Volunteer in Cape Town

Volunteering in Cape Town, South Africa is exceptionally rewarding. By participating on projects you will be able to connect and interact with local communities and children in disadvantaged communities. Or help conservation and animals.

Best Volunteer Programs in Cape Town

How You Can Help

Cape Town is one of the most spectacular cities in the world, and one of the best places to volunteer in Africa. These are some of the most popular ways to help in Cape Town.

Environmental Education

Volunteers work with local communities, schools and education centres to increase awareness around important environmental issues, biodiversity conservation and the need to support sustainable development. Volunteers participate in educational activities, community projects and environmental awareness surveys.

Children’s Sports Coaching

Volunteers participate in conducting rugby, soccer or netball sporting clinics for primary school children. Volunteers do not require previous coaching experience, but are required to have sound knowledge of the sport rules and some playing experience.

After School and Holiday Care

Volunteers assist in providing a safe afterschool environment for children from the local disadvantaged community. Volunteers assist children with their homework and provide these children with extra care and attention that is often lacking in their home environment. As this project is relatively unstructured volunteers are encouraged to bring games and activities to play once the children have completed their homework.

Conservation and Wildlife Volunteer Programs

The marine environment along South Africa’s West Coast is diverse in species and ecosystems with long beaches, lagoons and islands off the coast providing habitats for many species. Pollution, resource depletion and rapidly expanding urbanisation negatively affect the habitats of the indigenous flora and fauna. Important information on population dynamics and habitat changes are unknown, making monitoring and direct action vital to the sustainability of this important bio diverse environment.

Birding Project
In terms of the bird monitoring project, volunteers conduct monitoring surveys along beaches in predetermined areas where general population counts and specific species data is recorded. Volunteer efforts are co-ordinated to contribute to research conducted by BirdLife South Africa and the Nature’s Valley Trust.

The Cape Town’s West Coast is home to a rich diversity of avifauna which plays an important role in eco-tourism for the region. Numerous bird species live and breed in the biosphere reserve with migrating birds using the area as feeding grounds during their migration.

Volunteers participate in species counts, conduct observations of feeding and breeding patterns as well as monitoring of focal endangered species such as the African Black Oystercatcher and the White-Fronted Plover.

Pollution Project

Globally, pollution of our marine and terrestrial ecosystems is a pressing concern that requires urgent action with about 8 million tons of plastic entering our ocean annually. The West Coast ecosystems are no different and with large cities such as Cape Town and Saldanha on its doorstep, this area is affected by waste being either washed up on the coastline or illegally dumped.

At least one million seabirds and one hundred thousand marine mammals die each year due to plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is also a carrier of invasive species, threatening native ecosystems. In conjunction with BirdLife South Africa and the Percy FitzPatrick Institute at University of Cape Town, volunteers participate in weekly beach clean-ups along the West Coast to actively remove litter.

Volunteers participating in this project will collect, identify, and quantify the litter in order to contribute to the long-term monitoring of pollution along the coastline. The collected litter will be recycled and used in community based projects.

Biosphere Conservation Program

Volunteer programs play a vital role in preserving the biodiversity of Cape Town’s West Coast which forms part of the Cape Floristic Region, one of only 25 bio-diverse hot spots globally. This region is incredibly rich in flora and fauna and home to numerous endemic species. Human activities negatively influence ecosystem structures which can place biodiversity under pressure.

Invasive Species Projects
Invasive species are organisms that are not native to the region and threaten indigenous species by competing for resources and habitats. Some invasive species project currently focus on plants that are spreading at an alarming rate in agricultural areas and nature reserves of the West Coast.

Volunteers participate in data collection and hands-on fieldwork in a variety of interesting and important conservation areas in an effort to fully understand the impact that these plants are having on the natural environment and assist in finding ways to reduce this impact.

You will actively support partners in clearing, monitoring and applying biological controls in areas where invasive species have taken over to reduce their future spreading.

Indigenous Species Projects
The West Coast is an incredibly species rich area with many indigenous plant and small mammal species. These are threatened by development, pollution and habitat transformation.
Indigenous Vegetation Assessments – Little is known about restoration and rehabilitation options for the highly threatened Strandveld and Renosterveld Fynbos vegetation.

The aim is to gain valuable insight into developing sustainable strategies for their restoration. Special focus is placed on the incredible wild flower habitats in this region, by conducting assessments in collaboration with the West Coast Biosphere Reserve.

Indigenous Fauna Camera Trapping
Many native mammal species are under pressure through habitat loss and other threats. We aim to monitor the abundance and population dynamics of species, such as the Duiker and Caracal, in an effort to contribute to the implementation of conservation strategies in this region.

Organisations use remote-sensor camera trapping which allows us to monitor species using a non-invasive method. Volunteers help to position infra-red motion sensor cameras in the field which are checked and relocated regularly to obtain and analyse the footage.

FAQ

Getting to Cape Town
Cape Town has an International Airport with regular flights to and from all international destinations.

Program Start Dates:
Weekly/monthly.

Accommodation
Volunteers are accommodated in hostels or large shared communal houses in areas like Langebaan. Each room accommodates international volunteers. There will likely be a large dining area and a separate entertainment room.

Meals
Volunteers sometimes enjoy three meals per day prepared by an in-house cook. Soft drinks, sweets and snacks can be purchased at local stores only a short distance away.

Currency
In South Africa the official currency is the South African Rand which can be exchanged at all banks and airports in South Africa. The Rand can also be used in Namibia and some other neighbouring countries. There are many ATMs located in Cape Town and the rest of South Africa from which volunteers can draw cash. We do however advise that you exercise caution when using ATMs, especially at night.

Passport and Visa
We recommend you check with the Consulate General as visa requirements can change at any time. A passport valid for 6 months after date of return is required. Please ensure you have at least two blank pages available in your passport before commencement of travel.

What to bring
Depending on the date of your program intake, it is important to pack according to the season. Summer months are from November to April and are usually quite warm averaging around 23°C. Winter can be cold for South Africa with temperatures around 10°C. June and July are the coldest months.

Recommend things to pack include:

• Sandals and proper walking shoes
• Sun protection
• Small backpack for day trips
• Bath & beach towels
• Bedding/Sleeping bags
• Personal items

Health and Safety
While Malaria is uncommon to catch when volunteering in South Africa, we suggest that you take the necessary precautions and consult your local doctor before travelling to neighbouring counties. Tap water is safe to drink in South Africa.

We suggest volunteers bring their own personal travelling first aid kit along containing items such as antihistamine tablets/cream, plasters, dressings and tape, antibacterial/antifungal cream even though these items are available in pharmacies. Generally, a doctor’s prescription is needed for most medical problems in South Africa.

Travel insurance is always advisable when travelling abroad and especially for South Africa. There are excellent medical and hospital facilities in Langebaan and in South Africa in general.

Connectivity
WiFi/internet is available at most restaurants as well as at internet cafés in South Africa.
Local cellular sim cards can be purchased almost anywhere and there is cellular reception throughout most of South Africa.

Language
English is the official language, but South Africa has 13 official languages. Most volunteers will also encounter Afrikaans, which is of Dutch origin, Xhosa and Zulu, which are local languages.

Transportation
Most organisations have 4×4 vehicles and other vehicles that provide transport and transfers for volunteers. Cape Town also has the very reliable MyCiTi bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective urban mobility. There are also several taxi services available.

Apply Today!

Whether you are looking for ideas for your gap year or keen to volunteer abroad, you really should consider Cape Town as your destination. The volunteer programs here really are rewarding, and the city is spectacular.