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Get Free Quotes From 10 Best Cheap South Africa Volunteer ProvidersAre you planning on volunteering in South Africa? Are you open to reading about the most highly rated and affordable volunteering opportunities in South Africa, offered by trustworthy and credible companies?
South Africa is the southernmost country of the African continent. This multiethnic country has various religions, dialects and, of course, cultures. Volunteering and visiting in this awesome country is indeed an amazing chance to work with great African wildlife projects, help children and witness the magical 'big five'. There are also opportunities to dive with great white sharks at Hermanus, and more.
While joining a South Africa volunteer program is an eye-opening opportunity, it can be quite daunting to find the best, safest and affordable provider. A quick search on the internet will have you overwhelmed as hundreds of volunteer providers will pop-up on your screen, all claiming to be as good as each other.
There are plenty of organizations offering South Africa programs with prices ranging from a several hundred to many thousands of dollars. It could take you several weeks just to compare different volunteering providers.
At TravellersQuest, we don’t want to see you paying super high costs for your selfless work and ruining your experience. We want to see you joining a reputable, safe and affordable volunteering program in South Africa where you can be sure to create impact and make a real difference in the country.
So, our research teams went through hundreds of volunteer providers and narrowed it down to ten of the best, in terms of being both inexpensive and still highly rated.
| Company Name | Sample Price USD (Reg. + 2 weeks Teaching) |
Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| RCDP International | $450 | Go overseas: 49 Reviews |
| International Volunteer HQ | $719 |
Go overseas: 1,724 Reviews Go Abroad: 1,285 Reviews |
| IFRE Volunteer | $749 |
Go Overseas: 74 Reviews |
| Love Volunteers | $748 |
Go overseas: 139 Reviews Go Abroad: 273 Reviews |
| Global Crossroad | $749 |
Go overseas: 88 Reviews |
| Naturally Africa Volunteers | $870 |
Go Overseas; 14 Reviews Go Abroad : 13 Reviews |
| GoEco | $1200 |
Go Abroad: 85 Reviews Go Overseas: 662 Reviews |
| A Broader View Volunteers | $1190 |
Go overseas:178 Reviews Volunteer Forever:263 Reviews |
| African Impact | $1445 |
Go Overseas- 180 Reviews Go Abroad- 2750 Reviews |
| Agape Volunteers (UK)¬ | $1609 |
Go Overseas: 20 Reviews Volunteer Forever: 38 Reviews |
Table updated: September 17, 2022
Location: USA
Established: 1998
No of Volunteers: 18,000
Countries & Projects: 19 countries and over 200 programs
Credentials: Partnership with AIDCamp, UK, Partnership with YETI, USA
RCDP Volunteer Abroad is an organization with a long history as it was registered in 1998. The organization mainly focuses on aiding and helping out in underfunded schools and orphanages. The company believes that working to help children leads to the best long term results.
Every year RCDP sends thousands of volunteers all over the world to help community in need. They have built many orphanages and schools, and these days offer volunteer opportunities on three continents, including Africa.
RCDP’s Best Programs in South Africa:
RCDP offers highly inexpensive South Africa volunteer opportunities, which include helping in fields such as teaching, orphanage, sports, healthcare, and conservation. All projects are located in Cape Town and run for 2 to 12 weeks.
Do you have a deep love for taking care of disadvantaged children? Most of the care centers in South Africa are short of volunteers’ help and funds. In this orphanage volunteer program in South Africa, you will help children with their homework, organize dance and other activities, do some cooking, cleaning and more. You will also do some fundraising for the orphanage to aid in its future development.
Several community schools in South Africa are understaffed and underfunded. The country is in a great need of volunteers to fulfill the scarcity of required resources. Teaching English volunteers in South Africa can choose their preferred age range of the students they would like to teach.
In kindergarten, volunteers can play games, teach new skills and introduce letters and numbers. In schools, the work includes teaching subjects such as English language, science, and math.
