Student Groups

memories for a lifetime

Student Groups

Student group travel with SAVE Volunteering is designed for schools, universities and youth programmes looking for a well-structured experience that blends volunteering with guided exploring. These Student Groups packages make it easy to plan a meaningful trip with clear day-by-day itineraries, reliable local support, and a balance between impact, adventure and learning. Groups get the chance to connect with South Africa’s communities, landscapes and culture while travelling responsibly and safely, with support from arrival through to departure.
 
Each Student Groups package is itinerary-led, so the pace and focus can be matched to your group’s goals, budget and available dates. Some options stay centred in Cape Town, while others add the Garden Route, Kruger and cultural highlights, or head into Botswana for a conservation experience.

Details about the project

What's included

Every student group package is itinerary-led, so inclusions vary by option and destination. In general, packages are designed around:

  • Structured itinerary with pre-planned activities and logistics

  • Local on-the-ground support and guidance

  • Volunteer experience built into the programme where applicable

  • Clear day-by-day planning via the “Complete itinerary” links below

Guidance

On-trip support for your whole group

Accommodation

Shared group accommodation

Food & Beverages

Meals planned around your itinerary

Details about the different packages 

Student Group Packages

14 Days: Cape Town Volunteer & Explore

A Cape Town based student group option that blends structured volunteering with guided city experiences and downtime to explore. Volunteering typically suits groups who want people-focused impact, with placements that can include supporting early childhood learning in disadvantaged communities, or participating in community upliftment activities such as food security and social programmes.

Good fit for: first-time groups wanting a simpler, Cape Town centred itinerary with a strong volunteering focus.

Highlights can include:

  • Supporting pre-schools and aftercare programmes (School and Educare style placements)

  • Community upliftment initiatives and local engagement opportunities

  • Guided Cape Town orientation style start, then a steady weekly rhythm

14 Days: Cape Town, Garden Route, Kruger Experience & Soweto – From R38,000

This is a big, high-energy South Africa journey that combines adventure, wildlife, and culture in one itinerary. Expect Garden Route highlights like Oudtshoorn, Wilderness, and Addo, plus a Kruger National Park experience focused on Big 5 game drives, then a Soweto bike tour with historic stops and local flavours.

Good fit for: groups that want iconic destinations and a fast-paced, multi-region route.

Highlights include:

  • Garden Route adventure mix with national parks and outdoor activities

  • Kruger National Park safari time and Big 5 focused game drives

  • Cultural wrap-up in Soweto, including a guided bike tour

14 Days: Explore Cape Town: Volunteer Experience & Garden Route – From R29,000

Built for first-timers who want a real feel for Cape Town before heading out on a Garden Route adventure. The itinerary is positioned around settling into the Mother City, then shifting into hikes, surf time, and a national park safari where Big 5 sightings are possible.

Good fit for: groups wanting a balanced pace with both volunteering and classic coastal travel.

Highlights include:

  • Cape Town base to start, with time to find the local rhythm

  • Garden Route activities like hikes and surf sessions

  • A safari element in a national park setting

18 Nights: Volunteer & Garden Route – From R19,000

An extended, student-focused journey designed to combine meaningful community work in Cape Town with a guided Garden Route exploration. It’s specifically positioned as a strong match for high school groups (ages 15 to 18), giving students time to connect, contribute, and grow through shared experiences and a clear group structure.

Good fit for: groups that want more time on the ground, with deeper volunteering engagement before travelling.

Highlights include:

  • Community work in Cape Town with a structured student-friendly flow

  • Garden Route travel that showcases culture, people, and natural beauty

  • Longer duration for stronger group bonding and reflection

8 Nights: Botswana Conservation Experience – From USD 900

A true wilderness option for groups that want conservation immersion outside South Africa, based in Botswana’s Central Tuli Block. Expect a remote bush setting with a conservation focus and the chance to encounter iconic species such as elephants and leopards, while contributing to conservation objectives through a structured volunteer programme.

