Eco Tours Programs in Cape Town, South Africa

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Seamester is the educational adventure of a lifetime! For more than 40 years, we have offered unparalleled educational voyages where students spend a semester at sea sailing between islands, countries, and even continents. We design our programs to provide engaging learning experiences with real outcomes in ways that are impossible to replicate in the traditional classroom. Living as part of a close-knit team on an ocean-going vessel, our students learn fundamental lessons beyond academics: teamwork, leadership, and personal responsibility. They receive academic credit from the University of South Florida, along with PADI scuba certifications and IYT sailing certifications. Our programs are designed to inspire students to realize that it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters the most.

Interns interested in marine biology and conservation can come work alongside leaders in the field. They will make a difference while spending their days sharing information about beautiful ocean creatures and seeing them just inches in front of your eyes while diving. Spend as little as one week or as long as 12 weeks on this program in Gansbaai, South Africa. Known as the shark capital of the world, it is also home to a plethora of marine life. Volunteers can expect to see: humpback whales, Bryde's whales, bottlenose dolphins, great white sharks, Cape Fur seals, and African penguins. Dive volunteers will work each day that the weather allows and will have planned excursions and events when it does not. Work includes identifying species, collecting data, assisting boat crews, beach clean-up, and educating local children. Volunteer groups vary between 12 to 20 participants.