Do you love sports? Are you a soccer fanatic? If you have soccer or basketball skills, you’ll love this sports program, which focuses on getting kids physically fit.
You will help to organize outdoor activities and games, train kids, and share information about healthy living. Volunteers with management skills can also help with the administration of the schools.
Conservation volunteer in South Africa is really an important program to preserve its identity. The country is known for dramatic landscapes, Table Mountain, abundant wildlife and various reserves.
And you’ll help conserve these all when you take part. You can work on creating brochures for fundraising, counting birds, checking the health of trees, clearing paths, removing vegetation and much more.
While the healthcare system is fairly developed in South Africa, there are still not enough staff in the field to provide medical help to everyone. As a result, volunteers are needed to help increase people’s access to healthcare.
Healthcare volunteers in South Africa will work with trained staff to help reduce the number of endemic diseases. You will also assist medical staffs in dispensing medications, counseling patients, immunizations and treating minor injuries.
RCDP offers real meaningful programs in South Africa. There are hundreds of reviews about RCDP’s programs, with an average rating being between 9 -10 out of 10. All of them note that the RCDP team provides affordable programs in South Africa, delivered by professional, friendly, and constantly supportive staff.
I'm Marc, and I traveled expecting a life changing experience. There were many other volunteers who were helpful and very welcoming to my ignorance… Marcdkeok
Read more reviews on Go Overseas.
RCDP is the most affordable volunteer program providers in South Africa, and they are striving very hard to keep the costs low. The required program fee often depends on the length of volunteering trip as well as the destination. The fees directly go to host families and projects to make sure that what they pay will go directly for people who deserve it.
We selected RCDP as best provider programs based on their reviews online that show many satisfied past volunteers. Besides years of experience offering programs in South Africa, RCDP is very affordable with programs starting as low as $299 for two weeks.
Location: New Zealand
Established: 2007
No of Volunteers: 112,000
Location & Projects: 42 countries over 200 Programs
Awards and Recognition: Certified B Corporation, Member of the Volunteer Groups Alliance (VGA)
Have you ever heard of International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) ? The organization was founded in 2007 in New Zealand and has more than 42 volunteer abroad destinations all over the world.
They offer several meaningful and inexpensive opportunities to volunteer in South Africa. When you join their overseas volunteer program, you get to work with local needy communities. Also, you get to make new friends and gather knowledge about new places and cultures.
IVHQ offers volunteers the opportunity to choose anywhere between 1 to 24 weeks for their inexpensive volunteering experience in South Africa. You need to be 18 years or over to participate unless with your guardian. You also require a travel insurance, a criminal background check report.
If you’re able to teach a certain subject, say English or math, this might be the program for you. There are three public schools in Muizenberg, and you will teach in any one of them to support students as they study.
To join this volunteer teaching program in South Africa, you need knowledge in any one of the following subjects: mathematics, the English language, life skills, social studies, different types of art and physical education.
This sport development program is a perfect opportunity for the sports personality. Children from grade 1 to grade 7 in South Africa are waiting for volunteers like you to teach them physical education lessons.
If you have experience playing one particular sport, such as soccer, this will also be of great help. You will be responsible for creatively planning and delivering sports lessons to the kids.
If you are someone who has a knack for taking care of young children, you should consider this program. There are many daycare centers in Muizenberg for kids from poor and broken families. South Africa childcare volunteers will share their love, passion and several other life skills.
Do you have computer knowledge and want to educate this skill to the needy? Join this computer-training program and teach basic computer skills during school holidays or as additional training. Many disadvantaged kids in South Africa will be happy to take computer lessons and open a new world of opportunities.
There are other some pretty cool programs by IVHQ. Holiday Club in Table View program is a community development initiative designed to keep kids engaged. During the school breaks, you will engage children with fun games and activities, perfect for the person who loves kids.
Another great opportunity is the Kindergarten in Table View program, where you’d be volunteering in kindergartens to increase their access to education.
