The continent of Africa is perhaps the most popular destination for gap years that involve volunteer work. The gap year route through Asia and Australasia is well traveled, but conflicts in many African countries have only recently ended, allowing companies to offer safe travel to beautiful countries with communities and people in real need of help. The most popular destination on this continent is South Africa.
South Africa is a land of surprises. Located at the southern tip of the African Continent, the next landfall to the south is Antarctica. This explains why South Africa is home to a type of penguin, as well as the more expected big game animals such as elephants, lions and hippos.
You may also be surprised to learn that English is only the fifth most spoken language, with Zulu and Afrikaans being far more popular. But don't let this put you off considering a South Africa gap year job. Plenty of people do speak English and you shouldn't have many problems if you only speak English.

Employer: Worldwide Experience
Gap Year Type: Teaching, Child Care, Conservation
Country: South Africa
The game reserve conservation projects offered by Worldwide Experience off you the chance to get involved in all aspects of the conservation that take place on some of the key game reserves in South Africa. By assisting in the management and day to day operation of the reserve, whether in the form of data collection or animal tracking and monitoring, you are directly helping their long term survival for current and future generations.
All placements are fully inclusive, meaning there are no additional headaches for you to resolve. And no previous experience is necessary. Why not combine a few projects to get the most from your stay in this amazing country. Details: Read more...

African Big 5 Wildlife Photography and Conservation Education project![]() Employer: African Impact This project offers exciting exposure to the African bush with wildlife photography & conservation components. Living in the heart of a reserve you’ll work with Africa’s big 5 in their natural habitat. A great opportunity for photographers just starting out or those who wish to build up their portfolio | Global Volunteering![]() Employer: Lattitude Global Volunteering Lattitude Global volunteering is an international youth development charity specialising in long term, adventurous and rewarding placements. Opportunities available include; teaching, conservation (environment and wildlife), medical, community work and caring as well as outdoor education. |
Affordable Teaching Volunteer Work in Africa![]() Employer: Agape Volunteers Teaching placements from £190. Gain valuable teaching experience or enhance a CV or UCAS application by teaching your own class English, maths, science or sports. Volunteer for as long as you want, starting whenever you want and get the chance to experience frontline aid work with a UK charity. | Volunteer on over 150 Overseas Projects![]() Employer: Kaya Responsible Travel Join one of 180 Kaya Projects across Asia, Africa and Latin America to help improve lives and environments in the world’s developing nations |
Volunteer Abroad Starting £140![]() Employer: Volunteering Solutions Volunteering Solutions provides reliable, safe and affordable International Volunteer Abroad Programs in 19 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin/South America to serve the local and needy communities. Our mission is to provide meaningful and fully researched volunteer and internship programs. | Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Projects![]() Employer: Love Volunteers Join Love Volunteers and our partner organizations in working to save our fragile planet. Gain hands on experience in sustainable agriculture, jungle conservation, or protecting our many endangered species from turtles in Costa Rica to the Big 5 in South Africa. Join us and make a difference today |
AlternativeGap Kenya![]() Employer: Adventure Alternative Adventure Alternative offer a ten week gap adventure in Kenya for people aged from 18 to 24 which combines extensive adventure travel, International Fair Trade volunteering and an expedition. The trip is fun and exciting and informative, and long enough for you to feel a difference in yourself
| Ghana![]() Employer: Projects Abroad Volunteers in Ghana work on a wide range of projects including Teaching, Care, Community including Building and IT Projects, Medical & Healthcare Projects – including Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Midwifery and Dentistry, plus Journalism, Veterinary Medicine, Sports, and Human Rights |
Budget Volunteering 2012 - Teaching And Community Project![]() Employer: African Impact Against the backdrop of the incredible Victoria Falls, Volunteers have amazing exposure to assisting rural schools with both teaching and building/refurbishment, adult literacy classes and even home based care in the villages. This is a high quality and affordable volunteer programme | Conservation and Community Projects![]() Employer: Worldwide Experience A once in a life time opportunity to get involved with our hands on projects around the globe. Get close up to wildlife, become a Game Ranger, help support those less fortunate than you, coach football or join in on our Wildlife Filmmaking project. Conserve, Develop, Teach… Make a Difference! |
Sport – Polo in Argentina, Horse Safari in South Africa.![]() Employer: The Leap The Leap offers 2 unique equine experiences...
Live on a private estancia and learn to play polo in Argentina
or
Horse safari across the African bush in search of game whilst helping with local conservation and community projects.
