INTERNSHIPS
Training Opportunities Offered Through SANCCOB Internships
Our seabird internships are structured, mentored training programmes with a strong focus on skills development – suitable for returning volunteers, university students, graduates, post graduates, employees and volunteers in the fields of animal science, husbandry, care and welfare related fields. Previous experience working with birds is desirable though not essential.
Volunteers who have completed our international volunteer programme are eligible for a 50% discount on all our internship programmes.
Upon acceptance into the programme, all interns are required to pay a refundable R2,000 fee to secure their place. This is refunded in South African Rands after successful completion of the programme.
Seabird Rehabilitation
(3 to 6 months)
Penguin Nursery Internship
(3 to 6 months)
Seabird Chick Rearing Internship
(4 to 6 months)
Animal Professional Experience
Veterinary Experience
Volunteer
International Volunteer Programme
Get hands-on experience working with endangered African penguins and other seabirds at the world renowned SANCCOB seabird centres in Cape Town or Gqeberha in South Africa.
- You must be 18 years and over
- No experience necessary
- Minimum 6 weeks in Cape Town or Gqeberha
- Placements all year round, with the busiest time in Cape Town from October to March.
As an international volunteer you will become an extension of our team of Bird rehabilitators, helping with most handling and feeding tasks.
Unfortunately, SANCCOB does not provide accommodation – but we can recommend accommodation used by many international volunteers in the past.
Your programme fee for a six week period will include a volunteer T-shirt and a seabird release trip (weather and bird permitting). Further information about the Cape Town and Gqeberha international volunteer programmes are available in the respective documents below.
Local Volunteer Programme
Local volunteers play an important role at SANCCOB’s centres in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape and are needed 365 days a year to perform tasks such as:
- Assisting with seabird rehabilitation, cleaning and feeding birds
- Driving/collecting seabirds
- General centre maintenance and cleaning
- Answering phones
- Education/behind the scenes tours
- Marketing/fundraising
Volunteers must be 18 years or older and reside permanently in the Cape Peninsula (Western Cape) or in the local Eastern Cape surrounds. Half day and full day shifts are available week days and over weekends. Our volunteers assist with important daily operational tasks to support SANCCOB’s rehabilitation team.
Further information about the Cape Town and Gqeberha local volunteer programmes are available in the respective documents below.
TRAINING

Veterinary Experience
The Veterinary Experience Programme has been developed to expose participants to a career in veterinary medicine. While SANCCOB is not a typical veterinary practice, participants will nonetheless benefit from the opportunity to observe the clinical veterinary work in this world-renowned seabird rehabilitation centre. The programme is only offered at the Table View centre in Cape Town, South Africa, to both local and international persons. Participants are invited to spend between one and twelve weeks at SANCCOB, the longer the better. More information, including the cost of the experience, can be found in the veterinary experience information pack.
Participants will be required to work during normal business hours, namely, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. The programme involves daily supervision and instruction from a qualified veterinarian. Due to the nature of our facility, the veterinarian may on occasion engage in activities which do not constitute clinical veterinary care. During those periods participants will have access to veterinary textbooks, research papers and veterinary standard operating procedures for self-study.
Only one participant will be accepted into the programme at any given time to ensure the most beneficial experience for the participant.
For more information please download the information pack and application form below or contact us directly at volunteers@sanccob.co.za.
Veterinary Experience Downloads

Animal Professional Experience
If you are an employee of an AZA, EAZA or similarly accredited institution we’d love to have you join us to learn and help on-site, especially during our busiest months.
All aquarists, penguin and seabird keepers, veterinarians, animal trainers, curatorial and education staff from zoos, aquariums and bird parks from around the world are invited to apply. Participants will work closely with the SANCCOB team to care for sick, injured and abandoned African penguins and seabirds.
The programme is hosted throughout the year, excluding July, August and September months. Weather permitting, you’ll also be able to join the life changing experience of being able to release one of these beautiful birds back into the wild at one of the penguin colonies. The duration of the programme is two weeks. Accommodation, flights and food is excluded; however, we have a list of great places to stay that we can recommend in the area, within walking distance of the centre. Should you have any questions or you’d like to receive more information, please email us at volunteers@sanccob.co.za. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
Animal Professional Experience Downloads
FAQ's about our volunteer program
This depends on the type of internship or volunteer program. Tasks include cleaning enclosures, maintaining facilities, feeding and caring for seabirds, and supporting the team with general operations. Specific duties may vary depending on your role and the current needs of the centre.
Working hours are typically from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with breaks during the day. Some days or months may require flexibility, especially during busy periods. The willingness to go the extra mile is always appreciated.
Volunteers and interns must be at least 18 years old.
While we aim to align your preferences with operational needs, tasks are generally assigned based on the priority of the day and your skill set. All interns and volunteers are expected to rotate through all areas in the centre to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to work in the husbandry areas as well as the bird areas.
Meals and transportation are not included. You will need to arrange your own meals and transportation to and from the centre. (Transportation for Chick Rearing Unit interns are included TO the shifts and FROM the shifts if the interns lives within a 5km radius of SANCCOB).
Accommodation is not included. We are happy to provide a list of accommodation nearby that have been used by other volunteers and interns.