Sports fanatics and teachers of physical education could also try the Sports Development in Table View or even the Surf, Skate and Swim in Table View, both great options for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
IVHQ has hundreds of positive reviews from volunteers from all over the world. The biggest pleasure for South Africa volunteers was to see the eyes of happy children whom they had helped through sharing their knowledge and skills.
Volunteering certainly changes one’s life goals, a reason why many do it; also the teaching experience meant they were able to use innovative techniques and tricks. The most important point volunteers’ note is that they made new friends, and those relationships have lasted.
I spent two weeks with IVHQ and I don't regret my decision: this was the best trip of my life. Finally, the IVHQ team is perfect…- Julie
Read more reviews at Go Overseas, go abroad and volunteer forever.
IVHQ offers inexpensive but highly rated volunteer in South Africa programs. The program fees are set based on the destination and the length of stay. All IVHQ program fees are divided into an application registration fee and weekly fees.
However, the fees do not the cost of visa, travel insurance, in-country trips and tours, vaccinations, flights, transfer back to the airport, souvenirs, and any additional spending.
This provider is included in our list because it is distinguished by its years of experience and the training process they offer volunteers before starting on any of their volunteer trips to South Africa.
Location: USA
Established: 2006
No of Volunteers/Interns: 22000+
Location & Projects: 20 countries, over 200 programs
Recognition: Registered as a 501(c)3 non-profit
IFRE volunteers was founded in 2006 in Texas, USA. Since its creation, the organization has organized more than 17,000 volunteer placements in over 200 projects worldwide. Their affordable prices and insistence on fees being paid directly to the project or host family creates a great level of confidence amongst potential volunteers.
Let’s cut to the chase and jump straight to the South Africa programs IFRE offers:
IFRE organizes several volunteering programs in South Africa to help both children and adults in need in order to help improve their lives in some way. To meet these goals their projects mainly focus on basic needs such as education and health.
IFRE programs all have an orientation period, which is important as it allows volunteers to be fully prepared for life in a different culture. All of IFRE’s programs run for a minimum of two weeks, with the maximum stay allowed being sixteen weeks. This gives volunteers ample time to make a difference.
Are you someone who has a deep love for children and an unending amount of enthusiasm and a willingness to make people smile? When you join this childcare volunteering program in South Africa, you will work with abused children and orphans. You will mostly share your love and passion with physically and mentally challenged kids.
South Africa English teacher volunteers will work in the kindergarten, primary, or secondary schools. The nature of the work depends on the level of teaching. For instance, Pre-school program involves caring for younger children and teaching kids that are aged up to 6 years old.
Primary schools’ volunteers will assist teachers in the classroom, and even can teach a class of their own. Volunteers who have skills in art, music and sports may also give additional classes and can contribute to the recreational programs.
Are you someone who knows a lot about sports, health and fitness? Check this Physical Education Program! Volunteers will be placed in a coaching position at a local school or work at a soccer camp in the area.
Their responsibilities will involve helping with basic sports coaching and fitness training, promoting a healthy lifestyle awareness program, and organizing team building exercises.
Are you a healthcare or medical student looking for some more experience to add to your repertoire of skills? In this medical volunteer in South Africa, volunteers work in local clinics. You will help with HIV/AIDS awareness programs, dressing wounds, measuring blood pressure and more.
IFRE has a few other programs in South Africa worth considering. If you’re someone who wants to learn about children living with special needs, and you want to do so in Cape Town, you should 100% check out IFRE’s Social Welfare Project (Cape Town).
IFRE’s volunteer South Africa wildlife program is certainly the best for animal lovers. You’ll be directly involved with conservation initiatives, especially for the big 5 animals the African continent is known for.
IFRE offers one of the best volunteer programs, and consequently have many positive alumni reviews. They like the affordable volunteering opportunities, open-minded and friendly homestay families and how the experience changed their life.
I used IFRE to connect with Volunteer opportunities. I was fully satisfied with the placement and the flexibility of the program…Justin L
Read more reviews on Go Overseas.
