Volunteer Programs in Africa

It brought me so much joy to soend time with the kids. It felt like we built a geniuine connection right away and i miss them very much. I am very thankful, that i was welcomed dearly by everyone. They made me feel like i belonged there and were always so hapoy to see me. I loves the walk to the waterfall and the hike on our last day. The view from up there was incredible and i loved being sorrounded by all those lovely people. I also enjoyed our trip to the lake. We danced and sang, it made me feel so nostalgic and it got me to really think about the future, and where and how i wanna spend my gap year after i graduate. I loved the whole experience and defenitly wanna come back.

Wonderful experience where I felt like I made a real contribution whilst learning a great deal about all aspects of conservation and having a great time whilst doing it. Would absolutely recommend this project to anyone.

This experience changed me in ways I never expected. From the moment I arrived, I knew it would be life-changing, but looking back, I can say it was the best experience of my life, and I'm only 22. The local team was truly incredible. They supported me 24/7, and whenever I struggled or faced a difficulty, they were 100% there to help. I couldn't have asked for better people to work with, and I'm so glad to have met them and built real friendships along the way. The same goes for the other volunteers. Living and sharing spaces with them made the experience special and unforgettable, and I came away with countless memories and a lot of laughs. The accommodation was very different from what I'm used to in Western culture, and sharing space means giving up some privacy, but that was part of the charm and I wouldn't change it. The children and the locals touched my heart so deeply that, after my volunteering hours ended, I decided to sponsor some of the children I spent time with from a distance. This experience opened my eyes to how much exists beyond my own borders, both the beautiful and the difficult. The people I met taught me how to smile, how to truly live, and above all, how to be grateful for what I have. Thanks to them, I now know what I want to devote my life to: helping others and making people feel seen and valued. Before leaving, I was nervous about being in a foreign country, far from home, surrounded by people I didn't know, and I worried about whether I would be able to adjust. But that fear faded far more quickly than I imagined. The people I once considered strangers became an essential part of my journey and, most importantly, became my friends.

My time with oceans was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. The wildlife we witnessed and the fieldwork were inspiring and grew a deep passion for the South African marine ecosystem in all of us. The friendships I made will last a lifetime and I will definitely be drawn back to the South African waters.

My experience with Medi Trip in Arusha, Tanzania, was truly one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of my personal and professional journey. From the beginning, Pearl was incredibly welcoming and genuinely committed to making my internship experience meaningful. Her warmth, guidance, and encouragement helped me adapt to a new country, culture, and community and made my time in Arusha particularly special. During my internship, I had the opportunity to contribute to nutrition and health education and engage with the local community. The experience gave me a much deeper understanding of how culture, resources, education, and everyday circumstances influence nutrition and health. It also strengthened my interest in public health nutrition and reinforced the importance of culturally appropriate health and nutrition education in improving the well-being of children and families. What made Medi Trip particularly special was that the experience went far beyond an internship. I was able to learn from the community, build meaningful relationships, and grow both personally and professionally. The memories and lessons I gained in Tanzania have stayed with me and continue to influence my work and interests in public health and nutrition. I am especially grateful to Pearl for her kindness and encouragement. She genuinely cares about the interns and the communities Medi Trip works with, and her personal commitment makes the experience truly meaningful. I would wholeheartedly recommend Medi Trip to anyone looking for an international internship where they can contribute, learn, develop professionally, and build a genuine connection with the local community. Thank you, Pearl and Medi Trip, for giving me an experience in Arusha that I will always cherish.

My boyfriend and I visited LUMO Wildlife conservancy in Kenya and it was amazing! Each day was different! All of the were activities were engaging and the people were so welcoming and accommodating! 10/10 would recommend! Particularly if you are on a Gap year or finishing university! Such an eye opening experience! Thank you everyone! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had the time of my life! The activities were organized down to the last detail, and everyone was friendly and ready to help or offer input. The knowledge possessed by the guides and rangers clearly reflects their passion and love for the work they do everyday! But above all, working with the animals was an experience I will cherish forever—words cannot describe how amazing it was!

From the beginning the whole process was seamless and very supportive. Airport pickup, transportation, accommodation, staff, food were first class. They couldn’t have been more helpful. I participated in a teaching program in Kandy, also turtle conservation. Both programs far exceeded my expectations and I left feeling that I had made a difference. Wonderful connections and friendships made with fellow volunteers from all over the world. Life changing in many ways.

