9 Best Internships in South Africa in 2025

For the adventurous yet career-oriented soul, internships in South Africa present some of the best opportunities on Earth for exciting and educational professional experiences abroad. Home to some of the most astounding natural scenery on earth, South Africa is also a nation with an abundance of popular internship fields, like economics, wildlife science, health, and ecology.

You might—dare we say—LOVE your commute when you intern in picturesque Cape Town.

From oceanside Cape Town to historic Johannesburg, there are dozens of organizations out there willing to lend a helping hand in coordinating amazing internship opportunities in South Africa. But how do you evaluate internships in South Africa? Is one better than another?

Let's let the reviews and feedback from past participants make that call. The following are nine of the best internships in South Africa according to reviews on GoAbroad, and these are most definitely some of the best that South Africa has to offer.

Top South Africa internships this year

Editor’s note: This information was accurate at the time of publishing. Please refer to each individual program for current data.

1. VACorps' Professional Internship Program—9.74 rating

“I stayed for 3 months and my biggest tip for anyone who is considering to come is just DO IT and when you get here, immerse yourself as quickly as you can because time flies. The VACorps staff were so amazing and helpful & the activities were so well-thought and planned. It was a diverse range of things planned every week. The smooth execution of it all impressed me week in and week out. I love that VACorps staff became a family away from home.” —Read more reviews of VACorps

• Where? Cape Town
• When? Year round
• Why? The sheer number of sector options that you have as a participant in VACorps’ Cape Town internship programs is staggering! Whether you’re drawn to South Africa to improve your anthropology skills in a professional environment or hone your engineering expertise, VACorps has a program for you (and everyone else in between!). The program includes a tailored internship placements, 24/7 support, weekly cultural excursions ("VACtivities"), housing, culture lessons, and more! Want to travel to Kruger National Park or Mozambique? VACorps can help with that too. Read more about their internships in Cape Town, South Africa on their site today!
• More info on VACorps

2. Intern in Cape Town with Connect-123—9.62 rating

“Cape Town is an amazing place with an incredible, important history; it should definitely be on everyone’s bucket lists! I was able go on such amazing adventures, including a safari, wine tasting, sky diving, shark cage diving, and beautiful hikes. The city has delicious food, too. I ate at a few different markets and so many cool restaurants, all with unique atmospheres and aesthetics. I got to work with an organization that improves the lives and educations of youth in Africa, which was a great experience, and is something I’m very passionate about. Also, Connect-123 planned these really fun events for everyone in the program to get to know each other. I still keep in touch with the friends I made in Cape Town. Living and working abroad has taught me so many life skills and given me wonderful experiences I will never forget. I know I’m going to be back there soon!” —Read more reviews of Connect-123

• Where? Cape Town
• When? Year round
• Why? We love that Connect-123 focuses on helping your transition to life in Cape Town going as smoothly as possible: Not only will you be greeted and escorted from the airport, but they also gift you with a comprehensive orientation package. They'll help secure affordable, centrally-located accommodations for you, hook you up with the inside scoop on local transport, and provide 24/7 support AND advice and mentoring throughout your internship. Oh, and did we mention they have 50+ specialties in 14 different programs. 
• More info on Connect-123

3. Intern in South Africa with CISabroad—8.75 rating

• "This country has SO much to offer: activities, food, culture, animals, nature, diversity, language, adventure, experience, etc. There wasn’t a single day that I didn’t do at least something while I was there. The housing was conveniently located and everyone in the program was within walking distance of each other. I walked into the program not knowing a single person, and walked out of the program with some of the most amazing friends. The onsite CIS team gave us an orientation on our first night, checked in with us often, and gave us a lovely farewell dinner to cap it all off! The application process was easy and CIS was helpful throughout. I recommend South Africa to anybody! If you’re even slightly considering, I’m telling you the answer is already yes!" —Read more reviews of CISabroad
• Where? Cape Town
• When? Year round
• Why? Have you got a resume? Have you got a good work ethic? Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? CISabroad can help dozens of interns in South Africa—of all ages—realize their full potential. The program includes medical and accident insurance on top of your placement and supervision, as well as a single room in a communal house (#RealWorldCapeTown, y'all!). You'll get tons of on-site support like airport pick ups and full orientation to life in South Africa. And the cherry on top? A NYTimes digital subscription!
• More info on CISabroad

