Live, Work & Travel in Africa
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In Defence of Animals – Enjoy the experience of witnessing chimpanzees living life as they were meant to live it in Cameroon. Volunteers pitch in wherever they are needed, need to speak French and must be able to drive a truck with manual transmission. A six month commitment required.
English Alive Academy – Volunteer English teachers required for two schools in Ethiopia following the British curriculum, one in Addis Ababa, another in Nazareth, a rural town 100 kilometres away.
Sudan Voluntary Programme – Volunteers, under-graduates and graduates who are native English speakers, are needed to teach English on projects in Sudan for 12 weeks or more.
Employment in Africa
Employers, Agencies & Placement Services
Absolute Africa – Overland company sometimes in need of drivers, aged over 26, with a clean HGV or PSV license. Volunteer projects can also be found on the site.
Acacia Africa – Adventure holidays on safari in Africa. Acacia look to employ HGV/PSV drivers willing to work for two seasons in Africa an tour leaders aged between 22 and 35. Acacia also has a voluntour section.
Foreign Language Placements – Multilingual and bilingual recruitment in South Africa for German, Dutch, French and Portuguese Speakers. Help and advice with visa and permit applications for expats.
Kande Horse – Located in lush forest opposite the shores of lake Malawi, Kande Horse run a trekking centre and a small guest house. No employment information is offered but they have on ocassion sought “an independent person to take out trail rides and generally look after our 22 horses”.
Nomad Adventure Tours – An African owned overland company. Short volun tours are available. They also employ guides and camp assistants. Applicants must be on an African passport and have applicable experience. All driving positions require a heavy duty licence and valid South African PDP. Road crew are required to speak excellent English and applicants speaking German or Spanish will be given preference. Internships can be found here too; at the time of writing Czech and Italian speaking interns were required but other languages are occasionally needed too.
Oceansource El Tur – No employment information on the site but have been known to employ windsurfing instructors in the Sinai, Egypt.
Surf Maroc – Surf camp in Taghazout, Morocco. No employment information on the website but have been spotted advertising for a French speaking qualified surf coach guide.Morocco, Kenya and Gambia.
Truck Africa – Africa overland specialists.
Employment Resources for Finding Work in Africa
Advice & Useful Sites for Finding Work
Findajobinafrica.com – A job finder service for skilled and professional vacancies.
Jobs-EG – Find the latest jobs in Egypt and the Gulf.
Locanto – A free classifieds website which allows people to post, browse, and find part-time and full-time jobs in any city in South Africa.
2Africa – Nigeria career portal for both job seekers and recruiters featuring job listings categorised by region and sector, advanced job search functionality, and a CV database.
Gap Year & Voluntary Work in Africa
Unpaid Positions & Adventure
Abang Africa Travel – An incoming tour operator based in Cape Town supporting and initiating various community projects in South Africa.
ACE Animal Care in Egypt – A small charity based in Luxor trying to make a difference for Egyptian animals. They have general volunteer placements, veterinary student and vet nurse student placements.
Action for Children in Conflict – Volunteers required for programmes in Africa.
Africa Development Corps – Aa non profit international development organisation (also known as Visions in Action) based in Africa with programs in Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Rwanda. ADC implements its own development programs in the areas of food security, education, international exchange and HIV/AIDS, while also providing volunteer programs for those looking for a long-term international experience in developing countries.
Africa Home Adventure – East African tour operator. Volunteer placements arranged in Kenya.
African Conservation Experience – Varied voluntary work on game reserves in southern Africa. Your tasks may include game capture, wildlife veterinary work and alien plant control.
African Youth Ministries – Volunteer opportunities in Uganda.
All Out Africa – Volunteer projects and adventure tours in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
Amy Biehl Foundation Trust – Runs a number of educational programmes to help disadvantaged youths in Cape Town that offer students healthy alternatives to crime, drugs, sex, idleness and negative influences and unlocks their creative talent. Local and foreign volunteers are assigned to a broad range of tasks determined by the length of intended service and their skill base. There is also an internship programme.
