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Wildlife volunteer in Africa: Sable Ranch
The Sable Ranch in South Africa lies on a tract of land, where you can volunteer to help the animals. Experience the southernmost country on the African continent between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This land is home to various impressive animal species, including elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalo, hippopotamuses, and lions.
Wildlife volunteer in Africa: Sable Ranch
At a Glance
- Age: 18 and above
- Duration: 2.5 or 4.5 weeks
- Language: Good knowledge of English
- Starting Dates: Every first Tuesday of the month
The Sable Ranch project lies about 2 hours from Johannesburg and Pretoria by car, and has about 4,000 hectares of ranch land.
This wildlife volunteer project was founded for the purpose of animal protection and is named after the Sable Antelope. However, the project also takes in other interesting species: hippopotamuses, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, rhinoceroses, and kudus, in addition to the antelopes – and you’ll be right there alongside the animals, as a wildlife volunteer in Africa!
Wildlife volunteer in Africa project
The wildlife volunteer project at Sable Ranch is some distance away from the next town. Every now and then, the volunteers can run personal errands there. Sable Ranch is a natural heritage site.
- There is no commercial hunting.
- The focus is on nature conservation.
Since the Sable Ranch project in South Africa is not a commercial wild animal farm, your work here will be driven by wildlife conservation, animal breeding, and research. As a wildlife volunteer in Africa, you will help in the projects and take care of the following tasks, among other work:
- Daily animal feedings,
- Monitoring the well-being of all animals,
- Examining fences, and
- Caring for sick animals.
Accommodation for wildlife volunteers in Africa
As a wildlife conservation volunteer in South Africa, you will stay in a completely furnished cottage at the Sable Ranch project site. You will sleep in a double room, where you will be able to store food and drinks. Meals are prepared for the volunteers, and you will eat together with the other ranch workers.
Wildlife volunteer in Africa: Work
- Activities: Wildlife volunteer work in Africa includes: observing the animals, examining fences, and offering support in everyday tasks.
- Free Time: Usually 2 days a week, at the weekend.
- Duration: 2.5 or 4.5 weeks.
- Application: At least 3 months before departure. We are happy to accept applications much earlier than this.
- Starting Dates: First Tuesday of the month.
- Practical Experience: Not necessary.
- Other: As a wildlife volunteer in Africa, you will be doing some physically strenuous work. Since you will be surrounded by a completely foreign culture, patience, adaptability, independence, and travel experience are very important.

