GHV

Volunteering along the Garden Route

The Garden Route is a focus area for us which means that there is a great variety of projects to choose from in the area. Volunteers at the projects in and around Plettenberg Bay also share the same accommodation. And our Good Hope Volunteer coordinator is there to support you every step of the way.

The Garden Route is a popular scenic tract of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River on the edge of the Eastern Cape. It includes towns such as Mossel Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley. The towns and communities along the Garden Route are quaint and inviting, the people are friendly and there are numerous activities to choose from for the avid adventure traveller and nature lover.

Highlights of Volunteering along the Garden Route

Many great projects to choose from.
A Good Hope Volunteers coordinator will look after you.
Beautiful scenery with many sport and adventure opportunities.
Home of the highest bungee jumps in the world and the famous Addo Elephant Park.
Mild climate all year.
24-hour support.

Photographs

Volunteer Projects along the Garden Route

Being a focus area, there are many organisations to choose to work with along the Garden Route. There is a superb selection of conservation projects available and some of our most popular social and development ventures are located here. We also offer two incredible farm experiences in the area, including, a first-of-its-kind wine farm experience.

Volunteer projects Garden Route

During your free time

The Garden Route is a highlight for any and all traveler. Here is a short list of SOME of the activities you can take part in during your time as a volunteer with Good Hope Volunteers along the Garden Route:

bungy jumping on the world’s highest Bungy jump,
surf the famous JBay Supertubes,
visit the Addo Elephant Park,
see the Big 5 at the Garden Route Game Reserve,
see the magical Cango Caves,
Scuba dive with seahorses in the Knysna Lagoon,
canyoning in Tsitsikamma.

"I am an African…I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land." Thabo Mbeki (South African President 1999-2007)

Combine volunteering with an English language course

If you are not a native English speaker, you can combine your volunteering experience with an English language course.

It is important that you can communicate well and understand instructions. This is not only important for your safety and those around you, but also important to make your volunteering experience a great one.

The minimum English requirements differ slightly from project to project (see project details), but usually a minimum of Upper-Intermediate [B2] is required.

If your English level is not sufficient or you want to brush up your skills, attending an English language course before you start volunteering is a great option. Our sister company, Good Hope Studies, offers a great choice of courses in Cape Town.

Attending a language course before volunteering also allows you to get used to the country - its climate, food and infrastructure.