Location
  • South Africa
    • Cape Town
Length
4 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment
Language
English
Age Min.
18

Pricing

Starting Price
2975
Price Details
For details regarding our latest program tuition & fees, please visit our website (www.vacorps.com/program-cost) or contact our admissions team directly (admissions@vacorps.com).
What's Included
Activities Some Activities Airport Transfers SIM cards Wifi
What's Not Included
Accommodation Meals Travel Insurance
Aug 21, 2023
Dec 13, 2023
106 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

VACorps offers superior internship placements in Cape Town, South Africa. We commit all of our energy to one purpose – helping our program participants to have a professionally and personally rewarding internship experience in Cape Town. This is why VACorps unfailingly receives great reviews from not only our participants but also parents and university administrators. At the center of our participants' experience in our programs start with the careful selection of internships. Before they leave their home countries for Cape Town, participants will be in constant communication with members of the VACorps staff as we design peculiar details of their internship placements based on their academic, intellectual, and professional aspirations. We are Cape Town specialists, and all of our staff and programs are based in the mother city, simply because it is the most beautiful city in the world.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Professional internship placement in one of the world's most beautiful cities
  • Expert pre-arrival and in-country staff support (orientation, tour of the city, first-meeting at internship site, 24/7 emergency hotline and general support and guidance)
  • Weekly social excursions to help you explore Cape Town and its surrounds
  • Weekly workshops about South African culture
  • Enjoy plenty of travel opportunities to attractions like the Garden Route, Mozambique, Kruger National Park, and Cederberg Mountains

Popular Programs

Human Rights Internships in Cape Town

VACorps offers one of the most prestigious human rights internship programs in South Africa, facilitated and mentored by a US qualified lawyer who is currently a human rights policy advocate in South Africa. You will be placed with local organizations that provide services to victims of human rights violations. By working directly with service providers and the people they are trying to assist, you will gain exposure to the challenges associated with protecting and exercising one’s human rights.

VACorps counselling and psychology internships

Our internship placements will give you unique access to counseling and social support services in South Africa. Whether you are interested in a counseling internship at an NGO, a clinical placement at a rehabilitation center, or an organizational psychology internship at a private company, we will find you an internship that matches your interests and objectives.

Business Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

Cape Town is one of Africa’s largest business Centres and is home to many well-established companies, SME’s, social enterprises, NGOs, start-ups, and much more. Whether you are looking for experience in a fast-paced for-profit organization or would prefer to apply your knowledge and work for an organization that helps the underprivileged, VACorps will customize a business internship that will help you work towards your goals and objectives.

VACorps Technology Internships in Cape Town

Cape Town boasts a bustling tech start-up scene, and it is estimated that 60% of all African Tech startups have their feet firmly planted within Cape Town City Metro. A Technology Internship abroad will allow you to gain a unique perspective on the very important role the technology industry plays in a developing economy. As you gain experience, learn new skills and expand your network, you will also see how a different culture uses technology to address its own unique market needs.

Program Reviews

4.90 Rating
based on 223 reviews
  • 5 rating 90.58%
  • 4 rating 8.97%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0.45%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.95
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 4.85
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 1 - 8 of 223 reviews
Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Traveling to Cape Town is one of the highlights of my life

I will miss the people I met most, my roommates, my clinic staff, Kus and Kholi. They have truly been the highlight of my visit. Cape Town is like nowhere I have ever been before. It's a city built around nature. As an ecology major, I enjoyed living right next to Table Mountain and the ocean. I learned so much about living in an urban city and all of the joys and worries that come with that. I learned I'm braver than I thought I was coming down here by myself, knowing no one. I've made lifelong friends and colleagues that I will never forget. Cape Town is somewhere I want to come back to with my friends, with my family, and with the other interns I've met here. The staff at a medical clinic has changed my professional life. They took me under their wing and taught me so much. I will never be able to thank them enough for all that they have done for me. Eight weeks was a good length for being in Cape Town. I'm so sad to leave but it feels like a good ending to this adventure. VAC weekly activities were always a fun time. The wineries and Cape of Good Hope were my favorite trips. I'm most grateful to VAC for being there for me when I had questions about my internship or Cape Town itself. It was so easy to text Kus and ask her to arrange a trip to paragliding or the Garden Route.

I can't thank VAC enough for those staff members who kept up with me and my roommates. I could not have loved my time in Cape Town more. It is one of the best decisions I've ever made to take a chance and fly down here. I will always treasure my time here.

54 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spending 6 weeks in Cape Town was one of the best decisions I could have ever made!

Choosing to spend six weeks of my life in Cape Town was the best decision I could’ve possibly made! I love traveling and I was yearning to scratch that itch.

My internship with the micro-publisher gave me a lot of insight into the literary scene in South Africa, especially poetry. During my time here, I also went bungee jumping, did a safari (and saw 4 out of the big 5), walked with elephants, hiked amazing trails with amazing views, drove an ATV across beautiful sand dunes, ate some of the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted and made friends with some really cool people! Throughout the whole process, VACorps was super friendly and helpful and it was fun to participate in the Monday night cultural series and the Friday activities. I will miss the daily adventures of exploring Cape Town with my friends, and I hope to return someday in the future. I definitely recommend this experience, 10/10!

50 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anika
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A great experience with a program that is unlike any other!

I loved VACorps. Overall this has been a great experience for me. I think it has pushed me in ways I didn't know I would grow and taught me lessons I didn't know I needed to learn. This is a great way to learn about and explore an incredible country and I can't wait to tell everyone back home about it too.

