Call: +44 (0) 207 193 7819
Email: info@gapafricaprojects.com
Working closely with vets, reserves, local schools and conservationists, we carefully select our projects from those we believe to be the best in Africa. These volunteer projects abroad are hugely diverse, ranging from coaching school kids in your favourite sport through to training as a game ranger on safari. Each project has its own rewards and highlights. We pride ourselves on our ability to recommend the experience which fits you best, whether you’re travelling alone or as a group.
Please see below for our complete selection of incredible projects. Alternatively, you can also contact one of our team members to see what they would recommend for you, so you can really get the most out of your trip to Africa.
Not sure what you are looking for? Here are four of our most popular projects!
Shamwari is a fully operational reserve and the experience is based on the requirements of various short and long term projects and the need for assistance by the award winning Conservation Department. The project specialises in wildlife conservation, with a focus on ecology and environmental education with local community and sporting interactions.
If you’re looking for an experience or placement that will contribute towards and enhance your EMS for Veterinary Science, this programme in South Africa is for you. Working alongside wildlife vets, you will study both the practical and theoretical elements of wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation in Africa.
If you are passionate about the conservation and preservation of the ocean, then this is the project for you. As one of the leading marine conservation initiatives in Southern Africa, O.R.C.A works alongside the government to implement realistic and successful strategies to maintain the fragile marine eco-system.
The Biomonitoring Team is responsible for the important ongoing ecologicical monitoring on the well-managed Welgevonden Game Reserve, a 36000ha Big-5 Wildlife Reserve in the Waterberg, South Africa. This programme is perfect for student groups in science, conservation or land-based disciplines wanting to gain some knowledge and experience in the field, while contributing to important long-term conservation efforts.
Find out moreIf you are a Veterinary Nurse, Vet Student or in Pre-Vet studies this course will be an ideal work experience programme. Are you looking to gain some hands on Wildlife Veterinary Experience and whilst having the opportunity to spend your days out on a Big 5 Game Reserve. If so, our Waterberg Wildlife & Veterinary Course is the programme for you.
Situated on a 36,000 Hectare, Big 5 Game Reserve, the course allows participants to become part of the conservation team and work alongside researchers, wildlife vets and conservation professionals.
Find out moreShamwari is a fully operational reserve and the experience is based on the requirements of various short and long term projects and the need for assistance by the award winning Conservation Department. The project specialises in wildlife conservation, with a focus on ecology and environmental education with local community and sporting interactions.
Find out moreGap Africa Projects presents a 12-day field trip showcasing applied professional equine management in South Africa.
The aim is to give students a varied and once in a life time experience, taking part in one of the most adventurous equine treks in Africa and also getting to work hands on with working horses. The course aims to expose students to different landscapes and areas of Southern Africa, working in both local communities and towns whilst also spending time with Africa’s wildlife on a game reserve.
Find out moreIf you’re looking for an experience or placement that will contribute towards and enhance your EMS for Veterinary Science, this programme in South Africa is for you. Working alongside wildlife vets, you will study both the practical and theoretical elements of wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation in Africa.
Find out moreFor those students who are sure that veterinary medicine is what they want to study, we offer a unique course at Welgevonden Game Reserve. The Pre Vet Programme offers students the opportunity to work alongside Welgevonden’s pioneering veterinary staff. The programme itself is split into both theoretical and practical activities, all based around veterinary science and conservation in relation to African wildlife.
Find out moreIf you have a passion for wildlife and want to turn that into a career, then our FGASA Level 1 Game Ranger course is a must. Featuring intense theoretical and practical training, it provides the best experience for those looking to pursue a career in field guiding. It also serves as an intensive course for those looking to quickly gain the necessary skills and knowledge to be a game ranger.
Find out moreIf you are a Veterinary Nurse, Vet Student or in Pre-Vet studies this course will be an ideal work experience programme. Are you looking to gain some hands on Wildlife Veterinary Experience and whilst having the opportunity to spend your days out on a Big 5 Game Reserve. If so, our Waterberg Wildlife & Veterinary Course is the programme for you.
Situated on a 36,000 Hectare, Big 5 Game Reserve, the course allows participants to become part of the conservation team and work alongside researchers, wildlife vets and conservation professionals.
Find out moreIf you’re looking for an experience or placement that will contribute towards and enhance your EMS for Veterinary Science, this programme in South Africa is for you. Working alongside wildlife vets, you will study both the practical and theoretical elements of wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation in Africa.
Find out moreFor those students who are sure that veterinary medicine is what they want to study, we offer a unique course at Welgevonden Game Reserve. The Pre Vet Programme offers students the opportunity to work alongside Welgevonden’s pioneering veterinary staff. The programme itself is split into both theoretical and practical activities, all based around veterinary science and conservation in relation to African wildlife.
Find out moreIf you have a passion for wildlife and want to turn that into a career, then our FGASA Level 1 Game Ranger course is a must. Featuring intense theoretical and practical training, it provides the best experience for those looking to pursue a career in field guiding. It also serves as an intensive course for those looking to quickly gain the necessary skills and knowledge to be a game ranger.
Find out moreYour role as a volunteer football coach in South Africa will be to run and supervise all training and football matches for the players in the local townships and schools in the surrounding area. Unless you are used to training young children this may sound like a daunting task however you will soon realise the local children whom you will teach are desperate to absorb your skills and knowledge of the game.
Find out moreWorking as a volunteer hockey coach in South Africa, you will run and supervise training and matches for local players from local townships and schools around Port Elizabeth. You will train players from all age groups, from junior to senior school. No matter what their age, you will find students are hungry to absorb your skills and knowledge of the game.
