Average rating Volunteer in a Cape Town Animal Shelter

Working closely with vets at an animal shelter in Cape Town, you will spend 2 to 4 weeks or even longer on these volunteer abroad programmes helping to tend and care for neglected and abused pets. This particular clinic sees over 170 dogs and 130 cats per day, all of which need veterinary care and rehabilitation. If helping to care for these animals, either by assisting vets, or by exercising, feeding and playing with them appeals, then read on…..

The animal shelter is based in a Township in the Southern Peninsula of Cape Town. There is a clinic on site and also a mobile clinic which visits local Townships. Typically, you will spend the morning working in the mobile clinic. You might find yourself helping to educate people in the community about animal care and welfare. You may also get involved with helping the vets to administer de-worming treatments and inoculations. Education is also an important aspect of the mobile clinics, especially teaching young children how to care for pets, to reduce the issues with animal abuse in the Townships.

In the afternoon (after a lovely lunch served up at your accommodation) you will head over to the animal shelter where you will spend the afternoon helping to care for the cats and dogs housed there. By feeding these animals, petting them and playing with them, you will give them valuable attention and affection which could help them to be rehabilitated and then re-housed.

In the evening, you will be picked up and taken home for dinner. You can then spend the rest of the night relaxing, or go out socialising with the other volunteers.

Given that you have come all the way to Cape Town, you will also want to make sure that you also get a chance to take in some of the local sights and sounds. Included in your trip price is a tour out to Cape Point and a chance to see the penguins at Boulders Beach. You will also be taken up the cable car to visit the world famous summit of Table Mountain. Don’t stop there! After you have finished your volunteering, you could head off down the Garden route or go off on safari…..

This is a very genuine opportunity to meet local people and gain an insight into their lives and culture. And there is always the chance to extend your trip so that you can have some R & R afterwards – which you will have well and truly earned!

You will be spending a lot of time with animals, so a love for cats and dogs is essential.

Some volunteers view the experience as a chance to make new friends with other participants on the volunteer abroad programmes and enjoy socialising with each other in the evenings. You don’t have to participate, but bear in mind that you will be living in communal accommodation, so some degree of social interaction is likely!

Price includes

Pricing also includes the following

The project fee which goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This fee facilitates funding for items such clinic supplies, dog and cat food and other materials for the maintenance of the shelter.

All airport transfers from Cape Town International Airport upon your arrival and departure

Orientation program

All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay

Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our volunteer house

Assistance in your projects by various African Impact staff and project managers.

Price details

This price is based on a 2 week stay in 2010, although longer stays are possible. A 4 week project costs 1255 GBP per person and a 6 week project costs 1645 GBP per person.

Available

Jan—Dec

Typical Duration

2 weeks - 6 weeks

Comfort level

Reasonably comfortable (Inns, B&Bs, luxury camping etc.)

Experience required

A reasonable interest is all that is needed