VOLUNTOURS has established long-term relationships with our communities and projects over a number of years. This relationship building, on-going liaison and in some cases mentoring, especially in poor communities, is time consuming and your project fee helps compensate us for some of our time.

We have invested the necessary time so that your volunteer experience is well managed and runs smoothly. Our long-term commitment to our projects means that our projects are sustainable and are not negatively affected by the “comings and goings of uncoordinated volunteers”

A lot of things go on behind the scene in order to provide you with a responsible and ethical volunteer project. Just a few examples are volunteer recruitment and preparation, pre-trip planning, in-country project coordination and program development. And on arrival, things such as an in-country orientation, language and cultural sensitization, guidance, a 24/7 support and safety net, and managing and coordinating your efforts on the ground.

In short, there are statutory, legal, insurance, administrative, project / task / material, accommodation, wage, transportation and food costs that need to be covered. Many of our projects are community projects that have little income and we cannot expect these poor communities to cover these costs or to subsidise them on your behalf.

In fact, even if you volunteer abroad independently, you’ll still be looking at costs for things like return airport ransfers, in-country / project transportation, housing, meals, project and other day-to-day expenses. Our efforts allow your energy, good intentions and skills to be channeled and focused on what the community / project requires and not on logistical and other time consuming worries.

More and more travellers are seeking responsible and ethical travel options. This involves selecting a travel partner / company that shares your values and ethos; as well as certain actions that you as a traveller need to take prior to and during your travels.

There is a lot of information readily available on the internet on “responsible travel”. However we suggest that a good starting point is to visit our Responsible Travel tab on our Home page. There you will find a lot of interesting and useful information on responsible and ethical travel. You are also welcome to view our various Links for more information on this topic.

We are aware that any form of travel requires a financial outlay and that many have to save and plan their volunteer travel some time in advance. The duration that you can volunteer for really depends on your budget and fun raising that you are able to do prior to departure

We are able to accommodate volunteers on a variety of time periods starting from one (1) week upwards. However, please consult each individual project for specifics as some projects have a minimum duration that you can volunteer.

Many of our volunteer projects are very flexible and do not require you to start on a set date. However, please consult each individual project for specifics as some require set start dates

We are able to accommodate volunteers on a variety of time periods starting from one (1) week upwards

In most cases your accommodation will be on the project site itself. In a few cases your accommodation will be off-site and you will be transported to the project on a daily basis.

In many cases the nature of accommodation will depend on the project itself. The types of accommodation range from staying in a local home (homestay); a guest house or bed and breakfast, or a community lodge. If you require luxury accommodation off site this can also be arranged at an additional fee. Some projects offer single / private rooms while other involve communal living.

Your safety is foremost in all our minds, whether it be us at VOLUNTOURS or the community / project where you will be volunteering. We all have your safety at heart.

VOLUNTOURS has established long term relationships with the communities and projects that we work with. The projects and communities we work with have been assessed and we feel comfortable with the level of safety in these projects. We have been working jn many of these communities for years and the local people see you as an integral part of their community.

However, as a global traveller you need to take some responsibility for own safety. As with all societies there will be risks or dangers, but if you follow our advice, there is no reason for your safety to be at any risk. We are also available to our volunteers on a 24/7 basis and you are welcome to contact us at all times for support.

Please note that it is essential that all volunteers take out the necessary travel (including medical) insurance for the duration of their volunteer programme.

When taking out the necessary insurance please make sure with the broker and / or underwriters of the policy that you will be covered for volunteer activities / work as many regular travel insurance products do not provide this type of cover.

Failure to take out the correct insurance cover may place you at risk and liable for expenses occurred. Voluntours, and it agents, cannot he held liable for the failure / omission of the volunteer to provide proper and adequate insurance cover.

Read an important article on insurance written by Prof. Harold Goodwin.

Voluntours recommends Campbell Irvine for all your appropriate volunteer related travel insurance. They are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK with offices in London. Campbell Irvine is able to provide cover to residents of the UK, EU and other countries, click here to see a full list of these countries . Volunteers from outside these countries should contact their local travel agent for further information regarding travel insurance.

In order to provide our volunteers with a streamlined service, please click on the following link to complete your Campbell Irvine application on-line . If you prefer you can download their Application Form here as well. Click here to download the full Policy Document and the Premium Document.

Although we endeavour to remain updated on visa requirement criteria change and you are advised to take responsibility for checking the latest visa requirements that apply to you / your country.

Travellers from certain regions of the world (Scandinavia, Japan, the USA, and jost Western European and Commonwealth countries) do not need to formally apply for a visa. Upon arrival in South Africa, countries falling into this category will automatically be given a free entry permit sticker that outlines how long they may remain in the country. This automatic entry permit is usually for a maximum of 90 days, though the immigration officer may tailor the time period according to the airline tickets held. Foreign nationals from some other countries are offered this service, but for a maximum of 30 days. If visitors want to stay for a longer period, they will have to apply formally for a visa, as opposed to relying on the automatic entry permit.
For the majority of foreign nationals who travel to South Africa for vacation, entry is straightforward and hassle-free. All visitors to South Africa must be in possession of a valid passport in order to enter the country, and in some cases, a visa.

However, it is important to note that under South Africa's Immigration Act of 2002 the passport shall contain at least TWO UNUSED ADJACENT PAGES when presenting the passport for endorsements as well as proof of flight and travel plans to leave the country. This requirement, reflects the requirements of many of the world's top travel destinations, in line with the majority of global destinations' requirements and failure to have a clear page can result in entry being refused.

To determine whether you require a visa to enter South Africa, visit the comprehensive South African Home Affairs Department website at:
http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/. For South African missions abroad, visit http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/sa_abroad/index.htm