Volunteer Testimonials | Reptile Project Photos
The Hoedspruit Reptile Centre is a unique facility that is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of reptiles. As a volunteer you will become part of the team and play an active and rewarding role in helping them to achieve this goal.
During your stay you will have opportunities to work with a wide range of indigenous and exotic reptiles and get practical, hands-on experience in the day to day running of the centre.
You will be assisting with cleaning and checking the animals, preparing food, feeding, the upkeep of animal enclosures, general day to day maintenance, constructing new enclosures, helping with reptile rescues and also catch & release operations. You will also interact with guests at the centre and help to educate them about the importance of reptiles in a natural ecosystem.
To join this project you will need to be in good physical condition and aged 18 years or older by the time you arrive. Good social skills are an advantage and a willingness to help where needed is vital as you will be part of a small team of staff and volunteers. Personal characteristics like commitment, flexibility and the ability to use your initiative will also be key. To ensure effective communication between all team members, a good understanding of the English language is also required.
Although you can join for 2 weeks, we recommend staying for a minimum of 4 weeks to experience a wider range of activities.
| Arrival Airport | Johannesburg (JNB) |
| Arrival Day | Sunday or earlier |
| Join Project On | Monday |
| Duration | You can volunteer with this project for 12 nights or more (includes first night at airport hotel) |
| Volunteering Hours | Approximately 8am - 5pm, 5 to 6 days each week |
| Main Activities | Checking reptiles, cleaning, maintenance, constructing new enclosures, assisting with rescue operations, catch & release and research |
| Fly Home On | Friday or later |
| Minimum Age | You must be aged 18 years or older when you arrive |
| Availability | Available dates for each duration are shown on the top-right of this page with the option to select from several currencies. |
| Pre-arrival Support | Our experienced team is on hand to ensure you are fully prepared for your trip to South Africa |
| Accommodation | For your first night (Sunday night) you will have a private room at an airport hotel. At the project you will stay in Mamba Manor which can accommodate up to 12 volunteers. |
| Food | Supplies for breakfast, lunch and dinner are included during your stay at the Reptile Conservation Project |
| Transport | Return transfers between Johannesburg and the Reptile Conservation Project are provided |
| Orientation | On your first day at the Reptile Conservation Project you will have a full orientation |
| T-Shirt | Included for volunteers staying for longer than 2 weeks |
| Field Expedition | Included for volunteers staying for longer than 2 weeks |
| Wi-Fi | Free Wi-Fi at the Reptile Conservation Project |
| In-country Support | Our volunteer coordinators are available 24/7 for emergencies, and are on hand to help you make the most of your stay |
| Certificate | On completion of your placement we will send you a special thank you certificate to accompany your CV or resume. |
| Visas | Citizens from most countries can arrive in South Africa and stay for up to 90 days without a Visa. Please refer to our FAQ section for more details if you are unsure |
| Flights | Please refer to our FAQ section for recommendations about keeping your flight costs to a minimum |
| Insurance | We have partnered with World Nomads Insurance to give you access to great value insurance for volunteers. Please check out our Insurance page under the FAQ tab for more details. |
Volunteer Testimonials | Reptile Project Photos
You can expect to be busy from 08:00 to 17:00 for 5 to 6 days each week.
A one hour lunch break is normally taken between 12:00 and 13:00, but hours and lunch times can vary in response to the nature of the work at the reptile centre.
If you would like to arrange activities or excursions on specific days, you must speak with the centre’s volunteer coordinator or management in advance to pre-book your time off.
Volunteer Testimonials | Reptile Project Photos
Pre-Project accommodation (For your Sunday night arrival in Johannesburg):
You can look forward to a private room at the airport's Garden Court Hotel to relax and recover from your flight.
At the Reptile Conservation & Education Project:
You will stay in Mamba Manor, the centre's onsite volunteer accommodation that can house up to 12 volunteers. Your accommodation has the following facilities:
A safe is available at reception for locking up passports, tickets and valuables. You can handwash your laundry or ask the housemaid to do it for a small fee. Shopping trips are available if you need to purchase personal items, or extra food, drinks and snacks.
Volunteer Testimonials | Reptile Project Photos
The Reptile Conservation Project is located near Hoedspruit, close to Kruger National Park.
Your arrival airport is Johannesburg (JNB)