The Hidden Forest Wildlife Sanctuary, the most recent addition to the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) family of ethical, hands-off animal sanctuaries, opened to the public in April 2019. We have lots of exciting volunteering opportunities.
We welcome applications from volunteers who can understand and speak English, are hard-working, fast-learning, enthusiastic and prepared to cheerfully fulfil all tasks. We have lots of different volunteering options depending on your skills, experience and interests and how long you wish to volunteer with us.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age; there is no maximum age limit to volunteer with us.
Payment: We do not charge volunteers to come and work with us, the only cost is for your food, transport and accommodation which is in a privately-owned Volunteer House about 10-15 minutes drive from our sanctuary. More information about what’s included can be found on the Volunteer Accommodation page.
Contact information: If you have any questions about our volunteer programme or want to check availability for your planned dates before applying, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Travelling
The nearest airport is King Shaka International Airport (Durban). You will be staying just 26kms from King Shaka International Airport (Durban). We will arrange for you to be met at the airport and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Shakaskraal. This transfer is included in the accommodation package. For a small transfer fee, we can also arrange to meet you at the local bus station.
Uniform
A uniform shirt / T-Shirt and fleece/jersey will be provided. You will need to bring your own trousers/skirts/shirts – khaki for guides, khaki, dark green, brown, grey are all fine for other volunteer roles – and brown or black shoes preferably with no bright colours. Waterproof boots are also a good idea as we can get a fair amount of rain through the year.
Our general colours are dark green, brown and khaki. If you have any warm clothes of that colour it is best to bring them with you.
General information
Our sanctuary is open 365 days per year. You will generally work 5 days per week, from 8am to 5pm. You may occasionally be asked to work extra days and/or longer hours during the peak summer months. Off days will not necessarily fall on a weekend. You will be given full training on arrival.
Costs
When you volunteer at The Hidden Forest Wildlife Sanctuary, you pay only for your accommodation package. You can find more information about what’s included in the package on our Volunteer Accommodation page. Please contact our volunteer coordinator for details of current prices and to check availability.
Please note: The Hidden Forest Wildlife Sanctuary is a “hands off” sanctuary meaning that we, at no time, actually have physical contact with the animals. If this rule is broken you will be asked to leave the volunteer programme and accommodation immediately.
All volunteers stay in a private home managed by our Volunteer Coordinator / House Mother in the small town of Shakaskraal, just 10km away from our sanctuary and 10km from the seaside town and fabulous beaches of Ballito on the Indian Ocean.
The house has four volunteer bedrooms. All have twin beds, air conditioning and access to a private shower room. Unless volunteering as a couple, you will only ever share a room with someone of the same gender. Twin rooms can, subject to availability, be converted to double rooms for couples who are volunteering together.
The volunteer accommodation package includes:
- Airport transfers (Durban King Shaka International) at the start and end of your placement;
- Daily transport to and from the sanctuary on working days;
- Accommodation in a twin room with air conditioning and access to a private shower room;
- 3 meals per day (self-service cold breakfast and (packed) lunch with a full evening meal served in the dining room). We can cater for different dietary needs, please just be sure to state these on your application form.
- Laundry;
- Uncapped Wifi;
- Use of the TV lounge with satellite TV package and DVD player;
- Use of the book swap and DVD library, playing cards and board games;
- Use of the well-stocked bar, where we operate an honesty bar system;
- Support of our on-site Volunteer Coordinator / House Mother who will answer your questions, give you ideas on what you can do in the local area, help you to arrange transport etc.