Work behind the scenes at
an ethical big cat sanctuary

The Mighty Roar welcomes volunteers from all nationalities, religions and backgrounds. No previous experience or qualifications are required to volunteer and we look forward to hosting everyone who is willing to come and help make a difference and bring lots of positive energy.

We ask that all volunteers have a good level and understanding of English, although it does not need to be your first language. You of course do not need to speak the local dialect, but you will find learning a few words will go a long way.

You must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. We're afraid we are generally unable to accept anyone who has any previous convictions, but please do get in touch so we can discuss this further.

Volunteering abroad can at times be both physically and mentally challenging, therefore we ask that all participants be fit in both areas. If you do have any medical / mental health conditions that you believe may affect your time volunteering, then these must be declared to us during the application process. If you have any questions regarding your suitability, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are hoping to volunteer with us in South Africa, then you will need to be at least 18 years old on the programme start date. Generally the average age range for our programmes is 18 - 25, although this is by no means definitive.

None of our programmes have an upper age limit and in the past we have hosted participants of all ages. We find that age does not play an important part of volunteering abroad, as everyone has travelled for the same reason and to make new friends. However, in saying this, we have found at times that our more mature participants have perhaps expected a higher level of accommodation or structure. We cannot stress enough that all volunteers should remain open minded and flexible.

Over the years we have hosted many volunteers across all of our programmes in South Africa and have obtained lots of feedback from everyone. The comments suggest that if you are looking for a large social experience then volunteering during the European summer months of June to August will provide the best experience. During this time we host our peak numbers across all projects and this is when we will be at total capacity in terms of the accommodation and numbers at the projects.

Conversely, volunteering outside of these months will typically provide the greatest opportunity to become fully immersed at the projects and within the local community and give you the chance to build a greater bond with our local team. You will of course still make many new lifelong friends along the way too!

You are more than welcome to apply at any time for any of our programmes, with start dates available at least two years in advance. We recommend that you apply as soon as you know it is something you 100% want to do, to ensure the best chances of availability on your chosen dates. Many of our programmes have limited capacity and at times these spaces can get filled very quickly - this is particularly true for our peak period between June and August.

We generally recommend applying at least 60 days in advance to give you ample time to ensure everything has been arranged. However, if you are looking to volunteer sooner than this, then it should not be a problem. Please do get in contact if you have any concerns about arranging any essentials within a shorter timeframe.

Once you have applied and confirmed your place on the programme, then it is possible to amend your start date and / or duration. Any changes need to be made at least 60 days prior to your start date and are subject to availability. 

This is of course down to personal preference, however, on gaining feedback from previous volunteers we believe 3 to 6 weeks is the ideal amount of time to volunteer for. Not only will you be able to get fully involved with all aspects of the programme and integrate yourself within the local community, but you will also have many opportunities to explore everything South Africa has to offer on the weekends. We regularly have volunteers come for 2 weeks that tell us they wish they stayed for longer.

You should arrive at Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ) on your selected start date, being a Monday. A member of our local team will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall and will take you to the game reserve, located around one hour away.

The programme ends on the Monday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day. Although the airport transfer is not included within the programme fee, our local team are of course on hard to help organise any onwards journeys or transfers back to the airport - the volunteer handbook goes into great detail about this.

Yes of course! Although The Mighty Roar is located within the United Kingdom, we welcome participants from all around the world. Over the years we have hosted many volunteers from across the globe, including USA, Germany, France, Canada, Australia and more. We wish for everyone to have an equal opportunity to travel and help make a difference, no matter where you are from.

You are of course more than welcome to travel and volunteer with your friends, family members and / or your partner. If required, we can ensure that you stay within the same accommodation and volunteer at the same project - so that you are together as often as wanted. Our volunteer accommodation is on a single-sex basis, so if you are wanting to share a a room with someone of the opposite sex, we will do our best accommodate this. However, it would be dependent on space and logistics at the time.

The Mighty Roar was founded with the aim to make all of our volunteering programmes as affordable and accessible as possible, allowing this once in a lifetime opportunity to all travellers. If you really want, we will even allow you to compare our pricing with other organisations, charities and not-for-profits where you will find us significantly cheaper.

How can we do this I hear you ask? Well, it’s pretty simple really! We do not need big fancy offices, lots of employees or massive monthly overheads. Our small family team work from a cosy farm office and we have done away with out-dated glossy brochures, an unnecessary high street shop or plush office and because we are passionate about what we do, we don't need 10+ staff to handle all of the operations.

Each and every destination we operate in has its very own dedicated Facebook group where you can talk with past, present and future volunteers. This is the perfect place to ask any questions from previous volunteers and to also talk with other volunteers who will be volunteering at the same time as you.

