Arrival: By arrangement, volunteers will be picked up from the airport or any point within Port Elizabeth Metropole.
About the climate: Port Elizabeth’s weather is varied and while you can expect lots of sunshine and some hot days, there is usually a breeze, and because we have both winter and summer rain it can quickly become cold. Warm, lightweight layers for peeling off are the most suitable. A tracksuit for cold nights is recommended. Visitors to Port Elizabeth are told that whatever the weather, hot or cold, rain or shine, we guarantee it will change. The beds in the cabins have electric blankets!
Uniform: A T-shirt will be provided with the Seaview logo. This enables you to be identified when interacting with the public and also our animals are used to this “uniform look”. Strong pants or shorts in shades of khaki, dark colours or blue jeans must be worn while working. Animals are easily upset by bright colours and are frightened by us “changing our spots”.
Accommodation and services: Washing & ironing is a service provided daily on your behalf. Walking shoes or boots are suited to the Game Park terrain, as there is often heavy dew. The cabins are located within the Park, approximately 300meters from the restaurant and it is important to have a torch with you for walking from the restaurant to the cabins. There is a second kitchen and TV/lecture-room adjacent to the cabins. Please bring your own towel.
We do not allow smoking inside the cabins, restaurant or communal wild-life cabin. We strive to reflect a clean, responsible image to the public and therefore if clothes get soiled from the cubs we ask you to change. We do not allow any heavy tattoos, or facial-piercings with studs or rings. We must point out that even earrings can be hooked by a cub’s claw.
Inoculations/ medical: Please remember to bring any of your prescribed medication with you. If you have not had a recent tetanus inoculation we strongly recommend you do so before your arrival. This is a malaria free area and you will not need any other special inoculations for the Eastern Cape.
Meals: Breakfast is taken in the restaurant or the cabins’ kitchen. Lunch is prepared by the kitchen staff and taken in the restaurant. Evening meal is self-catered from the volunteers/restaurant supplies where volunteers take turns in the cooking and preparing, usually eating together.
Internet: Internet facilities are available at the cost charged to us, and time needs to be booked in advance.
Hours: Volunteer’s hours are usually 8am until 5pm and they are expected to help wherever necessary. However, looking after the baby animals is where most time is spent, along with the making and the giving of food. This includes cutting up meat. Volunteers interacting with the public visiting the cubs will supervise and control the behaviour of the public entering the cub enclosures.
Volunteer work is not for the fainthearted as there are always new projects or maintenance work, e.g. checking for snares, road repairs and alien plant removal, but the rewards are great. Volunteers can bring their own gloves for maintenance work if they prefer.
Time off: One day can be taken off each week but if preferred two days can be taken off every second week, some volunteers utilise this to stay out overnight. Time off is from Monday to Friday and must be arranged in advance as this normally means a lift into town. Bring your drivers licence as it is easy to hire a car for sightseeing. Please bring a certified photocopy with you too.
Whilst volunteering is rewarding in itself, time spent at a project such as this is an excellent springboard for travelling/backpacking around South Africa. Meeting other volunteers from around the world and the swapping of stories and recommendations can give one confidence to experience more. If you do intend to travel further please bear in mind that further inoculations might be required for other Provinces in S.A., and for other African Countries.
Day Trips for Seaview’s volunteers: In mid-2012 we began organising day trips for our volunteers to expand their experience, and offer the chance to see some of the most beautiful sites and adventurous activities South Africa has! The most popular days include a full day at Addo National Elephant Park with sightings of wild lions, elephants, buffalo, caracals and much more, or Bungee Jumping at Storms River then visiting Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Plettenberg Bay Elephant Sanctuary. Other trips include exploring Lady Slipper Mountain and Jeffreys Bay, or the most adrenalin day of all with Quad Biking through a private game reserve then horse riding along the beach. We are so pleased to hear the exciting stories when everyone returns back at the park with photos, laughs and best of all big smiles!
Other activities: During your working hours you will be offered a visit to the school we support for underprivileged children, aged 2 to 6 years. It is called Bethel Babes. You will also be taken on informative nature walks with a qualified ranger. He will also give lectures once a week.
For rates, or more information, please e-mail Seaview.
To download a volunteer application form, click here: Application Form.