I truly had an amazing time volunteering with Better Me. The program is beautifully organized, with volunteers staying in a comfortable home, enjoying great food, and, most importantly, being surrounded by wonderful people. The staff is incredible—they are welcoming, caring, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure every volunteer has a meaningful and memorable experience. The variety of opportunities offered throughout the week was so enriching and allowed me to connect with the community in so many different ways. Every child I interacted with was incredibly smart, kind, and full of personality, and in so many ways, they taught me more than I could have ever taught them. My time with Better Me was truly one of the most meaningful and enriching experiences of my life. I learned so much, grew in ways I never expected, and gained memories and relationships that I will carry with me for a long time. I genuinely wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. What is your advice to future travelers on this program? Try everything! Better Me has so many different opportunities and experiences available to volunteers, and the staff is incredibly open-minded and supportive if you want to create and lead your own activities. One of the other volunteers led guitar lessons, while I helped lead Zumba with another group of kids. I also got to help with social media, create my own lesson plans, and teach my own classes. Better Me also collaborates with so many different organizations, which gives you the opportunity to attend their events and meet other staff members and volunteers. Outside of volunteering, make sure you take advantage of being in Kenya! Go on a safari and explore different parts of the country. The staff has so many connections and is incredibly helpful.

I will never forget the last time I walked away from the school, knowing that the children who had become such a big part of my days would no longer be there waiting for me during the breaks. In such a short time, their hugs, their laughter, their little hands reaching for mine had become something I had started to take for granted. And suddenly, I had to say goodbye. I went to Zanzibar thinking I was going to volunteer for a couple of weeks. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally attached to a place, to a community and, most of all, to the people I met there. I volunteered with Zanzibar Learning 4 Life in Stone Town, mainly supporting the organization with administrative and organizational tasks and working closely with the founder. I also helped with communication, marketing and fundraising. It was a different kind of volunteering from what I had imagined, and I loved discovering the work that happens behind the scenes of a local organization. But the moments that will stay with me forever happened outside of my actual role. During my breaks, I was always surrounded by children. Someone would come to hold my hand, someone would ask me to play, someone would sit next to me just because they wanted to be close. Sometimes we didn’t even need words. Their smiles and affection said everything. I arrived thinking I would be the one making a difference, but I slowly realized how much they were changing me instead. They taught me to appreciate the simplest things, to be present and to find happiness in moments that cost absolutely nothing. I also tried to completely immerse myself in the local culture. I left behind, as much as I could, my usual routines, expectations and way of doing things. I wanted to experience Zanzibar rather than simply observe it. I listened, adapted, made mistakes, learned and allowed myself to see everyday life from a different perspective. That openness changed the experience for me. Looking back, I don’t think the most important thing I brought home was something I learned how to do. It was something I learned how to feel. I came home with photographs, stories and memories, but also with faces I can still picture, hugs I can still remember and a piece of Zanzibar that I know will always stay with me. I went there for a few weeks. Somehow, it feels like a part of me is still there.

I will never forget the last time I walked away from the school, knowing that the children who had become such a big part of my days would no longer be there waiting for me during the breaks. In such a short time, their hugs, their laughter, their little hands reaching for mine had become something I had started to take for granted. And suddenly, I had to say goodbye. I went to Zanzibar thinking I was going to volunteer for a couple of weeks. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally attached to a place, to a community and, most of all, to the people I met there. I volunteered with Zanzibar Learning 4 Life in Stone Town, mainly supporting the organization with administrative and organizational tasks and working closely with the founder. I also helped with communication, marketing and fundraising. It was a different kind of volunteering from what I had imagined, and I loved discovering the work that happens behind the scenes of a local organization. But the moments that will stay with me forever happened outside of my actual role. During my breaks, I was always surrounded by children. Someone would come to hold my hand, someone would ask me to play, someone would sit next to me just because they wanted to be close. Sometimes we didn’t even need words. Their smiles and affection said everything. I arrived thinking I would be the one making a difference, but I slowly realized how much they were changing me instead. They taught me to appreciate the simplest things, to be present and to find happiness in moments that cost absolutely nothing. I also tried to completely immerse myself in the local culture. I left behind, as much as I could, my usual routines, expectations and way of doing things. I wanted to experience Zanzibar rather than simply observe it. I listened, adapted, made mistakes, learned and allowed myself to see everyday life from a different perspective. That openness changed the experience for me. Looking back, I don’t think the most important thing I brought home was something I learned how to do. It was something I learned how to feel. I came home with photographs, stories and memories, but also with faces I can still picture, hugs I can still remember and a piece of Zanzibar that I know will always stay with me. I went there for a few weeks. Somehow, it feels like a part of me is still there.