Animal Protection and Environmental Sanctuary – APES welcomes volunteers, backpackers and wildlife enthusiasts seeking enviro experience and eco tourism opportunities in Southern Africa.
APCRO – The African Predator Conservation Research Organization consists of a diverse group of researchers, primarily from the fields of veterinary medicine and genetics focusing on African carnivores; lions, spotted hyena, cheetah, African wild dog, leopard and both black-backed and side-striped jackal. A small organisation, they rely heavily on the good will of like minded people to help out.
Askari Wilderness Conservation Programme – Based on a private game reserve in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Volunteers with the Askari programme join their full time management and conservation team to help remove bush encroachment and repair eroded areas, eradicate alien plants and create and enhance natural habitats. The work also involves monitoring of all animal species and special conservation projects for the endangered cheetah and ground hornbill and the near threatened brown hyaena. Volunteers are required throughout the year and do not need any special qualifications besides an interest in wildlife and its conservation and to be relatively fit to take part in activities in the intense African heat.
The Assin Endwa Trust – Short term working holidays in Ghana.
Azafady – Operate Pioneer Madagascar, a ten week volunteer programme.
Beacon of Hope Uganda – Designs and conducts programmes which contribute to the welfare and social productivity of disadvantaged individuals and communities with an emphasis on children and youth. Volunteers welcomed.
BOHAPO – Volunteers can work with this Kenyan HIV and AIDS charity for any length of time up to a period of two years.
BOHAPO Volunteer – Ludovic’s experience as a volunteer with BOHAPO from mid October to mid November 2008.
Bomvu Paradise Backpackers – Work for stay volunteers accepted in Coffee Bay, South Africa.
Buccaneers Backpacker Hostel – Talented travellers are sought to help out with treatments in the ‘Beauty Bungalow’ of this Chintsa Beach.
Calvary Zion Childrens’ Home Support Trust – A charitable trust set up to raise funds in support of the Calvary Zion Children’s Home in Mombasa, Kenya. The home was started in 1998 to care for abandoned and homeless children. The Trust is not in a position to organise volunteer placements directly but name a couple of organisations through which it is possible to do so.
Cape Winelands Film Festival – Volunteers from around the world are accepted to help with this film festival held in March in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. An application form for volunteers is available on the website.
Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife – A wildlife hospital that cares for up to 400 injured and orphaned wild animals and birds in Kwazulu Natal, CROW is considered to be one of the leading rehabilitation centres in South Africa.
CERCOPAN – A Nigerian organisation that works in primate rehabilitation, environmental education, community rainforest conservation, and research. Long and short term and working holiday volunteers are welcomed.
CHASE Africa – Eight week volunteer expedition experiences to Kenya aimed at giving you a taste of backpacking travel while volunteering along the way. Shorter volunteer placements also available.
Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation – A Nigerian non profit organisation whose aim is to provide free health care and humanitarian services to rural communities. Welcomes short term volunteers of various backgrounds and skills to participate such as accountants, actors, agriculturalists, artists, auto mechanics, carpenters, computer scientists, programmers, teachers, construction workers, consultants, dentists, electricians, engineers, farmers, foresters, homemakers, nurses, nutritionists, painters, pharmacists, physicians, plumbers and students.
Cintsa Horses – A working farm in South Africa with plenty of adventure activities located nearby. Volunteers help with both the trails and the rehab sides of the centre.
Conservation Travel Africa – Established to provide meaningful and responsible volunteer experiences throughout Southern Africa. CTA are based in Africa and work in partnership with their volunteer programmes and partners in Southern Africa and with volunteers worldwide.
Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage – The mission of Daktari is to educate underprivileged children to care for their environment through the medium of a wildlife orphanage. As a volunteer your main tasks will be teaching the children and working with the animals. You will give the children the opportunity to discover, learn and become passionate about wildlife, conservation and their heritage. You will also supplement their school curriculum in very basic English, math, science, geography, life skills, educational games and social issues.
Development Concern Centre – Among its activities DCC has trained and assisted rural people in Ghana to keep bees and assisted needy children to benefit from formal education. Volunteers are welcome to help them achieve their objectives.
