Jeffreys Bay Volunteer and surf placements
Based in Jeffreys Bay, allafricavolunteers offers a range of projects in the general area. Guests are collected from the airport from where projects are arranged, accommodation and the rest of your needs until returning to the airport.
THE PROJECT:
Learn to Surf and Teach Surfing in Jeffreys Bay while helping the local community with upliftment projects.
THE SURF SCHOOL:
Jeffreys Bay Surf School, based at the Beach Lodge is the leading surf school in Town and one of the best in the country. Our Surf instructor is the Eastern Province Surf Team's coach and a qualified life guard, ensuring absolute professionalism and competency - special boards are used for complete beginners. Depending on surf conditions lessons are run twice daily.
THE COMMUNITY:
This community is located near the beach lodge along the most breathtaking coastline with miles and miles of unspoiled beaches. Project that you will be involved with are, working with the children in the pre-school and primary school, working with street children, maintenance of schools and homes, sport development and building projects.
ACCOMMODATION:
Beach Lodge is perched on a dune with a 270º view of the Indian Ocean. As the name suggests this is a place that travellers from around the world meet to share their experiences. Aloe framed views from our wooden decks overlook surf and sand, and are ideal for all year whale and dolphin watching. The unique vibe of the bar and cafeteria area offer all day refreshments, meals and fun late into the night. An advantage is that the Beach House is located within a minute’s walk from the community and surf.
Single Room/ Double Room: Here you stay alone or share with a friend.
Sharing Double: In this option you book a bed in a large en-suite room. You might share a room with someone from a completely different culture which adds to the whole learning experience. These rooms have there own private kitchen and barbeque area. The rooms have sea views and a balcony/veranda with deck chairs to soak up those golden rays.
Dormitory: This consists of 4 to 8 bed dorms where bathrooms are communal. There is also a large communal kitchen. This is for the young at heart who enjoy the adventure of backpacking. It is also an affordable way to study English.
THINGS TO DO:
This area offers a wealth of activities like untouched hiking trails, sandboarding, horse riding on unspoiled beaches, game drives and much more.
THE PROGRAM:
You will be collected at the airport in Port Elizabeth and transferred to Jeffreys Bay where you will be staying at the beach lodge.
Your First week you will join the local surf school in Jeffreys Bay to get a idea of what it entails to teach surfing. The surf school runs during the week, the weekends can be used to explore, relax on the beach or explore all the surf and other shops.
The mornings will consist of helping with surf lessons on the main beach with beginners and community kids.
During the afternoons you will be working in the community on a selection of upliftment projects.
Work days will be weekdays from 8-4 and weekends free to relax or explore the area, there are a selection of day excursions you can join to surrounding Game Farms and attractions.
Wave season in Jeffreys Bay is from June to August. However, the swell that comes out of the South or South West starts reaching the coast from as early as April each year and many times the season has run until the end of September. The prime time is crowded. Included in the schedule is the Billabong Pro, a World Championship Tour event that closes off Supertubes for 10 days in July. It is however, an awesome experience to watch the top surfers in the world pit their skills against each other in one of the best waves of the world.
The best way to reach the town is to fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town and then catch a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth. Arrange for a pick up from Port Elizabeth and an hour after arrival you could be in styling accommodation and waiting in hungry anticipation for the waves to arrive.
In winter one can still surf with a 3mm wetsuit. Compared to prices elsewhere, if you are getting cold, you could purchase a top quality 4mm wetsuit for $ 250. A hood is a bonus on the days when the South West wind is howling and booties can prevent your feet from being lacerated on the razor sharp rocks.
The wave size ranges from 2-3 ft up to 10 ft (Hawaiian size). Bring your boards or order them on arrival. The more organized travellers can even order boards that will be waiting for them on arrival! You need at least two boards in J’Bay. A 6”0’ – 6”6’ for the smaller fun days and then a 6”10 – 7”6’ for the more serious stuff.
All accessories are available in the town. So don’t worry about leashes, wax, ding repairs etc. because all that can be taken care of in a town that genuinely caters for surfers.
Program Dates and Costs
Contact us on mail@swaptravel.org for information on dates and availability. Payments can be made via our website. For successful acceptance, an application form must be filled out.
Please note that you can extend for any length of time
(min 4 weeks)
GBP 900 per month
EURO 300 pp per week
USD 410 pp per week
ZAR 2950 per week South African Rands
Includes Accommodation (shared 4 Sleeper Dorm Room at Beach Lodge) and Transfers to and from Port Elizabeth (Accommodation upgrades to single and double rooms available) Sponsorship for community Projects and sponsoring of local kids that participate in surfing events included.
