South Africa Internships
Intern in South Africa with Intern Abroad HQ and discover the country’s natural beauty, excellent surfing, incredible ‘Big 5’ wildlife, and diversity of culture and ethnic groups. Choose from a huge range of short-term internship programs in Cape Town, including diverse placements within the fields of Business, Health, Psychology, Human Rights Law, Social Work, and more. We also offer a special selection of Conservation internships in some of South Africa’s top national parks in the fields of Reserve Management & Research, GIS Specialization, Marine Biology, and more. With affordable fees and top rated programs, Intern Abroad HQ offers the best internship opportunities in South Africa for students, graduates, career changers, and gap year travelers!
- Program Fees from $1953 for 4 weeks
- Includes arrangement of your placement, airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, and 24/7 in-country support
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Accommodation in shared lodging
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Based in Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve, Sodwana Bay and Mogalakwena
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Start dates every month
Internship opportunities
Hands-on Event Planning internships in South Africa. Gain events experience planning & implementing real life events such as parties, weddings & conferences.
Interns will learn how to use GIS software, collect GIS data on the ground, and apply data and skills to solve real-world African conservation issues.
Hands-on Journalism & Public Relations Internships in South Africa. Intern as a journalist contributing to newspapers, magazines and news websites.
If you’re passionate about marine conservation, research and diving - or if you’ve always wanted to learn - this is the opportunity for you!
Marketing internships in Cape Town can include development of sales strategies, brand management, digital marketing, research and more.
Learn practical occupational therapy skills and life experience assisting qualified therapists in clinics, care facilities, hospitals and schools.
Physical Therapy internships offer the chance to learn by shadowing local therapists in day-to-day consultations with patients in Cape Town.
Customized Public Health Internships in Cape Town, delivering diverse initiatives to support improved health and wellbeing outcomes for community groups.
Gain first hand experience in Real Estate & Property Management on an internship in South Africa. Learn from experienced professionals & assist with daily tasks.
Intern in Kruger National Park, where Reserve Management & Research interns develop reserve research while assisting with wildlife conservation efforts.
Interns gain valuable and transferable skills, working alongside start-up business owners of innovative new ventures across a broad range of industries.
Cape Town has previously been dubbed as the best place in the world to visit, so it’s the ideal spot for building your resume with a Tourism & Hospitality internship!
Wildlife Research internships offer extensive field work experience and an opportunity to contribute to the greater scientific community.
What recent interns said about their experience
Through this internship experience, I discovered the value of adaptability and openness in building connections. By me stepping out of my comfort zone and actively participating in discussions, I was able to foster an inclusive environment. I learned to appreciate the nuances of people’s culture and share my own experiences, which led to more meaningful interactions. This approach transformed my internship into an opportunity for growth, allowing me to form friendships that transcended language barriers and deepened my understanding of global perspectives. This experience reinforced the importance of empathy and communication in overcoming challenges in diverse settings.
The Physical Therapy internship in Cape Town helped me gain experience for my career field which will help set me apart in applications. I got to build my resume while traveling. I met so many amazing people from all over the world. I not only improved my resume but I learned so much about myself individually on this internship.
My current internship role at my host organization played a crucial part in achieving my long-term career goals in international development and social change. As a student in International Studies, I aim to work in roles that address global challenges through effective, culturally sensitive strategies. This internship helped me build the foundation for this career path in several meaningful ways. One of the key skills I've developed is the ability to understand and implement local solutions for local problems. My tasks emphasized the importance of community-driven approaches rather than imposing external ideas. I’ve learned that real impact comes from supporting and enhancing local initiatives rather than directing from the outside. This perspective is essential for a career in international development, where successful projects often depend on adapting solutions to fit the specific needs and contexts of the communities being served. I also developed skills in cross-cultural communication, which are vital for any international development role. Interning in Cape Town showed me how to navigate diverse perspectives and collaborate with individuals from different backgrounds, enhancing my ability to work in global contexts. Finally, I also learned how to design and implement community outreach programs. By participating in and observing these initiatives, I’ve gained practical experience in creating effective awareness campaigns and measuring their impact—skills that are directly applicable to roles in international development.
My GIS & Reserve Management internship at the Gondwana Game Reserve was amazing! I got to see everything I wanted to, learned a great deal and was given all the support I needed. I saw a lot of animals and met many wonderful people. It was the best month of my life!
My time at the Gondwana Game Reserve went above and beyond any expectations I had. The past four weeks were of incredible growth, both professionally and personally. This internship was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I am beyond grateful for. It was hard to choose only one thing, but the internship provided me with immense personal and professional growth in ways I could have not imagined. I gained so much data-collection experience, from game transects, the bird point counts, helped with the Elephant Reintegration Trust program, learned about the incredible local flora and fauna, and forged lasting connections and friendships I intend to keep nurturing in the coming years. It was also incredibly rewarding at the end to be able to successfully complete my personal GIS research project on Cape Mountain Zebra. I enormously appreciated how all the lectures and teachable moments turned into new knowledge and perceptions of the incredible habitats in South Africa that I did not have before. All the staff and peers I met along the way made this beautiful experience one that I will always remember and that it was very hard to say goodbye to. I am beyond grateful for all the staff that supported us with such dedication along our journey.
The internship exceeded my expectations. Everyone at camp was so kind, friendly and made it a very easy transition. The diving was more incredible than I could have ever imagined and this was my favorite part of the program. I had never dove before and I was blown away by the reef and fish.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Free-time experiences & tours in South Africa
Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in South Africa! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
Stand at the southernmost tip of the African continent and experience Chapman’s Peak, cute African Penguins at Boulders Beach and Muizenberg’s golden shores with our Cape Point Tour.
Embark on the Garden Route Tour for an adventure of emerald forests, turquoise coastlines and a rich tapestry of wildlife and culture.
Embark on an unforgettable journey with our Safari & Wine Tasting Adventure in South Africa! Experience wildlife encounters and wine tastings against stunning landscapes.
Stand at the southernmost tip of the African continent and experience Chapman’s Peak, cute African Penguins at Boulders Beach and Muizenberg’s golden shores with our Cape Point Tour.
Embark on the Garden Route Tour for an adventure of emerald forests, turquoise coastlines and a rich tapestry of wildlife and culture.
Embark on an unforgettable journey with our Safari & Wine Tasting Adventure in South Africa! Experience wildlife encounters and wine tastings against stunning landscapes.
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