Spend your days working with Africa’s beautiful big cats and learn all about the conservation efforts that are being put into place to protect these beautiful creatures.
Special Offer: Volunteers who begin this program in June, July, August or September of 2019, for a minimum of two weeks, can spend six nights at a hostel in Cape Town before or after the program, for free. Breakfast is included. Volunteers do need to pay for their other meals, personal expenses and transportation to Cape Town.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment, plus two day orientation):
Arrival Day, Wednesday: Arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). You will be picked up from the airport and taken to your hostel accommodation in Johannesburg. After you are settled in and given an introduction on the area and where all the lockers, shops, stores and exciting places to go are, you have the rest of the day for yourself. The hostel has a pool, bar, free wifi and is close to the JNB version of Long Street. Stay the night in dormitory accommodation. Upgrades available upon request.
Day 1, Thursday: Enjoy a walking tour of Johannesburg and spend some time getting used to the African way of life. Your Tour will take you to all the must-see places in Johannesburg which may include Soccer City, Orlando Towers, Constitution Hill, Maboneng Precinct and more!
Day 2, Friday: Either fly or take a shuttle to Kimberley. Once you have arrived on the project site, you will be given an introductory tour of the sanctuary and its animals.
Days 3-8, Saturday-Thursday: After an early breakfast and briefing with the team leader, you will spend the day doing daily chores or working on projects. Daily chores include cleaning the enclosures, participating in enrichment activities with the cats, preparing and feeding the animals, etc. Projects depend on the needs of the sanctuary and its animals, and thus vary. Tasks may include building and repairing enclosures, assisting with tours and much more.
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Saturday-Thursday and having a day off on Friday. You will have the opportunity to go into town and explore the local area or you can take the day to go on a tour of nearby attractions such as the Mokala National Park. Departures are on a Friday.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
Click to see additional volunteering projects in South Africa
Special Offer: Volunteers who begin this program in June, July, August or September of 2019, for a minimum of two weeks, can spend six nights at a hostel in Cape Town before or after the program, for free. Breakfast is included. Volunteers do need to pay for their other meals, personal expenses and transportation to Cape Town.
Program Highlights:
- Have the opportunity to work with lions, cheetahs, jackals, African wild cats, caracals and more
- Live right in the middle of the sanctuary, surrounded by the cat enclosures
- Be part of a team that aims to rehabilitate and release the animals that it takes in
- Learn about wild cats from experienced keepers as well as through your daily interactions
- Join night game drives with other volunteers or go on an authentic African safari
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment, plus two day orientation):
Arrival Day, Wednesday: Arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). You will be picked up from the airport and taken to your hostel accommodation in Johannesburg. After you are settled in and given an introduction on the area and where all the lockers, shops, stores and exciting places to go are, you have the rest of the day for yourself. The hostel has a pool, bar, free wifi and is close to the JNB version of Long Street. Stay the night in dormitory accommodation. Upgrades available upon request.
Day 1, Thursday: Enjoy a walking tour of Johannesburg and spend some time getting used to the African way of life. Your Tour will take you to all the must-see places in Johannesburg which may include Soccer City, Orlando Towers, Constitution Hill, Maboneng Precinct and more!
Day 2, Friday: Either fly or take a shuttle to Kimberley. Once you have arrived on the project site, you will be given an introductory tour of the sanctuary and its animals.
Days 3-8, Saturday-Thursday: After an early breakfast and briefing with the team leader, you will spend the day doing daily chores or working on projects. Daily chores include cleaning the enclosures, participating in enrichment activities with the cats, preparing and feeding the animals, etc. Projects depend on the needs of the sanctuary and its animals, and thus vary. Tasks may include building and repairing enclosures, assisting with tours and much more.
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Saturday-Thursday and having a day off on Friday. You will have the opportunity to go into town and explore the local area or you can take the day to go on a tour of nearby attractions such as the Mokala National Park. Departures are on a Friday.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
Click to see additional volunteering projects in South Africa
Location of the Project:
Free State, South Africa
Project length:
Min 1 week - Max 12 weeks (Minimum stay is technically 9 days - 2 day orientation + 1 week of volunteering)
Arrival Airport:
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Volunteer Work:
Animal welfare and community education
Age:
18-80
Number of Volunteers:
Up to 25 International volunteers
Important Note:
Animal interactions are based on the availability, safety and well-being of the ambassador animals, and therefore cannot be guaranteed.
What's Included
Accommodations:
Shared room in a volunteer house
Food:
Three meals per day
Airport Transfers:
Included on arrival and departure days
Orientation:
Two-day orientation in Johannesburg provided upon arrival that includes tours of the area and encourages volunteers to get to know one another before the project begins.