You can request to join the South Africa Facebook group by clicking here.

There will be plenty of opportunities for you to travel while volunteering in South Africa. In fact, we actively encourage you to do so! Not only will you have several hours of free time every weekday to explore the local area, but you will also have the weekends off - allowing you to head further afield. Our local team are able to provide you with recommendations and details of any weekend opportunities and travel tips to help you plan any independent adventures. Please feel free to also browse some of our own recommendations further down on the programme page.

The Mighty Roar also operate a number of amazing weekend trips every month that allow you to explore the country as a group with your new-found friends. The structured itinerary along with our local team accompanying you ensures you travel in a safe manner and allows you to see as much as possible during your free time. You can view all available weekend opportunities here.

While we can never guarantee your volunteer experience will be 100% trouble free, we have taken all of the necessary precautions to minimise all risks and to ensure all programmes are as safe as possible. Our helpful and knowledgeable UK team are with you throughout your whole journey, from answering questions about programmes, through the application process, providing pre-departure information, support while in-country and to answer any questions you may have on your return home.

A member of our UK team visit each and every volunteer programme we offer on a regular basis to rigorously check all aspects of the project - something generally not done by most other organisations! We experience every programme just like a volunteer would, from staying within the accommodation, helping on the projects, eating the meals provided and travelling the local area. By doing this, not only can we ensure everything is safe and running as planned, but we can truly tell you what to expect and can provide informed recommendations and advice about anything relating to your trip.

As part of our commitment to your safety, we monitor the stability of all of our volunteer destinations on a daily basis. We are in communication with the local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and we are also in constant contact with our overseas teams to ensure we can identify and act upon any problems immediately.

Every volunteer programme we offer has a co-ordinator and several key team members who will be in charge of ensuring your whole trip runs smoothly. Our local teams are made up of highly experienced individuals who have hosted international volunteers for many years. Everyone will be introduced to you during your orientation and it's these amazing people that will be on hand to answer any questions, deal with any issues and to help make any travel arrangements. Over the duration of your programme, we are sure that the local staff will also become your new best friends and will make your experience even more enjoyable!

With the majority of our programmes, a member of our local team or a trusted appointed driver will be waiting for you at the airport for when you arrive. Over the first day or two you will be given a full orientation that will cover things like emergency procedures, how to use the local transport, the do's and don'ts, local cultures and health and safety information.

Please do not forget that our UK office is available 24/7 in case of any rare emergencies, on the number provided within the volunteer handbook. Both our UK and international team's contact details can be passed onto friends and families and to ensure everyone has peace of mind.

In order for you to confirm your placement on one of our programmes, you need to pay the registration fee of £179. Your remaining balance for your programme fee and any weekend trips and / or optional extras is then due no less than 60 days prior to your programme start date. if you're applying within 60 days of your programme start date then the remaining balance will be due no later than 7 days after your initial application.

When paying for your remaining balance, this can be made in one lump sum or split into several smaller instalments - just as long as the balance is clear 60 days prior to your programme start date. If you have chosen to take travel insurance through The Mighty Roar, then this must be paid in full before the policy can be processed and made live.

We accept payments via BACS (bank transfer) or through our website using all major debit and credit cards. All details required to make payment will be outlined in our email communications with you and they can also be found within your online account once you have confirmed your place.

Yes, it is generally possible to use the majority of our programmes as part of your university or college placement. Since all placements have different requirements and parameters, we recommend that you speak to a member of our UK team to ensure that your chosen volunteer programme will be suitable. Any school / college / university representative is more than welcome to contact us to discuss further the suitability of our programmes and to ensure they are satisfied with all aspects of the trip.

Our UK and in-country teams are able to complete and sign-off any paperwork that is required before your volunteer placement begins, during your trip and upon your return. The Mighty Roar regularly receives college and university students on our programmes and have built up strong ties with many leading universities.

Although we do our best to keep our programme costs as low and as affordable as possible, when you add flights, travel insurance and spending money you may find that you need a little financial help. The money you and other volunteers pay for the programme goes towards the overall structure of the project and includes your accommodation, meals, airport transfers and support from our UK and local teams.

Consequently, a large number of our volunteers decide to fundraise for their upcoming trip. We find that the best way of letting all of your friends and family know about your volunteer adventure is to create an online fundraising page. The Mighty Roar have teamed up with GoGetFunding who are an online crowd funding website that many of our volunteers have used and have recommended in the past. You will be able to create a personalised fundraising page of your own where you can tell everyone exactly what you are doing and why you need some extra money (the more detail you go into the better), set financial goals and upload lots of pictures. 

You can read some more advice about fundraising for your upcoming trip here. 

