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Intern

Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

Name: Internships in Cape Town with VACorps
Brand: VACorps
SKU: 52139
Rating: 4.9 (291 reviews)

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VACorps

4.9 (291 reviews)

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Building your resume

Students

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Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

VACorps

4.9 · 291 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

South Africa
- Cape Town

Length

4 to 12 weeks

Industry

Advertising Architecture Business Communications Computer Science Conservation and Preservation Economics Education Engineering Film Finance Healthcare History Human Rights Journalism Law Marketing Nursing Photography Psychology Public Health Social Work Sports Science Startups Tourism +15

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Program Details

Compensation

Unpaid

Timeframe

Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Age Min.

Pricing

$3,175

Price Details

The VACorps program fee includes personalized internship placement based on each participant’s academic and professional goals, pre-arrival support, and comprehensive in-country support throughout the experience. This includes airport pickup, housing assistance, weekly cultural and social activities, 24/7 emergency support, and access to a network of fellow interns. Participants also benefit from orientation programming, local mentorship, and ongoing guidance from a dedicated Cape Town-based team committed to ensuring a safe, enriching, and rewarding experience.

What's Included

Activities Some Activities Airport Transfers SIM cards Wifi

What's Not Included

Accommodation Meals Travel Insurance

Last Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Last Reviewed: Jul 23, 2026

Wish List

132 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

VACorps offers exceptional internship placements in Cape Town, South Africa. Our sole focus is to ensure that each participant enjoys a professionally and personally rewarding internship experience. This commitment to excellence is reflected in the glowing reviews we consistently receive—not only from our participants, but also from their parents and university advisors.

At the heart of each participant’s experience is the thoughtful, individualized selection of their internship placement. Even before arriving in Cape Town, participants engage in ongoing communication with the VACorps team to design a placement that aligns with their academic background, intellectual interests, and career goals.

We are Cape Town specialists. Our entire team is based in the city we call home—because we believe Cape Town is not only the most beautiful city in the world, but also the most inspiring place to live, work, and grow.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers meaningful internships in Cape Town with strong staff support, community, and weekly activities that enrich the experience. Some placements lack structure, so clear communication is key.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

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

Video and Photos

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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

Counseling and Psychology Internship in Cape Town

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

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.

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 291 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 91.07%
4 rating 8.59%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0.34%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.95
Support 4.95
Fun 5
Housing 4.85
Safety 4.85

Good for Building your resume, Students, Adventure travelers

Showing 145 - 152 of 291 reviews

I chose Cape Town as a place to work and visit as it is a proud nation filled with wonderful nature and racial history; it did not disappoint. Stunning mountains are the backdrop to luscious beaches - climbing Table Mountain and Lion's Head is a must - combined with some amazing wildlife. The lifestyle is an outdoors one, different to back home whereby most of the time it is cold and gloomy (classic Britain), the number of outdoor activities are endless, my highlight was surfing in Muizenberg accompanied with a refreshing glass or two of beer afterward. I was immersed in some history which was sobering looking into apartheid and how the non-whites were treated: Robben island showed off the brutality the political prisoners were served with and district six encapsulated the force with which the nationalist party pushed the non-whites out of the best areas of Cape Town. The tourism here is a spectacle to embrace and throw yourself into. The internship was amazing, I got to try out cricket coaching for an extended period of time in addition to sports marketing. It gave me some clarity into the field I want to venture into and the variety of sports jobs there are out there.

I chose Cape Town as the place to intern abroad because it is such a unique city surrounded by mountains and the ocean. I wanted to complete an internship in order to expand my knowledge and gain experience before entering the marketing field. Now that my internship has come to an end, I have realized the best thing about Cape Town is the people within. Every person within the VACorps program was amazing to get to know, and the locals I have met were all so sweet and welcoming. I have been here a total of three months and wish I could stay longer. I am definitely going to miss the people I have met and the stunning views the most.

VACorps has been such an amazing experience, I have learned so much real-world experience that will prepare me for when I enter the workforce soon. Not only have I learned a lot about my career, but I have also learned so much about myself. This experience really teaches you how to adapt to new situations and new cultures and make the best out of them. The weekly activities were so fun, you can really tell that the VACorps team cares about your experience. Even with the many restrictions in place due to COVID we were still able to have the most amazing adventures. I have certainly learned so much about African culture that I cannot wait to tell my family and friends about back home. The people you meet during the internship period are incredible and it's amazing to have experienced an opportunity like this one.

I had the most amazing experience with VACorps and will never forget this trip! I was able to learn about marketing through my internship and gain valuable experience and build my resume while also having more than enough time to explore all of Cape Town with the amazing friends I met here. I really enjoyed how much my internship company trusted me to make content and run different accounts, and felt I learned so much by taking on these responsibilities. I liked how personal this program is, and the VACorps staff really tried to find an internship for the experience I was hoping to gain.

