Volunteer Programs in Rural Areas, South Africa

We had an amazing time in South Africa and it has definitely been one of our favourite holidays. The main thing I would say is that we massively over packed! We didn't need to take any T-shirts for work as they give you 1 to wear as uniform (we cot 2 as we were there for more than a week). They also give you a lovely warm fleece and a cap. That said, we had the most amazing time and would definitely recommend the experience to others and book another volunteering holiday in the future.

Seeing the care for the cats and being given the opportunity to get really stuck in It has been great to be part of the Panthera team and work with the volunteers and feel like a team that is working to make a difference It is great to be given animal time , within a safe distance but being able to form a bond with them

Wow this was such an incredible experience with the elephant research team! It was so amazing to get up close & learn about these animals & their conservation. It has been one of the best things I've ever done, thanks to the Oyster team for their support throughout. Communication was great & always very responsive. The local team were great, it was really good. Thank you for all your help & support when I had my pre trip jitters!

The most exciting part of my holiday was the elephants. Definitely felt we helped in the welfare of the elephants, and got a greater understanding of changes for animals in the wild. It was amazing! Highly recommended. The team were lovely and made us feel part of the family. If doing again (likely), I'd stay at least 2 weeks. 5 star!

This is a big thank you for introducing me to this project, I had the best time in my life what a beautiful place it is and the girls was so amazing and helpful to me and the elephants wow stunning they are. So again thank you so much! Was so taken back most wonderful people in the world so helpful and made me feel so welcome learning so much about what they do for elephants. I will definitely be returning there in the future.

Hi I had the most amazing time what a beautiful place and the elephants Wow was so taken back with the unit, the most wonderful people in the world so helpful and made me feel so welcome learning so much about what they do for elephants and all the information they help other sites who save elephants. I will definitely be returning there in the future.

I took my son, who needed support for his epilepsy and learning difficulties to the Private Game reserve near Port Elizabeth, South Africa as part of his residential for his DOE Gold. We had a fantastic time with many great activities in the reserve and the local school. We met many young volunteers from around the world. Kate was very helpful and arranged some separate accommodation for us and the staff and management were very welcoming. I would definitely come back for a longer period

My most memorable experience during the Big Cat Refuge program at Panthera Africa was being able to watch the big feed. The big feed allows to watch animal in their natural behaviour and requires a lot of trust in the volunteers.

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization responded to this reviewSeptember 26, 2024

Hi Caterina Thank you for sharing your experience! Watching the big feed at the Big Cat Refuge in South Africa sounds incredible—getting to see the big cats display their natural behavior must have been unforgettable. We're so glad you felt the trust and responsibility given to the volunteers, it really makes the experience even more special. Thanks for being a part of the program and for your dedication to these amazing animals! - GoEco Team

The team, (including the elephants) couldn’t have been more welcoming and understanding. I had a fantastic week. Such a wonderful group of people and elephants of course, so attentive in addressing my requirements and nothing was too much trouble. Thank you so much.

If anyone is considering this experience, don’t hesitate, it’s brilliant. I had never done anything like it before, and had never visited Africa, but I enjoyed every second and hated having to leave. (And by the way, I’m 68 and found everything completely do-able). But it was really good to be able share the experience with a group of older people, as well as mixing with the younger, longer-term volunteers. Please organise more trips like this!

This trip is every animal lovers dream. While it revolves around veterinary medicine, anybody in any field would thoroughly enjoy it. It provides a hands on learning environment into animal behavior, anatomy, and SOOO much more. As pictured, we worked with a world renowned veterinarian to finish physical exams on a couple of cheetahs (sedated). This trip also includes a trip into Kruger National Park for an amazing safari for a chance to see water buffalo, hippos, elephants, lions, etc (with the most knowledgeable guides around)! You won’t believe anything you see or do on this trip. Not to mention all while making great lifelong friends the whole time.

My trip to South Africa was amazing start to finish. I spent two weeks at Feracare, a sanctuary for cheetahs, working with incredible animals and the people who care for them. I also got to learn about veterinary medicine from knowledgeable veterinarians who were there solely to teach us. We were on a first name basis with the vets, making it a very relaxed environment where you weren't afraid to ask questions. I formed lasting friendships with the other students on the trip as well. Being in a foreign country together creates some great friends.

