Penguin and Seabird Rescue Helper
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) was established in 1968 and is a non-profit organisation whose primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds - especially endangered seabirds like the African penguin. In almost 50 years, SANCCOB has treated more than 95 000 seabirds and independent research confirms that SANCCOB’s oil spill response actions alone have increased the African population by 19%. In a non-spill year, SANCCOB treats up to 2500 seabirds, of which approximately 1500 are African penguins.
Volunteers are an essential component of SANCCOB's year-round operations, as the organization operates every day of the year. Individuals from around the world can participate in the programme for a minimum of two weeks on a full-time basis. The Volunteer Coordinator creates a monthly schedule, in which volunteers are scheduled to work a maximum of five days per week, including weekends and public holidays. A normal working day is from 08:00 to 17:30* with a lunch break 13:00 - 14:00 and a short tea break in the morning at 11:00 (times may vary depending on capacity needs and bird numbers at the centre). *Some days may require volunteers to assist until 18:30, so your willingness to go the extra mile during the busy times will be crucial.
- Cleaning of equipment used in food preparation and feeding
- Cleaning of equipment used in food preparation and feeding
- Assisting in maintaining the permanent bird exhibit (scrubbing rocks, raking sand and food preparation)
- Defrosting and preparing fish for a variety of seabird species
- Centre maintenance duties
- Home pen scribing duties
** Please note that duties are issued based on the volunteer’s experience
You are collected from the airport and taken to your accommodation. You will be shown around and given an understanding of the area. You have the day at your own leisure so you can explore the beach, shops, bars and restaurants. In the evening you are served a welcoming meal at the hostel.
Day 2: Cape Town City Walking Tour (Sunday)
Start the day with a self served breakfast. Your friendly project leader will teach you about the bus system before you head out to Cape Town City Center.
Cape Town City Walking Tour:
Do a walking tour visiting historical sites like the Castle of Good Hope and the Grand Parade. Learn about life under apartheid in South Africa at the Parliament Buildings and the District Six Museum. Shop for African arts and crafts in Greenmarket Square and St George’s Mall.
After the listed activity, you can take a bus or walk to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Sit back and sip a delicious coffee, enjoy some fresh fish and watch the ships in the busy working harbor or walk around and visit the shops, markets and listen to the musicians on the sidewalks.
Alternatively, you can take the cable car up Table Mountain and enjoy breath-taking views of the city, or visit the famous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held in prison during the apartheid era. (Own Expense)
In the evening head back on the local bus to Table View where you can join the staff, guests and the locals at one of the restaurants or bars along the beachfront in Table View - all within rolling distance from the hostel where you will be staying the night.
A normal working day is from 8:00 to 17:30* with a lunch break 13:00 - 14:00 and a short tea break in the morning at 11:00 and afternoon at 15:30 (times may vary depending on capacity needs and bird numbers at the centre).
*Some days may require volunteers to assist until 18:3, so your willingness to go the extra mile during the busy times will be crucial.
The different areas a volunteer could be assigned to each day are:
Food Preparation Kitchen
Area responsible for fish defrosting, preparation of fluids/formula and cleaning of food preparation and feeding equipment.
Laundry
Area responsible for the washing and drying of laundry.
Cleaning Station
Area responsible for cleaning of large equipment with the use of a high-pressure hose. Example: mats from bird enclosures and bird crates.
Aviary
Enclosures designated for flying birds that require daily cleaning of the enclosure.
Intensive Care Unit
Staff and interns are mostly responsible for the care of birds in the ICU, but volunteers could be asked to assist with cleaning in ICU.
Rehabilitation Pens
Main enclosures for birds undergoing rehabilitation, mostly African penguins. Areas require daily cleaning.
Home Pen
Exhibit for permanent and long-term temporary birds at SANCCOB. Assisting in maintenance of the exhibit, include scrubbing rocks, raking sand and food preparation.
Jobs
Various jobs required around the centre, crucial in the daily running of the rehabilitation centre. Jobs could include general maintenance or cleaning duties.