Disaster Volunteers of Ghana – Volunteer projects in Ghana.
Ecomambo – Volunteer with African grass roots organisations in the fields of wildlife conservation, teaching or community development.
Edge of Africa – Aims to assist valid, scientifically based, conservation efforts and research in Africa. They develope their own projects which work towards African heritage. Volunteer work can involve working with meercats, sports projects and reforestation with Rastafarians.
Edirisa UK – A charity supporting community projects in Uganda, focusing on education, health and sanitation, and access to clean water. Since 2005 they have refurbished several primary schools, built and run four nursery schools and are involved in the establishment of special needs centres in the Kabale district. There are many volunteer opportunities with Edirisa, from teaching to gardening, renovations to health care. There are short term, one month placements and long term placements over six months available.
English Alive Academy – Volunteer English teachers required for two schools in Ethiopia following the British curriculum, one in Addis Ababa, another in Nazareth, a rural town 100 kilometres away.
Enkosini Eco Experience – Wildlife Volunteer Placements in Africa. Enkosini Eco Experience offers volunteer placements at some of South Africa’ s leading wildlife conservation, rehabilitation and research projects. With 2 to 12 week placements, volunteers work with African lions, elephants, primates, dolphins, sharks, whales, penguins and much more on a wide array of award winning projects.
Enliven Mama Africa – A Ghanaian NGO that aims to enrich the communities of rural Ghana with the help of volunteers.
Expanding Opportunities – Skilled and unskilled volunteers can help make a difference in Kenya.
Golden Tulip Dar Es Salaam – Golden Tulip got in touch with us to say they offer hotel management students internships of three to 12 months in different departments of the hotel.
Habiba Organic Farm – An organic farm in a Bedouin settlement in Nuweiba, South Sinai. WWOOFers can stay for a minimum of three months to give their best in the field of organic, desert agriculture. Other volunteers can stay for programmes of three or twenty one days.
HOPE Ofiriha – Founded by ten widows, HOPE Ofiriha help to alleviate the suffering of women, young girls and children in rural Magwi County, Sudan. Their volunteer programme is not rigidly structured – it is up to you what you become involved with when you reach them. The local community has so many needs that they find it is best if volunteers find their niche once they reach Onura and have had time to talk to other volunteers, the coordinators, and managers, and had time to have a good look at the general area, the primary school, the nursery schools, the health centre, etc. A minimum three month commitment is prefered but shorter stays are possible.
Hostel Hoff – A small organisation run by an Australian women and her Tanzanian husband, focusing on independent volunteering within and on the outskirts of Moshi, Tanzania. Hostel Hoff started very small, back in 2006 with the hope of helping volunteers side step international profit orientated organisations. It is their belief that you should not have to pay to volunteer, therefore prices cover your accommodation and the volunteering experience is free. The projects they work alongside include nursery and primary schools, vocational training centres, orphanages, centres for children with disabilities, medical centres, women’s groups, community development and conservation projects.
Hout Bay Backpackers – South African hostel thought to accept volunteers working for their accommodation.
Igomorocco.com – Promotes tours and excursions in Morocco, study Arabic programmes, volunteer vacations and international volunteer work opportunities.
Imire: Black Rhino and Elephant Conservation – An amazing opportunity to contribute to the protection and conservation of the African elephant and endangered Black Rhino. Experience these amazing animals closer than you ever thought possible and get a unique behind the scenes look at day to day life in an African game park.
In Defence of Animals – Enjoy the experience of witnessing chimpanzees living life as they were meant to live it in Cameroon. Volunteers pitch in wherever they are needed, need to speak French and must be able to drive a truck with manual transmission. A six month commitment required.
International Primate Rescue – A South African non profit organisation working to provide stable environments and better livelihoods for displaced primates. The sanctuary, home to 75 monkeys, offers volunteer work, for any duration of time, for those interested in a hands on exotic animal care experience.
Intern Africa – Internships and volunteering projects in South Africa. They accommodate internships in marketing, IT, finance and tourism, and can also arrange tailor-made internships.
