South Africa Big Cat Sanctuary & Welfare Volunteer Program

Volunteers live on-site at the sanctuary, alongside the team and other volunteers, creating a small, welcoming environment and an immersive experience of everyday sanctuary life.

This is a strictly hands-off wildlife program. Volunteers do not pet, handle, walk or have direct physical interaction with the animals.

Instead, you contribute through enrichment, observation, food preparation, enclosure maintenance, environmental work and the everyday tasks involved in running an ethical sanctuary.

This program is ideal for volunteers who want to learn more about animal welfare, sanctuary management and responsible wildlife tourism while contributing to meaningful behind-the-scenes work.

Sanctuary & Animal Care Activities

Volunteer activities vary depending on the needs of the sanctuary, the animals, weather conditions and the volunteer group.

Enclosure Cleaning & Maintenance

Help maintain clean, safe and comfortable environments for the animals.

Tasks may include:

• Cleaning water bowls
• Removing waste
• General enclosure maintenance
• Clearing vegetation
• Maintaining surrounding areas
• Assisting with everyday sanctuary upkeep

Enrichment Creation

Help design and create enrichment activities that provide mental and physical stimulation for the animals.

Volunteers may build toys, prepare enrichment items or develop creative activities before observing how the animals respond.

Food Preparation

Assist staff with preparing supplementary food for the animals as part of their daily care routine.

Feeding Observation

Volunteers may accompany staff during feeding routines and observe feeding from designated safe areas.

Volunteers do not directly feed or physically interact with the big cats.

Animal Observations

Spend time quietly observing animal behaviour and reporting relevant observations to the sanctuary team.

This helps volunteers learn more about individual animals while also supporting the team's day-to-day welfare monitoring.

Alien Plant Removal

Assist with removing invasive and alien plant species around the property.

This contributes to maintaining the sanctuary environment and surrounding habitat.

Firebreak Maintenance

Fire prevention is an important part of managing the sanctuary property.

Volunteers may assist with Clearing vegetation, cutting plants, Raking, Removing combustible plant material and Maintaining firebreak areas

Guided Educational Visits

Volunteers may accompany sanctuary staff during educational visits.

You may help keep groups together, assist visitors and learn more about the animals, their individual stories and ethical wildlife care.

Veterinary Observation

If veterinary procedures or routine health checks take place during your stay, volunteers may have the opportunity to observe.

Veterinary activities cannot be guaranteed and volunteers do not perform veterinary procedures.

Skills & Experience You May Gain

Depending on the activities available during your stay, this program can provide practical exposure to:

• Animal behaviour observation
• Wildlife welfare
• Animal enrichment principles
• Ethical sanctuary management
• Food preparation routines
• Enclosure maintenance
• Environmental management
• Invasive plant removal
• Fire prevention and firebreak maintenance
• Responsible wildlife tourism
• Conservation education
• Practical outdoor work
• Communication in an international volunteer environment

Program Details

• Location: Western Cape, South Africa
• Closest Airport: Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
• Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
• Intakes: Every second Saturday
• Age Requirement: 18+
• Experience Required: No previous experience required
• Accommodation: On-site sanctuary accommodation
• Volunteer Capacity: Approximately 6–7 volunteers
• Animal Interaction: None – strictly hands-off
• Working Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
• Thursday: Excursion and grocery-shopping day
• Weekends: Free time
• Program Type: Self-funded volunteer program

Ethical Animal Welfare

This is a strictly hands-off wildlife sanctuary.

There is no direct physical interaction with the big cats.

The sanctuary is home primarily to:

• Lions
• Tigers
• Leopards
• Caracals
• Servals

Volunteers connect with the animals through observation, learning their individual stories, contributing to enrichment and supporting their daily welfare.

At Impact Volunteers Africa, we believe ethical wildlife volunteering should always prioritise the needs and welfare of the animals above entertainment or unnecessary human interaction.

A Typical Volunteer Day

Volunteer days are structured but flexible according to the animals, weather and sanctuary priorities.

Morning

The working day usually begins at:

• Summer: approximately 07:00
• Winter: approximately 08:00

The day begins with a team meeting where staff discuss:

• The day's activities
• Sanctuary priorities
• Tasks that need to be completed
• Safety considerations

Volunteers then begin the first activities of the day.

These may include:

• Enclosure cleaning
• Maintenance
• Animal observations
• Alien plant removal
• Enrichment preparation
• Firebreak work
• General sanctuary tasks

Lunch

Lunch is usually from approximately:

12:00 – 13:30

During particularly hot weather, the lunch break may be extended.

Afternoon

Afternoon activities may continue from the morning or involve a different task.

Food preparation and feeding routines normally form part of the afternoon schedule.