I picked VACorps because it's unlike so many other programs. I enjoyed that we get to live with other interns and make our own connections while still having the freedom of our own internships and living life however we choose. I counted the other night, and I've met and said goodbye to 39 interns this summer, all people I never would have met otherwise. This is a really cool way to build connections not just abroad in SA but also between other countries.

56 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anna Grace
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An internship program experience that fit my criteria perfectly!

I came across VACorps when I was looking for a program that would allow me to get some work/volunteer experience while living in another country with people my age. It fit my criteria perfectly, Cape Town looked super exciting, and the website had a ton of information. I loved the internship I ended up doing a law internship because the site gave me meaningful and interesting work to do and was very welcoming. I also loved living in the Arnold Street house and became great friends with all of my roommates. I will miss being able to go hiking, to the beach, or to try new restaurants with them. We had so much fun at the VACorps activities and culture nights as well. Kus and Kholi were so kind, funny, and helpful and we always loved seeing them. I stayed for two months and am so sad to leave - I would recommend staying as long as you can. I feel so grateful for this opportunity to try a new job, explore a beautiful new place, and make incredible friends.

53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Laila
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Genuinely the most transformative experience of my life filled with exhilarating adventures!

Traveling to Cape Town was genuinely the most transformative experience of my life thus far. From exploring new environments to going on exhilarating adventures, nothing compares to the amazing community of people who welcomed us with open arms. Despite being in a foreign country, the VACorps staff, especially Kus and Kholi, made me and other interns feel at home, safe, and protected. VaCorps staff supported us from the very beginning when we arrived at the airport and on our first internship day to the very end. The weekly activities allowed me to see more of Cape Town and travel to spectacular places like Muizenburg, Hout Bay, wine farms, and more. I truly tested my limits countless times by trying new things like bungy jumping, surfing, climbing Table Mountain, and crawling through caves -- to name the least. Cape Town has the most beautiful natural wonders I'd ever seen and I felt so attuned to nature in a way that's quite indescribable. While it was great to travel to other parts of Cape Town, there was certainly beauty in our own backyard of Observatory as well. The lively community is filled with fun people to connect with, fashionable thrift stores, and delicious food, especially Ivy's Kitchen! I would advise not to pass Obs up because there are a lot of hidden treasures as long as you're open to finding them.

If I were to offer any piece of advice, I'd highly recommend seeing all of Cape Town. While you can limit yourself to Camps Bay, Constantia, the central business district, and all the fancy beach cities, that only tells half the story of a multifaceted city and country. Visiting the townships and building genuine connections with locals who are living a reality that is often ignored by "tourists" can broaden your perspective on life. My favorite memory in Cape Town was playing with the sweet kids from the Bathande Children's Reading Club in Khayelitsha created by Kholi. Beauty is everywhere in Cape Town and having the opportunity to become culturally immersed in this wonderful city and country is something I'll never forget.

In just two months, a place almost 10,000 miles away from home began to feel just like home.

58 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I really cannot recommend this program and experience enough!

My time in Cape Town with VACorps has been incredible. I've learned a lot through my internship and exploring South Africa over the last three months. I was placed in a law internship, working with an independent firm run by my internship boss. I've essentially functioned as a paralegal, working through child support, car seizure, and hijacking cases with his assistance. I've come away with a deeper understanding of the South African Constitution, and how it applies to societal functionings here. I've also had lots of time to hike, surf, visit beaches, and explore the city here in the Cape. I've met people and had experiences that I will never forget. I have made friendships that will last beyond my time here in Cape Town. I really cannot recommend this program and experience enough. I have gained so much perspective on life, people, law, and myself. I've grown to love South Africa and feel invested in the societal challenges and successes the country faces. I feel that I have grown a lot as a person throughout my time here and VACorps was a great facilitator of my experience.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Come into your internship with an open mind. My supervisor was a big believe in learning by doing, so be willing to take a risk and try your best at something you've never done before. You will receive guidance but you need to initiate it by making an effort to provide something for your supervisor to work with. Don't feel limited by a lack of legal experience, if you know how to write and do research that alone is helpful. Don't stress about formatting, the content and ideas are the most important part, formatting can be done at a later stage.
58 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Talia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A priceless experience in Cape Town

This experience was priceless. I was able to learn so much from the people around me about myself, Cape Town, and South Africa as a whole. The VACorps staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and the other interns became my family while I enjoyed my time here. My internship was fun and educational and gave me a first glimpse into my possible future career pathways in environmental conservation. It was not at all what I expected but it was easy to enjoy and clearly impactful work. When I had questions about Cape Town, Kus and Kholi were always there to answer and guide me in my explorations of this beautiful place. There is so much to do around Cape Town and Obs is a welcoming place. Cape Town will forever be an experience that has shaped me and will remain in my heart. I have built confidence, new perspectives, new appreciation for this place, and so much joy on my last 3 months in South Africa.

61 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Olivia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The VACorps program changed my life

My experience with the VACorps program genuinely has changed my life as to who I am. I adored every second of being here and learning about myself and the different cultures here. If I had the chance to come back I would in a heartbeat and I made several life-long friends during my stay.

My internship really helped me have job clarity because I was unsure if I was in the right major. However, once I had spent several days at my internship site, I was reassured that my job choice in the field of PT is great for me as I look ahead to the future.

68 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi Erin, Thanks for the great question! South Africa is home to one of the largest commercial film industries in the Southern Hemisphere and we place VACorps program participants at a variety of different film production companies that operate in Cape Town. We accept gap year students (min age 18) so don't worry if you don't have any prior industry experience. All that is required is enthusiasm...