IFRE offers low-cost but highly reviewed South Africa volunteering programs, and their program fees are tax-deductible. Costs depend on the length of stay and the trip destination. You can check their South Africa program fee here.
The good news is volunteers pay fees directly to host families and projects. The weekly fees include food and accommodation, the cost of local tourist/sightseeing sites, language and cultural training, training materials, the cost of recreational activities, as well as comprehensive travel insurance.
IFRE is an undeniable winner because of its affordable volunteering trips in South Africa and its unrelenting insistence on fees being paid directly to the project or host family. This undoubtedly has created a great level of confidence amongst potential volunteers, especially when they read the excellent reviews online left by past volunteers.
Location: New Zealand
Established: 2009
Location & Projects: 38 countries over 100 projects
Love Volunteers is an affordable volunteering organization, was founded in 2009 in New Zealand. This volunteering organization is one of the cheapest organizations running volunteering work opportunities in South Africa.
Their focus is to help people be able to help others and to contribute to the development of poor countries. Also, they regularly communicate with local organizations all over the world to reduce internal expenses for volunteers.
Love Volunteers offers an outstanding and affordable South Africa volunteer tour especially in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. You will encounter different ways of speaking, thinking, and also interacting.
This helps you constantly absorb the culture and customs of South Africa. The program length is ranging between 2-24 weeks, except the volunteer South Africa wildlife Program, which ranges between 2-8 weeks length.
Are you a healthcare or medical student looking to gain some further experience in South Africa? Do you want to make a difference while you’re visiting the country?
Volunteers on this medical program undertake routine tasks such as dressing wounds, taking temperatures and weighing patients, and may also get involved in awareness sign programs.
Are you someone who is extremely positive, and who has a lot of energy?
Then get share your positive energy! Do so in this volunteer in South Africa social welfare program. The program encompasses projects in the areas of helping orphanages, daycares, differently able children, and abused children.
Underprivileged children in South Africa are in great need of someone who can listen to them, hug and show real care and attention. This project requires volunteers to be 21 years old or more and is suitable for couples.
Are you passionate about education and passing on valuable knowledge to the younger generations? On this education volunteer program in South Africa, volunteers assist teachers in educational institutions such as primary or high schools. Also, you get a chance to teach basic computer skills to the underprivileged children.
Are you passionate about saving the environment? Do you know how you can make a difference? Enroll on this project today! Environment conservation South Africa Volunteer program educates the younger generations on how-to preserve and care for their environment. Your other tasks may involve gardening, physical labor and general outdoor work, as well as construction.
Wildlife conservation volunteers in Port Elizabeth is indeed an amazing project for animal lovers. You will work up-close with South African Big Cats. Your duties include monitoring and tracking wild animals, mending fences, removing alien vegetation, animal counting, and even animal feeding.
While on this wildlife program, you can also work in the elephant sanctuary, accompanying and assisting the guides who work there.
Are you passionate about sports? Would you like to share your passion to the needy children? Join Love’s sport development program and coach sports to young people in sports and fitness training centers.
If the volunteer has team building knowledge or experience in the promotion of healthy lifestyle, they can share this while volunteering in South Africa. As physical education has only recently been introduced in the schooling system, most schools have very limited equipment, so if you can, bring your own equipment.
The organization has 96% positive reviews on their volunteer opportunities in South Africa. Previous volunteers note that they got great experience for their future career in the educational or medical field.
They also said that Love Volunteers team was always open for any questions and had professional and detailed answers to offer, and especially the volunteers liked the kids’ reactions to the volunteers help, all of them were friendly and thankful.
It was overall a good experience. Everything came together and was an excellent learning experience. It was challenging…I learned a lot about myself and the country. - Adrienne
Read more reviews on go abroad, Go Overseas and volunteer forever.
Love Volunteers have kept their overheads down to ensure volunteers pay the lowest possible fees. Check out their affordable weekly fees here. The program fees cover food, accommodation, transport, orientation, and in-country support staff during the placement.