I will never forget the last time I walked away from the school, knowing that the children who had become such a big part of my days would no longer be there waiting for me during the breaks. In such a short time, their hugs, their laughter, their little hands reaching for mine had become something I had started to take for granted. And suddenly, I had to say goodbye. I went to Zanzibar thinking I was going to volunteer for a couple of weeks. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally attached to a place, to a community and, most of all, to the people I met there. I volunteered with Zanzibar Learning 4 Life in Stone Town, mainly supporting the organization with administrative and organizational tasks and working closely with the founder. I also helped with communication, marketing and fundraising. It was a different kind of volunteering from what I had imagined, and I loved discovering the work that happens behind the scenes of a local organization. But the moments that will stay with me forever happened outside of my actual role. During my breaks, I was always surrounded by children. Someone would come to hold my hand, someone would ask me to play, someone would sit next to me just because they wanted to be close. Sometimes we didn’t even need words. Their smiles and affection said everything. I arrived thinking I would be the one making a difference, but I slowly realized how much they were changing me instead. They taught me to appreciate the simplest things, to be present and to find happiness in moments that cost absolutely nothing. I also tried to completely immerse myself in the local culture. I left behind, as much as I could, my usual routines, expectations and way of doing things. I wanted to experience Zanzibar rather than simply observe it. I listened, adapted, made mistakes, learned and allowed myself to see everyday life from a different perspective. That openness changed the experience for me. Looking back, I don’t think the most important thing I brought home was something I learned how to do. It was something I learned how to feel. I came home with photographs, stories and memories, but also with faces I can still picture, hugs I can still remember and a piece of Zanzibar that I know will always stay with me. I went there for a few weeks. Somehow, it feels like a part of me is still there.

Enjoyed every minute of my placement. The staff are kind and it was great learning and teaching for both the staff and the volunteers. Would do it again in a heart beat. My placement was in a women’s hospital. Which I hadn’t had much exposure to during my career. The staff were amazing at sharing their knowledge,.

I gave administration a value of 3 because I think you could do a better job of explaining the experience in advance. Nowhere did you explain the project was with Kruger Conservation. I didn't learn that until I arrived and received an orientation by the team at Kruger Conservation. "Kruger Project" is too vague of a description for the actual experience. Also, the Volunteer Encounter description of the project mentioned it was in Ndzalama Game Reserve when we actually stayed in a neighboring property called Worsboom Lodge. It was very confusing upon arrival to learn this, and to get my bearings of where I was located. Having some background/historical information about Kruger Conservation ahead of time would have been helpful. I feel Volunteer Encounter was misleading/misrepresenting Kruger Conservation.

Volunteer Encounter responded to this reviewOctober 05, 2026

Hi Barbara, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback with us. We really appreciate your honesty and are so pleased to hear that you loved the overall experience! We completely understand your comments regarding the information provided before arrival. We are currently looking at how we can better explain the relationship between Volunteer Encounter and our South African Partner team, as well as provide more background about the organisation and the work volunteers will be involved in. Volunteer Encounter works in partnership with this project whose team leads the conservation activities and provides the orientation on arrival. Regarding the accommodation, this can vary depending on availability, with volunteers sometimes staying at Worsboom Lodge rather than directly at Ndzalama Game Reserve. Both are part of the same project area, but we appreciate that this could have been made much clearer before your arrival. Thank you again for your feedback, it really helps us improve how we communicate the experience to future volunteers. Most importantly, we’re delighted that you enjoyed your time on the project and hope you took away some fantastic memories!

I’d like to start off by expressing my utmost gratitude to African Conservation Experience (ACE) and the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for allowing me the opportunity to work with such amazing creatures and people and for giving me encouragement to pursue a career in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation. I’ve yet to see a more driving force in the never-ending battle of environmental conservation. The level of compassion and effort they put into the welfare of the wildlife under their care left me awe-struck, to say the least. It’s no secret that environmentalism is an important cause that’s seldom prioritised in this world. Until you’ve put boots on the ground, it’s impossible to fully comprehend just how deeply rooted these issues lie and how much effort it takes to make short and long-term progress. During my time at Moholoholo, I was blessed to get elbow-deep in the dirty work of wildlife care and maintenance; everything from food prep to cleaning to enrichment required such a calculated approach to maximise the quality of life for those to be released and those who remain inhabitants at the sanctuary. I was able to see the full circle of life take place during my time there, seeing neonatal care, health maintenance of adult inhabitants, successful rehabilitation and release, and even the process and aftercare of the wildlife who passed on after succumbing to injuries too severe. I received an education like no other, learning about how all aspects of the local ecosystem interact with each other, and how we can help preserve and heal the areas that are in decline. Also, I was able to get an understanding of how the sociopolitical climates of the area affect everything from individual animals down to the quality of the soil that they tread upon. The people I met at ACE and Moholoholo are some of the most professional, wise, and compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. I am so grateful to have worked with them, and I’m incredibly excited to return in the future!

My time in Kenya was amazing. The most beautiful moments were the time with the children. One meaningful moment was the time when I came back from town and the children ran to you with a bright smile. Their joy and energy surprised me every day and made me feel welcome all the time. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and will stay with me forever. I'm thankful for the amazing people and the support of everyone. I already miss the children and the kindness from everyone. It was an opportunity to connect with great people and learn about a different culture. Kenya will always have a special place in my heart.