Junior Art Club – Aims to identify, train and provide action oriented skills and job opportunities through product design and marketing to the youth of Ghana. Volunteers are involved in workshop sessions with the children of JAC. Many volunteers are artists who go to share their skills but help is also needed with administrative, marketing, and development initiatives. As part of the programme, volunteers will also have the opportunity to take private lessons from a variety of local artists in the area in subjects that include painting, drawing, textile design, tie and dye, batik printing, ceramics, sculpture, wood carving, African drumming, African dance, photography, and basketry.
Kenya Voluntary and Community Development Project – Volunteer in Kenya with a community based organisation offering volunteers the opportunity to participate in short or long term voluntary work development.
Kenya Youth Hostels Association – Information and reservations for youth hostel accommodation in Kenya. Also runs volunteer programmes.
Khaya Volunteer Projects – A gap year organisation located in South Africa to provide support to volunteers making sure they will have a life changing experience abroad. You can either work as a volunteer with children, the community, sports development, wildlife or conservation projects.
Kibera Girls Soccer Academy – Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and the second largest in the world. Abdul and Salim who both grew up there started a football academy and later a school. Volunteers can work at the school for as long of a stay as they like. KGSA can help you find a family to live with in Nairobi, and can coordinate projects based on your own personal strengths and interests.
Lessons for Life Foundation – Aim’s to enable the most vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa, including those orphaned or affected by HIV, to access quality education at primary, secondary, vocational and tertiary level. Volunteer work available in Uganda.
Lion Conservation Fund – The LCF is a non profit organisationcommitted to supporting conservation and research initiatives to better our understanding of lion behavior, ecology, and biology. To share its passion and knowledge of lions and support its research programme, LCF organizes field courses and a voluntourism safari in Kenya.
Love The Ocean – A non-profit marine conservation organisation working in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique. Volunteering on their five week programme includes working with local fishermen, monitoring their catches (sharks, rays, fish) and adding to scientific logs. Accommodation is provided and they have made their fees very reasonable for this type of volunteering.
LUKMEF-Cameroon – A not for profit organisation working to promote social justice and sustainable development in Cameroon. The organisation derives most of its funding from donors and its workforce from volunteers. There is no fee to participate but all volunteers and interns must be able to completely finance their flight, accommodation and food while in Cameroon. Volunteers must have a degree.
Magister South Africa – Volunteer and internship programmes in Cape Town.
Malawi Volunteer Organisation – Teaching, medical, sport and community work volunteering is available. Accommodation is on the shore of Lake Malawi and volunteer fees, which get more reasonable the longer you stay, help to employ over 15 Malawians.
Maralink Eco-Volunteers – A volunteer and African adventure safaris and vacation holidays organisation dealing in international volunteer placements in Kenya.
The Marine Conservation Society Seychelles – Accept volunteers on their programmes throughout the year, however places are limited and vacancies fill up quickly. Duties will include supporting a number of the on going programmes. Applicants should be self funding and over 21. Additionally they offer a very limited number of internships for a whale shark monitoring project from August to October.
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation – The only NGO in Mauritius to be exclusively concerned with the conservation and preservation of the Mauritian nation’s endangered plants and animals. They state that they are always keen to hear from university graduates who would like to gain practical hands on experience and pursue a conservation career working within the MWF. They accept volunteers throughout the year to work on a range of their projects. The work may involve endemic bird nest location and monitoring, radio tracking, population monitoring, report writing, animal handling of pink pigeons, echo parakeets, Mauritius kestrels and passerines. Other projects include the conservation of rare plants and captive breeding.
Mgahinga Community Development Organisation – An umbrella group comprising of several groups, associations and educational facilities, united by a common goal of improving the lives of the people of Mgahinga, in Uganda. They offer a limited number of self funded volunteer posts to enthusiastic people for one to three months or longer. They need teachers, conservationists, biologists, health workers, vets, IT and administration skills, to name just a few. They also welcome international students and Africans who wish to further develop their knowledge in a working environment out in the field.
Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies – A language school located in Rabat, they also offer internships and volunteering opportunities around the city.
