
Care for orphaned animals whilst aiding the education of underprivileged children in South Africa.
The Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa is a project with a simple mission: to educate the country’s underprivileged youth by using animals as ambassadors. Founded in 2006, the project has taken in thousands of in-need animals, many of which have been provided with a permanent home after becoming injured and being unable to be released back into the wild. It is these animals which, after being shown compassion by the project team, are able to inspire members of the local community to care more about the environment – and as a volunteer, you will be at the very heart of these efforts.
While South Africa is a beautiful destination, it does unfortunately struggle with major issues such as wildlife crime and poor education. The country has a large proportion of underprivileged children, which often results in the dramatic overcrowding of classrooms. In turn, poor education leads to a lack of understanding of important topics such as wildlife conservation, and eventually, this lack of knowledge can have serious implications on the surrounding ecosystems. Fortunately, the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa has devised a way to tackle these issues: by connecting the education of young children to the welfare of the animals on-site!
As a volunteer, you will lead small classes of children as you educate them on subjects such as English, maths and social issues. The main focus of the weekly curriculum, however, will be on animal conservation efforts – a topic which will be aided by the adorable animals themselves. By introducing the school children to the animals and showing them how to feed and care for them, it is hoped that the children will learn compassion for wildlife, taking all that they’ve learnt and applying it to their daily lives. This is a meaningful, inspiring project with the potential to make lasting change in the region, as well as to provide you with memories to last a lifetime.
The Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa is a project with a simple mission: to educate the country’s underprivileged youth by using animals as ambassadors. Founded in 2006, the project has taken in thousands of in-need animals, many of which have been provided with a permanent home after becoming injured and being unable to be released back into the wild. It is these animals which, after being shown compassion by the project team, are able to inspire members of the local community to care more about the environment – and as a volunteer, you will be at the very heart of these efforts.
While South Africa is a beautiful destination, it does unfortunately struggle with major issues such as wildlife crime and poor education. The country has a large proportion of underprivileged children, which often results in the dramatic overcrowding of classrooms. In turn, poor education leads to a lack of understanding of important topics such as wildlife conservation, and eventually, this lack of knowledge can have serious implications on the surrounding ecosystems. Fortunately, the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa has devised a way to tackle these issues: by connecting the education of young children to the welfare of the animals on-site!
As a volunteer, you will lead small classes of children as you educate them on subjects such as English, maths and social issues. The main focus of the weekly curriculum, however, will be on animal conservation efforts – a topic which will be aided by the adorable animals themselves. By introducing the school children to the animals and showing them how to feed and care for them, it is hoped that the children will learn compassion for wildlife, taking all that they’ve learnt and applying it to their daily lives. This is a meaningful, inspiring project with the potential to make lasting change in the region, as well as to provide you with memories to last a lifetime.
Every Monday, a new group of 8 children are welcomed into the bush school where they spend the next few days learning about conservation as well as other important social issues. As a volunteer, you will play a vital role in educating these children as well as helping to take care of the animals here. Activities whilst on the project include:
Please note, this project usually runs in blocks of two weeks, so if you choose to stay for a longer duration, the itinerary will repeat itself fortnightly.
To secure a place on this project a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due any time up to 60 days prior to your start date.
Select a duration below to see the available start dates. All dates shown are currently available for you to join this project!
Throughout your time on the project, you will share a rondavel (round chalet) with up to four other volunteers. If you are volunteering with friends, as a family or as a couple, the project will be happy to accommodate you in your own chalet, depending on availability.
The chalets are rustic yet comfortable, with western-style toilets and hot-water showers. There is no mains electricity on-site, though lighting and power are provided by solar energy and a generator. Elsewhere, you will have access to an outdoor living area and a swimming pool, which you are welcome to use during your free time.
