• Partnerships For The Goals
Available from May 2025

NGO Marketing Manager

location
39 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 21 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Join our small and dynamic team making positive, meaningful, and sustainable impacts.
  • Learn and develop new marketing skills by completing a range of tasks using some of our specialist equipment and softwares
  • Gain hands-on experience in environmental conservation and community development initiatives.
  • Engage with a diverse mix of volunteers and staff from different countries and cultures.
  • Live in our unique bush-style accommodation where you will be immersed in the abundant surrounding wildlife.

Especially good for

Age 21+
Singles

About the program

Manage the day-to-day marketing tasks across all platforms including social media, the website and specific umbrella organizations.

The mission of DAKTARI is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

Every Monday, eight new students come to DAKTARI’s camp to spend the week building their knowledge of the environment and wildlife. They attend lessons, ...

About the program

The mission of DAKTARI is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

Every Monday, eight new students come to DAKTARI’s camp to spend the week building their knowledge of the environment and wildlife. They attend lessons, do activities, and interact with the animals in the wildlife orphanage. DAKTARI also works at the secondary schools to further this education and undertake community development programs.    

About the Program

Position: Communication and Media Manager

Contract: 6 - 12 month volunteer

Purpose

To manage the day-to-day marketing tasks across all platforms including social media, the website and specific umbrella organizations as well as working on strategic campaigns throughout the year to boost fundraising, awareness, partnerships and the recruitment of volunteers. Part of your role is tell everyone what is happening at DAKTARI every day. That means you have a front-row seat to all of the exciting things happening at the camp!

Your job will include:

  • Managing in a professional way DAKTARI’s accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok, including posting content daily
  • Writing and sending DAKTARI’s monthly newsletter and other campaign emails
  • Creating media and marketing content for DAKTARI including brochures, merchandise, photos, and videos
  • Maintaining DAKTARI’s brand across all promotional materials and enforcing its use throughout the organisation
  • Updating and improving DAKTARI’s website

Criteria

  • You must be comfortable working with Apple computers
  • You must be able to meet deadlines and manage your time well
  • You must have strong English writing skills
  • Previous marketing or communications experience is strongly preferred
  • Experience with Adobe software is strongly preferred, specifically Photoshop and/or Fireworks
  • Photography experience and/or experience making videos a huge plus
Everything YOU would need to help do your job will be provided here at the camp and remember Social media will become your NEW best friend :)

Typical day

The program is based in the middle of the bush. There is no electricity in the camp but we have solar power and Internet for computers. You will live in a family atmosphere and a beautiful area. You must be able to adapt to group life and to be away from the city. 

You will work from Monday until ...

Typical day

The program is based in the middle of the bush. There is no electricity in the camp but we have solar power and Internet for computers. You will live in a family atmosphere and a beautiful area. You must be able to adapt to group life and to be away from the city. 

You will work from Monday until Friday, 8 hours a day, as the Communication and Media Manager; you should be able to organize your hours and be flexible. We are looking for someone who is eager to tell our story to the world, someone who loves to wordsmith, and someone with an eye for graphic design. The marketing manager is the voice of DAKTARI and we are looking for someone excited to take on the challenge of describing our work to a big and variable audience in a fun and engaging way.

Every Saturday, any volunteer can go to town to do shopping, enjoy a lunch in a restaurant or do an excursion. DAKTARI also proposes extra-mural trips as visiting the famous Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon etc.

Free-time activities

If you want to go out you can either rent a car and ask fellow volunteers to join you to split the cost or we also have a list of excursions that can be arranged by the Office staff. Please ask the volunteer coordinator, as the DAKTARI cars are not available for personal use.

Interesting things to do ...

Free-time activities

If you want to go out you can either rent a car and ask fellow volunteers to join you to split the cost or we also have a list of excursions that can be arranged by the Office staff. Please ask the volunteer coordinator, as the DAKTARI cars are not available for personal use.