4. IES Internships' Summer Internships in South Africa—9.0 rating

"IES Abroad was incredible from the very beginning. Right from the start, they were attentive to all of my questions, concerns and well being that it made this experience the best experience I could have ever asked for. I was happy with my internship placement and enjoyed all that the program had to offer..." —Read more reviews of IES Internships Abroad

• Where? Cape Town
• When? Summer (Eight weeks)
• Why? Spend your summer interning in Cape Town with IES Internships, where you're guaranteed up to 32 hours of work weekly at a local business or organization. Past students have succeeded while interning for non profits, marketing agencies, and other community-based organizations, not to mention at at accounting agencies and other media outlets, like a local TV station. Participants will complete up to nine credits of coursework alongside their internship. These eight weeks will fly by, but we think your memories alone will stick with you for a lifetime.
• More info on IES Internships

5. Kaya Responsible Travel—9.73 rating

"I enjoyed every part of the program, but my favorites include working in the clinic and leading a support group! My greatest achievement while in South Africa was connecting with so many people! This may not seem like an achievement to some, but this was a perk of a long-term stay. I was so blessed to be able to create genuine friendships while I was there and was able to act as a positive outlet for women in the support groups and people in the clinics. My most memorable moment was saying goodbye to the local staff. I has promised them a pool party, and so we invited all of their children over to the house. We swam and danced, and saying goodbye to them was very emotional for me. The love they had shown my over three months was so unconditional and I was so grateful for them! I would like to think I made a difference on the projects that I served. When I first arrived, many of the projects were unorganized and needed proper attention. I hope that the work that I put in helped them to be put back on the right track to be positively impacting the communities." —Read more reviews of Kaya Responsible Travel

• Where? Cape Town, Grahamstown, Rural Areas
• When? Year round
• Why? Kaya has a rock-solid record for providing high-impact, community oriented programming across the globe—and it doesn't differ in beautiful South Africa. We love that Kaya offers a handful of hyper-specialized internships for students. There are nine options to choose from: Veterinarian, permaculture and horticulture, PR and social media, graphic design, small business development, arts and crafts, early childhood development, pre-vet internship, events management. Get out of town and make a difference in the world, all while adding some seriously impressive bylines to your resume.
• More info on Kaya Responsible Travel

6. Affordable Internships in South Africa with Intern Abroad HQ—9.25 rating

"My experience with Intern Abroad HQ was incredibly smooth, organized, and simply one I will never forget. From the moment I submitted my application, I was put in touch with a specialist at Intern Abroad HQ who provided me with all the information I required and was always available for an email or a phone call if I had any questions. The information package provided was incredibly detailed and answered all of the questions I had about the program and the process.I participated in the wildlife conservation internship at Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa. The moment I arrived at the airport I was met by my transfer to the reserve. The field guides I had on the reserve were extremely knowledgeable and helpful in being able to adjust to life on the reserve and the work to be done..." —Read more reviews of IA HQ in South Africa

• Where? Cape Town OR National Parks and Nature Reserves for Environmental Interns
• When? Year round; programs start roughly every Monday
• Why? Accommodations. Meals. Orientation. Meaningful work. Nonstop in-country support. What *doesn't* IAHQ offer its participants?! Another perk of interning in South Africa through IAHQ is their flexible scheduling—you can intern for as little as two weeks if your calendar is tight and you're interested in fields like Youth Development & Education, Social Work, and Entrepreneurship. Or, choose a longer-term fit with internships in Law, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Journalism, Event Planning, Real Estate, Marketing & Communications, Tourism & Hospitality, and Public Health if you are serious about leveling up your professional skills.
• More info on IAHQ

7. Intern in South Africa with World Internships—10.0 rating

"My internship was a great professional experience and it has encouraged me to apply for jobs for which I wouldn't have felt qualified before. I have a clearer understanding of where my strengths and weaknesses lie; although at some points I felt that the work was repetitive and boring, I feel that my skills improved over the course of the internship. My coworkers were great fun and very friendly." —Read more reviews of World Internships

