Male or female, eighteen or eighty, serious athlete or casual sports person, it really doesn’t matter! Our local partner welcomes hundreds of people each year, all from different walks of life and from all over the world. This provides for an enriching exchange opportunity not only with the local communities, but also with volunteers from different international backgrounds. Some people travel as part of a long break, year out or career break, whereas other people book the trip as part of an activity holiday, working holiday or volunteer holiday. One thing is for sure, you will leave your trip with new found friends, locals and internationals.

The majority are aged 18-25 and doing a gap year or simply wish to enrich themselves with a genuine cultural and human experience in the field of youth and community development. More mature applicants are welcome and on average 20% of the volunteers are aged 25+.

You will not need any specific coaching qualifications. We are looking for enthusiastic amateur sports men and women who will be able to share their passion for sport with young and energetic South Africans.

All participants will have an audio orientation. We’ll explain how the program works and what you can expect, as well as going over issues such as health and security to help prepare you for your time away. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask us any questions you might have.

If BUNAC rejects your application at any stage you’ll receive a full refund of your program deposit.

We have a 7 day cooling off period, so if you feel that you’re not suited to the program and you contact us within 7 days of attending the orientation interview you can cancel and receive a full refund (less administration fee). More information regarding cancellation refunds is included within the Terms and Conditions which form part of the online application.

As part of our 'Responsible Approach', each participant must provide a police background check before they travel. Information on how to apply for this will be provided to you upon booking on to the program. *All fees incurred by obtaining the police certificate are covered by the participant.

Our team will advise you on this upon booking on to the program. Contact us to find out more information.

Yes. You can find out more on our Insurance page.

Throughout the school term time, the project takes place at local schools. Typically volunteers visit several schools each day following a weekly time-table.

During school holidays volunteers coach at activity camps where they have the freedom to use their creativity to come up with new activities and expand the scope of their coaching by running week-long tournaments. There are also opportunities to introduce non-sporting activities, such as arts and outings, that children simply wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

Generally you can expect to be working Monday-Friday for about 4-6 hours a day but hours and start times vary; there may also be occasional weekend work.

The program is available for either 5 or 12 weeks. However, if you join the 5 week program you may be able to transfer on to the longer program while in South Africa (for an extra fee).

Port Elizabeth is a hot-spot for travelers. You will be able to experience all the delights of the local area, including game reserves, scuba schools and friendly nightlife, as well as its 40km of golden beaches. It is also an ideal base for a whole assortment of sports and adventure activities including: mountain biking, camping, shark cage diving, bungee jumping, 4x4 safaris, golf, fishing, scuba diving, parachuting, horse riding, dune boarding, boogey boarding, deep sea cruises, microlight and helicopter flights, tennis, squash, kayaking, badminton, water skiing, coastal hiking, power kiting and more!

You’ll be free to explore at the weekends but we recommend that you to allow time to travel further afield after your placement. Whether you decide to head west to Cape Town and its legendary Table Mountain or veer north to Namibia and its desert beauty, our partner will be able to advise on safe ways to travel and will be only too happy to suggest some of the best sights to see in South and Southern Africa.

It’s difficult to give an exact figure, as it depends on what you choose to do while you’re in South Africa. We suggest that you take extra if you plan to go out a lot, or if you have plans to travel at weekends or post project.

In most cases it will be possible to extend your volunteer program while you are away. Specific arrangements are made through our local partner and are subject to the availability of accommodation, projects and an additional fee.

BUNAC is pleased to partner with United Through Sport. They are responsible for all of the on-the-ground logistics and ensure that the volunteer’s experience is culturally immersive and beneficial to the local community. United Through Sport provide 24/7 support to our volunteers while they are on the program.