Interesting things to do in Limpopo Province:

  • Visit Kruger Park. DAKTARI is situated between two gates, Phalaborwa and Orpen. Time to Kruger is about 90 minutes. The entrance fee at the time of writing is ± R220 per day.

  • Moholoholo is a rehabilitation centre roughly an hour from DAKTARI. You can see raptors, honey badgers, cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, a hippo and other animals. The entrance fee is ± R 100 per person. Tours start at 9.30 am and 3 pm that last for 2 1/2 hours. Tours are the only way to visit this facility. It’s not necessary to book ahead.

  • Khamai Reptile Park has snakes, iguana, crocodiles and terrapins.

  • The Blyde River Canyon is also nearby, nestled in the Drakensberg Mountains. There is a panorama route, which takes in the Three Rondavels (mountains that look like huts), waterfalls, great viewpoints and some picturesque villages.

  • White water rafting is available on the Blyde River or on the Olifants River.

  • Other more expensive activities include micro lighting; private game reserve walks/drives, hot air balloon trips and the elephant sanctuary in Hazyview, which is fantastic. 

  • Hoedspruit has shopping, an Internet café, and many bars and restaurants with pool tables.

  • Sundowners (drinks) at “The Leopard Rock” (an outcrop at DAKTARI with great views of the Lowveld and Drakensberg mountains) are another popular evening activity. If you want to go to the “rock”, discuss with Ian and/or Michèle. Obviously this activity takes place after the children have left!

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 21 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 21 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (fluently)

Education Requirements

Marketing background at University level

Required Documents

CV, Passport and Travel insurance to cover your entire stay in South Africa

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

1) Speak and write English fluently. 2) Previous marketing experience. 3) Professional knowledge of social media, online marketing and email marketing. 4) To be confident with Apple computers. 5) Proficiency in Adobe Fireworks or Photoshop. 6) Knowledge of website content management (e.g. WordPress) 7) Experience in developing short videos using Apple software is strongly preferred.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 17:00

What's Included

What's Included

Airport Pickup at Hoedspruit Airport

Once you have booked your flight to Johannesburg, you have two options to get to Hoedspruit where we will pick you up:

  • Book a flight to Hoedspruit Airport
    • It takes about an hour to get from JHB to Hoedspruit
    • From Hoedspruit Airport it will take about an hour and a half to get to camp

  • Book a shuttle with Safari Link if your international flight arrives early enough (before 6 am) at Johannesburg airport. We have negotiated a special rate for our volunteers per transfer between JHB airport and Hoedspruit Kamogelo Center.
    • This trip takes about 5-6 hours from JHB to Hoedspruit

Accommodation

You will be accommodated in a chalet or in a private room. The accommodations are based at the project site, on a 600 hectares private game reserve. There is no electricity on the farm but we have solar power. 

The rooms/chalets are basic but very comfortable. We try to give as much privacy as possible to long-term volunteers. Your toilet, room and laundry is done daily and you will have Internet access. The rooms have toilets with either a gas geyser or a “donkey” for hot water. If you have a donkey, a fire will usually be lit for you by 4 pm.

There are animal camps around the camp and you must be prepared to be in contact with them. There are also wild animals in the private game reserve so we do not recommend that you go out for walks.

Food & Beverages

We have employed enough staff to make your stay comfortable so you can focus on your work, however, you are more than welcome to help. On weekends there is usually only one lady working in the kitchen and you will be asked by the volunteer coordinator to help out.

If you have any special requirements, e.g. vegetarian or vegan please speak to your volunteer coordinator or office manager so we can make the necessary arrangements with the kitchen. Food, tea, coffee and juices are included.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) in Hoedspruit. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This is a long-term volunteer position for a minimum 9-month stay. As a volunteer, you will be provided accommodation, all meals + all living costs inside our camp included in exchange of your work with us. 

Please apply for details on the available start dates. 

The project is located 60km outside of Hoedspruit near Kruger National Park.

