Location
  • South Africa
    • Cape Town
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Hostel

Pricing

Starting Price
275
Price Details
Fully hosted experience from only $275 for 1 week - this includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Apr 25, 2023
Apr 17, 2024
130 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Trusted by 125,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the world's #1 rated volunteer programs in South Africa and 50+ destinations worldwide.

For the past 5 years, we've won the "Top Volunteer Abroad Provider Award" from GoOverseas, so you can trust that you're in the safest hands with IVHQ in South Africa.

Our affordable projects start from $25/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement and local support. Projects run year-round, with durations from 1-24 weeks. Choose from 10 projects, ranging from Childcare in the bustling hub of Cape Town, Sports Development in the picturesque Table View, and Wildlife Conservation in Kruger. Plus, you’ll stay with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world (private room options available).

With IVHQ’s superior pre-departure support services, you’ll gain exclusive access to your own Volunteer Travel Specialist, comprehensive preparation tools and volunteer training before you leave home.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Cheapest volunteer programs from $25/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement & local support.
  • Volunteer for 1-24 weeks, year round start dates most Mondays
  • 15+ years experience & only B Corp certified volunteer travel organization
  • Get free changes up to 14 days before you start with our flexible booking policy
  • Affordable way to earn college credit - gain 5 credits for only US$500!

Popular Programs

Childcare Project

As a Childcare Volunteer based in Cape Town, you'll help enrich the lives of children by supporting day-to-day activities at a local childcare center. Tasks include teaching, tutoring and caring for children, organizing games and activities, and helping with general duties to ensure the center runs smoothly and efficiently. This is a unique opportunity to explore the stunning city of Cape Town while giving back to the local community.

Teaching Project

Many primary schools in Cape Town run off low budgets, with few teachers, high workloads and little chance for students to get close attention. As a Teaching Volunteer, you'll be placed in a low-income primary school helping to create better learning environments and education standards for children aged 7-14. You'll support teachers by teaching subjects such as basic Mathematics, English and more.

Sport Development Project

Are you passionate about sports and youth development? As a volunteer on this project, you can share this passion with children who don't typically have access to physical education at school. Based in either Cape Town or Table View, you'll have a chance to explore South Africa's beauty while helping local children develop their physical and social skills.

Surf Outreach Project

Regardless if you're a pro surfer or just a beginner, you can join IVHQ's Surf Outreach Project and help provide structure, learning and new skills to children from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Divided into two parts, you'll first work independently with a surf instructor to develop your own surfing skills, and then work with children from the community to help improve both their surfing abilities and general life skills.

Wildlife Conservation Volunteering in South Africa - Kruger

Love animals, the outdoors and want to be a Wildlife Conservation volunteer ? This is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to assist at Kruger - a reserve home diverse wildlife and scores of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo. Volunteers will gain conservation experience and knowledge while being immersed in life on the reserve, enjoying the spectacular natural environment and making a meaningful contribution to its long-term sustainability and success.

Program Reviews

4.93 Rating
based on 91 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.51%
  • 4 rating 4.4%
  • 3 rating 1.1%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.75
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.5
Showing 9 - 16 of 91 reviews
Default avatar
Chase
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience

I had a great experience volunteering for IVHQ in South Africa. The volunteer trip was organized and IVHQ helped to ensure that I was prepared for the experience before I arrived. The volunteer work itself was very rewarding and it was cool to get immersed in the culture. The host family was friendly, the meals were better than expected, and the other volunteers helped to make the stay a lot of fun. There was plenty to do outside of volunteering and I am glad that I went. I would recommend IVHQ.

Pros
  • Affordable fees
  • Rewarding work
  • Fun
Cons
  • N/A
49 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jocelyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering through IVHQ in South Africa

My time volunteering in South Africa was the best week of my life. I learned so much through the kids and through the culture. I was able to experience things I would not have had the opportunity too if I had not had gone. Some of the activities I did included a safari, atv riding in sand dunes, and skydiving. The support from IVHQ ensured that I was completely prepared for my trip. Volunteering was amazing and the school I volunteered at needs the help from volunteers to create a lasting effect on the students.

Pros
  • immersing myself in a new culture
  • making a difference in people’s lives
  • making new friends
Cons
  • the food was not what was told would be provided
  • n/a
  • n/a
47 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Grace
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

I had an amazing 5 weeks in Cape Town. I will miss all of the kids and the other volunteers immensely as well as all of the locals! I was initially a little apprehensive to travel alone but living in such close quarters with everyone you instantly become best friends. I would recommend to budget a little more than recommended as although the cost of living is cheap there, expenses add up extremely quickly, especially if you are keen to socialize at night and do all of the exciting activities available. There is so much more to experience outside of the program such as amazing hikes, sunsets, safaris and more. I would love to go back!