Support:
Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What's not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses
Kimberley is the capital of the Northern Cape Province and lies near the border of the Free State Province. The city is most famous for what is now called the Big Hole, the site of what claimed to be the largest hand-dug excavation area where miners once dug for diamonds. The city is now filled with museums and monuments dedicated to this sparkly gem and the miners who brought the riches to South Africa. Kimberley is also considered a great area for bird watching with over 186 species in the area, as well as a hot destination for fly fishing.
As a volunteer on this project, your main tasks will be promoting the health and welfare of all the animals living on the grounds. You will be working with a variety of animals including 42 predators and two monkeys – the predators include: 4 cheetahs, 20 lions, 4 caracals, 2 servals, 1 African wild cat, 2 black backed jackals, and 9 bat-eared foxes. You will be taught how to care for each animal as they all have different needs. You will have minimal contact with the animals who are in the process of being rehabilitated and eventually released, as the park tries to keep them as wild as possible.
Some of your tasks may include:
Please Note: Due to the dynamic nature of working with animals, GoEco cannot guarantee that you will have the opportunity to interact hands-on with the animal residents at the sanctuary. Interactions are based on the availability, safety and well-being of the ambassador animals, and will be at the sole discretion of the local team.
Some of your tasks may include:
- Preparing food and feeding the animals
- Cleaning enclosures
- Building, expanding and repairing enclosures
- Grounds maintenance
- Enrichment activities for the animals, providing them with exercise and stimulation
- Giving tours to visitors and explaining about different animals and conservation efforts
Please Note: Due to the dynamic nature of working with animals, GoEco cannot guarantee that you will have the opportunity to interact hands-on with the animal residents at the sanctuary. Interactions are based on the availability, safety and well-being of the ambassador animals, and will be at the sole discretion of the local team.
Internet:
WiFi is not available, but volunteers can purchase a SIM card with data when they arrive.
Laundry:
Laundry service is available for a small fee.
Accommodations:
You will stay at the volunteer house, which is located on the property and has a fully furnished kitchen and shared bathroom with hot water and Western style toilets. The rooms are shared with up to 6 other volunteers.
Food:
Three meals a day are provided. Breakfast will consist of cereals and fruit, sandwiches will be served for lunch and a hot meal with meat and vegetables will be served for dinner.
Please take note of this project's minimum requirements:
- Minimum age of 18
- Basic level of English
- Medium level of fitness
- Flexibility and willingness to get hands dirty
- Genuine desire to work with wildlife
There is so much to see and do in South Africa that it will be hard to narrow down your choices. You can travel the Kalahari Red Dune Route from the Northern Cape up to the borders of Namibia and Botswana to see a wealth of cultural and natural treasures. If you enjoy bustling cities, don’t miss out on a trip to Johannesburg and Cape Town, both of which offer plenty of attractions.
Please note that all excursions are at an additional cost.
Arrival and Orientation (Included):
Prior to your volunteering, you'll participate in a two-day orientation in Johannesburg. This orientation is a time for volunteers to meet and get acquainted with each other and the project staff prior to going to their projects. You'll also be taken on a tour of the city that includes Nelson Mandela Bridge, Telkum Tower, Constitutional Hill and various other attractions.
Please note that the tour is flexible and may change according to the group’s interests for the day. This is your personal tour of the city with our local guide and aims to show you the best sites and places for the day.
Note: The orientation is required and is not a part of the 2 weeks designated for volunteer work. Therefore, the minimum stay is 17 days for the 2 week option, 24 days for 3 weeks, and so on. All prices include orientation.
Add on our eight-day Garden Route Road Trip to enhance your South Africa experience!
Please note that all excursions are at an additional cost.
Arrival and Orientation (Included):
Prior to your volunteering, you'll participate in a two-day orientation in Johannesburg. This orientation is a time for volunteers to meet and get acquainted with each other and the project staff prior to going to their projects. You'll also be taken on a tour of the city that includes Nelson Mandela Bridge, Telkum Tower, Constitutional Hill and various other attractions.
Please note that the tour is flexible and may change according to the group’s interests for the day. This is your personal tour of the city with our local guide and aims to show you the best sites and places for the day.
Note: The orientation is required and is not a part of the 2 weeks designated for volunteer work. Therefore, the minimum stay is 17 days for the 2 week option, 24 days for 3 weeks, and so on. All prices include orientation.
Add on our eight-day Garden Route Road Trip to enhance your South Africa experience!
Volunteer Experiences
Read More 
©2016 GoEco. All rights reserved.
Destination 
Activities - Wildlife and Animal Conservation
- Marine and Coral Reef Conservation
- Community Aid and Development
- Volunteer with Children
- International Internships
- Most Affordable Volunteer Programs
- Volunteer Vacations and Tours
- Learn Spanish and Volunteer
- Teens and High School Students
- Family Volunteer Vacations
- 50+ Volunteering
- Medical and Healthcare
- Teach English Abroad
- Special Offers
More Info