Biological Research Volunteering in 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.

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.

Let your children learn about and participate in conservation work to protect wildlife species and habitats in this incredible program abroad. The Family Volunteering: Wildlife Research in a Game Reserve in South Africa project takes place in Kruger National Park, home to diverse animal and plant species as well as more than 400 bird species. The data gathered is shared with authorities, conservation agencies, and large-scale projects geared toward species and habitat protection efforts. The project also aims to lessen the impact of human activities through education. For two weeks or longer, your family can get involved with various activities—species identification, game drives, data recording, tagging, and even game monitoring at night. You are guaranteed the adventure of a lifetime while contributing to projects that focus specifically on rhinos, elephants, buffalos, and big cats in Kruger National Park. This family volunteering project runs every other Sunday and is open to families with children 12 years and older as well as individual volunteers 16 years and older.

Grab this exciting opportunity to gain practical work experience in Africa’s wildlife conservation. You'll join a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of the ground hornbill, an iconic African bird in danger of extinction. The organization, run by a team of biologists and expert conservationists, has a multifaceted and collaborative approach to its mission. They provide an excellent learning opportunity for anyone interested in wildlife sciences, conservation, or related areas. As a wildlife research and conservation intern, you'll take on a varied portfolio of tasks. These can include data collection in the field, data analysis, monitoring rescued chicks, and impact reporting. There's also an opportunity to join conservation education projects in nearby communities. You can expect to have an immersive, in-depth, and rewarding experience. And you'll be lucky enough to be based in a game reserve, surrounded by a wealth of wildlife. We look forward to receiving your application!

Dive into ethical, meaningful, and practical veterinary work tailored to your goals, interests, and abilities! This program meets the requirements for Extra Mural Studies (EMS) and Animal Husbandry Extra Mural Studies (AHEMS). Depending on the skills you’d like to gain, get paired with either an individual or a team of qualified vets for the best possible exposure and experience. Work with some of Africa’s most respected vets in their everyday work wherein you don’t just treat injured and sick animals, but you also play a key role in conservation. You could be assisting with wildlife relocation, immobilizing and moving animals to help manage their population, testing for diseases, and even performing necropsies. From fieldwork to clinical work, become engaged in responsible veterinary activities across several diverse species and gain hands-on experience. Plus, develop a unique understanding of the biology, behavior, and conservation of Africa’s wildlife. Whether you are an undergraduate searching for a valuable internship, a seasoned veterinarian or nurse looking for a new challenge, or are simply interested in studying veterinary science, this is the experience for you.

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Live on a private reserve in Limpopo, surrounded by wildlife in their natural habitat. Collaborate with GVI staff and other participants to contribute towards meaningful conservation and research efforts for wildlife protection and longevity. Learn about biodiversity and habitat monitoring, and how to track and identify each species using radio telemetry techniques. This is also an opportunity to work alongside Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) experts while seeing well-known South African predators, herbivores, and other species populations first-hand. You’ll contribute to the research efforts of the reservation’s natural resources. Your assistance provides reserve authorities and conservation organizations with the data they need to manage and preserve ecosystems. All GVI projects align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and have short, mid, and long-term objectives. In your free time, travel with other like-minded participants to the nearby Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa.

Looking for an international internship that will set you apart—and give you the skills, experience, and confidence to thrive in your career? Connect-123 designs fully customized programs that match your background and goals, offering hands-on experience in some of the world’s most exciting cities: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, and Sydney. Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or experienced professional, our programs span dozens of fields including business, finance, medicine, public health, journalism, marketing, human rights, law, sustainability, education, and more. You’ll gain meaningful, career-related experience while also exploring life in a new culture. We take care of the details so you can focus on making the most of your time abroad. From the moment you apply, our team helps guide you through the process, secure your placement, and prepare you for your new adventure. With flexible start dates and customizable program lengths, your life-changing internship begins on your schedule.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Everyone has heard of the Big 5—Africa's “must-see” animals! But are you ready for your disappointing fact of the day? They are called that because they were the most difficult to hunt. Because of this, “claim to fame” hunters have gone overboard, making each of these animals endangered and needing your help! This volunteer trip will put you in the heart of South Africa’s gorgeous Eastern Cape. It’ll be your job to track the movements of wild herds across a 6,000-hectare private game reserve on an open-top safari! You’ll make a meaningful impact by ensuring that the Big 5 will be around to hunt—with cameras, of course—for many generations! Make lifelong friends and memories while doing meaningful work. Get up close and personal with some amazing animals in a program that includes everything you can think of!