The pre-departure support given was very adequate and I felt very reassured despite me traveling by myself for the first time. Sign up was easy and I definitely recommend volunteering with IVHQ. Staff were very helpful too.

I volunteered at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for two weeks in July, and it was an experience I will never forget. I never knew conservation opportunities like this existed until a former staff member referred me during my stay in South Africa the previous year. Initially, choosing which project I wanted to do seemed difficult, as they all approach conservation slightly differently, and I was restricted to two weeks. African Conservation Experience (ACE) provided detailed information and advice based on what I wanted from the experience, and any questions or concerns I had were answered. This all led to me picking Moholoholo, which was definitely the right choice for me, so I am very grateful for the discussions we had about this. As my first time travelling solo, ACE made this a very relaxed and stress-free process. We were met at the airport by two members of the South African ACE team, who helped volunteers get anything they needed from the airport, such as SIM cards. They gave us a free meal upon arrival and also made sure we made it to the next part of our travels, whether that was another flight or a car journey. This was very helpful and saved a lot of time! My experience at Moholoholo was very eye-opening to the efforts that go into conservation. From tending to the animals permanently in the sanctuary daily (due to a variety of reasons, meaning they were unable to be released) to learning about and helping animals that were being rehabilitated to eventually be released in the wild, each scenario was different and very interesting. Hearing the stories of the individual animals and the history of the rehab showcased the dedication this place has to wildlife conservation, and it was great to be a part of that. The staff at the centre were also really kind and welcoming. During my time on the project, ACE also contacted me to check how I was getting on whilst there and if I had any problems, which was really appreciated. ACE overall made this experience very easy and stress-free, and I will be using them again. I can’t wait to be back soon!

It has been a few weeks since I came home from my incredible experience at the Golola Rhino Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre. I think about my experience every day, and feel my heart warm at all the memories and experiences I have gained. One of the biggest dreams of my life has been to volunteer with animals; it’s something I’ve longed for as long as I can remember. I finally decided to go, and I was a bit scared at first. What if it isn’t what I have dreamed of? Have I built too many expectations over the years that they will be impossible to reach? Little did I know, it would be everything I had dreamed of and more. I researched a few organisations before I found African Conservation Experience (ACE) and immediately felt like this was the real deal. For me, the most important part was to find an organisation that values the welfare and care of the animals. After speaking with ACE, I felt safe and secure in their intentions. ACE recommended and told me about Golola, and I was sold. I had never thought of volunteering specifically with rhinos, but I am so, so glad that I did. The team at Golola was incredible. I truly admire the time, love, and care they give to these wonderful animals. I will never forget my first morning there, walking around some sheds and boom, there are rhinos in the sunrise grazing for food. It felt like magic. Like this was something out of a fantasy, something that wasn’t real. The quiet, the sunrise, the rhinos. How is it that I am actually here and experiencing this? Every morning thereafter I just took a minute or so, looked at the rhinos in the sunrise and felt incredibly lucky. It really was magic. Golola takes care of other animals in need as well. When I was at the centre, they had some tortoises, an owl and a sable calf. During my stay, there was a rhino calf that I got to bottle-feed and see grow, which was truly amazing. Feeding the camp animals and the rhinos on the reserve was an incredible experience. Driving out in the reserve was idyllic. Seeing rhinos, both adults and calves, including a one-week-old newborn, living their lives, free across the plains surrounded by wildebeest, giraffes, zebras and (a lot of) warthogs is an image that I never want to forget. As a volunteer, we got to learn about rhinos, in the sense of how they are as animals, their behaviours and personalities. However, we also learned about the gruelling reality of these animals disappearing one by one, just because of a horn that is made of the same material as a human's hair or nails. These educational talks and videos were shattering and difficult to digest, but necessary to understand the importance of the work there. It breaks your heart to learn what some rhinos, including many of the rhinos at Golola, have had to witness. The sadness is overwhelming and heavy, but so is the anger and frustration. It lights a fire in you to try and protect these animals. But in the heaviness there is also hope. There is a fire in every single person at Golola, and they do everything they can to make sure the rhinos are safe and living their best life. That gives me hope. Going on this journey was one of the best things I have ever done. My dream was fulfilled and my life altered. I hope and wish to come back and experience the magic once again.

I did an animal care project in Portugal with IVHQ and I'm glad to say it was smooth from start to finish. The application was simple and the team always answered any questions I had about the placement itself or any issues I had with documents etc. Before I left there was a group call with my coordinator and other volunteers I'd be working with which made leaving home alone for the first time less daunting. At the placement I would feed the dogs, clean cages and have loads of cuddles and play time with them! The local team were very friendly and easy to approach as well. I had a great time and really felt like I actually made an impact. I would recommend IVHQ to anyone who would like to volunteer abroad