Travel With over 25 countries in 4 continents to choose from we are confident you can find your perfect trip!
TEFL Courses Teach English Abroad - Travel the world and use your talents to inspire. Free paid job placements all over the world with our 100-hour Courses
About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
This trip is a great chance to combine valuable community work with making new friends (and the odd BBQ) for an unforgettable summer with up to 34 other lucky people! Working with underprivileged youngsters, you'll be helping to make a difference in the community by helping educate local children and re-decorating local community centres so they can be put to good use. When the hard work is over, you'll enjoy beach barbecues, surfing lessons and local excursions around the Western Cape. To complete your holiday, you'll have some surfing lessons, take a walk on the wild side with the local baboons and if you’ve got the energy , enjoy an African drumming session.
After flying into Cape Town, you'll be picked up and taken to your accommodation. You'll settle into your accommodation by enjoying a traditional braai* with your new friends along with an entertaining African drumming session.
* braai: (pronounced "bry") is Afrikaans for "barbecue" or "roast" and is a social custom in South Africa.
Today you'll enjoy a tour of the camp, and a visit to the white-sand beach and surrounding area before splitting into specific project groups to begin orientation and team-building exercises including a challenging obstacle course. In the evening, you will be entertaining each other with a theatre sports activity!
Today you'll participate in sessions giving you all the tools to allow you to work with children in the community most effectively. This all day session will be fun and interactive and will allow you to make a much more significant impact during your time working with the local children.
Time to get involved! Today is all about getting your hands dirty and working with your team to get a local community centre back into shape and ready for essential use by both childrenand adults in the community. Not only will this be a huge amount of fun, it also makes a huge positive impact on the lives of those who use the building. .
Following on from yesterday's work, you'll be looking to complete your section of the re-generation project - no time for slacking! After a full days work you'll return to camp for a 'poitjie' competition and dinner (poitjie is a traditional and delicious South African stew) as well as a snake show by a local wildlife expert.
Today you'll get to see a range of flora and fauna around a local environmental centre including time rock-pooling with local experts, a talk about local birds and a hike through the stunning hills - a real day to remember with a huge amount to learn.
Spend the morning at the top of one of the world's most iconic sites - Table Moutain and the afternoon soaking up the lively atmosphere of one of Africa's greatest cities.
Head to the beach to hang ten - or do your best to stand up! - as take part in a morning's surf lesson followed by the rest of the day to hang out and sample South Africa's beach life.
Start by taking a walk with wild baboons, followed by a visit to the Penguin colony of Boulders and end with a tour of a local township this will be one of your best days during your time in South Africa and shows you some of the highlights of the region all in one day. Appropriately, in the evening there is a talk on what makes South Africa such a special place by a Cape region expert!
Putting your training to good use you'll begin the day with a reading workshop with local children helping them to read and develop a love of learning. After a shared lunch with the children you'll accompany them on a beach walk and tour giving you and the kids the chance to develop friendships and learn about each others lives. In the evening there will be a 'battle of the African bands' to keep you busy.
Following on from yesterday you'll participate in a reading marathon at a local school. The local communities have prioritised reading as one of the keys to their children's futures and you will be able to play a significant role in this event. In the evening there is a talk about the impact of HIV/AIDS on South Africa and the Cape community and how local organisations are working together to educate and support those affected.
You start the day with a visit to the District 6 museum which gives an eye-opening account into the history of one of Cape Town's most famous areas and the forced migration of over 60,000 to the Cape Flats. A real insight into South African history and an incredible place to spend some time. The afternoon will then be spent at the V&A Waterfront giving you a totally different insight into modern day Cape Town.
Visit the magnificent Cape Point before enjoying a traditional braai lunch on the beach. This afternoon will provide a fascinating insight into South African history with trips to Cape Town's Simonstown and Naval Museums. The evening will end with a lively African gumboot dancing lesson. No previous experience is necessary; but a little rhythm will always help!
Today you'll help support local animal life by building kennels, which will then be used in some of the poorest townships in Cape Town. To celebrate your last night at the camp, there will be an entertainment extravaganza with a braai (bbq) and lively music by a local African marimba band.
All good things must come to an end - after a hearty South African breakfast, it's time say goodbye to your new friends and make your way to the airport for your return flight home. The airport is about a 45 minute drive from your accommodation.
PLEASE NOTE: As you will be split into different groups the order of some activities will change - some are also dependent on the weather!!!