Volunteers are supposed to pay for their own flights, visas, travel insurance, and vaccinations, as well as bring some spending money.
We selected Love Volunteers because they focus on helping volunteers to contribute to the development of poor countries. Also, they regularly communicate with local organizations all over the world to reduce internal expenses for volunteers so that you can achieve maximum value with your money.
Location: USA
Established: 2003
No of Volunteers: 20000
Location & Projects: 20 Countries, Over 200 Programs
Founded in 2003 and registered in Dallas, Global Crossroad is a top-rated volunteering organization. From the 23 volunteers placed in the first year, their initial program grew to 600 the following year, and in 2005, the organization offered 20 different placements across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The company aims to ensure that their programs remain sustainable and have a high value. They focus on providing you with amazing culture immersion opportunities via language, cultural programs, and an affordable way to travel around the country.
Let’s take a look at Global Crossroad’s programs in South Africa:
Global Crossroad offers highly flexible programs and affordable volunteering work in South Africa from 2-12 weeks. The main focus of their program is on helping underprivileged children and women, and supporting healthcare and education projects.
Do you enjoy taking care of children who are in desperate need of help? In this underprivileged children program, you work with abused children and orphans, caring for them, feeding and playing with kids. You will also help them with homework, tidy up the orphanage, and other related activities.
GCR’s teaching English South Africa Volunteer program is indeed ana amazing program for volunteer who loves teaching. You will assist local teachers in a community school and at times, teach a subject of your choice. Volunteers with additional skills in music, art, and sports can introduce these recreational activities to the students.
South Africa Medical Volunteer program welcomes medical professional or students to join a team of other medical volunteers and local medical professional. You will work in a team to raise awareness against aids and other health issues and help nurses dress wounds.
Global Crossroad has garnered hundreds of positive reviews and experiences of from their past volunteers. Volunteers note that the team is responsive to questions during all steps of the journey, and many commented that they get more than they could have ever expected from the trip. Volunteers also liked the rage of opportunities and the accommodation, meal, and guides provided.
I plan on going back this year! The support from the company was exceptional. They provided transportation to and from the airport…-Savannah
Read all reviews of Global Crossroad on Go Overseas.
Global Crossroads offers affordable volunteer in South Africa programs and every effort is made to maintain these low prices. Programs last for anything from 2 - 12 weeks, with the exception of 16-week SurfPorject.
The fees are divided into two parts, registration and weekly program fee. The weekly fees cover main meals, accommodation, the cost of in-country coordinator, pre-departure information, a certificate of completion, and fundraising ideas. Check their South Africa program fee here.
Global Crossroad ensures that your South Africa volunteer experience remain sustainable and have high value. They also highly emphasize on providing you with low-cost program and ample culture immersion opportunities. Hundreds of positive reviews, quality programs and affordable fees make this organization one of the best providers in South Africa.
Location: USA
Established: 2007
Location & Projects: 25 countries -245 programs
A Broader view (ABV) is a registered non-profit charity founded in 2007 and based in Pennsylvania. The organization offers more than 245 volunteer travel programs in 25 countries across the world. Their motto is to provide you with amazing travel and culturally immersive experiences while also helping to make this world a better place.
A Broader View Volunteers’ programs are located in the Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape of South Africa. The city’s natural beauty, amazing wildlife and the rich culture will give you ample of lasting memories to cherish all your life.
Besides, you will also participate in several highly impactful community service works such as orphanage support program and disadvantaged community development programs.
ABVW’s orphanage volunteer program in South Africa is wonderful opportunity for volunteers who have a deep passion to change the life of disadvantaged children. You will work in a care center called Creche, which is home to over 30 underprivileged children.
The community development program is yet another very enriching and fulling program. As per your experience and preference, you can contribute in preschools, primary schools, sports activities, swim and dance activities and more.
This program indeed worth a more than a million as you get to enrich the life of needy children while also experiencing amazing South African Delights.
eap South Africa Volunteer ProvidersABV is one of the best organizations offering the highest rated volunteer opportunities in South Africa. The ratings are solid at 10/10 on Go Abroad and 4.95/5 on Volunteer Forever.