Good fit for: nature-driven groups who want an off-the-grid, wildlife-first experience.

Highlights include:

  • Conservation volunteering in Botswana’s Central Tuli Block wilderness setting

  • Close-to-nature accommodation style and shared camp life

  • A strong “team in the bush” experience built around conservation impact

4 Nights: Wild Coast Cultural Tour – From R15 500

This is an unplugged cultural and adventure escape along South Africa’s Wild Coast, designed to feel raw, authentic, and deeply local. The itinerary positioning includes Xhosa village connection, dramatic cliff hikes, ocean safaris, surfing, river paddling, seafood braais, drumming circles, and starlit beach feasts.

Good fit for: groups wanting a short, high-impact cultural immersion with outdoor adventure.

Highlights include:

  • Strong culture and community connection in a Wild Coast setting

  • Adventure mix: hikes, paddling, surfing, and ocean-based experiences

  • Evening social moments like braais and music-driven gatherings

Local Business & Community Interaction

A Cape Town based student group option designed for groups that want to explore the connection between entrepreneurship, inequality, ethical tourism and everyday community life. This package creates space for meaningful local interaction while giving students a more practical understanding of how business, social impact and community upliftment intersect in a South African context.

Good fit for: groups wanting a socially aware itinerary with real-world community exposure and a stronger focus on entrepreneurship and responsible travel.

Highlights include:

  • Local business and community interaction that brings classroom topics into a real-world setting
  • Youth empowerment and community upliftment elements through skills-based engagement
  • A Cape Town experience that encourages reflection on inequality, ethical tourism and practical problem-solving

Sports & Development

A dynamic student group option built around leadership, coaching and the role of sport as a tool for social change. This package suits groups who want to see how sport can open doors, build confidence and create connection, while giving students a chance to engage with youth development in an active and purposeful way.

Good fit for: groups looking for an energetic, leadership-focused itinerary with a clear youth development angle.

Highlights include:

  • Sports-based activities that show how coaching and teamwork can support social impact
  • Youth leadership opportunities linked to confidence, communication and positive role modelling
  • A structured Cape Town experience that blends active learning with community engagement

South Africa History Immersion

A thoughtful, student-focused option for groups wanting to better understand South Africa’s journey through apartheid, democracy and reconciliation. This package is suited to groups who want history to feel more immediate and grounded, with space to reflect on the country’s past while building a deeper understanding of its present.

Good fit for: groups wanting a more reflective, educational itinerary centred on South Africa’s political and social history.

Highlights include:

  • A stronger focus on the themes of apartheid, democracy and reconciliation
  • Guided learning that gives historical context to modern South Africa
  • Meaningful opportunities for discussion, reflection and cultural understanding

Nature, Conservation & Service Learning

A nature-driven student group option that blends environmental volunteering with a broader look at biodiversity, sustainability and responsible citizenship. This package is ideal for groups who want to connect with South Africa’s natural spaces while taking part in service learning that links conservation with community awareness and long-term stewardship.

Good fit for: nature-focused groups wanting a sustainability-led itinerary with environmental learning at its core.

Highlights include:

  • Conservation and service learning built around biodiversity and sustainability
  • Environmental volunteering with marine and community-linked elements
  • A Cape Town experience that encourages environmental awareness, responsibility and reflection

STEM: Robotics & Computer Science in Cape Town

A future-focused student group option designed for groups interested in robotics, coding and computer science in a Cape Town setting. This package is well suited to students who enjoy problem-solving, innovation and hands-on learning, while also giving them a wider view of how STEM connects with education, opportunity and real-world application.

Good fit for: groups wanting an academic and skills-based itinerary with a strong technology and innovation focus.

Highlights include:

  • Exposure to robotics and computer science in a practical, student-friendly format
  • Hands-on learning that encourages collaboration, creativity and critical thinking
  • A Cape Town based experience that connects STEM learning with future-ready skills

7

Activity level

8

Education level

6

Involvement level

6

Independence level

Our Recommendation

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