It is very difficult for us to give an exact figure for how much spending money you will need to take with you. The amount you spend is totally dictated on what you plan on doing during your free time and at the weekends. We recommend that you budget between £50 and £100 per week for general expenses and some independent travel. However, if you plan to travel every weekend and take part in many activities then you should budget accordingly. If you are on a tight budget, then we have had many volunteers come and not spend that much at all.

As we are not medical experts and have no qualifications or experience within this field, we are unable to give any advice about what vaccinations you should or should not have. It is important for you to consult with your local doctor or travel clinic to find out which vaccinations are needed / recommended. They will generally ask where abouts you will be travelling to and what activities you will be involved in. Additional information can be found on the NHS Fit For Travel website.

Our programmes in South Africa are run by a dedicated and experienced in-country local team. Ebin and Petro will be your local co-ordinators and they are in charge of providing the overall structure for your stay, including the accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24/7 emergency support.

All local staff have been fully vetted by our UK team and over the years we have built up a strong relationship with them. The local team provide a great framework for you to enjoy a unique volunteering experience with us in South Africa and they are sure to become your good friends, giving you a unique insight into South Africa.

Our volunteer accommodation in South Africa involves sharing a room with other participants on a same-sex basis. However, when we are not operating at full capacity, you may have the option to have a private room - although this is not something we can guarantee.

Our local team will do their best to cater for any dietary requirements you may have. Any dietary requirements should be provided on your application and re-iterated to the local team on arrival into the country. It is important that if you have any concerns for major requirements, that you raise these with our UK team before confirming your place on the programme.

It is important to note that we cannot guarantee that we can cater for all requirements. Consequently, there may be instances where you need to purchase alternative ingredients or arrange dinner plans at a third party restaurant at your own expense.

Please make sure you arrive into Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ) on Monday.

Day 1 (Monday) – Arrival

A member of our local team will be waiting for you in arrivals holding a named sign. You will be taken straight to the volunteer accommodation that is around an hour away.

You will be greeted at the Volunteer house by one or both the Volunteer Co-ordinators. They will provide you with a short briefing of the house rules, general programme and show you around the house and the facilities. You will then be shown your room and allowed to settle in and meet the other volunteers who you will be sharing the accommodation with. A small booklet will also be provided to you with more useful information regarding your stay. 

Days 2-5 (Tuesday-Friday) – Volunteering

The fun begins! The working week at Amakhala will usually comprise of a 5-day week working 8 hours a day (Monday-Friday). Time to start and finish work will depend on the activities of the day and time of year. You should be prepared to start as early as 5am – it’s well worth it though Most of your days will be spent in the game reserve where you will be monitoring all of the wildlife and carrying out all of your volunteer duties.

You will find that time will really start to fly by, so it’s important to make the most of your time! Don’t forget, our local team are there to support you and to answer any questions you may have. 

Days 6-7 (Saturday-Sunday) – Weekend

The weekends are free for you to explore what South Africa has to offer!

You are more than welcome to stay at the volunteer accommodation, relaxing in front of the open fire, cooling down in the small pool or enjoying the atmosphere in the local pub.

A wide variety of activities can be booked from the volunteer house and our local team are there to assist. A full list will be made available to you when you first arrive.

You can take a leisurely stroll around Port Elizabeth, relax on the golden sand beaches or even visit the local penguin sanctuary! If you are feeling really adventurous you can take a cheap flight to nearby Cape Town or Johannesburg.

The following weeks

The following week(s) will follow a similar pattern to the above. You will be volunteering Monday to Friday and the weekends will be free for you to do as you please. Time will fly by, so be sure to make the most of your time in South Africa.

As ever, our local team are there to support you in any way possible.

Last day (Monday)

Monday will sadly be the last day during your final week. Depnding on what transfer option you have selected will dictate your travel times. 

Patterson is situated at the foothills of the Zuurberg Mountains and is in the centre of game reserve country. The six massive grain silos are a significant mark in the skyline that is otherwise dominated by bushveld.

This town was once an important railway link until steam trains were derailed in the 1980’s. By 1996, the rail functions had been transferred to the city of Port Elizabeth and Paterson became semi-dormant.

The farming community of Paterson saw a clash of domestic and wild animal hunting interests, which caused the eradication of ‘problem animals’.

The weather in South Africa is extremely seasonal and is well known for having all four seasons in one day! A subtropical climate, moderated by the ocean on two sides and with the altitude of the interior plateau accounts for the warm temperature so typical of South Africa. Famous for its sunshine, this relatively dry country has an average rainfall of half of the worlds average!

Please bear in mind that the seasons are the reverse of the UK. During the summer months (November to March) the temperature can rise to 35°C! These months are generally warm and dry; however, at times it can get quite windy.