My experience in Ecuador went so far beyond my expectations. I loved how welcoming and friendly my host family was… Sarah Dc.
Read more reviews on Go Abroad and Volunteer forever.
A Broader Views volunteer in South Africa program fees are affordable, and just a little higher than the providers listed so far, but not by much. For a 2-week period, programs in Africa start from around $1190. The price you’re paying includes accommodation, meals, transfers during the program’s working hours, in-country emergency support and 24-hour in-country support.
ABVV programs are well put together and affordable, and we love the organizations extensive focus on education and community welfare programs. Also, the organization has garnered hundreds of reviews from its past volunteers with an excellent 10/10 and 4.95/5 ratings.
Established: 2006
No of Volunteers: 17000
Location & Projects: 42 countries over 160 programs
Awards and Recognition: Top Eco-Enthusiast in 2017 by Greenmatch, 2018 Top Volunteer Abroad Organization from GoAbroad, endorsed by the United Nations
GoEco is the best and a leading eco-tourism company with over 150 extraordinary community, wildlife and environmental initiatives all over the world. Started in 2003, Go Eco hosts over 1000 volunteers each year offering diversified and impactful programs.
Their programs range from local community groups to renowned global organizations, and projects are carefully vetted to ensure your experience is safe and impactful.
Go Eco’s South Africa Opportunities:
On this Wild Cat Sanctuary Project, your main tasks will be promoting the health and welfare of all the animals living on the grounds. This South Africa animal volunteer program allows you to work with a variety of animals including 42 predators and two monkeys – the predators include: 4 cheetahs, 20 lions, 4 caracals, 2 servals, 1 African wild cat, 2 black backed jackals, and 9 bat-eared foxes. You will be taught how to care for each animal as they all have different needs.
This teach, surf and skate project aims to teach underprivileged children valuable life lessons and skills, such as leadership and teamwork, through sports and adventure activities, specifically surfing and swimming (no previous surf experience required!).
The project hosts an adventure club for 12-14 year old children who come from disadvantaged areas of Cape Town, where facilities and equipment for outdoor activities are not readily available to them.
In Cape Town volunteer program, you will be placed in one of seven schools in the community. Six of the schools are pre-schools for children from 1 – 5 years’ old who speak Xhosa or Afrikaans.
The pre-schools focus on early childhood development and preparing the children for regular schools by teaching Basic English and cognitive skills. The other available placement is at a farm school for grades 1 – 7 where you’ll be assisting with older students in their school programs.
If you are someone who is passionate about the great outdoors, then this program is for you. This wildlife conservation volunteer program in South Africa will give you a fascinating wildlife experience while you learn about the facility’s conservation efforts. You will also gain insight and knowledge into the ranch’s endangered species and breeding programs.
Past volunteers praise the welcoming people of South Africa, including the learning attitude of the children, who are happy to learn from local South Africans.
Reviews include comments like “highly recommended” “high value program” and “highly impactful program.” from Go Overseas at 9.38/10 and 9.75/10 on Go Abroad. Read reviews on Go Overseas and Go Abroad.
Go Eco offers affordable volunteer works in South Africa. The fees cover housing, food, and training. The fee is $1,990for two weeks.
This provider topped the top 10 providers because of the affordable prices of its programs and the professionalism applied by local staff in the field. If you are looking for an organization that is unique with high standards, then you are in the right curve.
If South Africa is not in your list now, you can check out the best affordable volunteer providers articles in Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru.
Location: South Africa
Established: 2004
Location & Projects: 7 countries over 50 programs
Awards and Recognition: Innovation in Philanthropy
GoAbroad Foundation – 2019, Innovative New Intern Abroad Program
GoAbroad – 2019, Top Rated Volunteer Organization
GoAbroad – 2019, 2018, 2017 & 2016, Outstanding Volunteer Project
Global Youth Travel Awards – 2017 & 2014
African impact is an award-winning international volunteer company running affordable volunteer programs in South Africa. African Impact started as a small, family-run organization in 2004 in Zimbabwe. With more than 10 years of experience in volunteering, currently African Impact offers projects in 13 different destinations in Africa.
