Volunteering

Do you want to do something out of the ordinary, make a visible difference, and visit a project based on true love and passion? Do you want to experience those heartfelt moments where everything stands still and you feel truly alive? Grasp the moment and become a part of our “pride” when visiting our volunteer project, and we can promise you an unforgettable and life-changing experience together with your new two- and four-legged friends!

"Panthera Africa’s founders, Cathrine & Lizaene, started their journey as volunteers in South Africa, and this journey lead to a dream, now a reality, filled with passion …"

We believe in the equal importance of both humans and animals, and we will do our absolute best to give you an experience of a lifetime. We know from personal experience that this includes both quality time with animals, as well as with staff and the other volunteers. Hearing a lion roar up close, getting love and recognition from a leopard, hearing the chuffing of a tiger, a purr of a cheetah, or seeing them appreciate and love the toys you make to enrich their lives = BLISS.

An Experience of a Lifetime

In addition to the indescribable bonds you will form with the animals, friendships will be formed and together. At the end of the day we all can have a well deserved cold drink while we share stories, hopes and dreams while watching the famous African sunset and listening to the lions roar.

The international volunteer project will offer you the unique opportunity to be involved behind the scenes – daily tasks will include:

Caring and getting to know the amazing big cats
Cleaning and maintaining enclosures
Making and implementing enrichment for the cats’ enjoyment
Preparation of food and watching the exciting feeding
Making and maintaining firebreaks
General farm work – sometimes hard but always vital work
Testing of fences and walking perimeter
Assisting with our educational visits
Ensuring the smooth running of the project as a whole

For enquiries please mail as at vol@pantheraafrica.com

Your Accommodation

During your stay you will enjoy our modern, cozy home which is situated 5 minutes drive, or 25 minutes beautiful walk, from the sanctuary. The house consists of 3 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms, a spacious and fully equipped large kitchen and dining room area for everyone to cook and enjoy dinners and games nights together, and a cozy living room area with a fire for film evenings or just relaxing with a nice book. Outside you will enjoy beautiful mountain views, and we have a traditional South African braai (BBQ) area. There is a lovely dam and a large garden with plenty of room for games, walking, relaxing or sunbathing. While enjoying a peaceful evening outside you may just hear our pride of lions roaring at the sanctuary.

We will provide you with breakfast and lunch, while you cater for your own dinner. You have the choice of cooking a nice homemade meal by yourself or with your new friends, or you can enjoy one of the many local restaurants on our weekly evening out. You will be taken on a weekly shopping trip, where you can buy groceries and other items from the many shops available. If you are lucky and Lizaene has time, ask her to make her delicious vetkoek dinner or even a proper South African potjie or braai, were she can put any food you like on the grill! We love our communal dinners, and we look forward to sharing them with you!

What you need to bring

From personal experience we know there are millions of questions running through your head when it comes to packing and what to bring. It is so easy to over pack your suitcase with lots of things you will never use, so we will help you with a great packing list which you will receive when you book your volunteer trip with us.

Weather

The weather in the Western Cape various from warm summers (October to March), chilly and rainy autumn and winter (April to July), and fresh spring days (August and September), so make sure to pack for the right months. It is always wise to look at the weather forecasts as the seasons do vary a lot.

Bank and Travel Insurance

We advise that you have this with you at all times, and make sure that your insurance covers working with wildlife.

Fun

Being situated close to many of South Africa’s top tourist attractions – Cape Town with its Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Point to mention some, Hermanus with its unbelievable whale watching cove and wine tasting, Gansbaai with its spectacular white shark diving, and some of the world’s most amazing beaches on your door step, makes this experience a perfect combination of a working and relaxing holiday.