Both experiences are team based, for 10 or 6 weeks. | Medical Projects![]() Employer: Global Medical Projects Are you looking to gain useful and practical medical experience in hospitals and clinics around the world? Placements available for pre-university and medical students in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We also arrange placements for those interested in dental, nursing and physiotherapy experience |
Affordable Teaching Placements![]() Employer: Love Volunteers Looking to share your knowledge and gain experience while traveling abroad and learning a new culture? Come join Love Volunteers! With affordable rates and placements in over 25 countries there is a project out there waiting for your assistance | Short Term Volunteer Placements![]() Employer: International Volunteer HQ Looking to travel and work in a variety of countries? IVHQ's low cost and short term volunteer placements are designed with the gap year traveller in mind. Travel to a variety of countries and work for as short as one week or as long as six months! |
Affordable Medical Placements in Africa![]() Employer: Agape Volunteers Medical volunteering from £190. Gain valuable experience towards your degree in a clinic or hospital. Responsibilities are rounds, prescribing medicines, diagnosis, dressing wounds and assisting births. Flexible programs from 1 week to a year mean you can make the most of your skills and your time. | Affordable Gap Year Volunteering Placements![]() Employer: International Volunteer HQ Want to make the most of your gap year but not spend a fortune? International Volunteer HQ is the world's most affordable volunteer organization, hosting thousands of gap year students as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Every year over 5000 volunteers travel abroad with us- join the team |
Affordable Short-term Volunteering in Africa![]() Employer: Agape Volunteers Volunteer in Africa from £190. Volunteer for as long as you want, when you want, from 1 week to a year. Fit a short placement into a vacation or break. Teach in a school, care for orphans, coach sport, help combat AIDS or volunteer as a medical student and gain experience to help your degree | Conservation volunteer![]() Employer: i-to-i Whether you’re an eco-warrior or an animal fanatic there are countless opportunities to do your bit for wildlife and the environment. Care for lion cubs in South Africa, conserve a tropical Thai island or work in rainforests in Ecuador, it’s time to dig out your adventure hat and get going! |
Hands On Lion Rehabilitation Volunteering - Antelope Park, Zimbabwe![]() Employer: African Impact Home to the world famous lion projects, where BBC series ‘Lion country’ was filmed. Experience this unique opportunity to walk and work with lions at Antelope Park, and help save these amazing animals from possible extinction. Be involved in the world's only programme for their release into the wild | Volunteer Community Projects![]() Employer: Madventurer Spend your GAP year or career break with Madventurer and become part of something special! Based out of Newcastle University Students Union, Madventurer run Award Winning Projects, exciting Charity Treks and Overland Adventures that span the world, all lasting from 2 weeks to 6 months. Volunteers work as part |
Responsible Travel Gap Year Placements![]() Employer: The Great Projects Travel to exclusive destinations in Africa and Asia with The Great Projects, and get the chance to work up close with Orangutans, Cheetahs, Lions and many more amazing animals. For every volunteer we donate up to £350 to the project to help the centre and local community | Coach and Play a variety of Sports in Clubs, Schools, Community Centres and Grassroots Organisations![]() Employer: Travellers Worldwide Whether you’re a professional or just love sport we have a project for you! Sports include Football, Rugby, Cricket, Polo, Badminton, Baseball, Hockey, Swimming, Gymnastics, Tennis, Athletics, Surfing, Capoeira and more! No experience required other than a desire to use Sport to help others! |
Frontier: The experience of a lifetime![]() Employer: Frontier Frontier specialises in offering gap year expeditions for adventurers of any age. Our ethical tours are perfect for providing you with a fantastic experience before going to university or starting a job. Whilst away on a Frontier project, you can also volunteer abroad and you will be able to make... | Affordable African Volunteering Placements![]() Employer: International Volunteer HQ International Volunteer HQ offers a wide variety of very affordable volunteer placements throughout Africa. Over 5000 volunteers travel with IVHQ on their volunteer programs annually working in a variety of placements such as orphanage work, teaching, surfing, construction and medical placements. |
Affordable Childcare Volunteering Placements![]() Employer: International Volunteer HQ IVHQ offers affordable childcare programs throughout the world. We offer childcare projects in 18 countries world wide, and with program fees starting at incredibly low rates, you won't find a more affordable, high quality organization. Over 5000 volunteers annually can't be wrong! | Affordable and Rewarding Medical Placements Worldwide![]() Employer: Love Volunteers Gain incomparable medical experience and knowledge with Love Volunteers and our partner organizations. Shadow local doctors and nurses, assisting them and learning by observing their work at clinics and hospitals with hands on work dictated by experience. All levels of experience are welcome |
Experience Front Line Aid Work![]() Employer: Agape Volunteers Volunteer with Agape Volunteers and provide crucial aid to refugees in Kenya. The refugee camp in the Central Rift Valley lacks the essentials of food, water and medical supplies. Agape Volunteers is currently the only aid organization operating there: help us to make a lasting impact.