Their aim is to help people in Africa, and to promote this continent as a traveling destination for people across the world. The company is proud to have won many industry awards, including recognition for their sports, Cape Town Teaching, and Vulnerable Childcare Volunteer programs.
Let’s take a look at African Impact’s programs in South Africa.
African Impact offers several amazing volunteering programs in South Africa, and each begins with an orientation program, which introduces volunteers to the beautiful scenery, culture, customs and wildlife of South Africa.
Consider joining this wildlife conservation program in South Africa if you want to work up-close to the African Big Cats. This project offers you a variety of hands-on experiences, such as maintaining waterholes and clearing alien plant life from the area, collecting data and more.
Sports Coaching and Development Program is indeed an appealing program for those who love sports and feel they can teach it. As a volunteer in South Africa, you will help coach physical education sessions at schools and organize sports classes. These may include organizing competitions, games and fitness tests.
Childcare program invites volunteers who have a deep interest in working with disadvantaged children. You will teach needy children basic life lessons, English skills, share your love and passion, making their future bright and harmonious.
Animal aficionados and photography lovers would be interested in partaking in the Wildlife Photography & Conservation program. This program provides you with an amazing opportunity to roam in the wilds, taking photos and collecting data.
African Impact is one of the best companies offering animal volunteer opportunity in South Africa. They have received hundreds of positive reviews from their past volunteers. The organization get praised for impactful programs, quality support and first class accommodation.
Overall the experience was nothing short of incredible- I wasn't prepared for the attachment I would feel for many of the people…-Amy
Read more reviews on Go Overseas, go abroad and volunteer forever.
African Impact offers impactful South Africa volunteer programs at an affordable rate. Despite their prices are a bit higher than the others in this list, their programs, impacts and in-country support are incomparable to others.
We choose this organization in the 10 best list due to their impactful programs, the amount of awards they receive, past volunteers amazing reviews and amazing in-country support to the volunteers.
Location: UK
Established: 2011
Location & Projects: 4 countries, over 13 Programs
Awards and Recognition: registered with the UK Charity Commission
Agape Volunteers, a UK based non-profit organization, provides charitable support to communities through the use of volunteers internationally. The company was founded in 2011 and is now running some of the best inexpensive volunteer programs in South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya. Around 1,000 volunteers are placed by Agape yearly into schools, clinics, orphanages, hospitals and community projects around South Africa. Let’s take a closer look at the South Africa programs it offers.
Agape Volunteers Volunteering Opportunities
Agape Volunteers animal conservation volunteer program in South Africa gives you the opportunity to involve yourself in some of the best animal volunteering programs abroad while helping to protect endangered species in a National Park in South Africa.
You will work with local animal protection staff to ensure that the lions, white and black rhinos, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos and hyenas of Marakele Park are afforded the care that they need in order to survive. This is the only program in South Africa offered by Agape Volunteers, but it is totally worth checking out.
Agape Volunteers is an efficient South Africa volunteering experience provider with amazing reviews online. They enjoy amazing 9.45/10 rating on Go Overseas and 4.58/5 rating on Volunteer Forever. Past volunteers highly praised the organization for its transparency, impactful projects and affordable costs. Do take a look at their reviews on the platforms below for further insight into their operations:
Agape Volunteers strives to provide low-cost volunteer in South Africa program so that volunteers benefit and easily enroll. There is neither registration fee nor hidden cost. The fees cover food and accommodation, airport pickup, orientation and in-country support. Program fees do not cover airfare, visa fee, vaccinations, insurance and other personal expenses.
Agape Volunteers was added to this 10 best list because of the value and cultural exposure the volunteers experience while on the program. The program is extensive and you can get as creative and proactive as you can with the help of the local staff, who are experienced and focused to ensure you achieve your passion.
