Many volunteers choose to volunteer in Africa because of the opportunity to work with children. Most of the time volunteering with children in Africa occurs in an orphanage setting, where volunteer needs range from English education to basic health care. Additionally, volunteers may be asked to play sports, tutor, or practice hygiene skills with the children.

Education, specifically in the arena of public health, is in great need when it comes to volunteering in Africa. As a developing field in much of Africa, there are lots of opportunities for education volunteering both in the classroom and in the administration of education (specifically in encouraging students to stay in school).

One of the top ways to volunteer in Africa, in many countries, is through wildlife conservation projects. Volunteers are needed in this field to help with game management and research most prominently. Conservation volunteering in Africa is great for volunteers with an interest in science, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

With large scale disease outbreaks occurring frequently in certain regions, the need for medical volunteers in Africa is high. In addition to working with orphans who have lost parents to disease or helping to educate locals about specific disease prevention or treatment methods, medical volunteering in Africa often includes the actual treatment of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Many nonprofits in Africa attempt to tackle or improve social issues, such as human trafficking and gender discrimination. These nonprofit organization provide great opportunities to volunteer in Africa, including work in human rights, gender empowerment, and micro-finance projects.

It is possible to volunteer in Africa for anywhere from six to 12 weeks. English speakers are in high demand in most locations in Africa, so foreign language experience is rarely required of volunteers. Certain placements may have educational requirements, but most individuals who volunteer in Africa are current students or students on a gap year, although many programs provide placements for people of all ages, educational backgrounds, and interests.