The South Africa projects are dotted around several different reserves within the country, each focused on assessing the environmental impact of the game and large mammal species, especially elephants, within the reserves. The projects are two to six weeks in length, with some of them involving an additional week at our marine site in Sodwana Bay, where you can learn to dive. Operation Wallacea is a research and environmental organization working alongside university and college academics to build long-term data sets to put toward various conservation management goals. We recruit volunteers to help out with data collection, training them in the skills and background needed to help effectively. There's also the option to complete dissertations or senior theses at our sites.

Volunteer in South Africa and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Unlike other programs, your experience is based on actual conservation work. You are expected to participate in activities ranging from perimeter patrols and reserve maintenance to game counts, wildlife relocations, and more. Along with other participants, you stay in luxury shared accommodation with all the amenities you might need. The program takes place on a proclaimed private nature reserve close to the bushveld town of Thabazimbi. Various plains game, including giraffe and zebra, call the reserve home. Though dangerous game isn’t present, you can spot a healthy predator population, including leopards and spotted and brown hyenas. Spend at least two weeks on the reserve, with the option of extending for up to six weeks. We welcome volunteers 18 years and older who are reasonably fit and healthy.

The great white shark - the notorious villain of the sea - is often the world’s favorite misunderstood animal. Join the program to spend your time monitoring these magnificent creatures and do your bit to help with their conservation. Cage diving with sharks is an amazing experience. It gives you the opportunity to see sharks in their natural habitat. They are graceful and powerful animals; unfortunately, their survival is under threat like a lot of marine life. This program will also give you an insight into marine conservation and, if you join from June to December, you will get the opportunity to see whales. You can even help at a penguin rescue center! Each day, volunteers will go out on boat trips with a team of expert researchers and help to identify and track sharks. Plenty of training and development opportunities are provided, so an ideal volunteer will get stuck in and learn what life as a shark researcher is all about. Volunteers live together in a lodge, which is a 10-minute to 15-minute walk from the boat launch station. With plenty of braais (South African BBQ), a swimming pool, and a large garden area, there are lots of things to do on volunteers’ time off.

You don’t have to break the bank to learn a new language, explore a new culture, or acquire compulsory work experience in another country. Whether you seek an internship or a volunteering opportunity, Magister will help you realize that dream trip to South Africa. At Magister South Africa, we have matched and placed participants in various programs – from internships in companies to volunteer projects with local communities – since 2000. Besides offering a wonderful experience, we guarantee safety and security as well as immersion through regular events and activities. If you are seeking a challenging internship or simply wishing to experience a cosmopolitan lifestyle while contributing to a good cause, we can definitely lead you in the right direction!

Based in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, this program offers a practical introduction to ocean conservation on one of Africa’s most diverse coastlines. Sharklife is a long-standing marine conservation non-profit with an established field station in Sodwana Bay, providing a secure and professional base for all activities. Volunteers take part in guided snorkelling sessions, intertidal and beach-health observations, turtle-nesting awareness walks (seasonal), and short workshops that build a clear understanding of local marine ecosystems. You’ll learn how to identify common reef and coastal species, understand key conservation pressures, and develop confidence in the water under the guidance of Sharklife’s field staff. Activities are structured, simple, and purposeful—designed to offer real exposure to conservation work without requiring research experience. The program suits anyone seeking an immersive, ethical, and accessible ocean-focused experience. Optional scuba diving and additional ocean-skills activities can be added directly through Sharklife. No prior experience is required.

The reptile and amphibian diversity of the Sterkspruit Nature Reserve, located outside the town of Mashishing in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, has not been quantitatively assessed. The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, in collaboration with the management of Sterkspruit Nature Reserve, has commissioned ABRE to conduct and finance a herpetological assessment for the protected area. The protected area primarily encompasses mountainous grassland habitat and rocky outcrops. This project centers around the daily inspection of pitfall and funnel trap arrays, which are accessed by hiking across the terrain. As such, prospective volunteers will need to be fit. Day time active searches and nocturnal frogging are conducted after pitfall and funnel trap array checks. The survey runs over three weeks (21 days) between December 1st and 21st. Five volunteers are admitted each week (December 1-7, 8-14, and 15-21), and volunteers are welcome to book for more than one week. Accommodation consists of tents and are included in the price of participation. This project is specifically priced to allow South African students to participate.

This project strives to safeguard endangered species, including rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, African wild dogs, and lions, while simultaneously working to protect their wild habitats. It spans numerous Zululand game reserves, each with unique conservation goals and a variety of animal species to observe and monitor. During the program, you will receive all instructions on the ground while working in the African bush. You will learn which distinct methods to use to locate endangered wild animals, how to read their prints, and how to record their behavior and feeding habits. The WWF, a sponsor of this project, works in collaboration with our partner.