Develop your field research skills while working alongside experienced marine scientists in one of South Africa’s most important marine ecosystems. This four-week internship combines practical fieldwork, scientific training, and data analysis to give students and recent graduates valuable experience in marine conservation and research. Spend your weekdays participating in structured internship modules and your weekends collecting data aboard research vessels and supporting local conservation projects. The program is open to university students, recent graduates, and anyone considering a future in marine biology or conservation.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum four-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Make your way to the city centre and spend the night there before getting picked up by the local team on Monday, who will take you to the project site.
Monday: Arrive at the project, settle into your accommodation, meet the internship team, and receive an orientation covering the week’s activities, safety procedures, and research facilities.
Tuesday-Friday: Weekdays focus on structured internship modules, including lectures, field research, boat-based data collection, laboratory activities, species monitoring, data management, and practical conservation work. Daily activities depend on weather, marine conditions, and ongoing research priorities.
Weekends: Support marine biologists aboard commercial research vessels by collecting observational data and assisting with photographic identification. You may also help care for injured seabirds and African penguins at the rehabilitation center or assist with other conservation activities.
Remaining Weeks: This project doesn’t have any scheduled free days. Volunteers will need to coordinate with the project directors if they want a day off, however as every day is varied on this project, many people enjoy staying the duration of their time there. Departures are on Monday.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Gansbaai (Gans Bay; Bay of Geese), South Africa is known as the Great White Shark capital of the world. Just a two-hour drive from Cape Town, this beautiful coastal city is home to an abundance of both land and marine wildlife. Its coastal islands are home to vast populations of seals and one of the last remaining colonies of endangered African penguins while the channel in between them is called “Shark Alley,” because of the densest population of Great White sharks in the world. The Bay is also a vitally important breeding area for Southern Right whales, which migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to mate and breed here from July-December. Surrounding the bay is a pristine yet rugged landscape with rich floral biodiversity and ancient Milkwood forests.
About the Program
This internship is offered by one of South Africa’s leading, award-winning marine conservation organizations. Designed for undergraduate students, recent graduates, and aspiring marine scientists, the program combines academic learning with practical field experience to build valuable skills in marine biology and conservation. Throughout the four-week internship, participants work alongside experienced marine scientists, taking part in structured training modules while contributing to ongoing research and conservation initiatives. The curriculum includes lectures, field surveys, boat-based research, species monitoring, environmental sampling, and scientific data management.
Your Internship
Activities vary throughout the month according to weather conditions, wildlife sightings, and active research projects. Interns assist with boat-based observational studies, photographic identification, biodiversity assessments, estuary monitoring, seabird rehabilitation, shark research, and environmental monitoring. You will also gain experience using scientific methods, collecting field data, introducing statistical analysis with R software, and presenting scientific findings. Some activities, such as shark tagging or marine animal rescues, depend on research schedules and cannot be guaranteed.
Internship Tasks
A Typical Day
A typical weekday begins with a briefing before interns head into the field, join boat surveys, or attend lectures and practical workshops. Depending on the day’s activities, you may spend time collecting observational data, assisting with species monitoring, entering research data, or supporting rehabilitation efforts. Afternoons may include laboratory work, scientific discussions, or data analysis sessions before returning to the accommodation in the evening. Weekends are usually spent supporting marine biologists aboard research vessels and assisting with conservation activities.
When you’re not participating in internship activities, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the Western Cape. Optional excursions may include visiting the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas, hiking along the coast, exploring Klipgat Caves, visiting the Stony Point African Penguin Colony, horse riding, zip lining, quad biking, wine tasting, or kelp diving. The region is also known for its spectacular coastal scenery and excellent whale watching during the migration season. No-sea days often become opportunities to discover local attractions with fellow interns. Excursions are optional and available at an additional cost.
Time-off activities:
Add-on (Included):
Whale Conservation: Whale trips and eco trips throughout the year are conducted by the partner company and volunteers will assist at a local whale tourism and conservation organization, which conducts studies on the biology and behaviors of marine species, focusing strongly on eco-tourism, conservation efforts and education. Please note this project only operates from June-November. Those who choose this add-on may expect to be involved in the following tasks:
Please note: This project is completely weather dependent and there will be days when the weather is too bad to go to the sea. On these days, volunteers will have excursions or lectures arranged for them by the volunteer coordinators.
