Itinerary

Day 1 (Monday)  Arrive at Cape Town Airport (airport code CPT) where you’ll be met and taken straight to your new home, a journey of around 45 minutes during which you’ll get your first sight of the iconic Table Mountain.  You’ll need to arrive by 4pm so that you’re in time for orientation at 5pm, otherwise you should fly in a day early. We can arrange an extra night accommodation and airport pickup.

The Project  After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to get into it.  On your first morning our team will accompany you, to introduce you to the dedicated staff and volunteers.
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Your weekdays will be spent assisting in the clinic, working in the community with the mobile clinic, feeding and cleaning the guests and walking the dogs.  As a volunteer you will receive exposure to a vast variety of cases that you would not normally be exposed to in private practice, great experience for potential veterinarians or vet nurses.  As a volunteer you will assist with:

  • Day to day running of the clinic/hospital
  • Prepping animals for surgery
  • Caring for animals in recovery and ensuring their environment is hygienic
  • Assist animal welfare officers on mobile units, inc rescues and adoptions
  • Animal husbandry and feeding
  • Cat and kitten socialisation 
  • Marketing, fundraising and PR
  • General maintenance (gardening, building and painting)

Weekends  Spend your free time as you please, your weekends are yours to enjoy. Cape Town offers so much to do. There are loads of stunning beaches to choose from, go for a surf or check out a penguin colony.  Maybe you’d like to climb Table Mountain, visit Robben Island, explore the city with its fascinating museums and art galleries….or even go wine tasting. You’ll also want to kick back and chill in the garden or around the swimming pool at the volunteer house.
 
Your last day (Monday)  It will be sad to say goodbye to your newfound friends but you’ll have so many special memories to take back with you. Save around $30 for the airport transfer, which our coordinator will arrange for you.
Accommodation Our large volunteer house in Cape Town will be your home, only a short distance from the shops and beach. The house accommodates up to 20 people in single-sex bunk-rooms with up to 6 sharing.  There are lockers for your valuables, a kitchen, lounge area, balcony, a nice garden and barbeque.  A $100 security deposit is payable on arrival.
You’ll be self-catering during your stay, and can cook your meals in the communal kitchen complete with stove, fridge/freezer, microwave and toaster – or use the braai (BBQ) outside. We recommend you budget around $70 per week for groceries – markets and shops are nearby.  There are also heaps of take-aways, bars and restaurants about 10 mins walk.

Fish Hoek’s main street is only 10 minutes’ walk away where you’ll find a laundry, supermarket, serviced laundry and internet café, as well as banks and other shopping. The beach is just a stone’s throw beyond that!  Bars, restaurants, more shopping and more beautiful beaches are only 10 minutes away by taxi. Taxis to Cape Town CBD cost around $30 - Fish Hoek is also on the train line, this is also a great way to get around
Comfort Accommodation  Work hard during the day and treat yourself to a bit more comfort for your downtime with our upgrade accommodation option in Kommetjie.  Check that sunset - that's you ! This is a separate accommodation in a different suburb to the volunteer house.  There are two king-bed rooms each with ensuite, fridge, wifi, TV and kettle and a shared kitchenette and pool. Stunning views and amazing sunsets.  The upgrade is available on request for $140 pp (twin) / $200 (single) per week.  The beach, shops, restaurant and bars of Kommetjie are all walkable.