The day's activities are adjusted according to:

• The needs of the animals
• Weather conditions
• Sanctuary priorities
• The abilities of the volunteer group

Thursday Excursion Day

Thursdays are normally set aside for volunteers to explore the surrounding area and enjoy time away from regular sanctuary activities.

A staff member accompanies the volunteer group.

Possible activities may include:

• Whale watching
• Sea kayaking
• Beach visits
• Exploring nearby towns etc.

The exact activity will depend on:

• Weather, Season, Availability, Group preferences

Volunteers are responsible for paying for their own excursion activities and lunch.

The group will normally also stop for groceries before returning to the sanctuary.

Free Time

Weekends are free for volunteers to relax or explore.

You may choose to:

• Relax at the sanctuary
• Enjoy the swimming pool
• Spend time with other volunteers
• Read or relax outdoors
• Arrange a taxi into a nearby town
• Explore more of the Western Cape
• Take part in optional activities

Any activities or transport arranged independently during free time are at the volunteer's own expense.

Accommodation & Daily Life

Volunteers live directly on the sanctuary property, alongside staff and other volunteers.

The accommodation currently hosts approximately 6–7 volunteers, creating a small and friendly environment.

Living on-site allows volunteers to experience everyday sanctuary life and creates a close-knit atmosphere between volunteers and staff.

The property operates mainly on solar power, so volunteers are expected to use electricity and other resources responsibly.

Meals

Breakfast

Basic breakfast ingredients are provided daily.

Lunch

A home-cooked lunch is provided on sanctuary working days:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Dinner & Snacks

Volunteers are responsible for purchasing and preparing their own dinners and snacks.

The volunteer house has a communal kitchen for self-catering.

A weekly grocery-shopping trip is included in the volunteer schedule.

Thursdays

Thursday is normally an excursion day.

Volunteers purchase their own lunch while away from the sanctuary.

Your program fee includes:

• On-site sanctuary accommodation
• Basic breakfast ingredients daily
• Home-cooked lunch on sanctuary working days
• Program orientation
• Volunteer supervision
• Training and guidance from sanctuary staff
• Participation in scheduled sanctuary activities
• Access to communal facilities
• Wi-Fi
• Swimming pool
• Weekly grocery-shopping transport
• Support during your placement
• Volunteer certificate on completion, where applicable

What's Not Included

The following are not included:

• International or domestic flights
• Visa costs
• Travel insurance
• Medical insurance
• Personal expenses
• Dinners
• Snacks
• Thursday excursion activities
• Thursday lunch
• Optional activities
• Additional transport outside scheduled arrangements
• Airport transfers outside confirmed arrangements or transfer windows

Requirements

Volunteers should:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a reasonable level of physical fitness
• Be comfortable working outdoors
• Be willing to assist with practical and sometimes physically demanding tasks
• Be comfortable around large animals while respecting strict safety boundaries
• Follow sanctuary rules and staff instructions at all times
• Understand that animal welfare always comes before the volunteer experience
• Be flexible, responsible and willing to work as part of a team
• Be able to communicate in English
• Have appropriate travel and medical insurance

Program Fees

Impact Volunteers Africa Registration Fee: R4,300 once-off

The registration fee is separate from the program fee.

Program fees are subject to availability and confirmation.

Arrival & Airport Information

The closest international airport is:

Cape Town International Airport (CPT)

Volunteers arrive for scheduled intakes every second Saturday.

Final arrival instructions, airport transfer information and approved arrival times will be provided once your placement has been confirmed.

Volunteers should not book flights until their dates and placement have been confirmed.

Is This Program Right for You?

This program is well suited to volunteers who:

• Love wildlife but want an ethical, hands-off experience
• Want to understand the realities of sanctuary work
• Are interested in animal welfare
• Enjoy practical outdoor activities
• Are comfortable helping with cleaning and maintenance
• Want to live in a small international volunteer environment
• Want to learn about big cats without participating in direct interaction
• Are happy to contribute where help is needed

Sanctuary volunteering is not only about observing animals.

Daily care depends on practical behind-the-scenes work, and volunteers should arrive prepared to participate fully in the everyday responsibilities of sanctuary life.

Important to Know

The welfare of the animals always comes first.

Activities can change at short notice according to:

• Animal welfare requirements
• Weather
• Veterinary needs etc.

Specific activities, veterinary procedures, excursions or opportunities to observe particular animals cannot be guaranteed.

Your flexibility and willingness to contribute are an important part of the volunteer experience.

Ready to Volunteer in South Africa?

Experience life at an ethical big cat sanctuary, contribute to meaningful animal welfare work and discover a different side of South Africa’s Western Cape.

Minimum stay: 2 weeks · Intakes: Every second Saturday · Applications: Open year-round, subject to availability