Book now with SWAP via Paypal and secure your place on the volunteer program
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Jeffreys Bay Community Development |
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£900
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FAQ
For more information on the area and the volunteer program please read the following
How safe am I in Africa?
South Africa, particularly Johannesburg has a high crime rate and a very poor image when it comes to the issue of personal safety. We do however make every attempt to ensure that you are going to be as safe as possible. That is also the reason why All Africa Volunteers has its projects in small communities, where the people are still very calm and friendly. We will also advise you upon arrival what you can do and what you can’t do.
What insurance cover do you suggest/should be taken out?
Personal travel insurance is compulsory when volunteering in South Africa and can be arranged with a local travel agency. The extent of your insurance is up to your discretion. We suggest that you take a package that includes repatriation to your home country should there be a medical emergency.
Do I need any visas? See the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa
If you stay longer than 3 months in South Africa you do need a visa although visa requirements are consistently changing. You can check with the South African Embassy in your country what type of visa you need and after which time period you need that visa. The requirement of a visa will be your own responsibility.
Extensions of visa’s can be done at the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa
Only apply for a visitor's visas and be careful not to mention the words 'working as a volunteer', quite simply because today there is no difference made between a paid worker and a volunteer, even though the volunteer receives no financial gain and very often has to make a contribution to food costs to help their host with this cost which the host can not afford due to the economy of the country.
Please note that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after you intend to return home. You will also be asked to substantiate that you have enough money to support yourself during the remainder of your stay (ie. bank statements) and you have a return ticket.
What inoculations should I get?
Our projects are in the Eastern Cape, which is a malaria and bilharzias free area but you might tour around after your project to other places on your own for which you do need malaria tablets. There are some injections you do need in our region for which we recommend that you visit your local travel clinic or Doctor for advice on health (yellow fever, etc.) while travelling in Africa.
What is the age range of the volunteers?
All Africa Volunteers accept anyone young at heart and willing to help.
Why do I have to pay to be a volunteer?
As there is at the moment no budget to run the conservation and educational volunteer programs we still need to charge you for your stay. Your cost will go to the accommodation and meals. All that's left will be put in the project and as a non profit company All Africa Volunteers support the continuity and operating costs of the projects.
What will I be doing during my project?
The specific jobs that you are asked to do are very dependent on the needs at the time and vary from week to week. In general you are going to adjust in the work routine of the particular project.
Some of our projects are more set out.
What is the climate like in South Africa?
We actually only have 2 seasons in South Africa, which is Summer and Winter. The Summer period in the Eastern Cape is from around November till May and Winter is from around June to September. The months April and May could be Spring and the months September and October could be Autumn.
The projects of All Africa Volunteers are in the Eastern Cape Coast area, which is well known for its mild climate. Summers which are not to hot and Winters which are not to cold. You are looking at around 25°C -30°C in Summer and 17°C -23°C in Winter. Although in the winter your evenings can be cold and we recommend to pack warm clothing with for the Winter evenings.
What clothing do I need?
Clothing should be appropriate for physical, dirty work. Old clothes are perfect. Even in summer we suggest you have light-weight, long-sleeve clothing, for protection both from the sun, mosquitoes, and scratches. Good sturdy shoes are a must.
What is our organizations mission?
All Africa Volunteers mission is to upgrade the smaller communities in the Eastern Cape. These townships and communities don’t get a lot of attention from any other organizations and do need help to grow and develop. We are constantly increasing our breeding stock of endangered animals for our breeding programs to save these animals for the next generation.
How many days do I have free to do other things?
A work week is 5 days in a week, which means that you are free for two days in a week. However this doesn’t mean that this will be always the weekend.
Do I need any qualifications for volunteering or am I suitable?
There is most of the time no specific need for qualifications, but you have to consider yourself if you would be suitable for the project you choose. You can ask yourself the following questions:
* Am I open to experience new cultures and I am able to adjust in new cultures;
* Am I flexible to adapt well to new situations, environment and other people;
* Do I have self discipline and can I work independently;
* Am I innovative to come up with new ideas to help;
* Do I stand behind the project I choose and see it as a rewarding way in which I can develop my own qualities and character while giving something back to other.
What is the time period of the projects you offer?
To be able to work as a volunteer for All Africa Volunteers you do need to be at least 2 weeks available.