Three meals per day will be provided for you on this project, with all options being served in a buffet style. Options may vary from international favourites (such as spaghetti, pizza and burgers) to local dishes, and most dietary requirements can be catered for. Unfortunately, the project is unable to offer gluten-free options as these food items are rather expensive and hard to come by in South Africa. Therefore, if you require this, please bring your own food items with you.
As this project takes place at a wildlife orphanage, you will be able to see animals here all year round, meaning there is no ‘best’ time to volunteer when it comes to the wildlife. That said, the weather may dictate when you would prefer to participate.
Spring (Early September-November) – also known as ‘baby season’, spring not only sees the arrival of heavy rains but welcomes new life into the region! Spring is a crucial time, as while the cooling rains offer a sense of relief (temperatures can reach as high as 32°C/89°F), this is also the peak time in which animals are orphaned or abandoned. This means that all hands are on deck to ensure that any animals found in need will receive the help they require, so if you would like to lend your assistance at a vital time for animal intakes, a springtime placement may be for you!
Summer (Early December-late February) – this is the hottest part of the year, with average temperatures reaching highs of around 33°C (91°F) and lows of roughly 19°C (66°F). This is also the wettest time of year, though you can mostly expect quick thunderstorms which vanish by the afternoon. We therefore recommend bringing a combination of light and waterproof clothing.
Autumn (Early March-late May) – this is perhaps the most comfortable time of year in which to volunteer, as temperatures average at around 29°C (84°F) during the day before dropping to roughly 13°C (55°F) in the evening. There is minimal rain during this period, making it a great time to spend outdoors with the children and animals!
Winter (Early June-late August) – just like autumn, winter is a comfortable time to volunteer at the project, with temperatures ranging between 26-28°C (78-82°F) in the day with lows of around 11°C (52°F). This is also the driest time of year to volunteer, and could also be a great time to head out on some additional excursions!
You will need to arrive into Hoedspruit on your start date, where you will be met by a member of the team and transferred to the project site. The easiest way to reach Hoedspruit is by air, and there are daily flights via Johannesburg or Cape Town into Hoedspruit Airport (HDS). The transfer from the airport to the project site takes approximately 1 hour and you need to arrive between 11am – 3pm to take this.
An alternative option to reach Hoedspruit is by shuttle bus from Johannesburg. The shuttle bus departs Johannesburg Airport at 6:45am, so you would need to arrive the day before your start date and spend an additional night in a hotel close to the airport. The cost for this is ZAR985 (approximately $63) and it takes 5 hours to reach Hoedspruit.
You will be transferred back to Hoedspruit on your final day, leaving the project site at 8:30am and arriving at approximately 9:45am. If you are flying out, you will be dropped off at the airport, so please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 11:30am, as you will need to have plenty of time to check-in and go through airport security.
If you are taking the shuttle bus, you will be dropped off at the Rockfig Centre and the bus departs from here at 11:30am.
Citizens of most countries (including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and most of those within the EU) do not need to obtain a visa to enter South Africa and are granted entry for up to 90 days upon arrival. You will, however, need at least 2 blank pages in your passport for the immigration officials to use and your passport must be valid for a period of at least 6 months from your date of entry into the country.
If you are unsure of your individual visa requirements, we recommend speaking to the South African embassy in your own country at least 2 months prior to travel. Please note that visas are your own responsibility.
You do not need more than a moderate level of fitness to take part in the activities here, however, there are regular walks to be taken and you must be able to keep up with the energetic children! Similarly, there may be an element of construction or maintenance work which takes place during your time on the project, therefore, we recommend that all volunteers have a moderate level of fitness in order to contribute to the project’s ongoing efforts. No prior building, teaching or animal care experience is necessary – all we ask is that you arrive with a willingness to take part and that you are passionate about the project’s ethos!
The vaccinations required will depend upon your individual medical history. Therefore, we recommend that you consult with your GP/Doctor regarding your own vaccination needs to ensure you are fully protected and prepared to travel. In conjunction with this, we would also recommend that you check Fit for Travel's website for more helpful information regarding this.