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Animal Care Volunteer Project in South Africa - Cape Town

Animal Care Volunteer Project in South Africa - Cape Town

Keen to make some four-legged friends as an Animal Care volunteer in South Africa? International Volunteer HQ’s Animal Care project enables volunteers to help at an animal shelter which caters to cats and dogs that have been neglected, abandoned or lost. Volunteers gain animal care experience while providing cats and dogs with care and companionship and helping give them the best chance of finding a new, loving home.

Highlights:
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of each month
  • Affordable fees from AU$441 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Help care for and improve life for abandoned dogs and cats

  • Discover South Africa’s natural beauty and diversity

  • Stay in volunteer house in a relaxed coastal surfing town

Key information

Care for & rehome abandoned animals
Based in animal shelters
Volunteer house accommodation
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Fully hosted experience from AU$441 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Climb South Africa's Table Mountain
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who enjoy working with cats and dogs and are passionate about animal welfare. You’ll be working closely with the local staff so no experience is necessary and you will need to have had an active tetanus vaccination to join this project.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Many locals in the Cape Town area enjoy the companionship of dogs and cats. Sadly, many do not have the necessary knowledge to properly care for their pets, and often they cannot afford proper animal care.

As an Animal Care volunteer you will be working at the local animal shelter in the community of Grassy Park. This project is perfect for anyone who is passionate about animals and enjoys spending time around dogs and cats.

As a volunteer on this project, you’ll support the shelter to care for the large number of cats and dogs living there by providing companionship and improving the quality of life for them. Volunteers can help with:

  • Caring for abandoned and lost animals
  • Attending to the sick animals
  • Assisting with general health care, injections and medication
  • Cleaning, feeding and helping with the general running of the shelter
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Human activity has altered almost 75% of the earth’s surface and around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Nature is critical to our survival. We must promote kindness to animals and use regenerative techniques to combat deforestation, conserve biodiversity and protect wildlife.

Why do Animal Care volunteering in Cape Town with IVHQ?

When you volunteer with animals in South Africa you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Improving quality of life for cats and dogs in animal shelters
  • Supporting local animal welfare efforts
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining animal care experience
  • Immersing yourself in South African culture
  • Discovering South Africa’s diverse wildlife

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English
  • All volunteers must have an active Tetanus Vaccination
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

JY
Jezreel Yau
02 Feb 2024

It was an amazing experience to give back to the community, immerse myself into the culture, know more people and to explore Cape Town. The accommodation made me feel homey and warm. Thank you to all the staff who put in effort on cleaning and organising, also cooking for our lunch and dinners. It was an amazing stay!

It was very special for me as it was my first time solo travelling and it was also my first time volunteering in a foreign country. I thought I would be the person who was trying to give back to the community by teaching the children at school but eventually I felt like it was me who took away so much and I have learnt so much from all the children who offered me so much during the program. They taught me about African dance at school, they showed a lot of care to the volunteers and always gave us a big smile when we met. It was a beautiful and wonderful experience that I will never forget!

I would not second doubt to go volunteering again in a different city in the future and I highly recommend to anyone who is thinking to do it!

...
SB
Simon Bergdahl
14 Dec 2023

I gained knowledge of cultural differences and I’m now more appreciative about what I have. I’ve met people from all over the world and I now have some really good South African friends, I even learned how to surf!!

...
LF
Laura Francois-Eugene
06 Dec 2023

I know I had an impact on the children I worked with. I wish I could have remained for 6 months or longer. The teachers were great and they encouraged the volunteers to lead the class. The local team had an on-site staff member available 24/7 in the event of an emergency. Any questions I had a staff member was able to answer immediately or they looked up the information and quickly got back to me. If someone is truly interested in making an impact they will enjoy the kids, teachers and staff. The experience was definitely rewarding.

...
CV
Chloe Viegas
29 Jun 2023

My favourite moment was meeting so many people from around the world. All these people made a big impact on me, how I see the world, and definitely how I see myself. I’ve met some of the best people while I was here and I’m so happy to have done this program with them. Pushing me out of my comfort zone and truly appreciating life was the biggest impact this trip had on me!

My advice for people who are hesitant to volunteer abroad would be to do it if you want a new life experience where you will grow and change, as well as meet so many new people and create life bonds!

...
HH
Hayley Huggett
22 Mar 2023

Teaching music to the children at one of the placements was something I didn’t expect to do, and it was awesome! Also, I've grown my confidence with my volunteer trip. Do not over think it, everyone fully looks after you to make sure you are safe and supported.

...
MM
Michaela Münster
24 Nov 2022

I loved the location, close to the beach and in a pretty safe area. Also close to grocery stores, ATM etc. I love to be with all the volunteers. We had a lot of free time and spent it well. Cape Town is an amazing place to explore. I would stay longer than 4 weeks if I could. This was probably the best month so far in my 18 years of life! Coming all alone to South Africa was scary in the beginning. Now I feel more confident, and I know that I am able to do stuff like this. I’m also more confident when I speak English. Just go for it, you’re gonna grow as a person whether you enjoy the experience or not. It can teach you something either way. And most likely you will feel independent and have lots of fun.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

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Volunteer Abroad in Cape Town, South Africa with IVHQ

Location

The IVHQ South Africa volunteer program is based in Muizenberg, a beautiful, small coastal town with excellent surfing. It is about a 30 minute drive from the Cape Town City, and up to 15 minutes from volunteer placements located in the Philippi, Steenberg, Capricorn, and Grassy Park townships.