Mozvolunteers – Offers medical elective placements, community, sports, teaching and wildlife volunteer projects in South Africa and Mozambique.
Operation Crossroads Africa – Over 40 years experience of sending volunteers to Africa.
ReefDoctor – A small not-for-profit organisation which undertakes coral reef research and conservation in south west Madagascar. Reefdoctor are looking to welcome a small team of volunteer research assistants into the camp, preferably with some previous conservation experience. They also would prefer volunteers to be trained divers to at least PADI Open Water level. ReefDoctor expect to need up to eight voluntary assistants on future expeditions – a staff to volunteer ratio of one to one.
Rwenzori Rural Health Services – A community based organisation offers professionals and intern students the opportunity to work as volunteers to improve rural communities in Uganda.
RVO-Ghana – Volunteer in Ghana.
SENEVOLU – Voluntary work with an organisation that promotes community tourism in Senegal. (Note: we found this blog post by a past volunteer warning against volunteering with SENEVOLU. The comments left by the volunteer organiser himself, since deleted, on this blog and on another warning against SENEVOLU were particularly revealing of his rotten character.)
SOTENI International – Helps orphans and other vulnerable people who have been most affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. Health professionals are required to volunteer their time in Kenya. Student internships designed to train volunteers to work in rural and urban settings in Kenya are also available.
South African Education & Environment Project – Dedicated to serving children and youth in the townships of Cape Town through academic support and personal development programmes. Volunteer FAQs and an application form can be found on the website.
Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge – A restaurant, farm, eco-lodge, and permaculture design training centre in Ethiopia. Volunteers and interns interested in learning more about permaculture should check the vacancies on their website.
Sudan Voluntary Programme – Volunteers, under-graduates and graduates who are native English speakers, are needed to teach English on projects in Sudan for 12 weeks or more.
Takatifu Gardens – A community centre in western Kenya founded by Kenyans and Australians. Volunteers have in the past helped school children to read English and organised a youth running club. At the moment Takatifu are no longer offering a volunteer programme but there is talk of one in future.
Trade Aid – Welcomes mature volunteers with specialist skills such as accountancy, IT, tourism and teaching to train local Tanzanian staff in their skill.
The Tsavo Cheetah Project – A NGO working to protect and conserve the cheetah of the vast Tsavo ecosystem of Kenya. Volunteer tasks include cheetah monitoring through direct sightings, tracking of natural signs, and camera traps; community initiatives with local tribes pertaining to human-wildlife conflict and work with school children through cheetah education programs; field data collection / entry, photography and social media updates.
Turtle Foundation – An initiative for the protection of endangered sea turtles. Conservation volunteers are taken on in Cape Verde.
Uganda Lodge – A guest house in southwest Uganda where the profits made from guests are used to enhance the living conditions of villagers in the local community. Volunteers are accepted.
Ugunja Community Resource Centre – A small NGO in western Kenya promoting sustainable development. International placements, from a few days to two years, are available revolving around issues such as sustainable agriculture, preserving indigenous knowledge and youth empowerment. Expect to pay $15 to $40 per week for food and accommodation and a suggested $35 weekly donation.
Ujamaa Hostel – Over 900 volunteers have done countless hours of volunteer work within the local community, in Arusha, Tanzania, since this hostel opened in 2008. They hold to the belief that volunteers shouldn’t have to pay for the experience and offer free volunteering opportunities with local organisations in desperate need of help.
Upfront Volunteers – Need pre-nurses, doctors and dentists in Uganda. They also have an ongoing project that helps premedical staff to gain experience in local clinics. Non medical staff and teachers are also welcomed.
VA32 – Runs projects and initiatives to benefit the local community or environment in Chintsa, South Africa.
Vervet Monkey Foundation – A primate rehabilitation and welfare centre in South Africa’s Limpopo province with nearly 600 resident monkeys in their care. For general volunteers no specific qualifications are required though they should be enthusiastic level headed team players with a passion for wildlife and conservation. Longer term volunteer vacancies have specific requirements. Volunteers are required all year round, especially during the Vervet baby season (November to February) as extra hands are essential to provide intensive primary care to any orphaned Vervet babies they take in.
