Across Africa, the reduction of natural habitats has led to a growing need for elephants to be cared for in private reserves. The research conducted through this project focuses on establishing standards to ensure that all elephants in care receive proper handling and treatment. By engaging in close interaction with these elephants and closely monitoring their behavior, the project aims to determine the best practices for caring for these gentle giants.

This experience not only allows you to form personal connections with the elephants but also enables you to contribute significantly to the welfare of elephants across the African continent. This is a unique opportunity to work with wildlife while gaining insights into the complexities of conservation efforts.

Additionally, spending part of your gap year in Africa provides an incredible opportunity to learn about this diverse and vibrant continent, enriching your understanding of its rich ecosystems and cultures.

At the park, the conservation and care of elephants are the top priorities. Efforts focus on their rehabilitation while also addressing critical issues such as habitat destruction, the illegal ivory trade, and the exploitation of elephants. Visitors to the park receive informative presentations and guided tours, providing them with the opportunity to meet the elephants and learn about their individual backgrounds and stories.

The core of the volunteer programme is centred around research and conservation, led by a qualified and experienced team that has dedicated years to working with these magnificent animals. Many elephants arrive at the park in a distressed condition and require specialized care and time to recover from their trauma.

Importantly, the park maintains a strict policy against elephant back riding, ensuring that the elephants are treated with respect and dignity.

Oyster assesses projects carefully to ensure that they offer high standards of animal welfare and environmental practice. We also check that volunteers understand key points of good practice before working with animals. To find out more, see our animal welfare policy.

We are an approved activity provider for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. You are able to put the time that you spend volunteering abroad on this project towards achieving your Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We are happy to sign off your completion of this programme to show that you have achieved the Residential section of the Gold Award.

The elephant park is located along the stunning Garden Route, renowned for its Mediterranean Maritime climate. This region boasts moderately hot summers and mild to chilly winters, making it an ideal destination for visitors. As one of the richest rainfall areas in South Africa, the park experiences most of its rain during the winter months, thanks to the humid sea winds from the Indian Ocean. The landscape remains lush and perennially green, enhancing its natural beauty.

• Spring spans from late August to October, showcasing vibrant blooms.
• Summer, from November to March, features warm daily temperatures ranging from 24°C to 30°C during the peak months of December to February.
• Autumn months, April and May, see pleasant daytime temperatures in the low 20s°C.
• Winter, occurring from June to August, offers mild daytime warmth (up to 20°C), but expect cooler nights.

This diverse climate not only enriches the natural environment but also provides a picturesque backdrop for your experience at the elephant park.

We would recommend budgeting £75 – £100 per week to cover food, outings and souvenirs. If you wish to do anything “big” like shark cage diving, a safari or a bungee jump, this will probably not fit in your weekly budget, so you should have access to more money.

There is really easy access to cash machines in the local town so you do not need to take all your cash with you.

No visa is necessary for under 90 days from UK and most western European countries. You will receive a tourist stamp upon arrival allowing you stay in the country for free for up to 90 days.

You need to make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 30 days after you leave South Africa.

You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what vaccinations you will need. Your routine vaccinations will need to be up to date; hepatitis A and Typhoid are likely. You should follow your doctor’s advice.

Please check below for where the closest hospital to the project is – your doctor may ask to know this so that they can provide information on rabies.

For any more information, including entry requirements related to Covid-19, please see the Fit for Travel website or the UK government’s travel advice page for South Africa.

Hospitals and medical facilities are located in Plettenberg Bay, about 20 minutes from the park

The park is exceptionally safe, conveniently located just off the Garden Route, one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa. Your accommodation is situated on the park grounds, allowing you to live alongside fellow volunteers and dedicated volunteer coordinators. For your peace of mind, a safe is available for securing valuables, and the drawers under your beds are equipped to accommodate padlocks for extra security.

Health and safety is a top priority when working with these gentle giants. You will always be accompanied by a volunteer coordinator or an experienced elephant ranger while in the field, ensuring a secure and supportive environment. Comprehensive briefings will be provided to prepare you for your experiences, allowing you to focus on making a positive impact while ensuring your safety.

Plettenberg Bay is 10 minutes drive and Knysna is 20 minutes. Both towns offer all amenities and can be reached easily by taxi.

There is a wifi connection available at the accommodation.

There is good phone reception here.

South Africa is 2 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +2)

In South Africa, a mixture of European plugs and South African plugs are used.

Supervision will be fairly intensive during the first few days, when you will receive a thorough induction and work-related training.  Once you are comfortable with things, you might not always have a supervisor working alongside you, but there will always be staff and other volunteers around to help, and you will always be accompanied for any high risk activities.

Staff at Oyster’s head office and in-country will be responsible for your safety and welfare while you are at the project.  This will start from the moment you are picked up from the airport until the time you are dropped back there.  Before and after these times, you will be outside Oyster’s responsibility and should make sure that you act safely and avoid risk.  This is also true if you choose to leave the project during your time off. We will give you plenty of guidance and advice about this.