With every new arrival we have a safety and orientation briefing where we discuss issues such as general safety in South Africa for example, what to do in the settlements, where not to go, what to do in case of an emergency, sea currents, HIV AIDS and crime. There is a volunteer co-ordinator with our volunteers at all times while on project to ensure the safety of the children and volunteer. We offer all our volunteers 24/7 support and assistance.
2 day Cape Town orientation
Accommodation
Three meals a day (Monday to Friday) - Dinners not included on weekends
Weekly social events
24-hour support and supervision
2 free t-shirts
Donation to the project
Certificate of appreciation
*Transport to and from the project 2km away from the accommodation is NOT included. Volunteers can either walk or use Uber at +_ 1 EUR each way.
CV/Resume
Have an up-to-date tetanus vaccination
A good understanding of the English language is essential
Physically fit and able to stand for a full shift (at least 8 hours per day)
Comfortable with getting dirty and willing to work in all weather conditions, frequently outside
Able to work in a team as well as independently
Be reliable and accountable and able to follow Standard Operating Procedures
Compassionate and caring nature with a love for seabirds
Consult your doctor before volunteering if you are pregnant, on medication or allergic to animal dander, or detergent.
Persons with chronic respiratory ailments or impaired kidneys or liver should avoid working around crude oil.
** Be aware that this is not for the faint-hearted. The birds in our care are wild and will bite at any opportunity. Learning how to work with birds is a bit like riding a bike....the more you practice the better you become. Potential volunteers should, therefore, know that commitment is key to learning how to handle and feed birds.
Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.
It is important to remember that we are working with wildlife and nature, both of which are unpredictable. We cannot guarantee sightings of any specific species. For this reason and in case of bad weather days, when we can’t go to sea, we recommend a 2-4 week minimum stay. If you join for a one-week stay, you might be very disappointed if you miss several days on the sea due to the weather conditions.
Volunteers are responsible for keeping their own room and volunteer house tidy. The volunteer houses are walking distance from shops, restaurants, entertainment, bus stops, and the beach.
As you exit the terminal at the airport, our driver will be waiting for you with your name on a board. If for any reason you can’t find the driver please make your way to the Cape Town Information Desk and contact us at +27 21 556 9369 or +27 73 3334338. On project days the volunteers will be transported by private car or mini bus. The vehicles are roadworthy and have all relevant licenses and liability insurance.
Breakfast: self-catering breakfast of cereals, fruit, yogurt, toast & spreads
Lunch: self-catering lunch of breads, fruit, cold meats, cheese, salad & spreads
Dinner: consists of a hot meal such as a traditional South African BBQ (braai) and stews (potjies).
Tea and coffee will be available all day.
Exception: During your Cape Town introduction weekend, you will only receive a welcome dinner on the day of arrival, other meals are at your own expense.
If you have any dietary requirements, please inform SAVE about this before your arrival. We will try our best to accommodate this, however, you may need to supplement your own food. If snacks are desired there are several grocery stores nearby. There are refrigerators available for volunteers personal food and soft drinks. Tea and coffee will be available free of charge, all other drinks will be at own expense.
Visas and insurances are the responsibility of the intern. Travel insurance is compulsory. You are also required to present a copy of your return flight itinerary when entering South Africa.
Winter in South Africa
Please note that May through to September are our winter months and it can get quite chilly with an average temperature ranging from 5 degrees Celsius at night to 15 degrees Celsius during the day. So please make sure to pack enough warm clothes if you plan your trip in that period.
Packing List
- Swimwear and beach towel
- Wetsuit - If you have your own and wish to surf during your stay. Otherwise you can use one of ours if permission is granted by the project leader
- Warm clothes
- Old clothes - bring comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty to work in
- Sneakers or comfortable working shoes
- Sunscreen (and a sun hat or cap)
- Prescription medication if needed
- Basic first aid requirements
- Please bring a spare set of warm clothes, best to wear quick drying clothes in general.
- Please note we don’t allow strap tops, very short shorts etc. Shorts that come to the knee and T-shirts are what is accepted.
- If you have your own gumboots/crocs you can bring those, if not we have one’s that you can use.
