DAKTARI Bush School & Animal Sanctuary

My experience at DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa was truly unforgettable. During my stay, I had the opportunity to take care of animals, discover the local wildlife and help educate children about the importance of protecting the environment. One of the most rewarding parts of this experience was interacting with the children, helping them learn English and sharing meaningful moments with them. I also loved participating in animal care and learning more about South African wildlife. DAKTARI is much more than a volunteering program: it is a place where people, animals and nature come together. This experience helped me become more independent, adaptable and open-minded. I met wonderful people, discovered a different way of life and created memories that I will cherish for a long time. I would highly recommend DAKTARI to anyone who wants to make a positive impact while discovering South Africa and its incredible wildlife.

The experience of volunteering at Daktari was incredible. The discipline of sticking to a schedule, caring for the animals, and supporting the children during lessons is something truly special. Although my time here was short, those days were excellent. The environment is comfortable, the food is delicious, the other volunteers are welcoming, the educational system is highly efficient, and the animals are very well cared for. I thank the company Exchange do Bem for providing this experience with full support and guidance, and I also thank the Daktari family for welcoming me and teaching me so much during these seven days of volunteering.

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I have been home for a couple of weeks now and I still can't stop thinking about my time at Daktari. Despite only a 2 week stay it has had a profound affect on me - amazing team, inspirational animals and unforgetable children. This is a mature organisation that knows what it is doing and enables volunteers to have impact at numerous levels; caring for orphaned animals, teaching and inspiring local children whilst contributing to wildlife conservation and the future of South Africa. Added bonus - Daktari is located in a stunning part of the world with an abundance of wildlife and some of the friendliest people you could meet. I would fully recommend to anyone considering volunteering or contributing in other ways. Might see you there next time!

Daktari is unforgettable in so many ways. It has been an absolute joy and pleasure to work with the team, children and animals. This is a unique volunteer project because it combines teaching local children about life skills, environment and conservation with hands on animal care. Everything is well planned with supportive project coordinators. The best part is seeing the learning and developing confidence in the children. I would fully reccomend. 5 stars!

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★★★★★ My experience with Daktari was truly unforgettable. I learned so much, gained valuable hands-on experience, and had the opportunity to meet amazing people from different backgrounds. The environment was welcoming, supportive, and encouraged both personal and professional growth. Every day brought new challenges and learning opportunities, making the experience both rewarding and enjoyable. I left with great memories, new skills, and a deeper appreciation for the work being done. I would highly recommend Daktari to anyone looking for a meaningful and enriching experience abroad.

Surely the experience of a lifetime. Traveling to the other side of the world, meeting people from all over the world, having the opportunity to teach underprivileged children and take care of animals I had never seen in real life before… this experience will stay with me forever. The only negative point I will remember is that I came for a marketing internship, and I feel that people mainly focused on my difficulties expressing myself in English, despite my willingness to do well and the fact that I always tried to do my best, knowing that I came here precisely to improve on that point. Despite that, I will keep wonderful memories of this experience. I also had the chance to meet amazing people throughout this journey. Everyone was very open-minded, welcoming, and genuinely kind, which made the whole experience even more special.

I spent 2 incredible months at Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage. I met amazing people and made so many great memories. Time went by so fast because the experience was truly unforgettable. There’s also a really good atmosphere in the camp, and you quickly feel at home there. An adventure I will never forget!

Before I got to DAKTARI, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but, through my 3 weeks here, I have worked with met some amazing people and been inspired by the kids I have taught. From my first day, I truly felt like a part of the team. I felt very supported to do something that I had no experience with. Working with the children has been so rewarding and I felt free to teach in a way that was comfortable for me. I will treasure each and every memory of both the children and the animals (especially Karool) and I feel that I have really made a meaningful difference in the lives of these wonderful children.

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Very good project, incredible initiative with the children, only investment is missing in the basic work materials and that they serve well, especially the permanent employees of the place. Pleasant reception, well-structured routine, competent workers and dedicated volunteers. The food is sensational.

Taking part in the Daktari Bush School project was a very special experience for me. Spending time with the children, learning from them, and feeling that I was able to make even a small difference in their lives was truly meaningful. This experience made me reflect even more on the importance of education, health, and respect for the environment and animals. I return from this journey with a full heart and an even stronger desire to contribute to a more fair, conscious, and humane world

An incredible place where you can interact with wild animals, learn about essential care and the importance of each one in the ecosystem, and also help with the classes for children who come to spend the week learning more about the importance of preserving the environment.

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A very complete project with special people, a very polite, attentive and incredible staff, a clean place that is always very well cared for by the employees, however, there are few work materials for employees, which leads to problems such as cleaning sponges, brooms and simple equipment, and because of this they have to cut grass with machetes and only one brushcutter, which is easily inoperable. The project needs more equipment for the quality of work of the employees and volunteers. The project is already well organized and with a few adjustments it will be perfect, the staff team is incredible.

I really enjoyed the experience. The accommodations are okay, however I think having power outlets in the rooms would improve the service. The food could have included a bit more protein in the meals, and it would be nice to have a fruit or an afternoon snack, considering there are many activities throughout the day. Overall, everything was wonderful — just a few small details that could be improved.

Minha experiência foi inesquecível, sempre sonhei em conhecer a África do Sul e não tinha melhor projeto par começar que o Daktari. Me senti à vontade, amei as instalações, meu quarto, água quentinha, comida boa, só poderia ter mais opção o café da manhã como presunto e queijo para colocar no pão. Os animais são bem cuidados e amei contribuir para que eles fossem alimentados e cuidados. Amei a recepção e a educação de todos e as atividades com as crianças. Para mim foi tudo maravilhoso. Obrigada

It was a great experience, I learnt so much. I was made to feel very welcome. I'm leaving with a wealth of knowledge. This experience has changed me and helped me grow. I met some wonderful people and discovered a new culture.

My experience was amazing! I loved Daktari. Volunteer work was carried out with animals and children, a great combination. The contact with nature is huge! Daktari is a place of peace and tranquility.

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As I mentioned in my first week review, my experience at DAKTARI started off very positive. I appreciate the great atmosphere, the teamwork, and the chance to work closely with both the children and the animals

You get the chance to interact and care for African wildlife, a once in a lifetime opportunity! The people here are all very friendly and welcoming. My 2 weeks at Daktari felt like I had known the staff for a lifetime. You get to know each member intimately through excursions and free time activities. Very hard to say goodbye.

I had the most amazing time at Daktari. The staff and volunteers I met are so so special and will hopefully be my friends for life! The animals are so well looked after and the way we show the children how to look after animals is so vital for their lives. The impact that we can make on the local children is astonishing and all of the children I had the privilege of teaching always loved their week at Daktari - I hope I have been able to help the mission of educating South Africa’s next generation!

My two months in Daktari were incredible ! The animals, the kids, the staff members, all was good. I learned a lot about myself and about others, especially when I was with the kids. The excursions were very good, I have a lot of memories, especially with Thabo in the Kruger Park. I would like to thank the kitchen staff too because they always do delicious meal. This experience permitted me to go beyond my limits and to discover this beautiful country. I think theses two months get an impact on the kids because I learned them about the environment and animals.