Pros
  • Making friends
  • Experiencing a different culture
  • Humbling
Cons
  • Expensive
43 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Zoe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Cape Town

It was an amazing experience, having met so many new people and done so many things that I never would have expected to do! The volunteering aspect was well run and allowed for a full immersion into the culture and to do your little bit for the bigger picture.
The local program were always on hand for support and were also very knowledgeable with what the best places to do things were. The schools and staff there were very grateful of the help they received from the volunteers which was nice to feel valued as well as being able to make a contribution.

44 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alice
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer in balule game reserve

It was such a rewarding experience!
It is a real immersion into the wildlife that allows us to challenge ourselves and to discover another way of living, fully in the moment.
I will not forget the amazing view on the olifant river where i could stay hours, watching the animals walking and drinking all the day long.

The lectures given by the local team are extremely interesting ! I've learned so much in 2 weeks! Much more than I expected: tracks, sounds of birds, way to behave with wild animals, problems of poaching...
The activities of conservation are truly amazing : cameras tracking, transect, roads… i felt a little bit like a baby ranger !
There is even a little tracking competition on friday, with pancakes made by the losers on saturday : what a motivation!
There is also a real implication in the life on the camp, which I really liked because it allows the volunteers to become friends more easily and to share more moments together. We were organised by team for cooking, dishes, datas, cleaning and it was really efficient !
The ambiance on thé camp was amazing, the staff is really here to help you and to make you enjoy the experience as much as possible.
To conclude, it was truly a Life changing experience, and i think i’ll think about it for a long time. It made me realise a lot of things about our way of living and thé necessity to understand more the nature and thé Wildlife even in our countries, and to not live next to it but with it.

Pros
  • Unique, very exotic
  • Rewarding in human terms, as you meet incredible and different people
  • Learning so much about Wildlife!
Cons
  • Cleanliness on thé camp : as the cleaning is made by the volunteers, it’s not always perfect
  • Organisation on thé camp : still depending on tje volunteers, it can sometimes be a bit unfair (some doesn’t wash their dishes…)
  • Maybe the low schedule several times a day (in whole south africa) : you don’t have always the wifi!
47 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
makayla
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

It was an amazing trip accompanied by amazing staff, amazing destination and smoothly ran program. I would definitely go again and maybe try a different program. However the Sports program was amazing, the school staff was very welcoming, especially the principal, and made me feel welcome. Our program leader was very nice and super fun to be around. I’ve even used the warm-up songs we did with my students since i’ve returned. It was an unforgettable experience that I would do again in a heartbeat (but i’d stay longer than a week)

Pros
  • The Kids are Amazing
  • Supportive Staff
  • Beautiful Location
Cons
  • Lack of House Security
41 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Erica
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

South Africa - IVHQ

Travelling to South Africa & volunteering with IVHQ in the Holiday Program was one of the best things I’ve ever done. The process of registering right up until the very end was easy, straight forward & help was readily available. My experience in capetown, South Africa was incredible - I instantly made friends who I continued to form strong bonds with over my time in Cape Town, volunteering with the children was an experience I’m so grateful for and will never ever forget, in our down time and weekends we were able to go on safari, go on tours of Cape Town, explore and go out, overall the experience was awesome and I cannot wait to be back ! <3

Pros
  • Super friendly
  • Incredible experience
  • Food, accommodation, friendships, safety
58 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jacob
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Home in Muizenberg

My time in Cape Town, South Africa was among the greatest couple weeks of my young life. Going in, I knew no one and did not truly know what I was jumping head first into. I was eager to meet those who shared similar passions for helping others, but was unsure how I would personally be perceived by both my fellow volunteers and the children I was volunteering with. Would I be looked at as a "dumb American"?

From the moment I landed and reached my new home all of my fears were washed away. Not only was the group of people greeting me kinder than I could have imagined, but we seamlessly jelled from the very beginning. Each day was a blessing to wake up to. The children were a joy to work with and learning about the lesser known cultural knowledge first hand was something I will never forget.

Exploring the country itself was something out of a cinematic masterpiece. To have the resources, aid, and push from others on the program to try new experiences that were once in a lifetime was exactly what I wanted. Shark cage diving, sky diving, and a safari included just some of my treasured memories. Muizenberg became a home away from home.

Once I returned home I knew this would not be my last volunteer experience. My desire to travel and help others only strengthened through this adventure and I cannot thank IVHQ and Outreach 2 Enrich enough for my time in Cape Town.

Pros
  • Amazing experiences with the children volunteering
  • Affordable and easy to experience adventures
  • Incredible people
Cons
  • Food caused slight illness
  • Few bathrooms
58 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi Georgiy, IVHQ has a fantastic range of options for teen volunteers - whether you are traveling independently or with a parent/guardian. You can check out this page to start exploring your options: www.volunteerhq.org/high-school-volunteer-abroad/ or reach out to our team directly for personalized recommendations: info@volunteerhq.org :)

Volunteers 18 years or older can participate on an IVHQ program alone. However, children under18 must be participating in a group with with a parent, guardian or family member who is 18 years or over.