South Africa is known for its natural beauty, wildlife, sporting prowess, and diversity of culture and ethinic groups. It’s turbulent socio-political history is also well known, and is important to learn about in order to gain insight and understanding of the country’s people, culture and attitudes. There are many places where you can do this in Cape Town and the surrounding areas.

The IVHQ South Africa program is one of our longest running volunteer programs and has the aim of delivering positive outcomes in communities throughout the area by placing volunteers on a wide range of impactful projects. There is a focus on animal welfare as well as supporting children and young people who have had a challenging start to life because of exposure to drugs, alcohol or physical abuse.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month and volunteers need to arrive in Cape Town on the day before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Muizenberg. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation and checkout is on Saturday.

If you are travelling in South Africa prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up within the Cape Town CBD area on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is taken by our South Africa team in Muizenberg, Cape Town. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in South Africa – an introduction to South Africa, South African customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in South Africa, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and make plans for weekend travel and socialising. Once your orientation is complete you will take a trip into Cape Town before returning to your volunteer accommodation.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays

Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day would be as follows:

7:00 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house.
8:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements.
1:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer house for lunch, go sightseeing, or do some shopping.
5:00 - 9:00 PM Dinner is available at the volunteer house.

Weekends

On the weekends, volunteers have spare time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Cape Town or other areas in South Africa. See unusual wildlife like antelope and penguins, visit the spot where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, paraglide off a rock high above the city, visit a local vineyard, or watch the sun sink into the Atlantic ocean with a glass of the region’s finest wine in your hand. Long weekends can be taken if volunteers wish to go on safari, bungy jump, or travel to places further afield, such as the Garden Route or Stellenbosch.

Looking for more ideas of things to do in South Africa? Check out our South Africa Travel & Tours page!

Accommodation and WiFi

All volunteers are accommodated in a large two-storey dormitory style volunteer house with capacity for around 40 volunteers, with rooms separated by gender. It is a 7 bedroom house that comfortably sleeps 6 people per room. The rooms on the second floor lead out to a balcony that overlooks the village. The house has 6 bathrooms, a TV lounge, a dining area and a volunteer kitchen.

The beach, convenient stores, ATMs, restaurants etc. are all in walking distance from the house. Bedrooms have single beds and bunk beds with bedding provided. The house is clean and well looked after, and living is comfortable.

The accommodation is safe and secure with the volunteer house located in Muizenberg, a safe suburb near the communities where volunteers work. Muizenberg is a very historical part of Cape Town and the house you will be living in for the duration of your stay is about 150 years old.

The volunteer house has electricity and running water with Western toilets, but you’ll need to bring your own towel and toiletries. During the Winter (June through August) Cape Town can get quite cold and it’s recommended to bring an extra blanket.

The volunteer house has unlimited Wifi 5G with a very good connection.

Meals

Volunteers in South Africa receive three meals a day, Monday through Friday. Breakfast will also be available on weekends. Meals served in the volunteer house are typically Western-style and can be high in carbohydrates.

Breakfast consists of self-serve tea, coffee, toast and cereal. For lunch volunteers will be provided with supplies to make their own sandwiches, and dinner consists of dishes containing meat, vegetables and a starch, such as potatoes, bread or pasta.

It is not possible to drink the tap water in South Africa, however, bottled water is readily available in South Africa, and you should budget approximately US$5 (approximately AU$8) per week for 2 litres a day.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week AU$440 Equivalent to AU$63/day
2 weeks AU$713 Equivalent to AU$51/day
3 weeks AU$985 Equivalent to AU$47/day
4 weeks AU$1257 Equivalent to AU$45/day
5 weeks AU$1530 Equivalent to AU$44/day
6 weeks AU$1802 Equivalent to AU$43/day
8 weeks AU$2347 Equivalent to AU$42/day
10 weeks AU$2892 Equivalent to AU$41/day
12 weeks AU$3437 Equivalent to AU$41/day
16 weeks AU$4526 Equivalent to AU$40/day
20 weeks AU$5616 Equivalent to AU$40/day
24 weeks AU$6705 Equivalent to AU$40/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in South Africa generally find US$50-75 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Check what's required to visit South Africa

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial), Cape Town (Legislative)
Population 58.6 million
Languages Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Tswana
Currency South African Rand (ZAR)
Time zone UTC+02:00

Weather and climate

The subtropical location, moderated by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides of the country and the altitude of the central plateau, are responsible for the warm temperatures typical of South Africa. Across much of the country, summer (December to February) is characterised by hot, sunny weather with temperatures averaging around 25°C (77°F). Winter (May to September) is cooler and drier with evening temperatures averaging around 10 °C (50°F). In Cape Town, sporadic showers and chilly winds are common during the winter months, but with daytime temperatures can average around 15°C (59°F).

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How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
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Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
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