Volunteer in Swaziland

Volunteer in Swaziland: Your destination

There is no doubt that you will have a lot of work to do as a volunteer in Swaziland. Two-thirds of Swaziland’s population lives on less than a dollar a day, the HIV-rate is horrendously high - at 40%, the unemployment rate is just as shocking, large swaths of the society are succumbing to disease, and many inhabitants are seeking a better life in more prosperous neighbouring countries. The ill, weak, poor, orphaned, and elderly stay behind in Swaziland. The life expectancy rate in Swaziland is less than 30 years.

When you volunteer abroad in Swaziland you will experience the south of Africa as you have the chance to offer a bit of help to this troubled country.

Travelling in Swaziland & Southern Africa

Travelling in southern Africa, you will go on an exciting trip through southern Africa, travelling to Swaziland, South Africa, and Mozambique, which have plenty of wildlife, nature, culture, and vitality. This is the ideal programme for anyone who does not have much time, but would like to volunteer in Swaziland, travel, and do lots of sightseeing.

The trip through southern Africa has a fully-planned schedule, which could be changed due to weather or other conditions. Please read further on the “Work” page for a more detailed description of your daily activities.

Volunteer abroad in Swaziland

Accommodation

Your home base will be the Backpacker Lodge in the Ezulwini Valley in Swaziland. You will be accommodated in cosy rooms or fortified tents. Everything you need will be provided on location – you will just need to bring along a sleeping bag. The lodge is very pleasantly furnished, centrally-located with a large garden. It is also not too far from your volunteer project.

In the Kruger National Park in South Africa, you will stay in a tent. The camping area is secured by fences and equipped with ways to wash your clothing.

In Mozambique, you will be accommodated in a lodge directly on the beach, nestled between coconut trees. The lodge has a restaurant and a bar, from which you will have a breathtaking view over the bay and the Indian Ocean.

The accommodations are usually quite simple, but they offer you a glance into the natural side of southern Africa. You will share your room or tent with other volunteers, and you will receive full board. In Mozambique and South Africa, meals will be prepared for you, and in Swaziland you will take turns cooking with the other volunteers.

As a volunteer in Swaziland and southern Africa, you will usually have free weekends. You will have the chance to stay at the camp or volunteer house or to explore the country on your own. Our partner organisation also offers various free time activities, such as:

• White-water rafting,
• Cave hiking, and
• Visiting Swazi families

Volunteer in Swaziland

• Activities: See Programme Description
• Free Time: Usually at the weekend (during the volunteer work in Swaziland).
• Duration: 4 or 6 weeks
• Application: As early as possible, at least 3 months before departure.
• Starting Dates: Every first Monday in the month: 3 Jan., 7 Mar., 4 Apr., 2 May, 6 June, 4 July, 1 Aug., 5 Sept., 3 Oct., 7 Nov., 5 Dec. 2011. Please note that this programme is booked out in December.
  
• Visa: Swaziland: Free tourist visa upon arrival, passport and return ticket required. South Africa: Free tourist visa upon entry, passport and return ticket required. Mozambique: Free tourist visa (included in programme price), passport required.
• Practical Experience: Not necessary, but an advantage.
• Other: As a volunteer in Swaziland, you will need a sleeping bag. Patience, independence, flexibility, adaptability, and personal initiative are essential, as is the ability to handle very basic living and working conditions.