South Africa Gap Year Jobs, Volunteering & Tours

South Africa is one of the most vibrant countries in the world with world famous cities, incredible nature and some of the most exotic wildlife in the world. View our guide to backpacking and taking a gap year in South Africa with ideas for things to do, where to go and advice for the best trips and volunteering opportunities.

Volunteer Programs, Trips & Safaris in South Africa

Volunteer in South Africa

In our opinion, volunteering in South Africa is one of the most incredible experiences in the world. There are so many incredible organisations helping to preserve wildlife, nature and the environment. Helping animals like elephants is such an amazing experience and something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Rewarding programs are available to book all year round.

Work in South Africa

Fancy being more than just a tourist? Stay longer and work in Southern Africa! There are jobs in travel, tourism, hospitality and more. You can also book training courses some which offer full time employment on offer on completion, one popular option is to train to become safari guide. Imagine working as a tour leader in one of the famous National Parks, this really is a life changing experience.

Internships in South Africa

If you would like to ad depth to your CV lots of local companies offer internships and work experience placements to internationals, popular placements include media, journalism, marketing, law and human rights. Local companies in cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg offer intern programs where you can learn new skills, boost your experience and enjoy living and working in a new culture.

Study in South Africa

Keen to improve your knowledge or get ahead academically? Apply to study in South Africa. There are lots of study abroad programs available to international students in places like Cape Town. Universities and language schools offer courses all year round.

Backpacking & Travelling in South Africa

South Africa offers so many different experiences and is home to some of the most vibrant cities on the planet with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, Durban all worth visiting. If you are keen to see wildlife then visits to the Kruger National Park and Addo Elephant National Park is recommended.

There are lots of adventure and sports activities available to book throughout the country including going diving with great white sharks. You can’t leave South Africa without experiencing the sheer terror of launching yourself off the Bloukrans River Bridge. It’s known as the world’s highest commercially operated bungee jump and participants will no doubt remember each of the 216 metres to the ground for the rest of their lives.

You could independently arranging the whole trip by yourself, or you could book a structured experience with a travel operator. For more options in this region view our guide to taking a gap year in Africa.

South Africa Adventure Tours

Due to the size of South Africa, and the concerns around safety we highly recommend booking a tour to discover the country and see the highlights. Local and international travel operators offer small group overland trips and safaris all year round.

By booking you will travel with like-minded people and get taken to the best locations with experienced local guides. This can be one of the most hassle free ways to experience the best places in the country and have a lot of fun. Not much compares to explore the beautiful southern African national parks and seeing wildlife up close!

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