You may have heard about the beauty and wonders of Cape Town. With mountains, beaches and vibrant culture, Cape Town is a city packed with lots of things to see, making it a great volunteer destination.

1) You’ll enjoy the view from Table Mountain

While volunteering you’ll see mighty mountains rising up around you in the distance. None is more interesting than Table Mountain due to its size and flat shape. Sitting at 1,086 metres above sea level, the views from atop one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature are amazing! 

Climbing to the top of Table Mountain is a challenge to embrace. But you can also get to the top in the cable car. Either way, looking out to the peninsula and the horizon will take your breath away. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world, embracing a sense of freedom.

The beauty of Cape Town can also be admired from the beach near GVI’s base in Gordon’s Bay, so wherever you are, you’ll be surrounded by spectacular views.

2) You’ll never run out of things to do

One of the best things about Cape Town is that you can hike a mountain in the morning and go surfing in the afternoon. It’s a city jam-packed with activities to do during your downtime from volunteering. There’s always something new to discover.   

Just an hour’s drive from GVI’s base camp lies Muizenberg Beach, famous for its tubular surfing waves and colourful beach huts. Photo and surfing opportunities galore makes Muizenberg a great trip to take during your downtime.

Perhaps you’re not a surfer or hiker. But even if you are, there are many great cultural activities. For example, you can visit the District Six Museum and the Iziko Slave Lodge. As part of your volunteering program, you will also take an ethical township tour. 

These cultural activities all offer personal insight into how South Africa’s broader history plays out on a local level in Cape Town. Enriching yourself with the historical knowledge of Cape Town will help put the work you do as a volunteer into perspective. 

3) You’ll be immersed in the community

Let’s face it, one way to make our travel experiences richer is by immersing ourselves in different cultures. A great way to experience this in Cape Town is working in the more vulnerable communities (referred to as townships) that lie just outside the city centre. 

When you volunteer with GVI, you’ll get to work alongside empowered women who are developing themselves and addressing gender inequality in their community. 

Or you may seek an opportunity to be part of increasing capacity at local schools. You could be part of planning and implementing lessons that are both fun and educational, aiding the children’s development. Immersing yourself in these activities will help you to immerse yourself in part of a vibrant community. 

So if you love being surrounded by natural beauty, want to learn more about Cape Town, its history and its people, sign up to one of GVI’s Cape Town projects. Volunteering in Cape Town is a unique experience that is not to be missed.

Ami Gill is an intern at the GVI Writing Academy. The Writing Academy is a skills-development program that pairs development editors with budding travel writers. Learn more about the program here.