NO. 01South Africa
Warriors Academy
Warriors Academy
A South African structured gap year route centred on adventure, personal development and practical challenges.
Gap Year · Directory
Find an experiencethat moves youforward
This independent directory brings together a selected set of adventure, work-travel, conservation, community service, skills and paid programme routes for school leavers.
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We list these opportunities for comparison; they are offered by the organisations linked in each entry.
The complete list
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Search by programme name or interest. If you are still deciding what kind of structure fits, start with the Gap Year Mode Quiz.
Independent directory: We've curated these opportunities to help you explore your options. Unless explicitly stated, we are not affiliated with the organisations listed. Always do your own research before applying.
Before applying: Confirm current dates, costs, eligibility and intake status directly with each organisation.
65 options
NO. 02South Africa
PNX Gap Year
PNX Global
A structured gap year programme offering guided experiences and personal development.
NO. 03South Africa
ATKV-Postmatriek
ATKV
A South African programme for learners who have completed their final school year, combining structured activities, development and community.
NO. 04International
OVC Work Study Travel
OVC
Work, study and travel routes for South Africans exploring opportunities abroad.
NO. 05International
YDP Work & Travel
YDP
International work and travel programmes with application support.
NO. 06International
Letz Live
Letz Live
Gap year work and travel placements in international destinations.
NO. 07International
CCUSA
CCUSA
International camp, work experience and cultural exchange programmes.
NO. 08Global
Workaway International
Workaway
A platform connecting travellers with hosts offering cultural exchange and volunteer-style stays.
NO. 09South Africa
Roots Interns
Roots Interns
Internship opportunities with a focus on placements in South Africa.
NO. 10Cape Town, South Africa
VACorps
VACorps
Supported internship placements across a range of professional fields.
NO. 11South Africa
Wildlife ACT
Wildlife ACT
Wildlife conservation volunteering and field-based monitoring experiences.
NO. 12South Africa
Amakhala Volunteers
Amakhala Volunteers
Volunteer opportunities connected to reserve conservation and community initiatives.
NO. 13South Africa
SANCCOB
SANCCOB
Volunteer opportunities supporting seabird rescue, rehabilitation and conservation work.
NO. 14Durban, South Africa
CROW Volunteer Programme
Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife
Hands-on volunteering with indigenous wildlife rehabilitation, animal care and the release of recovered animals.
NO. 15Limpopo, South Africa
Selati Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Programme
Selati Game Reserve
Join the reserve research team for wildlife monitoring, data collection and practical conservation work.
NO. 16Sodwana Bay, South Africa
Coral Divers Dive Internship
Coral Divers
A diving internship route for candidates interested in marine environments and dive experience.
NO. 17Gansbaai, South Africa
White Shark Projects
White Shark Projects
Marine conservation and shark-focused learning or volunteer opportunities.
NO. 18Cape Town, South Africa
Two Oceans Aquarium Volunteers
Two Oceans Aquarium
Volunteer opportunities supporting aquarium operations, education and marine awareness.
NO. 19South Africa
Bushwise
Bushwise
Field guide and conservation career training for people pursuing work in nature-based industries.
NO. 20South Africa
EcoTraining
EcoTraining
Field guide courses and nature-based training experiences.
NO. 21South Africa
Academy for Environmental Leadership SA
AEL
Environmental leadership and field-based learning programmes.
NO. 22Cape Town, South Africa
Oranjezicht City Farm
OZCF
An urban farming and community food initiative with ways to learn and get involved.
NO. 23Cape Town, South Africa
Abalimi Bezekhaya
Abalimi Bezekhaya
Community agriculture and food-growing work supporting township farmers and gardens.
NO. 24South Africa
YearBeyond
YearBeyond
A youth service programme focused on community contribution, experience and personal development.
NO. 25South Africa
Ditshego (House of Laughter)
Ditshego
A local nonprofit offering opportunities to support its community work.
NO. 26South Africa
Home of Hope
Home of Hope
Ways to get involved with a local nonprofit supporting children and families.
NO. 27Western Cape, South Africa
Pebbles Project
Pebbles Project
A nonprofit supporting children, families and communities in farming areas.
NO. 28South Africa
Sugar Bay
Sugar Bay
A South African residential summer camp environment with youth activities and camp experiences.
NO. 29South Africa
South African Red Cross Society Training
South African Red Cross Society
First aid and practical skills training offered through the South African Red Cross Society.
NO. 30South Africa
Martin & East Matric Gap Year Programme
Martin & East
A gap year programme for learners finishing their final school year, connected to workplace exposure and career development.
NO. 31Western Cape, South Africa
First Work Experience – PAY Programme
Western Cape Government
A first work experience programme for eligible young people in the Western Cape.
NO. 32Online resource
Volunteer Forever
Volunteer Forever
A research and vetting resource for comparing volunteer opportunities; it is not a placement provider.
NO. 33South Africa
Quest Africa Programs
Quest Africa
Structured adventure and personal development options including Quest Core Plus, Quest Core and the Spring Program.
NO. 34South Africa
SA Film Academy Internships
SA Film Academy
Internship opportunities for emerging talent seeking practical experience in the film industry.
NO. 35South Africa
National Youth Chefs Training Programme
Department of Tourism
A national training programme focused on developing practical culinary skills and pathways into the hospitality industry.
NO. 36Johannesburg, South Africa
Siyakhana
Siyakhana Growth and Development
A sustainability and urban agriculture initiative offering practical volunteering experience in food gardening and natural building.