I chose to go to Cape Town because I figured it was different than any other place I'd been to before and it did not disappoint. The opportunities in and around Cape Town seem to almost be limitless. There is definitely something for everyone, such as hiking, wine tours, great restaurants, museums and so much more. Coming from a suburban background, I also found it very exciting to be living in a large city like Cape Town. I thought that three months was the perfect amount of time to get a taste of what South Africa has to offer. Additionally, I will miss the friends I have made here in South Africa.

The staff at VACorps were super friendly and accommodating to people's needs. They would help solve any problems as they arose for the interns. The weekly events that were put on were always a blast! I am super grateful for all the time and energy the VACorps staff put in to make everyone's experience the best it can be.

Interning in Cape Town for 2 months was the best decision of my life and I wished that I could extend my stay longer! After graduating from university with a BA Hons in Social Work I wanted the opportunity to travel whilst gaining more experience within another field that aligned with my social work values and skill set. VACorps placed me at a site where I was able to intern as an Occupational Therapist Assistant Manager. During this time I was able to build upon my managerial, professional, and personal development. This was achieved by working with a range of adults with learning disabilities and facilitating sessions, whilst maintaining a person-centered approach.

Traveling to South Africa alone seemed so daunting at first but I quickly become settled and am grateful for the easy transition when arriving. I cannot thank the program enough for the amount of support and guidance they have provided throughout my whole stay, they have been so accommodating and welcoming. By providing weekly activities, gave opportunities for the other interns to bond and make lifelong friends but also get to know the team on a personable level.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in South Africa and challenged myself to try things outside of my comfort zone including hiking, bungee jumping from the largest bridge, zip-lining, walking with elephants, and hosting our first South African "braai"!

I am so thankful for the memories made and those I was able to share them with. I would highly recommend VACorps to anyone who wants to work abroad with the support of a wonderful team behind them.

I recently graduated college with my Bachelor's in Public Health and wanted to get some experience in global health before pursuing my master's degree. I chose Cape Town because, unfortunately, they have. a high prevalence of HIV and I wanted to look at infection control. I was placed with Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation and got to learn about the clinical trials the site is doing to combat HIV and provide vaccination. Overall, I learned a lot from my internship site, the country, and the people who I met. My internship showed me that I want to pursue my master's degree in infection control and prevention. It was an amazing experience for me and I am grateful I came out here.

Questions & Answers

I’m a high school student and really want to get in the film industry and finding it hard to find volunteering. Any tips ?

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...

By VACorps Support on January 27, 2021

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I knew I wanted to travel and take a break after University, but I needed something that I could still put down on my CV. After looking at a couple of different options, I discovered VA Corps, which offered the perfect fit to my situation. Their programs were individually tailored to meet everyone's individual expectations for their experience in Cape Town. This was a major factor in my decision to undertake this program. The other factor of course being Cape Town's natural beauty and the opportunity to experience a new and different cultural outlook on life.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I will admit that initially the thought of traveling solo so far away to a completely new country for me was a bit intimidating. This feeling soon vanished as VA Corps was able to provide all the information I was looking for. Their online guide has a wealth of knowledge to answer all your questions, from information about immigration and flights to helpful hints about overcoming any initial culture shock you may experience. Their help in organizing not only housing but also finding your individual internship site means there is little for you to organize on your own.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

You need to enter this program with an open mind, willing to try new things, foods and experiences. I'm aware that this can be intimidating for some people, but VA Corps provide 24 hour support during your time in the program so there is little for you to worry about. So put yourself in new situations, eat new food and meet lots of new people. You are only in Cape Town for a short period of time; you need to make the most of it. If you don't, not only am I sure you'll regret it, but you'll probably also feel that you didn't get much out of the program. Don't be that person: be open to new experiences, put yourself out there and enjoy yourself.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Everyone's individual day is completely different; you might get up at 6 in the morning and spend the whole day learning at a clinic. On the other hand, you could get up at 9 and walk down to a coffee shop. Open your laptop and work on a case file till after lunch, then go for a hike. Everyone's day is different but everyone gets out what they put in.

Two of the large benefits of VA Corps program is that on every Monday evening you have the opportunity to attend a session where you learn about different aspects of South African culture. This could be a tradition food tasting, guest speaker on some of the struggle experienced in South Africa, a session about the different languages spoken or many other differing things.

The other major benefit of the program is that every Friday you have the opportunity to experience different activity with the group. Activities like wine tastings, trips to the Cape of Good Hope or seeing Penguins and Cheetahs. All of this means that week will be busy and enjoyable.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

One of the big fears before the experience is the worry that you're not going to fit in, that you're going to feel out of place and uncomfortable. I can tell you from my personal experience that this won't happen. You're going to be surrounded by lots of different people, from different countries all doing the same as you. You will fit in and you will become very good friends with many of these people. Cape Town itself can seem like an intimidating place but I can tell you that, after a week or two, it really isn't. If you use for common sense, you will feel comfortable very easily. It's a lovely place filled with many lovely people and you will get to see that.