Volunteer Africa – Provides details on British organizations that give young people the opportunity to spend time on a voluntary project in Africa.
Volunteer Capital Centre – Volunteer and internship programmes in Africa are arranged by this organisation active on social media and contributing to blogs.
Volunteer 4 Africa – A source of volunteer ideas and low cost volunteer work in Africa.
Westminster Comprehensive School – Seeking volunteers to teach English at a private Ghanaian school established in September 2002. The school has a population of about 460 students with 40 teachers and teaching support staff.
Whipalong – Located in Limpopo, South Africa, Whipalong invites volunteers to be a part of the on going rehabilitation and reschooling of abused and neglected horses.
Wildlife ACT – Volunteer on game reserves in South Africa.
WWOOF Kenya – WWOOfing reaches Kenya.
WWOOF Sierra Leone – A dozen projects listed.
Youth Vision Uganda – An indigenous youth led community based NGO working to help alleviate the plight of the less privileged, poor needy youth and children in Kati Kati village, northern Uganda. The volunteer page link was blank when we visited but their partner organisation, the Omprakash Foundation, states YVU is “accepting application letters from creative, talented, passionate and innovative youth to work with orphaned vulnerable children under its early childhood development education model centre of Bright Destiny Academy or its Sports for Development program”.
Living in Africa
Real Estate and Resources for Staying Long Term
AIDA – Offering real estate services for over 50 years in South Africa.
Cape Verde Property – A UK company specialising in marketing Cape Verde property.
Egyptian Experience – Builder and developer in Egypt with homes available in Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Luxor.
ERA Real Estate – Large real estate group in South Africa.
Pam Golding Properties – Over 300 offices in southern Africa.
Propertymix – A South African search and listing website for all types of holiday accommodation as well as rsidential and commercial properties for sale or rent.
Rawson Properties – Estate agency group with distinctive little yellow cars active throughout South Africa.
Travelling in Africa
Accommodation & Getting Around
The Africa Guide – A huge amount of information about the continents including information on volunteering, working and overlanding.
African Memorable Safaris – Kenyan and Tanzanian touring.
African Trails – Overland tours.
Alternative Egypt – A site dedicated to adventure travel and alternative tourism in Egypt, including a section on volunteering and working in the country.
The Backpackers Ritz of Johannesburg – The longest running hostel in Johannesburg.
Baz Bus – Hop on, hop off buses in South Africa.
Dahab Safari Tour – A half agent, half tour operator travel company in Egypt.
Dahab Star Safari – Excursions and tours in the Sinai, other parts of Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
Egypt Travel – Egypt travel guide and tourist information, including Nile cruises and historic tours. Includes some information about working and studying in the country.
Jollyboys Backpackers Lodge – Backpacker accommodation and activities in Livingstone, Zambia.
King Safari Dahab – A Certified tour company providing organized tours and custom-made tours in Dahab, all of Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Worldwide.
Original Surf Morocco – A surf vacations company in Agadir, Morocco, offers surf lessons for all ages and all levels with or without accommodation.
Outlook Expeditions – Adventure travel and expeditions to Africa.
The Plymouth-Dakar Challenge – A wonderful budget alternative to the Paris Dakar rally. Buy a cheap vehicle in the UK, drive across the western Sahara and auction your car for charity at the finishing post. Other routes, such as the three week Silk Road Challenge, are also available.
Red Chilli Hideaway – Backpacker accommodation and tours in Kampala, Uganda.
South African National Parks – Hosts details of South African National Parks to help tourists and visitors with planning trips to the parks. Some internship information, administered by Global Vision International, is provided.
Other Useful African Websites
Culture, News…
Daily Mail & Guardian – English language newspaper in South Africa.
Dar Loughat – Arabic language and cultural immersion programmes in Morocco.
Egypt Today – English language news.
Qalam Center for Arabic Studies – Arabic language study and cultural programmes in Rabat, Morocco.
Index image courtesy of hbieser