| Building volunteer![]() Employer: i-to-i Play a hands-on role in the reconstruction of entire communities! Roll those sleeves up and get involved with building schools and homes that will change the lives of impoverished families. From Costa Rica to Nepal, you’ll get an insight into local culture living and working within the community. |
Affordable Volunteering Gap-Years in Africa![]() Employer: Agape Volunteers Volunteer in Africa from £190. Explore an exciting new country, volunteer in projects including schools and hospitals whilst making the most of your stay. Take a safari, white water raft the Nile, quad-bike the Sahara and go ape-trekking in Uganda. Stay as long as you want, starting when you want. | Voluntary work![]() Employer: Inspired Breaks Want to teach English in Thailand, help with wildlife conservation in Australia or work with a Himalayan community? Our volunteer options across the globe offer not only the chance to do something worthwhile with your career break but also a fantastic opportunity to visit amazing destinations. |
Professional and Tailored Work Experience Internships Across the Globe![]() Employer: Travellers Worldwide Kick-start your career with hands-on work experience in Law, Medicine, Journalism, TV/Radio/Media, Business/Marketing, Dentistry, Graphic & Web Design, Tourism, Hospitality, Photography, PR, Physiotherapy and many more. Tailored projects for professional career development! | Teach overseas![]() Employer: Inspired Breaks A fantastic opportunity to work on your classroom skills or put your knowledge to the best use; you can fully immerse yourself in the local culture and help to make a huge difference to the lives of underprivileged youngsters, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves. |
Medical, Orphanage And Hospital Volunteering![]() Employer: African Impact Make a difference! Kenya's health care and provision suffers as much as any other public service sector in the country. Whilst structures are in place for an effective heath service, there is an enormous deficit in terms of staff and resources. Which is why the volunteers' help is very much needed | Adventure travel![]() Employer: Real Gap Our trips and tours across the globe offer the perfect combination of adrenalin-fuelled activities, cultural immersion and sightseeing. Whether you want to unleash your wild side with lions on the African plains or take in the best of Thailand, we can help you plan your ultimate gap year trip! |
Teaching and Childcare![]() Employer: Oyster worldwide Volunteer with Oyster and put beaming smiles on the faces of vulnerable children. Care for troubled youngsters in vibrant Brazil; teach while learning Spanish in Chile; trek and teach in Nepal; bring love to Romania’s orphans; coach sport in the heart of Africa… and more!
| Teach abroad![]() Employer: Real Gap Unleash your inner classroom genius and put your skills to good use teaching English overseas. Our voluntary and paid work options give you the opportunity to gain useful experience as a teacher, change the lives of entire communities and work in some of the most beautiful places on the planet! |
Combine Conservation, Community & Ecotourism Projects.![]() Employer: The Leap Volunteering doesn’t have to be about about choosing between your interest in people or wildlife. Here at the Leap we believe that by combining several different projects Leapers gain a more challenging, insightful and exciting volunteer experience. So, pick a country and get stuck in. | Over 30's Pre School And Community Development Project![]() Employer: African Impact This project is exclusively for anyone over 30. Volunteers live in the heart of a Big 5 Game Reserve & work with children & young adults in need of support, many of whom are affected by HIV/AIDS. Most have little or no resources for play or education & volunteers play a huge part in this assistance |
Affordable Volunteering in Africa![]() Employer: Agape Volunteers Volunteer in Africa from £190. Choose from different programs in four African regions. Teach in a school, care for orphans, coach sport, combat AIDS or volunteer as a medical student. Volunteer for as long as you want, starting when you want and experience front-line aid work with a UK charity. | Teach English![]() Employer: i-to-i Work on your classroom skills as you help to improve the future prospects of youngsters around the world! You can give impoverished youngsters a better start in life with classes in everything from English to sports and gain some valuable experience and an in depth knowledge of the local culture. |
Safe and Affordable Childcare Placements Around the Globe!![]() Employer: Love Volunteers Join Love Volunteers and take part in an amazing childcare placement. We provide some of the most affordable placements while maintaining high levels of satisfaction/safety. From a week helping a local community as you travel to putting your gap year to good use, Love Volunteers has a program for you | Volunteering![]() Employer: Real Gap Fancy helping with teaching work in Malawi, rehabilitating monkeys in South Africa or caring for disabled children in Vietnam? You can make a real difference to hundreds of projects around the world, whether you want to save the planet, protect a species or impoverished youngsters a better future. |