Find out moreOur Rugby Coaching projects provide you with the opportunity to work with local townships and surrounding schools to develop and improve their rugby players. The project is designed to develop alongside you – we’ll start you out helping to organise training clinics and building up to matches for the younger players, keeping in line with the development of your confidence and skills and building relationships with the players you will be coaching.
Find out moreOn this sports coaching project you will be working with Netball players largely centred around the local townships and surrounding schools. Netball truly is one of Ghana’s next up-and-coming sports and there has been a significant increase in the number of players joining the sport in the last few years.
Find out moreThe Great White Shark Project is dedicated to the exploration and conservation of the flagship Great White Shark as well as the Bronze Whaler sharks and their environment. The project works with students, eco-tourists, conservation organisations and marine resource users (subsistence fishermen, sport divers and dive operators) to gather data on Great White and Bronze Whaler Sharks, correct negative misconceptions about sharks and stop the needless slaughter of over 100 million sharks annually.
Find out moreIf you are passionate about the conservation and preservation of the ocean, then this is the project for you. As one of the leading marine conservation initiatives in Southern Africa, O.R.C.A works alongside the government to implement realistic and successful strategies to maintain the fragile marine eco-system.
Find out moreTake up the challenge of summiting Africa’s highest peak and the highest free standing mountain in the world. Trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro is a truly life changing experience!
Find out moreOur Signature and most popular tour, the Cape Town to Victoria Falls 20 Day tour, highlights Southern Africa’s most incredible sights.
Find out moreVisit the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda and the Chimpanzees on Lake George on this “Once in a Lifetime” expedition.
Find out moreThis overland adventure is packed full of adventure and offers a true African experience, highlights include Caving, Zip Lining, Game Drives, Bungee Jumping and much, much more.
Find out moreThe 4 day 4×4 Kosi Lodge adventure has been put together to allow you to experience the and explore the unique environment of the Kosi Reserve. This is so much more than just a normal safari and includes a number of exciting activities outside of the normal game drive and viewing experience.
Find out moreExperience the highlights of Zimbabwe, Botswana and the Okavango Delta. This 8 day overland tour will expose you some of the most stunning wildlife and breathtaking scenery that Africa has to offer, starting off at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and finishing in Johannesburg.
Find out moreTake up the challenge of summiting Africa’s highest peak and the highest free standing mountain in the world. Treking up Mount Kilimanjaro is a truly life changing experience and the great thing is, anyone with moderate fitness can make the top!
Find out moreNamibia is one of Africa’s most unique countries, and this tour offers you the chance to experience its most breath-taking and memorable sights with expert guides. You depart from Cape Town, South Africa, and travel north towards Namibia.
Find out moreThis epic overland adventure offers some of the best sights, sounds and experiences that Africa has to offer. In 42 days you will travel through almost half of the African continent, climbing mountains, visiting waterfalls, crossing deserts and soaking up sun on the beach.
Find out moreThe Cape to Addo tour has been put together to take in the best highlights of South Africa’s famous Garden Route. The trip will show you some of the lesser known areas of the garden route and no area is left unexplored as we start out from Cape Town city centre heading along the whale route, route 62, the karoo and garden route until we reach Jeffrey’s Bay, Mandela Bay and Port Elizabeth.
Find out more“This trip was amazing, and I loved every second of it. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and helped with every question and query to such a high standard!
I want to thank everyone involved in making this trip amazing! I would recommend Gap Africa Projects to everyone and anyone. It is such an amazing service and will defiantly use them again! Thank you, Lorna”
Lorna Rudland-Wood – Shamwari Conservation Volunteer
“My entire experience with Gap Africa Projects and the staff, activities and accommodation at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was fantastic! There is not one thing I can think of that I did not enjoy. Right from the beginning of my journey I have been highly impressed by the support given by the staff from before I went right the way through to when I came home again. It was the best experience of my entire life and I cannot wait to go back one day. I would highly recommend this to anyone and cannot thank the staff and coordinators enough for their brilliant support.”
Chloe Haines – Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
“I had the most amazing time and can definitely say that I have made lots of friends and learnt so much about the game reserve whilst seeing all the animals. The level of advice and help we received from Gap Africa was amazing and they sorted out all our transfers and B&B accommodation. I would definitely recommend them and Kariega Game Reserve.”
Shannon Goss – Kariega Conservation Volunteer
“How do you put into writing the Shamwari experience and put across to others how exciting and challenging the project is? The truth is, you can’t! No two days are the same and the feelings and emotions you have when face to face with an elephant, following a pride of lions on a night drive and being lucky enough to see a leopard is out of this world.
Whilst working hard and helping with the Shamwari conservation, you are rewarded with amazing sightings, sceneries and watching your own personal development. From darting Impala, to camping out under the stars, this South African experience is one that will stay with me forever.”
Alison Summers – Shamwari Conservation Volunteer
“I had a totally awesome time at Shamwari, I think it was even better than I was expecting! Even though I am hoping to become a cow vet after graduation I still found the work on the reserve extremely interesting and very relevant; such a great opportunity to experience a completely different way of life and path of vet work! I also really enjoyed everything else not specifically vet related that we did at Shamwari such as the talks on game capture and anti-poaching, the visit to the day care centre in Paterson, rifle shooting etc. I would thoroughly recommend the trip to anyone considering it.
Thank you so much for organising it all for us!”
Christine Simons – Vet Eco Experience
“Georgina had a great time and as the weeks go on we are hearing more tales of her adventure, although the animals and the bungee jump will be a lot to live up to in her future adventures!
There are so many companies etc on the Internet that one can become a bit bemused by everything and your company has certainly proved to be a good one for her – so much better for her future career than simply just following a conservation project.
Thank you for your support and care for her welfare and enjoyment of the whole experience, I will certainly be recommending your company to others”
Liz Cave - Mother of Georgina Cave - Vet Shadow Experience
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