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Filtering by:

  • Africa
  • South Africa
  • Work exchange

Destination

Higher chance of approval

Hosts that recently have approved volunteers and are looking for more applications
Top Hosts

Hosts that have good ratings and receive many worldpackers
Opportunities for couples and pairs

Hosts that welcome couples or two friends traveling together

Availability

Last minute

Needs help immediately
Feb
2026
Mar
2026
Apr
2026
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2026
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2026
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2026

How do you help

Host type

Style

Hours of collaboration per week

Up to 32h

Travel Length

Meals

Accommodations

Perfect for digital nomads

Additional Benefits

Work exchange opportunities in South Africa

34 opportunities found

Guest House Durban, South Africa

🌊 Lend a Hand and Explore the Magic of Durban! 🍽️🔧✨

32h/week Cleaning Night Shift Kitchen Hand Bartending
At least 4 weeks Tent 3 meals
  • 4.0
  • Higher approval

Hostel Port St Johns, South Africa

Kitchen & Hospitality Assistant

30h/week Cleaning Housekeeping Kitchen Hand Cooking
From 4 to 12 weeks Tent 2 meals
  • 5.0
  • Higher approval

Guest House Cape Town, South Africa

Help us in our new home and creative hub

25h/week Kitchen Hand Bartending
At least 4 weeks Private Room
  • 5.0
  • Higher approval
See all

A day in the life of a worldpacker

A day living in the mountains in India⛰️
My morning volunteering in Malaysia 🦋​
Volunteering at a dog shelter in Peru 🐶
My days in Thailand 🌺​

Hostel South Cape DC, South Africa

Come help us welcoming our guests :)

28h/week Cleaning Kitchen Hand Reception Bartending
From 4 to 12 weeks Shared Dorm 2 meals
  • 4.5
  • Higher approval

Hotel bandelierkop, South Africa

Help at a Beautiful South African Country Hotel 🏨

25h/week Bartending
From 4 weeks to 2 months Private Room 2 meals
  • 3.0
  • Higher approval

Hostel South Cape DC, South Africa

Help us creating social media content for our hostel :)

28h/week Photography Video Making
From 4 to 12 weeks Shared Dorm 2 meals
  • 4.5
  • Higher approval

Hostel Overberg District Municipality, South Africa

Help AT our colourfull Backpackers

32h/week Cooking Kitchen Hand Bartending
From 4 to 12 weeks Shared Dorm 1 meal
  • 5.0

Guest House Koppies, South Africa

Volunteer teaching and sports development in Africa

16h/week Teaching Sports Teaching Languages Social Work Child Care
At least 4 weeks Shared Dorm 1 meal

Homestay Cape Town, South Africa

Help with house chores and childcare in a beach village near Cape Town

25h/week Child Care
From 3 to 6 weeks Private Room 3 meals
  • 5.0

Hostel Nelspruit, South Africa

Horse trainer and adventure guide

32h/week Building & Repairing Gardening Animal Care
From 4 to 12 weeks Team Dorm 1 meal

Hotel Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa

Help us at the bar of an amazing hotel in South Africa! 🦁🏞️

25h/week Kitchen Hand Bartending
From 4 to 12 weeks Private Room 2 meals
  • 4.0

Hostel Johannesburg, South Africa

Come be our Community Manager and help with activities!

25h/week Party Promoter Photography Video Making Social Media
From 30 to 84 days Shared Dorm
  • 3.0

Hostel Nelspruit, South Africa

Adventure guide and ranch work at the Greater Kruger Park Area.

32h/week Tour Guide Party Promoter Gardening
From 4 to 8 weeks Team Dorm 1 meal

Hostel Nelspruit, South Africa

Help us with daily tasks in the Hostel

30h/week Kitchen Hand Cleaning Reception Housekeeping
From 4 to 8 weeks Team Dorm 1 meal

Other City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa

Reception/Front office

25h/week Administration Reception Bartending
From 4 to 12 weeks Shared Dorm
  • 4.5
  • Higher approval
  • Needs help immediately

Hostel Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Surf Coach and Activities assistant

20h/week Teaching Sports
At least 4 weeks Team Dorm
  • 5.0
  • Higher approval

Why go to South Africa for a work exchange trip?

South Africa is a multiethnic society with a unique history. There’s a lot to discover, from its 11 official languages to South Africa’s major cities. Cape Town welcomes tourists to enjoy Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach and Cape Malay neighborhood. From this city you’ll see Table Mountain, a symbol of the country. Other must-sees if you work abroad in South Africa are the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.

Volunteer girls: a sisterhood to help and empower our dreams

How to volunteer abroad using Worldpackers

What jobs can you do in a work exchange in South Africa?

Interested in work abroad in South Africa? There are many positions available for you to exchange work for accommodation. Work on your social skills helping at reception, social media or party organizing. Hostels constantly need people for bartending, housekeeping and kitchen hand. In rural regions you’ll find work exchange opportunities involving farming, permaculture or gardening. South Africa is ranked 6th on the world's list for biodiversity, so if you love nature, you’ll love South Africa.

Traveling gave me the power of sight
How to choose the perfect exchange abroad with Worldpackers

How to use Worldpackers for work exchange in South Africa?

Work in a hostel in South Africa and save money to explore a top safari destination! Help with kitchen and bar tasks, cleaning chores, communication with guests, party promoting or reception. Make a profile and talk to travelers to know more about hostel work in South Africa. You can also see the host list and send a message if you’re interested in a position. Become a member of the Worldpackers community and schedule a trip!

How Worldpackers works: the complete guide

Time to prepare for your trip as a worldpacker!

How do Worldpackers trips work?

As a member, you can contact as many hosts and travel safely as many times as you want.

Choose your plan to travel with Worldpackers as many times as you like.

Complete your profile, watch the video lessons in the Academy, and earn certificates to stand out to hosts.

Apply to as many positions as you like, and get in contact with our verified hosts.

If a host thinks you’re a good fit for their position, they’ll pre-approve you.

Get your documents and tickets ready for your volunteer trip.

Confirm your trip to enjoy all of the safety of Worldpackers.

Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world.

If anything doesn’t go as planned with a host, count on the WP Safeguard and our highly responsive support team!

After volunteering, you and your host exchange reviews.

With positive reviews, you’ll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits.

Check out all our plans Learn more about how it works