Working with Children![]() Employer: i-to-i Working with, caring for and teaching children around the world will not only give you the chance to develop some handy new skills you’ll also give impoverished youngsters a better standard of life and a brighter future. All you need is energy, enthusiasm and a sense of fun! | Community Development![]() Employer: i-to-i Fancy teaching youngsters how to surf on the beaches of South Africa, caring for young children in Mombasa or unleashing your theatrical side in India? You can set off on the ultimate cultural exchange and take in some of the world’s most amazing sights whilst working closely with local people. |
Animal Welfare![]() Employer: Oyster worldwide Passionate about animals? Volunteer hands on with your favourite animals – provide a haven to abused bears in Romania; save turtles in Costa Rica or monkeys, lions, sharks or elephants in South Africa. Help out some of the most endangered creatures on earth and take back everlasting memories. | Round the world travel![]() Employer: Real Gap Can’t pick just one destination? How about setting off on a thrill-seeking tour of Australasia or getting a real dose of culture journeying across South East Asia! Choose from our range of round the world options or mix and match our trips to create your perfect gap year experience. |
Sports![]() Employer: Real Gap Fancy riding the waves in Australia, mastering kung fu in China or trying scuba diving in Thailand? Use your sporting abilities to make a difference in underprivileged communities, gain new qualifications or just work on your skills on a whole host of amazing destinations around the world. | Learn a skill![]() Employer: Inspired Breaks Set off on an adventure overseas and get to grips with a new skill! Whether you’ve always wanted to dive with Whale Sharks or master a new language, our courses across Africa, Asia and Latin America will give you the chance to gain new skills and put them to practice as you see the world! |
Hands-On Conservation, Wildlife Rehabilitation & Animal Research Projects![]() Employer: Travellers Worldwide Amazing work with Lions, Pandas, Elephants, Orang Utans, Dolphins, Sharks and many other species, in Rehabilitation Centres, Game Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries as well as the Amazon Rainforest. Make your mark on endangered species and help preserve our planet and the environment | Community Development Projects – Affordable Rates![]() Employer: Love Volunteers Looking to impact a community in need? Join Love Volunteers and our partner organizations to make a difference in developing countries through projects such as construction, community empowerment, vocational training, community outreaches and so much more. Your skills can make a huge difference |
Wildlife volunteer![]() Employer: i-to-i Get up-close to amazing creatures in an array of exotic locations! Whether you want to help save pandas from extinction in China, hang out with orang-utans in Malaysia or take a dip with sea turtles in Costa Rica, you can take your pick of our wildlife projects across the globe! | Language Learning Gap Year![]() Employer: ESL Languges Is there a better way of learning a foreign language than living abroad in total immersion, while working or studying? With ESL – Language Studies abroad, you get the unique opportunity to embark on such a long-term learning adventure, with the help of our renowned partners schools all over the world. |
Adventure tours![]() Employer: Inspired Breaks Leave the tourist track behind and set off on the trip of a lifetime! Get your fill of culture and adventure, volunteer and catch a glimpse of the hidden sights most travellers miss. From Cambodia to Peru, you’ll get a unique view of local life and see the best each destination has to offer. | Inspiring Care, Social Work and Orphanage Projects![]() Employer: Travellers Worldwide Challenging Care projects available in Orphanages, Crèches, Schools, Hospitals and Social Centres working with orphans, abused children, street children, children with learning and physical disabilities, and adults. Project available across the globe in some of the most needy and poor communities |
Teaching - Challenging Projects with Underprivileged Communities around the World![]() Employer: Travellers Worldwide Teach children and adults from all backgrounds in Schools, Orphanages, Crèches, Children’s Homes and Social Care Centres. Subjects include English, Arts & Crafts, Drama, Music, Sports, Maths, and IT. We can tailor your experience so you teach what you’re skilled in! | Surf Gap Year Experiences, Instructor and Life Guard Courses![]() Employer: Non Stop Ski and Snowboard NONSTOP offer a range of amazing gap year surf experiences. Based in two contrasting, but equally epic, surf locations we can help you to become a globally recognised instructor or lifeguard and get your surfing skills up to a professional level |
Get Work Experience Abroad on Volunteering Placements![]() Employer: Kaya Responsible Travel Join one of 180 Kaya Projects across Asia, Africa and Latin America to help improve lives and environments in the world’s developing nations, whilst developing your CV | Worldwide Adventures![]() Employer: Round the World Experts. Our Round the World Experts is committed to providing great travel at the cheapest available price. You may be a school leaver looking to do a GAP year, taking a career break or wanting to book that well deserved trip of a lifetime; Round the World Experts will |