NO. 37Cape Town, South Africa
Cape of Good Hope SPCA
Cape of Good Hope SPCA
Animal welfare volunteering opportunities including dog walking, cat socialisation, seal monitoring and community service for learners.
NO. 38Hout Bay, Cape Town
DARG
Domestic Animal Rescue Group
Animal welfare volunteering for adults, with opportunities to support shelter animals, charity shops and fundraising events.
NO. 39Cape Town, South Africa
Feed the Soil
Ladles of Love
A food-waste and community farming programme with volunteering opportunities at weekly collection and produce meeting spots.
NO. 40Gauteng, South Africa
Woodrock Animal Rescue
Woodrock Animal Rescue
Animal rescue volunteering and a supervised school community service programme supporting rehabilitation and responsible rehoming.
NO. 41Cape Town, South Africa
TEARS Animal Rescue
TEARS Animal Rescue
Volunteer opportunities supporting the rescue, rehabilitation, care and rehoming of companion animals in Cape Town communities.
NO. 42South Africa
FoodForward SA
FoodForward SA
Team volunteering opportunities at warehouses across South Africa, helping to sort, check and pack surplus food for vulnerable communities.
NO. 43South Africa & Botswana
55-Day Field Guide Course
EcoTraining
An entry-level field guide course run across remote wilderness camps, covering ecology, tracking, navigation, animal behaviour and game-drive skills, leading to a CATHSSETA-accredited, FGASA-endorsed Nature Site Guide NQF2 qualification. Open to applicants aged 18 and over.
NO. 44South Africa
Matla A Bana
Matla A Bana
A registered non-profit working to reduce the secondary trauma children face when reporting abuse, through child-friendly reporting facilities at police units, courts and hospitals, comfort packs, school education theatre and training for officers and prosecutors. Support runs through donations, fundraising events and awareness work rather than placed volunteer roles.
NO. 45Cambodia & Southeast Asia
TEFL Certification & Teaching Placement
Destination TEFL
In-person, hybrid and fast-track TEFL courses run in Siem Reap, built around supervised teaching practice with real Cambodian students, leading to TEFL certification and placement support for teaching work in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia. South Africans are among the nationalities routinely placed, and a degree is not required to teach in Cambodia.
NO. 46Hoedspruit, South Africa
Wildlife Wonderland
You2Africa
A wildlife-focused volunteer programme combining practical conservation work with opportunities to experience South Africa's bush environment.
NO. 47Hoedspruit, South Africa
Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage
You2Africa
Support a bush school and wildlife orphanage through environmental education, animal care and community-focused activities.
NO. 48Graaff-Reinet, South Africa
Mountain Rhino Foundation
You2Africa
A conservation programme supporting endangered species protection, habitat work and practical reserve activities in the Eastern Cape.
NO. 49Cape Town & Eastern Cape
South African Voluntour
You2Africa
A multi-destination volunteer journey combining community projects, animal welfare, conservation experiences and South African travel.
NO. 50Maun, Botswana
Conservation & Community
You2Africa
A Botswana volunteer programme connecting community support with local conservation and sustainable development activities.
NO. 51Cape Town, South Africa
Cheetah Conservation
You2Africa
Volunteer with a cheetah conservation project through animal care, education and awareness activities supporting the species' future.
NO. 52Cape Town, South Africa
Healing Through Horses
You2Africa
An equine-assisted community programme using horses to support therapeutic activities, confidence and personal development.
NO. 53Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Wildlife Conservation
You2Africa
Hands-on wildlife conservation work in the Eastern Cape, including reserve tasks, monitoring and habitat management.
NO. 54Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Hands On Big 5
You2Africa
A practical Big Five conservation programme involving wildlife monitoring, reserve maintenance and field-based project work.
NO. 55Cape Town, South Africa
Animal Charity
You2Africa
Support animal welfare in Cape Town through shelter care, enrichment, maintenance and community outreach activities.
NO. 56Cape Town, South Africa
Penguin Rescue
You2Africa
Assist a seabird rehabilitation centre caring for injured, oiled and abandoned African penguins and other coastal birds.
NO. 57Cape Town, South Africa
Making Waves
You2Africa
A community sports programme using surfing and water-based activities to mentor young people and build confidence.
NO. 58Cape Town, South Africa
Yoga 2 Africa & Organic African Farm
You2Africa
Combine yoga and wellness activities with practical work on an organic farm and community outreach projects.
NO. 59Cape Town, South Africa
Love 2 Teach
You2Africa
Support schools and education centres through classroom assistance, creative activities and individual learner support.
NO. 60Cape Town, South Africa
Help Transform a Child's Life
You2Africa
Work alongside local carers and educators to support children through learning, play and community development activities.
NO. 61Cape Town, South Africa
Heart for Humanity - Ubuntu
You2Africa
A community volunteer programme supporting children and families through care, education and practical outreach guided by the spirit of Ubuntu.
NO. 62Botswana
Wildlife & Wilderness Botswana
Youth 4 Conservation
A field-based Botswana programme combining wildlife conservation, wilderness learning and practical experience in a natural environment.
NO. 63Namibia
Desert Elephants Namibia
Youth 4 Conservation
A conservation programme focused on Namibia's desert-adapted elephants, their habitat and the communities that share the landscape.
NO. 64South Africa
Wildlife Adventure South Africa
Youth 4 Conservation
A South African wildlife adventure combining conservation learning, outdoor exploration and practical field experience.
NO. 65South Africa
Marine Ecology South Africa
Youth 4 Conservation
A marine ecology programme exploring South Africa's coastal ecosystems through conservation learning and hands-on field activities.