June brings cold weather as South Africa enters the winter period, which lasts up until September. On average, the temperature stays around 15°C, but can drop way below this as night falls. The weather over this period can be unpredictable so we suggest bringing clothes for all seasons. 

All volunteers are required to dress appropriately whilst working at the project. Although there is no formal dress code at the project, volunteers should have their shoulders, knees and any chest area covered. Please refrain from wearing clothes that are to tight or revealing.

Africa is dirty and dusty! Dust is an ever-present feature of the bush, particularly during the dry winter months and during the summer it can be muddy from short rain showers. The dust will get into everything and your clothes will get grubby even if you haven't been doing particularly dirty work. Bring clothes that you wouldn't mind never seeing again or throwing away, as there's a good chance that's all they'll be good for when you've finished your programme!

When packing, consider the daily temperature range and in winter consider bringing lightweight layers to peel off during the day rather than one very heavy jacket.

Due to the nature of the programme, public and school holidays do not generally affect the project, apart from some of the community-based activities.

There may be occasions when a local festivity or an organised event at the game reserve means there are no planned activities for one day – although this is rare.

You will need to arrange your flights to and from your chosen destination and we will happily assist wherever required. When you first sign up to volunteer with The Mighty Roar you will gain access to your pre-departure volunteer handbook that will have all of the important arrival and departure details, including correct airports, dates and times.

We recommend using a flight comparison website like Sky Scanner. Not only will you be able to see the range of prices, but you can also see what airline and route / duration is best for your requirements and budget. Although we recommend booking your flights as early as possible to help ensure you secure the best price and required dates, it can also help to monitor the price over the course of a few weeks to see what the average is.

There may also be times when changing your flight dates by a day or two provides substantial savings, so this is always worth checking and bearing in mind. We may not be able to accommodate you within the volunteer accommodation outside of your selected dates, but can provide hotel recommendations etc...

If you are unsure about anything regarding your flights then please just get in contact with us. We are more than happy to check over your preferred flights to ensure they are correct with the requirements of your programme before you book them.

We strongly recommend that you do not make any flight and / or third party travel arrangements until your place has been confirmed via email by The Mighty Roar. Please note that we cannot accept standby flights, all flight details provided to us must be fully confirmed.

Whether you are travelling for 1 week or 6 months, having adequate travel insurance that covers your entire duration abroad is an essential and compulsory part of your adventure. Although The Mighty Roar does everything in their power to ensure each and every trip is safe, inevitably things can and do go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place will help you with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

We have teamed up with Endsleigh to create an affordable and comprehensive travel insurance policy specifically for The Mighty Roar volunteers. You can be safe in the knowledge that you have full protection if needed and that our polices cover all of your volunteering activities.

If you would like to purchase your travel insurance through TMR then you can easily add this on when applying under the optional extras page. Alternatively, you can contact us today to add this onto your existing application. Please do not contact Endsleigh directly, as they will be unable to assist.

We recommend that you organise your travel insurance as soon as you confirm your place. This will ensure that your pre-departure cancellation starts from the day you are accepted and will cover you should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason (such as illness).

You should ensure that your travel insurance covers you for the total duration of your trip i.e. from when you depart your home country to the day you return. It is important to note that our travel insurance is inclusive of your start and end date. For example, if you are volunteering for one week, from Saturday to Saturday, this is in actual fact 8 days and you will need to take out 2 weeks insurance to be fully covered.

For further information about our travel insurance, please click here.

In order for you to participate in any of our volunteering programmes, you will need to present to us a clean criminal background check (also known as a DBS or Police Check). This must be submitted and approved no less than 21 days prior to your programme start date. A criminal background check is a mandatory requirement for all volunteers aged 16 and over. We are unable to provide any exceptions to this, which is why it is important that you apply for one as soon as possible – at least 6 weeks prior to your start date.

If you already have a criminal background check that has been issued within 18 months of your programme start date, then you are more than welcome to provide this.

If you don't have a valid DBS check then you will need to apply for one. UK volunteers need to apply for a "Basic Disclosure" through the government website here. This costs £23 and can take up to 15 working days to process. 

For international participants, we recommend you obtain a Police/Criminal Background Check through your local police station or official governmental body.

All volunteers will receive a comprehensive volunteer handbook that provides all of the information you need to prepare for your upcoming trip. This includes details on what to pack, how to obtain a visa, what to expect and so much more. With this in mind, it is really important that you read through the volunteer handbook carefully.

You will receive your volunteer handbook once you have confirmed your place by paying the registration fee. We will send an email entitled 'Welcome to TMR', which will include a link to your online account where you can access the handbook and other important details. Please note, all material is sent via email and hard copies cannot be sent