If you choose to volunteer in Asia or in Africa, we have compiled the list of best affordable volunteer providers in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana.
Based in the UK, Projects Abroad offers very affordable programs across the world starting from 2 weeks. Projects Abroad has about 2,000 reviews across many organizations, including Go Overseas at 9.28 and 9.40 on GoAbroad.
Global Vision International is a non-profit started in 1998 in the US. It is a renowned affordable and best volunteer in South Africa program provider. The organization has outstanding solid reviews with a 9.56/10 on Go Overseas.
Founded in 1984 in US, Global Volunteers holds a solid 9.56/10 rating on Go Overseas and 9.37/10 on Go Abroad with very affordable prices. We also like that they’re a company that works to ensure all the South Africa volunteering opportunities are high value and they offer volunteers the opportunity to fully immerse in the culture.
SAVE Volunteering is a South African based non-profit organization managing and funding humanitarian and wildlife projects with the help of its volunteers. It is very affordable and 905 of your program fee goes towards funding their projects. With solid and unweaving reviews of 9.48/10 on Go Overseas and 4.6 on Volunteer World, Save Volunteering offers safe, secure and life changing volunteer programs.
Founded in 2011 in the UK, PMGY has almost a decade’s worth of experience and has assisted thousands of volunteers to go around the world each year to work with impoverished communities. PMGY is excellently reviewed online with 9.75/10 on Go Overseas and 4.8/5 on Review Center. Volunteering in South Africa Program fees start as low as $495 for a two-week stay.
Eli is a non-profit charitable organization that was founded in 2001 and offers a unique approach to the usual programs in the volunteer abroad field. ELI, [Experiential Learning International] has a philosophy based on learning through experience, and if this can involve international experience then so much the better. Read their overwhelmingly positive reviews Go Overseas and go abroad.
There are plenty of volunteering programs and opportunities available for you in South Africa. The cost depends on your specific volunteer program, duration, provider organization, local host organization and more factors. Most of the programs cost around USD 300 for 1 week. The cost includes your accommodation, meal, 1 week program fee, orientation, and 24 hours of service during your project periods. However, some companies charge a few amounts as a registration fee and some programs like wildlife, surfing etc. cost much higher than usual programs.
There are several international and local volunteering organizations who provide several meaningful programs in South Africa. Some of most highly reviewed and best rated volunteer program providers in South Africa are IFRE Volunteers, RCDP Volunteers, IVHQ, Plan My Gap Year, Projects Abroad and more. Amongst all of these, RCDP is the best affordable provider and its price starts as low as $450 a week.
Volunteer must be at least 18 years old with the strong time management skills to ensure an effective support during most of the project. If you are between 15 to 18, some of the project need confirmation and guarantee of your parent to volunteer in South Africa.
South Africa is an awesome country to spend your vacation, exploring its exquisites and giving back to those in need. You can find 20 best reviewed and most highly rated volunteering organizations in the list above. You can simply choose a program of your choice and an organization and contribute to make a difference. You can choose any program of your interest like education, healthcare, wildlife conservation, Kindergarten, surf, and more to immerse yourself into a selfless journey.
Indeed, south Africa is a developing country and volunteers are essential to empower rural communities. There is a huge scarcity of adequate facilities in areas like childcare, education, healthcare and conservation. You can make a difference! Join any one program of your choice and specialty such as building & construction, community development, surf, Big Cat’s and wildlife conservation, etc. and make a meaningful impact to change the world.
Some readers of this article have probably already had great experiences with one of the organizations covered here, or perhaps with another company offering volunteer in South Africa programs.
Others may make their decision based on what they read here. Either way, we'd love to hear about any experiences you have had, so be sure to get in touch with us if you end up going to South Africa, or you have experienced any of these programs already!
Share your experiences and let us know which organization you use. If you didn’t, then tell us which one of these organizations made you interested in impactful opportunities in South Africa.
