Overview
Volunteer Travel in South Africa, Swaziland & Mozambique

If you are looking to spend time in Southern Africa and want to travel and do something worthwhile at the same time then this combination program may be ideal. It is a six week placement, which includes four weeks of volunteer work on our community projects and two weeks of adventure travel.

Volunteers on this project will have the opportunity to teach in local schools or work in child care centres. There are a large number of schools, crèches and day care centers in Swaziland that are understaffed, under funded, and whose facilities are in great need of work and attention. These provide care and education for disadvantaged children many of whom have broken families as a result of the AIDS pandemic.

Two side trips are included; a 5 day safari in Kruger National Park where you will look for the Big Five, camp in the African bush and cook over an open fire. You will also spend another 5 nights on a tour of Mozambique, where you will overnight in the capital, Maputo before heading to Tofo Beach to enjoy water-sports, local markets and snorkeling with whale sharks.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

My time in South Africa has been the best experience I have ever had and I have enjoyed myself here immensely. My only regret is not staying for longer and I will greatly miss it!

Katerina, 2007 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

Education is one of the key needs of children and is their doorway to a bright future. 60% of children in Swaziland cannot afford to go to school due to the effects of unemployment, HIV AIDS and the repercussions of severe drought. Swaziland suffers a high rate of unemployment, 50% of Swazi nationals are out of work. About 40% of Swaziland’s population is HIV positive and by 2010 there will be close to 200,000 orphaned children in the Kingdom.

Highlights

Working with children on worthwhile community projects in Swaziland. Guided camping safari in Kruger National Park. Overnight stays in Swaziland en route to Mozambique where you will enjoy a coastal safari and swim with whale sharks.

Location

Swaziland is a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa, which is bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. Volunteers will be based in Lobamba, in the Ezulwini Valley, located in the west of the country about 16 km from the capital, Mbabane. Lombaba is famous for the traditional ceremonies that take place there, which include singing, dancing and celebrating.

Field Conditions

Volunteers will stay at a lodge in the Ezulwini Valley, Swaziland, approximately 5km from the care centres and schools. The lodge has a number of dorms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Sheets/pillows are provided but please bring a sleeping bag. Volunteers prepare and cook the meals each evening in the communal kitchen. There is a TV lounge with board games and a large deck with a pool table and dart board. The lodge is surrounded by a spacious garden with a communal barbecue (braai) area and plenty of boulders and trees.

In Kruger volunteers will be camping in tents and cooking over an open fire. In Mozambique volunteers will stay in dorms in reed huts at the beach lodge.