Tours en activiteiten
Alles voor je reis op één plek. Bekijk tours, activiteiten en buspassen om nog meer uit je avontuur te halen.
Minimale duur 15 Dagen
Locatie Cape Town
Groepsgrootte 1-30
Aantal reizigers
Vertrekdata & opties
Reisduur
Pakket
Prijzen zijn exclusief de verplichte bijdrage aan het Calamiteitenfonds (€2), RGF contributie (€5) en internationale vliegtickets. We helpen je graag met het boeken van je vluchten, maar wacht hier alsjeblieft mee totdat een van onze reisspecialisten je tour of activiteit heeft bevestigd. Je ontvangt de boekingsbevestiging zo snel mogelijk per e-mail.
Heb je nog vragen of wil je deze tour toevoegen aan een grotere reis?
Neem gewoon contact op! Onze reisspecialisten denken mee en plannen jouw trip van begin tot eind.
Waarom boek je jouw tours bij KILROY?
Met zorg geselecteerde reizen
We selecteren ervaringen van enkele van de beste aanbieders van avontuurlijke reizen ter wereld, zodat je met vertrouwen kunt boeken.
Support van reisspecialisten
Hulp nodig bij accommodatie, vervoer, verzekering of het plannen van de rest van je reis? Onze reisadviseurs staan voor je klaar.
Meer dan één tour of activiteit
Veel reizigers boeken één ervaring en ontdekken onderweg nog veel meer mogelijkheden. Wij helpen je graag om je avontuur nog groter te maken.
Persoonlijk reisadvies
Of het nu je eerste grote reis is of je tiende, wij helpen je om ervaringen te vinden die passen bij jouw plannen, budget en reisstijl.
Veelgestelde vragen
Alle details die je moet weten voordat je tours en activiteiten online boekt.
Niet altijd. We moeten eerst de beschikbaarheid bij de leverancier bevestigen. Zodra dat geregeld is, ontvang je een boekingsbevestiging van KILROY.
De meeste boekingen worden binnen enkele werkdagen bevestigd. Sommige activiteiten kunnen langer duren, afhankelijk van de leverancier en vertrekdatum.
Als de gevraagde vertrekdatum niet beschikbaar is, helpen we je met het vinden van een alternatieve datum, een vergelijkbare ervaring of we zorgen voor een terugbetaling.
Een reisspecialist van je lokale KILROY-kantoor is jouw contactpersoon en helpt je met de boeking indien nodig.
Zeker! Veel reizigers beginnen met een activiteit en voegen later andere reisplannen toe. Onze adviseurs helpen je graag om er een complete reis van te maken.
Je betaalt de activiteit of tour volledig tijdens het online afrekenen. De bijdrage van € 2 voor het Calamiteitenfonds en € 5 voor het RGF betaal je achteraf. Zodra je betaling binnen is, nemen we contact op met de leverancier en starten we de verwerking van je boeking.
Als een leverancier een activiteit annuleert, zoeken we samen naar een passend alternatief. Als dat niet lukt, heb je recht op een terugbetaling volgens onze voorwaarden.
Voor elke boeking betaal je € 2 bijdrage aan het Calamiteitenfonds en € 5 aan het RGF (Reisgarantiefonds). Hiermee ben je beschermd bij calamiteiten en financiële problemen, zoals een eventueel faillissement van de reisorganisatie. Eventuele extra kosten voor je tour of activiteit worden duidelijk vermeld op de betreffende pagina.
Bevestigde boekingen zijn definitief en kunnen niet worden geannuleerd. Heb je per ongeluk de verkeerde datum aangevraagd? Neem dan contact op met de reisspecialist die jouw boeking behandelt om de mogelijkheden te bespreken.
We raden sterk aan om een reisverzekering af te sluiten voor alle reizen en activiteiten. Sommige leveranciers kunnen specifieke dekking eisen.
4 / 10 resultaten weergegeven
Ontdek de nieuwste reisinspiratie op de KILROY reisblog
Wij houden van reizen en verwachten dat jij dat ook doet! Lees onze reisverhalen, gidsen en topkeuzes voor inspiratie voor je volgende trip.
6 / 62 resultaten weergegeven