You'll be staying in the stunning scenery of Noordhoek, a beautfiul small community just south of Chapman's Peak and around 40 minutes from Cape Town!
At i-to-i, we can't emphasize enough just how important community development and regeneration work is to communities across the globe and this project is no exception.
By helping to work with and regenerate the local community, you will play an integral role in improving the quality of life for the local population for future generations. Typical activities include:
You will really get involved with the community and by working with local children, you will develop a much deeper understanding of the culture than any backpacker or tourist could dream of. That's not forgetting the absolutely spectacular location you'll be basking in! In a nutshell, you'll:
Equipment and training will be supplied. You'll need to bring some cold weather gear as it'll be winter in South Africa and the weather is very changeable!| Also bring anything you might need for outdoor sports! We recommend about 400 USD for gifts and anything else you might need.
Minimum number apply; please contact us for more information.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time… especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
VVolunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
A journey into South Africa’s history is to haul through periods of racial tension, oppression and hope. Its multicultural mix originates from the earliest settlers, the San (also known as Bushmen) and Khoi-Khoi tribes, followed by Bantu-speaking groups, and through to the swarm of European traders. The Dutch were among the first European settlers and arrived in the 17th century, establishing their presence through their own dialect, Afrikaan, and religion in the form of the Dutch Reformed Church. By the end of the 18th century, the British began to push their presence forward into the country’s towns. It was a period of flared tensions with Zulu chief Shaka renouncing war on neighbouring tribes. Meanwhile, the Boers (Dutch Afrikaner farmers) and the British became locked in conflict; the Anglo-Boer War lasted from 1899 to 1902, ending with the British taking control of the Boer republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State (OFS) and consequently ruling the country.
By 1910, the Union of South Africa was created and gave political power to whites, while blacks set up political parties in protest, the African National Congress (ANC) the best known. It ushered in the beginnings of apartheid, which became widely ingrained after the Afrikaner National Party came to power in 1948. Violence against protests from blacks was enforced and the black population were evicted to so-called Homelands. In the 1960s, leaders of the ANC were imprisoned, notably Nelson Mandela, and the country became isolated having left the Commonwealth and declaring its republic status. After a long period of racial divide and conflict, in 1989 FW de Klerk came to power with the aim to rid the country of apartheid and instil democracy. The following year, Mandela was released from prison and in 1994 became president after the ANC won the country’s first non-racial general elections; the country also returned to the Commonwealth. The country’s democratic stance has steered it toward a more harmonious future, though economic inequalities between whites and blacks exist, but as the most developed economy on the continent it is in a good position to reconcile with its past.
Naturally, South Africa’s seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere with summer heat burning from November to March and cooler winter temperatures from June to August. Temperature wise, spring (September to October) and autumn (April to May) provide a happy medium. Certain must-do activities are restricted to specific times of year: safari is best from June to September and the whale watching season is June to December. The busiest time, hence the most expensive, is during the summer months, while the major school holidays are during December and Easter.
Given the distances involved, flying is the most convenient way to travel between the main destinations, while land transportation can efficiently pick up the rest of the mileage for exploration in and around. There are an assortment of domestic carriers to choose from that fly the main routes, with most running from Johannesburg or Cape Town; these include South African Airways, Nationwide Airlines, Kulula and 1Time. Booking early is advisable to secure discounted rates.
There country also boasts a comprehensive bus network that covers the main cities; the road trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town is around 20 hours (compared to a 2 hour in a plane). The main bus companies are Translux, Greyhound and Intercape. Baz Bus is aimed at the backpacker crowd and provides a hop-on, hop-off service and also travels to remote areas. It’s a good way to discover the picturesque patch of coastline that is the Garden Route, which it services en route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
Train travel can work out longer than by bus, with the trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town edging toward almost 30 hours. If you’re after a little luxury, try the Blue Train or the Rovos Rail for a taste of stylish travel.
Car rental is an attractive option thanks to the good road conditions, great scenery and the flexibility driving allows. The big car rental companies like Avis and Budget have outlets and it’s essential to be fully insured and have a valid driver’s licence. It’s also a convenient way to get around cities as public transport can be unsafe.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA)
Bus company Baz Bus
Domestic airline 1Time
Bus company Greyhound
Bus company Intercape
Domestic airline Kulula
Nationwide Airlines
South African Airways
Bus company Translux
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
* We can be held responsible for any starry-eyed and amazing journeys of enlightenment, discovery and thorough enjoyment...
