before. Can I still be a part of VolSol program?: Yes, most definitely you can, as we believe every participant brings something new to the project. If you do not have previous experience, we offer you the opportunity to have a great start with us. We make international volunteering easy – not only are our Volunteer Abroad opportunities rooted in offering you extensive support, but they are also very affordable.
Does VolSol provides with a reference or a certificate after program completion?: <p>Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The Certificate is provided on request.</p>
When do I need to arrive in Port Elizabeth for my program? What will happen once I arrive in Port Elizabeth?: Volunteers working in the Wildlife Reserve Project are picked up by our local representative from Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ). The volunteering project in Port Elizabeth begins on every Monday, all volunteers need to arrive in Port Elizabeth on the program starting date, which is Monday, before 4 PM. Please make sure you book your flight to arrive before 4 PM at Port Elizabeth, as the pick up won’t be provided after that since scheduled transfers to the reserve from the airport run only at that time.