Volunteer Programs in Hoedspruit, South Africa

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.

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!

My volunteering experience with African Conservation Experience involved spending a month at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre as an intern on the Wildlife Rehabilitation Placement. As soon as I arrived, it was clear that Moholoholo is an amazing place filled with passionate staff who are all dedicated to helping wildlife. During my time on the project, I was able to learn new skills and techniques for animal care and husbandry. I had such a variety of experiences, not only through conversations with the staff, but also in the hands-on experience I was able to do as well. Whether it was how to hold an owl during routine medical examinations, proper procedures for quarantine and animal releases, or new and interesting enrichment activities for animals. Beyond the volunteering, I was lucky enough to have amazing experiences like watching a giraffe be released, vulture feedings, as well as making great memories with the staff and my fellow volunteers. The sanctuary is also located beneath a beautiful mountain that is never tiring to wake up to, in addition to being near a small town with plenty of shops. The time I spent volunteering at Moholoholo is one of the most fulfilling and enriching experiences of my life. The work can be tiring, but for anyone and everyone who is interested in learning the correct and modern methods for wildlife conservation and care (or simply wishes to do work that directly helps wildlife), Moholoholo, with its knowledgeable and dedicated staff, is absolutely the best place to visit and volunteer.

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!

★★★★★ 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!

When I first arrived at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, there were impala, nyala and duikers running around, and because I come from Germany, I couldn’t believe it! My favourite moments at Moholoholo were either when a vet came in, and we got to hear the heartbeat of a cheetah or when I got to see a duiker being released after it had been rehabilitated! When that duiker was brought in, he had severe swelling, and it was amazing to see him become fully healed before releasing him! Before speaking with an African Conservation Experience (ACE) consultant, I thought I would be working with lots of sick and injured animals. After speaking with ACE, I learned that my responsibilities would be with animals at different stages of their rehabilitation. I’m glad I wasn’t only working with severely injured animals, because despite learning lots through my time at Moholoholo, that job should definitely be left to the qualified staff or interns. Instead, a lot of my responsibilities were with the animals that cannot be released, either due to severe injuries or because they had been rescued from being raised in captivity and wouldn’t have the skills to survive in the wild. They were residents there, and I really loved everything I did for them. The manager of Moholoholo gave us a talk when we first arrived about the rehabilitation they do there, and it was really powerful. He talked about what they’re doing with the animals, how they’re going to release them and the importance of minimising human contact. I learned that if the animals bond with humans, they cannot be released for their own safety and for the safety of the people around them. That’s the reason some of the resident animals are at Moholoholo, because they were rescued from people who tried to raise them like pets in captivity, and now they can never be released into the wild. It’s terrible that people do that, but it’s why Moholoholo are so careful with minimising human contact. An example where I saw this in action was when a baby giraffe needed to be fed. In order to feed her, there was a wall between the giraffe and me so she wouldn't see I was a human. Instead, all she saw was a wall that had a print of a giraffe. Moholoholo are doing a really good job and they really try to be as ethical as possible. Before I volunteered with ACE, if I ever saw an injured animal, I would think I needed to take it to the vet immediately and try to help it. But I’ve learned that sometimes the best thing you can do is leave the animal for a while to see if its mother returns, and only if no other animal comes back for it should you get help from a professional rehabilitation centre or veterinary clinic. Moholoholo are really trying to do the best job they can. They are always trying to find new ways to improve in every aspect of what they do. My favourite activities were definitely the enrichment. For the African wild dogs, we used a plastic ball with holes in it and stuffed meat inside, then threw it into their enclosure so they could play with it and figure out how to get to the food. For the honey badgers, we gave them a box filled with leaves for them to dig through. Later on, we gave them their dinner in a similar way but smothered in honey, and they went crazy because they love honey! During my time at Moholoholo, I really bonded with two of the girls in the same room as me. We are all into photography, and they taught me more about their skills and techniques. I learned a lot from them and left my experience with around 3,000 photos! That’s what was so great about Moholoholo, I loved all the people that were there because I learned so much from them. They even taught me how to braid my hair and how to sew, too! My trousers were really long, and they taught me how to sew them shorter. The girls were really crafty! The staff were really nice too. You could always go to them with questions or jokes, and they were always lovely, even when you could see how much work they had to do. During the excursion to Kruger National Park on my day off, we stopped for 20 minutes by the first elephant we saw. We thought it was amazing, but the guide told us there would be loads more. By the time we finished the safari, it felt like we had seen millions of elephants and giraffes! We saw so many baby elephants too, and they were so sweet! Even on the Kruger excursion, we learned so much from the guide. Because we had stopped so frequently to see the elephants and giraffes on the first excursion, when the opportunity to go again came the next week, I had to go for it! During the second safari to the Kruger, I got to see a jackal, hyena, leopard and lions too! The lionesses are beautiful, and throughout this trip, I felt like I was falling in love with them! I’ve never been on a trip alone before because I’m 16, so it really helped meeting the ACE team at the airport. I really like being independent, and I knew I wanted to do this alone. I did my own research, and when I had a call with one of the ACE consultants, she told me about Moholoholo, and I knew that’s where I wanted to go. My parents were a bit nervous and wanted to know the contact information of a staff member who they could call if they needed to, but when they realised ACE had already passed on that information, they relaxed a lot more. Even though I am someone who likes doing stuff on my own, one of the other volunteers on my travel buddies list texted me before I left Germany, so I had a friend before even arriving! It really helped to know that there was a person waiting for me when I landed and that someone I was meeting at the airport was going on the same project as me too. If my friends wanted to go to South Africa, I would definitely tell them to volunteer at Moholoholo. They would have the best time of their lives!

In February, I took part in a volunteer project at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. It was my first experience in animal conservation work, and I was struck by how clearly defined and meaningful the volunteer roles and responsibilities were. My favourite part was preparing meals for the servals and owls. The process was surprisingly labour-intensive: a nearby farm donates chicks which have been humanely killed and are used to feed the centre’s larger birds of prey. We had to carefully deyolk and wash the chicks before they could be fed to the birds. It felt really rewarding to see the larger birds eagerly finish their food the next morning. Beyond the hands-on care, the project broadened my perspective on wildlife rehabilitation. I was inspired to learn that the most effective way to prepare an animal for release is to minimise unnecessary human interaction. The team at Moholoholo is really passionate about rehabilitating and releasing as many animals as possible, and you can feel their genuine care and dedication coming straight from the heart. What surprised me most, however, was discovering how limited the availability of suitable habitat is in South Africa. This is mainly due to agricultural expansion and urbanisation. Some rehabilitated animals never get the chance to return to the wild simply because there isn’t enough space left for them. Every decision, whether to release or provide lifelong sanctuary, is made with the animal’s long-term well-being in mind. This experience not only allowed me to contribute directly to the animals’ care but also left me with a deeper appreciation for the complexities and quiet commitment behind conservation work. On top of the excellent experience at Moholoholo, African Conservation Experience (ACE) did a fantastic job organising the entire volunteer placement. They provided us with very detailed project information well before the trip, and the airport pickup was smooth and hassle-free. What touched me the most was their thoughtful messages during the project and even after we returned home. The whole ACE team genuinely made sure we felt supported, valued, and safe throughout our time in South Africa. If you’re considering volunteer work in South Africa but don’t have a travel partner, don’t hesitate to go alone. It’s absolutely fine, you’ll quickly make friends along the way, and ACE does an outstanding job of ensuring you feel secure from arrival until you leave the country!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.