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International Volunteer Work with Animals in South Africa with Projects Abroad
The Animal Care Project in South Africa is very much a hands on, practical placement for anyone who loves animals and wants to gain international experience working with them.
There are opportunities in South Africa for those who want to get involved in looking after and caring for animals. Placements are suitable for both Gap year students and those taking a career break. Volunteers are simply required to enjoy looking after animals and want to learn more about them!
Volunteers can choose to work in either a general domestic animal center or a seabird rehabilitation center in Cape Town.
Volunteering Abroad on an Animal Care Placement
Volunteers shadow the full time animal carers at both centers, gaining first hand experience about how animal rescue centers work in South Africa.There is the opportunity to get involved with hands on work like feeding, exercising, and rehabilitating the animals. As with any volunteer placement, you get back what you put in: showing initiative and a willingness to get involved will result in your experience being very rewarding.
Our volunteer animal care placement in South Africa will give you access to invaluable work experience that will greatly enhance your resume.You will gain many practical skills and develop as a person by having to adapt and be resourceful while living and working in a foreign country.
Volunteers working with domestic animals work mostly with stray dogs and cats at centers in Cape Town. You'll be involved with preparing food, cleaning out cages, exercising the animals and grooming and caring for those that have been neglected and abused. The love and attention that you give can really improve their quality of life. Local staff will also appreciate any help with repairing and maintaining the kennels and cattery.
This project is also available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.
Volunteers with a special interest in the conservation of coastal birds could also chose to work in a bird sanctuary. Based in Bloubergstrand, 25km out of central Cape Town across the bay from Table Mountain, this shelter specializes in rescuing injured African Penguins. Volunteers here work in an amazing location where colonies of penguins, cormorants, pelicans and even pink flamingos are a common sight. Volunteers will assist in preparing food, feeding the penguins, cleaning out cages, and rehabilitating injured or oiled birds. You'll get the opportunity to learn about these ecosystems while having a great time looking after these cheeky animals!
Volunteers should join the coastal birds project for at least one month. You will live with host families in Bloubergstrand, (known locally as Table View, for the spectacular view of the mountain). Transport into the center of Cape Town is fast and frequent.