Introducing our 2024 Volunteer Grant: Apply for two weeks and get the 3rd week for free! Limited grants are available for start dates in November 2024. Schedule a phone interview to evaluate eligibility. Make a lasting impact.
Volunteer in South Africa at a big cat rescue sanctuary to enrich the lives of these majestic animals! This rescue sanctuary rescues cats from traffickers, the captive big cat breeding and hunting industry. These cats cannot return to the wild, as they would not survive due to their captive upbringing. This sanctuary gives them care and love while making the best life possible for them outside of the wild.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Saturday: Arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). You will be picked up from the airport and taken to the volunteer house, which is located on the project site.
Day 1, Sunday: You will have an introduction to prepare you for the week ahead, followed by a free day for volunteers to spend as you wish. Explore around the area with your follow volunteers or hang around close to home and relax listening to the lions roaring at sunset!
Days 2-6, Monday-Friday: Your day will begin around 6:00 or 7:00 AM, when you will prepare your breakfast before heading to the morning meeting around 7:00 or 8:00 AM. The morning project will begin around 8:15 AM and run until lunch, which will be provided around noon. The afternoon volunteer work will begin around 2:00 or 3:00 PM and you will work until 6:00 PM. During summer and warm days, the morning meeting will start 1 hour earlier.
Thursdays will not be work days and volunteers will go on a group excursion in Overberg and be able to purchase food for the week at the grocery store.
Day 7-8, Saturday and Sunday: Free day for volunteers to relax or spend the night away.
Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Every Thursday will be a group excursion, and every Saturday and Sunday is free. Departures are on Saturdays.
Click to see additional volunteering projects in South Africa
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, cost of groceries for dinners and lunch when you are not on-site (budget approx $30-50 per week), personal expenses.
This project takes place in Stanford, a riverside village located in the Western Cape of South Africa. Stanford is a place of breathtaking beauty, from the Klein River to the grand mountains that overlook the sanctuary. It is located 16 kilometers east of the seaside town of Hermanus, which is famous for whale watching. Stanford is home to 200 species of birds and is one of the most-preserved villages in the Western Cape.
The goal of this project is to aid the sanctuary’s efforts in raising awareness about the ethical and holistic animal treatment while simultaneously caring for the rescued cats. The sanctuary has been home to rescued lions, leopards, tigers, caracals, servals and jackals, and also hosts educational visits aimed at teaching visitors about the different species of magnificent large cats that live there.
As a volunteer on this project, you will be involved in an array of activities. Volunteer work ranges from enrichment activities, such as toy-making, to farm work in educating those who come to visit the sanctuary about large cats and conservation efforts. Volunteers will also directly care for the cats by preparing food and/or feeding the cats as well as maintaining their living spaces. Each day begins with a preparatory meeting where coordinators will go over the day’s plan with volunteers prior to beginning work.
Some of your tasks may include:
A typical day: Your day will begin around 6:00 or 7:00 AM, when you will prepare your breakfast before heading to the morning meeting around 8:00 AM. The morning project will begin around 8:15 AM and run until lunch, which will be provided around noon. The afternoon volunteer work will begin around 2:00 or 3:00 PM and you will work until 6:00 PM. During summer and warm days, the morning meeting will start one hour earlier.
Thursdays will not be work days, but volunteers will go on a group excursion and be able to purchase food for the week at the grocery store. Saturdays and Sundays are free days.
Please note of this project’s minimum requirements:
Every Thursday, the volunteer group will decide amongst themselves where to go on excursion within the Overberg area. Saturdays and Sundays are free days for volunteers to get out and explore on their own. Please note that these activities are at volunteers’ own cost. Some optional destinations and opportunities include:
Shark Cage Diving
For the fearless volunteers, we suggest the popular tourist activity of cage diving with great white sharks!
Whale Watching
For marine life lovers, South Africa has several areas that are popular for whale watching, either onboard or from land.
Walker Bay Nature Reserve
Walker Bay is a coastal nature reserve famous for its on-land whale watching and amazing views. Klipgat Cave was home to Middle Stone Age people, and is easily accessible for exploration through the nature reserve. The Reserve stretches 17 kilometers from the Klein River to the white, sandy beach of Die Platt.
Others:
Aside from these popular tourist attractions, the Overberg area is home to many other exciting activities. These include, but are not limited to, shark cage diving, zip lining, Klein River cruises, whale watching and even paint balling. There is an option for everyone!
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