Solo Volunteering with Elephants 🐘

🐘 Volunteer Tasks

Requirements:
✔ Intermediate level of English
✔ Age 18+
✔ Individuals and couples are welcome

Volunteer Duties (25 hours/week):
✔ Work in the research lab
✔ Data entry
✔ Observing elephants

The workday starts at 7:00 AM and ends at 5:30 PM.
There are 4.5 working days per week (Fridays end at 10:30 AM), and you may occasionally be asked to help over the weekend.
You can use your weekends to relax or explore the area.

During your stay, you’ll participate in all behind-the-scenes activities at the sanctuary, including:
✔ Helping care for elephants and preparing their food and toys
✔ General maintenance work (repairs, painting)
✔ Cleaning the sanctuary and elephant sleeping areas
✔ Participating in scientific research about elephant behavior
✔ Assisting in funding efforts by making paper from elephant dung 😄

No previous experience is needed – everything will be taught and supervised by the team.

• Days off: Two per week
• Minimum volunteering period: One week (priority given to longer stays)

The sanctuary is located in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.
Volunteers stay in a building called “The BunkHouse” inside the sanctuary, right next to the elephants’ sleeping areas and volunteer staff housing.
The area is safe and fenced with electric barriers.

“The BunkHouse” has 5 rooms, each with 2–3 beds and a private bathroom and closet.
There is a shared kitchen, lounge with TV, and an outdoor BBQ area overlooking the sanctuary.
Wi-Fi is available in all rooms.

• Shared rooms and bathrooms – males and females in separate quarters

Meals are not included in the program cost.
Volunteers are responsible for buying and preparing their meals with other volunteers and cleaning the kitchen afterward.
The kitchen is available for your use at any time.
You may also eat at the park’s restaurant (open 8:30–17:00).

• One-Week Programs:

• 05/01/2025 – 12/01/2025

• 16/02/2025 – 23/02/2025

• 30/03/2025 – 06/04/2025

• 11/05/2025 – 18/05/2025

• 22/06/2025 – 29/06/2025

• 13/07/2025 – 20/07/2025

• 03/08/2025 – 10/08/2025

• 14/09/2025 – 21/09/2025

• 26/10/2025 – 02/11/2025

• 07/12/2025 – 14/12/2025

• Three-Week Programs:

• 13/01/2025 – 03/02/2025

• 03/02/2025 – 24/02/2025

• 24/02/2025 – 17/03/2025

• 17/03/2025 – 07/04/2025

• 07/04/2025 – 28/04/2025

• 28/04/2025 – 19/05/2025

• 19/05/2025 – 09/06/2025

• 09/06/2025 – 30/06/2025

• 30/06/2025 – 21/07/2025

• 21/07/2025 – 11/08/2025

• 11/08/2025 – 01/09/2025

• 01/09/2025 – 22/09/2025

• 22/09/2025 – 13/10/2025

• 13/10/2025 – 03/11/2025

• 03/11/2025 – 24/11/2025

• 24/11/2025 – 15/12/2025

• 15/12/2025 – 05/01/2026

• 05/01/2026 – 26/01/2026

• How much is the flight from Palestine?
Between $800–$1200 depending on the time of booking

• How do I get to the sanctuary?
Fly to Johannesburg, South Africa, then take a domestic flight to George.
From there, a pickup service is available for R1800, or you can arrange a private taxi.
Arrival/departure for 1-week volunteers is on Sundays; for 3-week volunteers, on Mondays.

• What can I do on my days off?
The sanctuary is in the beautiful Garden Route area. Activities include:

• Visiting Monkey Land

• Swimming with seals

• Visiting Tenikwa Big Cat Sanctuary

• Hiking or mountain climbing

• Bungee jumping from the world’s highest bridge

• Visiting the local market
  (It’s recommended to go out in groups and inform the team beforehand.)

• Are vaccinations required?
Not legally required, but highly recommended.
You don’t need to know the vaccine names — just tell the clinic you’re going to “The Garden Route – South Africa,” and they’ll provide the appropriate shots.