What was your favorite experience during your time abroad?

I honestly have too many to choose from and they are all amazing in their own way. Experiences like getting to walk around Robben island and getting to see Nelson Mandela's cell were incredibly special. At the same time, even small things like talking with people who grew up under Apartheid is something that is going to stay with me for ever. On top of this, walking with Elephants and bungee jumping off a 216 meter tall bridge are things that I never thought I would do, as well as the 6 or 7 times I hiked Table Mountain.

Simply put, there are too many things to chose from. The main thing, though, is that I loved my time in Cape Town and would do it again in a heart beat.

Jackie Berger

Mark McKown

2014 Alum

Josh Hoeg

2017 Alum

Rob Weidner

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Athena Lamberis

Program

Internships in Cape Town with VACorps

Athena has lived, worked and studied in over twelve countries around the world before graduating from Michigan State University in 2005. She loves diving into cross-cultural experiences, language learning and documenting beauty and creativity around every corner. Cape Town has been home since 2008, where her love for experiential education, natural spaces and the search for the next tasty meal collide.

Having been a semester abroad student in South Africa herself, she adds her own personal knowledge and enthusiasm for those ready to embark on their own learning adventure abroad!

Athena Lamberis - Education International

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favorite travel memories was being in Athens during the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The city was pumping with so much energy from around the world. A casual stroll down the road felt like a global carnival. I passed by a corner where there was a scene of Brazilians were playing capoeira, while a band of Ugandan drummers danced past the group of Japanese fans cheering about a victory, all on my way to watch the sunset behind the Parthenon with friends from Mexico, Turkey, and Australia.

It was one of the most joyful cross-cultural experiences I have experienced in addition to celebrating solidarity and amazing human endeavors!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Although I had lived in South Africa for 6 years prior to working with VACorps, the work and relationships I have been able to form these past 4 years have granted me a more in-depth exposure to different South African realities.

I have grown in compassion, become a better listener, and am more engaged in learning more about current issues that motivate leaders to make innovative business or organizational choices and create positive social change.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I often receive the 'wish I was still there' emails and enjoy viewing the video collages students tend to make and share across their social media channels. The best stories for me, though, are the students that integrate their experience abroad directly into their lives. This has ranged from a legal intern student going onto working in the UN, a communications student producing their own local show, and a social work graduate who went on to initiate their own community project.

No matter what field of study the students are engaged with: it's always amazing to hear about how everyone's perspective abroad directly impacts the choices they make.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

This changes from week to week. Why? Because I am someone who is typically extremely inspired by passionate people and so many organizations and businesses in Cape Town have dynamic teams that motivate people to get involved!

The changing socio-political landscape of Cape Town makes diving into social justice advocacy programs important, but joining a start-up business incubator is also exhilarating. There are times I am inspired to assist in social work or counseling programs or even help produce digital media for youth development or sustainable community food gardens. I am always intrigued by environmental education and conservation programs because being surrounded by Cape Town's amazing biodiversity is like nowhere else in the world. Because I love learning more about languages and cultures, there is always something to contribute to that supports refugee and asylum-seeking communities and overall social cohesion in Cape Town.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Everyone involved with VACorps has a genuine interest in education and connecting students to exciting and engaging learning experiences. I have had the privilege to meet and get to know local leaders in a variety of fields who lead and manage operations that aim for positive social impact and innovations. I am proud that we support their initiatives, attend their events and think of creative ways for students to assist in achieving their vision for the greater good.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The work we do is purposeful, and this drives the company to make positive decisions, additions, and adaptations to our program offerings. I believe this ability to reflect, improve and evolve as a team creates success and enhances the entrepreneurial spirit of a company. We depend on each other to bring positive and meaningful passion into our work and this, in return, is appreciated by each student that joins the program.

Kholosa Potwana

Program Advisor

Thomas Hill

Program Admissions

Carmen Rae Kingwill

Program Coordinator

Oliver Hagan

Director of Applications and Outreach

Location

Location:

Cape Town

Currency:

South African Rand

Weather:

Jan-Mar

79 F / 57 F

Apr-Jun

73 F / 46 F

Jul-Sep

66 F / 45 F

Oct-Dec

77 F / 52 F

Airports:

Cape Town International

( CPT )

Cape Town is a port city, the legislative capital of South Africa, the most southern city in all of Africa, and referred to as the "Mother City". It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.

About VACorps

The VACorps internship program creates tailored placements in Cape Town, South Africa. We consistently receive rave reviews from program participants, parents and university administrators alike because we devote all our energy to one purpose -- helping you have a personally and professionally rewarding internship experience in Cape Town. As a...