Explore The Depths
Diving in South Africa

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 Richards Bay Airport (RCB) on your selected start date, being the first Friday of the month. Please ensure you land into South Africa on your selected start date – normally the 1st Friday of the month. The exact date can be found within your My Trip account.

There are normally two flights per day from Johannesburg Airport to Richards Bay Airport, arriving at either 07:45AM or 12:30PM. The local team can arrange an airport pickup for either of these flights, but please note, if there were to be any delays the cut off time is 3PM. In the rare even this were to happen, you would need to organise your own transport the volunteer accommodation.

On arrival a member of our local team will be at the waiting area for you holding a sign with your name on it.

Once everyone is present, you will make the journey north to Sodwana Bay by private car / van. This can take anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5 hours depending on traffic.

As there are more flight routes and often better flight times for flying into and out of Durban, the local team are happy to arrange a pickup from here instead - although there will be additional fees.

When your volunteering placement sadly comes to an end, our local team can arrange your transfer back to the airport. Your official last day will be the Friday of your final week and you should arrange flights or onwards travel for this date.

Volunteers should opt for the flight that leaves Richards Bay Airport at 12:55PM.

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 set days off per week - allowing you to head further afield. Our local team will provide excursions on a weekly basis and there are also optional tours available that you can pay for to see more of South Africa.

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.

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. Joanne and Marius 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, generally on a same-sex basis. If you are looking for a private room to share with one other person, this is generally possible, but we would recommend contacting us beforehand to confirm.

You will be responsbile for choosing your own groceries as part of the weekly trip to the supermarket, with this being included within the programme fee. With this in mind, you can generally cater for own dietary requirements as part of this shop.

If you have any questions about what kind of things the supermarket may or may not sell, please do get in touch.

Please make sure you arrive into Richards Bay Airport (RCB) or King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban (additional fee) on your selected start date, being a Friday.

Day 1 (Friday) – Arrival

A member of our local team will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall and will take you directly to the volunteer accommodation - a journey that normally takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours. 

First Week 

Your first day will be for settling in! Our project coordinator, will give you an orientation with everything you need to know about our project. We will also show you around the camp, the town and take you to get some food for the week at one of the local shops. If you are doing a dive course with us and have not finished your online theory, the rest of the day will be used for dive theory!

The second day, you will have your pool session where you will get to learn about diving from one of our amazing instructors and take your first breath under water!

Day three and four will be your Open Water course dives, you will do two dives a day and by the end of day four you will officially be a PADI Open Water diver!

On day five you will do your first dive as a qualified diver and get your first taste of helping with our data collection.

Day six and seven will be our off days. Day six will be used to do an awesome trip to one of our amazing sites in the nearby area and day seven will be time to recharge and relax.

Volunteering Days

You will be lucky enough to dive five days a week! During the dive days, you will either dive one or twice, depending on the schedule for the day and ocean conditions. A typical day will comprise of the following –

06:30AM – Camp pick up
07:00AM – Kit up dive gear at beach
07:30AM – Boat launch
08:30AM – 10:00AM – Diving
10:00AM – Kit up dive gear at beach
10:30AM – Boat launch
10:30AM – 12:00PM – Diving
12:00PM – Return to camp
12:00PM – 14:00PM – Lunch break
14:00PM – 15:00PM – Database Entry
15:00PM – 16:00PM – Lecture
16:00PM Onwards – Free time

Days Off

You will generally have two days off per week, with a scheduled trip normally planned for one and then the other being free for you to relax around the accommodation and town. The trips will either be after diving during the week or on one of our off days. This is either a beach day, Lake Sibaya trip, Lala Nek trip, or Tolla se Gat trip. On the trips, we have a traditional South African braai (barbeque) and enjoy a relaxing day soaking up the sunshine.

Last day (Friday)

Friday will sadly be the last day during your final week and you should ensure you depart the accommodation on this day. The return transfer is included as part of the programme fee and you should ensure your flight departs between 9am and 4pm.

Sodwana Bay is a small beach town on the east coast of South Africa, just a few kilometers south of Mozambique. The town and the reefs form part of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park which is South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This small town feels like an island tucked away forming its own tropical paradise. With its untouched wonder, it's the perfect place to get away from the noise and rush of city life. Fully enveloped in nature, and the close-knit community, you will get to know some of the best, down-to-earth people you'll ever meet and truly feel like a local.

As one of the best dive sites in the world, the coastline boasts 50 km of unspoiled reef and over 1 100 species of fish. The warm brilliant blue Indian Ocean, seemingly never-ending reefs, and diverse marine life make Sodwana the best place to start your diving journey and should definitely be on your diving bucket list!

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 ensure they do not wear anything to revealing during community programmes. 

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