• Where? Cape Town
• When? Year round, generally 4 weeks+
• Why? World Internships is the right organization for coordinating internship opportunities in South Africa if you like the sound of high-touch involvement to ensure every minute of your time abroad is well-spent. You can find engineering internships in South Africa through World Internships, as well as internships in environmental studies and conservation, graphic design, HR and management, journalism, and more. Dream of having international medical experience under your belt? There's a program for that: Join World Internships' intensive medical internships in South Africa!
• More info on World Internships

8. African Impact—9.46 rating

"If you are reading this I hope it means you are excited to volunteer with African Impact. My experience was outstanding in so many ways. It was not so great in others but overall it gets a big thumbs up. If you keep in mind that this is a volunteer experience and not a luxury vacation than you will be fine. There is definitely a lack of comforts and plans and time schedules change on the fly, but the overall picture is that you are helping out in a great way. I highly recommend adding antelope park to your schedule if you are looking for semi-rustic volunteer experience and are happy with less than perfect accommodations (ie. cold showers) while you are abroad. Make sure you review your program details fully and prepare yourself for the opportunities that await." —Read more reviews of African Impact's internships in Africa

• Where? Cape Town, Johannesburg, KwaZulu Natal, Rural Areas
• When? Year round, two weeks to 12 weeks
• Why? Since 2004, African Impact has facilitated over 500 unique internship placements across Africa, partnering primarily with responsible NGOs and promising grassroots organizations. They feel like their internship programs contribute to their greater organizational mission to contribute to worthy causes in viable ways. Find placements ranging from two weeks to 12 weeks in a variety of fields and sectors, including gender equality, wildlife research, predator research, and coaching and sports management. If you love what AI is all about, you might consider interning with them directly—they're also on the list of companies offering internships in South Africa! Psst: An internship in South Africa with African Impact can cost you as little as ~$1500!
• More info on African Impact

9. GoEco—9.75 rating

"I had a great time. We had to do a lot of manual labor, but i loved working outdoors. But it was not all work we had down time and lots of animal interaction time from feeding the cats, to game drives, exercising the lion/tiger/cheetah. I also learned a lot about the animals and well as each individual personalities they have. The staff and project leaders were great. They really love their jobs, and care about the animals as well as you. I would consider many of them my friends after the experience. We had opportunities to go on excursions twice a week, ranging from skydiving, to a cultural village, and world heritage sites. My favorite part of the program was the interaction with the animals (elephant and lion walks), but especially the project leaders and other staff at the lodge were awesome. They knew what they were doing and treated you well, almost like family." —Read more reviews of GoEco

• Where? Cape Town
• When? Year round
• Why? Work alongside adults in the settlements to increase self-sufficiency and develop their skills in health, general care, sports, and business. Or, have furry friends as colleagues when you intern in pre-veterinary science in South Africa, working hands-on with wildlife, livestock, and domestic animals. Neither quite your style and dreaming of being an MD? GoEco's Cape Town medical internships are the right fit for YOU.
• More info on GoEco

[Use MyGoAbroad to Find & Compare South Africa Internships]

Can I find paid internships in South Africa?

Which way do we go to find a paid internship in South Africa?

You can absolutely find paid internships in South Africa—wahoo! The only downside of seeking internships of this kind is that you will likely need to apply independently to individual jobs through normal application channels (similar to how you would apply for any internship in your home country, for instance!). These are likely more competitive to attain, but you rock, so certainly possible.

If you are a first time traveler abroad, utilizing a program provider to coordinate your placement can be a huge weight off your chest. The company that hires you for a short-term paid internship in South Africa has no reason to help you coordinate housing, transportation within South Africa (let alone to South Africa), or your everyday immersion opportunities or culture lessons. This is a great opportunity for a seasoned traveler who feels confident functioning independently in foreign communities. A paid internship in South Africa might *not* be the right choice if you would prefer to have an extra layer of support and help on the ground, don't want to "vet" companies for their legitimacy or not (we'd hate for you to fly all the way to Jo'burg to find out you've been scammed!), or if you want new besties built right into your experience.

[Are Unpaid Internships Abroad Worth It?]

So yes, get out there and find paid internships in South Africa! Or don't. Because paying to intern abroad can still make a lot of sense, too.

You're ready to intern in South Africa!

South Africa internships are as cool as they can get. If you didn’t find one that speaks to your interests and goals for your internship abroad, fear not! There are plenty more available right here!