Volunteer Testimonials | Marine Conservation Project Photos
This exciting project will see you working alongside a committed team of marine conservationists and biologists in Kleinbaai, the world’s Great White Shark capital.
The shark-specialist marine biologists research the feeding, migrating and behavioral habits as well as various other aspects of the Great Whites by recording sightings, tagging, dorsal fin identification and taking thousands of photos for an ongoing data base in conjunction with various national and international academic and research institutions. The shark's superior immune system and wound healing capabilities, parasites found on sharks, as well as their interaction with other marine species, are part of the comprehensive and ongoing research.
As a volunteer you will gain work experience as part of the crew on a shark cage diving boat, have opportunities to work on a dedicated ecotour/whale watching boat, and learn about shark behavior, biology and conservation. As well as having plenty of time to observe sharks from a shark cage, your time at sea in this marine wildlife rich area is likely to yield many other encounters with dolphins, whales, penguins and seals.
The project is also home to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary which is located just a 2-minute walk away from your volunteer accommodation. This state-of-the-art center is dedicated to the rehabilitation of African Penguins and other seabirds that are injured, oiled or sick. After a period of care and recuperation, the birds are normally fit and healthy enough to release back into the wild.
The project supports recycling and is aimed at involving local schools and the community in beach-cleanups, marine education and placing unique fishing line bin disposal units along the coast. This programme was recognised by WESSA and the Blue Flag beach programme nationwide.
As a volunteer you should have an opportunity to work with children’s groups for beach clean ups where data is collated. You may also be involved in putting together fishing line bins or helping to clean the fishing line for recycling. By removing fishing line and other litter from our beaches you are helping to save birds and animals from agonizing injuries and death.
If you are studying marine biology, there may be opportunities for you to be more involved with the research aspects. You could be assisting with observational data capture, photography, water sampling, temperature testing and more. On land you may learn how to capture data and match shark fins for population counts.
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.
| Arrival Airport | Cape Town (CPT) |
| Arrival Day | Sunday or earlier |
| Join Project On | Monday |
| Duration | You can volunteer with the Marine Conservation Project for 2 weeks or more |
| Volunteering Hours | Variable hours, 5 to 7 days each week |
| Main Activities | Shark cage diving, learning about shark behaviour & ocean conservation, whale watching, assisting with boat duties, rehabilitating penguins and helping with community projects |
| Fly Home On | Monday 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 |
| Airport Welcome | One of our team will be at the airport to welcome you and escort you to Ashanti Lodge |
| Accommodation | For your first night (Sunday night) you will stay at Ashanti Lodge in central Cape Town. At the Marine Conservation Project you will stay in comfortable volunteer accommodation close to the project HQ in Kleinbaai |
| Food | Breakfasts and lunches are included during your stay at the Marine Conservation Project. Evening meals are self-catering |
| Transport | Return transfers between Cape Town and the Marine Conservation Project are provided |
| Orientation | On your first day at the Marine Conservation Project you will have a full orientation |
| T-Shirts | Two Marine Conservation T-Shirts and a matching Cap |
| Wi-Fi | Free Wi-Fi at Ashanti Lodge & the Marine 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 |
Volunteer Testimonials | Marine Conservation Project Photos
You can expect to be busy from for 5 to 7 days each week with variable hours that can be affected by the tides and prevailing sea conditions.
As we rely on good weather conditions, we recommend staying for four weeks or more to gain the most benefit out of the programme and to ensure you experience adequate sea time. You will have opportunities to shark cage dive and will be expected to assist guests during their trip with duties assigned to you while on board.
You can expect lectures by our marine biologists and expert crew on shark biology & behavior, basic seamanship, safety at sea, shark tagging & tracking, ocean conservation, data collection, and the wide range of conservation projects that you might encounter during your stay.
You can choose which areas to assist with from day-to-day. You can spend time with the shark cage-diving vessel, join the ecotour/whale-watching vessel, or help with bird rehabilitation work at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, doing the boat trips in-between.
While working with the shark cage diving vessel you will be assisting visitors with their lifejackets and wetsuits, assisting anyone that suffers with seasickness, recording shark data and preparing & cleaning the boat.On the ecotour/whale watching boat you will be assisting with lifejackets, guiding and capturing data. If you are staying for a longer period and demonstrate an enthusiastic interest in Great White Sharks, there may also be opportunities to spend time on the research vessel where you can assist with tracking activities, water sampling, chum trips and preparation & cleaning.
At the penguin centre, you may be involved in cleaning the birds’ pens, crates and living areas, assisting with preparing medicated fish, recording medical records and data and telling visitors about what we do. If you are staying for a minimum of 4 weeks and you want to volunteer at penguin centre regularly during your time here then you may be able to learn how to handle the birds yourself, if the rehabilitator feels that you show an aptitude for this. There may also be an opportunity to read blood slides on the microscope and to enter data onto the computer.
There may be occasional off days so should we not be at sea, in lectures or on a planned activity, then we will arrange a fun activity with hiking, snorkeling, beach walks, visiting caves, wine tasting, shopping in Hermanus and visiting a penguin colony being some of the options.
Volunteer Testimonials | Marine Conservation Project Photos
When you first arrive in Cape Town, you will spend the night at Ashanti Lodge, (Voted as Cape Town’s best backpacker accommodation in 2019) with free Wi-Fi, stunning views of Table Mountain and easy access to the city centre.
During your time with the project you will stay at a large volunteer lodge in Kleinbaai which is equipped with four cottages with room for 6 volunteers in each one.
Each cottage has a bathroom, kitchenette and living area as well as daily living essentials.
The main building has a beautiful kitchen, equipped with induction plates, a microwave and oven for cooking and a fully functional recycling system in place. There is also a very spacious living area with satellite TV, DVD player, board games, pool table and foosball. There is an activity hall with some weights and a table tennis table.
Walking or cycling to the project HQ is easy, quick and safe and will only take between 10 and 15min (1.4km). We also have 2 dedicated minibuses that are used daily for the volunteers’ transport needs.
The project HQ is the hub of the tourism activities. It is here that we brief our clients prior to each trip. This facility has a fully equipped restaurant and curio shop and two dedicated briefing rooms for clients, not to mention really great staff who make awesome coffee! There is also a Southern Right Whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling – the largest privately-owned exhibit in South Africa – as well as two dolphin skeletons.
Here are some useful things to know about the volunteer lodge:
Volunteer Testimonials | Marine Conservation Project Photos
The project is located in Kleinbaai, a small harbour town just over 2-hours drive from Cape Town in South Africa.
Your arrival airport is Cape Town (CPT)