I had an amazing time in South Africa over the summer! We spent 2 weeks at Feracare Wildlife Centre with a weekend in Kruger National Park, which was definitely my favorite part. We also got to spend time with the staff at Feracare and the Loop Abroad vets, which I learned a lot from. We got to take part in DNA sampling a cheetah with a wildlife vet and spend time with their Ambassador Cheetahs in training, which was amazing! Overall, I had an amazing experience, everyone at Loop and Feracare are so passionate about what they do and it shines through everyday.

I was so scared to abroad - to another country where I didn't know a single person. But this was one of the best experiences of my entire life. We got to play with cheetahs, better their enclosures, and honestly learn about them. It was amazing to see the essence of Africa in the day to day life of living at Feracare. The staff at Loop and Feracare are some of the most wonderful people that I have ever met. By the end of the two weeks: we were a family. One of the hardest things that I have had to do is say goodbye to my Loop and Feracare family. I am so grateful to have met them and to be able to experience the things that I did. I couldn't recommend Loop Abroad enough. If you choose to go on this program, I hope you have the time of your life like I did.

I am starting veterinary school this fall, but have always wanted to spend some time abroad to see what veterinary fields throughout the world are like. This was the perfect trip for that! Everyone is there to help you learn, whether that is the veterinarians or the FeraCare staff. A lot of the veterinary experience comes in the form of wet labs which are very helpful for practicality, and you can have a lot of hands-on animal experience with the cheetahs through feeding and training. Plus, going to Kruger National Park was an amazing experience! Because of what I learned on this trip, I am seriously considering pursuing a career in conservation medicine. I highly recommend this trip to any students interested in going abroad and learning about conservation!

I had such a fantastic time on this trip, and was such a great way to travel to Africa to work with their native species. Working at Feracare was a great way to understand how conservation medicine works, what all goes into maintaining genetic diversity of cheetahs, and so much more. The staff of both Feracare and Loop Abroad were very supportive and helpful, and would check in with each person to see how they are doing throughout the trip. The lectures that were taught were extremely interesting and discussed topics relating to cheetah conservation and other wildlife conservation methods. Overall, I thought this was a great experience to not only learn about international conservation issues and actions, but also to meet people from all over that all have an interest in working with animals.

I had the most amazing time during the South Africa Veterinary Service Trip. Volunteering at Feracare was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Being able to learn about the cheetahs in lessons and then get to work hands on with them during feeding rotations and ambassador training allowed us as students to get the full experience. All of the staff at Feracare were extremely passionate about the work and so willing to teach what they knew which was so refreshing to see. The Safari in Kruger also offered another opportunity to learn out in the field rather than in a classroom. I truly had the best time on this trip and felt like I learnt so much at the same time.

Everything went pretty well on the trip! There was some drama between the girls on the trip because we were with everyone 24/7 and some people got sick, but other than that the trip was amazing! Our typically day consisted of eating breakfast, some activity, lunch, then lecture, either an activity or a break, and last dinner. We could have a group activity after dinner or just go back to our house and hang out there. You get to know everyone really well since you are together all the time. FeraCare Wildlife Centre was unforgettable! The staff and everyone there were extremely nice. They allowed us to experience so much with their cheetahs and other animals staying on the farm. If I was not graduating this year I would go on another Loop Abroad trip.

After receiving my bachelors degree in wildlife conservation, this trip was the perfect way to see the reality and severity of everything I’d been learning about in classrooms. I was able to experience how truly interdisciplinary and cohesive wildlife conservation needs to be to be effective. The loop abroad staff did an amazing job of showcasing FeraCare’s incredible work in an engaging, productive and authentic way. I had the time of my life and would recommend this program to anyone who wants a real look at species conservation in action

Wow. Where do I begin. After never having travelled outside Europe before let alone travelling on my own, travelling to South Africa was the biggest adventure of my life. Oyster worldwide had all the information so well organised. I really cannot fault them. Anytime I had a problem or a worry, no matter how small, I always had a quick reply and in detail. Excellent work. I would highly recommend

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewSeptember 10, 2018

Hi Leanne, <br/><br/>We're so glad you felt supported for your first trip overseas. The elephants are great place to start and what an experience. Thanks for leaving your review!<br/><br/>Oyster Worldwide Team