You would need to either travel via plane or a shuttle from Johannesburg to get to Hoedspruit. 

A member of the team will be there to meet you on arrival and bring you to camp. Note that arrivals are only possible on Saturdays. 

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

39 weeks (min. stay) 0€
50 weeks (max. stay) 0€
Average fees 0€/week

Program fees

0€ per week 39 - 50 weeks Age 21 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

39 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with DAKTARI Bush School during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

DAKTARI Bush School

Perfect 4.6 rating (118 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2002

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Pretty

Spoken languages: English

About the project

The mission of DAKTARI is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

Meet your organization

OUR STORY: A LOVE STORY THAT BECAME DAKTARI

Ian and Michele Merrifield officially opened DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in 2006 but it was a long road to make it happen. Ian and Michele met while Ian was working as a game ranger at Tshukudu Game Lodge and Michele was volunteering there as well. While hand-raising injured zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs, Ian and Michele fell in love.

Michele had long dreamed about living in Africa and taking care of the wildlife. When she met Ian, she was able to realise that dream. They left Tshukudu after getting married and opened a restaurant in Hoedspruit to start raising capital for their own wildlife orphanage. While there, Ian and Michele helped raise a local boy from the village named Thabo. He had almost no knowledge or understanding of his native wildlife and environment, so Ian and Michele began using the animals in their care to teach him. Thabo's understanding of conservation was typical of children in Limpopo and the idea of adding a bush school was born.

So where did the name DAKTARI come from? Michele says, "When we were younger, there was a TV program called Daktari. It was about a family in Africa, who looked after and raised many different types of orphaned wild animals. As kids we loved it and we remember getting deeply emotionally attached to the different animals." Sounds familiar right? Michele and Ian adopted the name and so DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage was born.

OUR MISSION

The Mission of DAKTARI is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

Through the combination of the bush school and the wildlife orphanage, DAKTARI has developed an immersive educational experience for local children to learn about the wildlife around them, the environment, anti-poaching, and a wide variety of other issues, right in the middle of the bush. Our work extends into their communities through Eco Clubs at the secondary schools, career guidance for the youth, and community development projects.

118 reviews · rating4.6

Flavia Okumura rating5

2022 at NGO Marketing Manager

I stayed at DAKTARI 2 weeks and it changed my concept of many things in life! It was simply incredible, the animals are so affectionate, the children are very kind and loveness! ...
Carina Bauer rating4.8

2022 at NGO Marketing Manager

I learned for my life at DAKTARI! Two weeks are by far not enough, so stay longer! I enjoyed being around the kids and getting more information about animals and the life in the bush and communities. The animal stabling with the kids was by far my ...
Nicole Dellatorre rating4.4

2022 at NGO Marketing Manager

The experience was great, lovely people. I like to know all of the stafs, kids, and employees. The experience with the animals is good, but could be better, than just clean it all day. There was not much contact with animals, other cleaning the areas.. for that reason i think could have been better. ..
Emilio Zeballos rating5

2021 at NGO Marketing Manager

Coming to volunteer at DAKTARI Bush School was an experience close to perfection. Without a doubt it was way better than expected and I would recommend this place to everyone. Since the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by everyone in the best way possible. During these three weeks, they made me feel ...
Luke Llabres rating5

2024 at Environment and Wildlife Education

I wanted to come to Daktari to spend my summer giving back to the world in a good way while learning about myself and progressing as an individual. I was able to accomplish both while here! It's super rewarding to get to teach kids about the world around them and how they can make it a better place. ..
Claudia Bachmann rating5

2024 at Environment and Wildlife Education

Out of my comfort zone - an amazing experience! I volunteered 2 weeks at DAKTARI in South Africa (close to the Kruger National Park) - caring for orphaned animals and weekly lessons for children in 8th grade from a nearby school. Besides that I had the opportunity to do a one-day Safari, some ...

Location

Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Hoedspruit

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