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

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
285
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Feb 10, 2025
Nov 27, 2024
33 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in South Africa with Plan My Gap Year (PMGY), an award-winning international organisation offering safe, trusted, and affordable programs in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. With projects based in the city of Cape Town and near the town of Port Elizabeth, PMGY provides exciting opportunities to make a meaningful impact including Childcare, English Teaching, and Wildlife Conservation, opportunities.

Our volunteer in South Africa programs start on the 1st Sunday in Cape Town and the 3rd Monday in Port Elizabeth, running year-round with flexible durations from 1 to 24 weeks. Volunteers are hosted in one of two welcoming Volunteer Houses, enjoying comfortable accommodation, an awesome social experience and delicious meals. With comprehensive pre-departure support, airport pick-up, orientation, and ongoing local support.

Video and Photos

Impact 🌎

Plan My Gap Year is committed to providing ethical volunteer opportunities that truly benefit the local communities. We have personally vetted all of our Volunteer Programs in every destination. We support a small network of Volunteer Programs abroad that we have specifically chosen due to their efforts being sustainable for our volunteers and the local communities alike. We work closely with each of our local teams to ensure we are assessing and adapting to ensure quality experiences for all involved.

For this reason, PMGY does not provide volunteer opportunities in orphanages in any of our locations. Research and studies have shown that visiting and volunteering in orphanages has the potential to generate an industry that separates children from their families. In turn, putting children at increased risk of neglect and abuse. Therefore, we do not support these institutions with our volunteer network.

Instead, we focus on offering alternative childcare volunteer opportunities whereby children come to and from the placement setting each day. In other words, our local teams collaborate with childcare projects which do not offer any form of residential care. These are safe, responsible, and vetted projects, where participants continue to provide valued assistance supporting local staff.

Program Highlights

  • Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.
  • Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.
  • Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.
  • Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.
  • Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

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Program Reviews

4.92 Rating
based on 12 reviews
  • 5 rating 91.67%
  • 4 rating 8.33%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.45
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.6
  • Value 4.6
  • Safety 4.2
Showing 9 - 12 of 12 reviews
Default avatar
elisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

once in a life time

I will keep this short and simple because this is the way I am. I've been to Kariega reserve for 4 weeks, been surrounded but lions, allies, rhino. There isn't actually word that can describe this experience because it's just magic. I've been dreaming this probably for my entire life. I was so happy to speak with baboons in the morning, helping young turtles to survive, been able to live the bush experience

What would you improve about this program?
I would say that probably a more control over the age of the volunteers will be better. I've been sharing this experience with other 9 18 years old ladies. I'm 29. Nothing wrong with that but we weren't having a lot to share and talk
216 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Kariega 2016

I've just got back after two weeks in South Africa where I was doing the wildlife conservation programme on Kariega game reserve. Whilst there I had the fantastic experience of being around magnificent wildlife whilst contributing to conservation projects that I was privileged to be a part of. The support I got when I was in Africa was brilliant, I never felt lost or clueless. More importantly I felt that I was prepared for anything that could be thrown at me. The information I was given before leaving was great also, I had all my questions answered and pretty much everything I needed was in the volunteer handbook that I received. My advice to anyone considering volunteering with pmgy is simply to just throw yourself in at the deep end. This might sound like strange advice but it's what I did and I can tell you that I got far more out of this experience than I ever imagined I would. The more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it. Just don't let anything hold you back. And there is no such thing as a stupid question. I urge everyone to go for it, I've met amazing people from all around the world who are now lifelong friends.
Thank you to everyone at pmgy for giving me this life changing experience

145 people found this review helpful.
Elle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Cape Town voluntary work

I chose to go to South Africa with PMGY and have not regretted it for one minute. I'm staying in Cape Town in the volunteer house at the moment with 30 other people from all over the world - even just living in the house is such an interesting experience, so much fun and so great meeting so many different people. I also lived with a host family at the start of my stay which was a good experience, it's much quieter with a host family but gives you a chance to really get stuck in with the volunteer work. Cape Town is a great place to live in and work in - so much to do yet volunteering here as well really opens your eyes and proves how much help is needed here.
PMGY have been brilliant, even just as I showed interest they were immediately engaged in what I was asking them. They put a lot of effort and time into answering my questions completely and would check up on my planning progress if we weren't in touch for too long. They really put me at ease about the whole trip and made it much easier than many other companies that I got in contact with. Plus I've just chosen to extend my volunteering experience here for 6 more weeks which speaks for itself about how enjoyable this experience is! You won't regret it :)

What would you improve about this program?
The allocation of volunteers in Cape Town was not reflected in the needs of the placement at the time I went. I believe this was more up to SASTS than PMGY but is definitely an aspect that needed addressing in 2013.
144 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What an amazing trip!

I was in Cape Town for a month, volunteering in the childcare program and it was an unforgettable experince! I fell in love with the city of Cape Town and with the babies that I took care of! I met so many great people in the volunteer house with whom I could share this adventure and spend time with. Cape Town offers a beautiful and diverse landscape and so many activities to do after work so it never gets boring! My craziest experience was probably the bungee jump from the 216m high bloukrans bridge that I did when I was on Safari, I had such an adrenaline rush and it was an amazing feeling! I never thought that I would overcome the fear to do something like that but it was just incredible!
My time in South Africa flew by so fast I wish I could go back already, but I know that one day in the future I will go back and show my friends an family where I spent one of the best times of my life!

142 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers