Working With Wolves
Help care for our wolf packs - wild, tamed, youngsters and free-roamers. Feeding routines, enclosure maintenance, enrichment programmes, and learning the story behind each animal.
For a Life-Changing Experience.
Volunteer at All Hearts Foundation — South Africa's one-of-a-kind wolf and animal sanctuary, deep in the bushveld of Hartbeespoort.
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Who We Are
A Sanctuary With a Soul.
Wolf & Paw Volunteers is the official international volunteer programme of All Hearts Foundation (AHF) - a registered South African non-profit (NPO 174-118) founded by Lexi and Ronnie Austen in 2016.
Nestled in the bushveld of Hartbeespoort, AHF is the rescue and rehabilitation home for wolves, exotic animals and domestic rescues - and a quiet lifeline for the surrounding community. Every gate, every enclosure, every meal here was built on love.
Through Wolf & Paw, we invite the world in. You won't watch from a distance. You'll feed, walk, learn and live alongside the team and the animals - and you'll leave changed.
2016
Founded
200+
Animals Cared For
100%
Reinvested in the Sanctuary
All Hearts Foundation
Hartbeespoort, North West, South Africa
The Work
The Project
Four threads of work, woven together. You'll move between them through the day - sometimes all four in a single morning.
Exotic & Domestic Rescues
Hands-on care for rescued raccoons, marmosets, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, ferrets and many more. Every animal here has a story - and most of them need patience to come out of their shell.
Community Outreach
Join feeding drives, feral cat colony care, and outreach to the homeless community AHF supports. The sanctuary's heart extends well beyond its fence line.
Education & Awareness
Learn directly from Lexi, Ronnie and the team about wolf behaviour, animal welfare and conservation. You'll leave as an ambassador — and many of our volunteers stay in touch for life.
Sanctuary Life
A Typical Day
No two days are ever quite the same - but the rhythm of the sanctuary gives every morning its shape. Here's what a day with us often looks like.
08:00
Morning Start & Feed Prep
The day begins with preparing the morning feed for the animals across the sanctuary.
09:00
Feeding Rounds & Daily Care
Feeding rounds, cleaning and the daily care tasks that keep every resident healthy and comfortable.
10:30
Tea & Coffee Break
A pause to catch your breath alongside the team.
11:00
Enrichment & Project Work
Enrichment preparation, enclosure maintenance, or hands-on development projects around the sanctuary.
13:00
Lunch & Downtime
Rest and recharge through the middle of the day.
14:00
Afternoon Sanctuary Tasks
Enclosure work, support projects and afternoon care until around 16:30.
Evening
Free Time
Rest, social time, or local activities - the evening is yours.
Schedules flex with the weather, animal needs, rescue situations and special care requirements. At a sanctuary, flexibility is part of the experience.
Moments
Life at the Sanctuary
A glimpse of the days you'll share with the pack - the work, the rescues, and the small moments that stay with you long after you've gone home.
Where You'll Stay
Accommodation & Meals
Volunteers stay in sanctuary-linked accommodation that offers a safe, welcoming and comfortable base - a close-knit environment set in peaceful natural surroundings, just minutes from the animals.
Meals are self-catering, with shared kitchen and dining areas, or can be pre-arranged at booking for an additional charge. As All Hearts Foundation grows, part of every volunteer fee goes back into improving these facilities for the future.
- Shared volunteer rooms
- Comfortable beds & bedding
- Shower & toilet facilities
- Communal lounge area
- Shared kitchen / dining
- Peaceful natural setting
Pricing
Volunteer Packages
Your fee covers on-site accommodation, daily sanctuary participation, and full team support - and directly funds animal food, rescue, veterinary care and the sanctuary's growth. Meals are self-catering, or can be pre-arranged at an additional cost.
2 Weeks
Full sanctuary experience
$1,350
14 nights · self-catering
- On-site accommodation
- Private shower & toilet
- Sanctuary orientation
- All daily sanctuary activities
- Team support & supervision
Most Popular
3 Weeks
Recommended length of stay
$2,025
21 nights · self-catering
- On-site accommodation
- Private shower & toilet
- Sanctuary orientation
- All daily sanctuary activities
- Team support & supervision
4 Weeks
Deep immersion stay
$2,700
28 nights · self-catering
- On-site accommodation
- Private shower & toilet
- Sanctuary orientation
- All daily sanctuary activities
- Team support & supervision
Additional weeks can be arranged at $675 / week, subject to availability. Laundry is available at $4 (R50) per kg. Prices are subject to change - terms & conditions apply.
Fine Print
What's Included
What's Included
- Volunteer placement at All Hearts Foundation
- Sanctuary orientation and safety briefing
- On-site accommodation with shower & toilet facilities
- All daily sanctuary activities
- Team support and supervision throughout
- A meaningful conservation & sanctuary experience
- Daily meals available if pre-arranged at booking
Not Included
- International or domestic flights
- Travel insurance - mandatory for participation
- Visa costs and travel documentation
- Meals - self-catering or pre-arranged at extra cost
- Laundry & personal purchases
- Personal spending money
- Airport transfers - available at additional cost
- Optional excursions & additional private transport
Beyond the Sanctuary
Optional Excursions
Your focus is the sanctuary, Monday to Friday - but on your own time, volunteers can add a little adventure, culture and unforgettable memories to their stay in South Africa.
01Big 5 Safari Day Trip
02Elephant Sanctuary Experience
03Primate / Monkey Sanctuary Visit
04Nature Reserve Excursion
05Cultural / Craft Market Experience
06Adventure & Scenic Day Outings
Optional excursions are arranged separately - prices available on request.
Before You Apply
Minimum Age 21
A Genuine Love For Animals
Willingness To Work Hard
Valid Passport & Insurance
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked
Year-round, subject to availability. We recommend booking at least two months ahead so we can secure your dates, brief you properly, and prepare your placement.
In comfortable sanctuary-linked accommodation just minutes from the sanctuary in Hartbeespoort. You'll have a bed, shared living areas and your own shower and toilet facilities, set in peaceful natural surroundings. Meals are self-catering, or can be pre-arranged at booking for an additional charge.
A morning start around 08:00 with feed preparation, then feeding rounds, cleaning and daily care. A mid-morning break, followed by enrichment, maintenance or project work, lunch and downtime, then afternoon sanctuary tasks. Evenings are free for rest, social time or local activities. Schedules flex with weather, animal needs and rescue situations.
No prior animal experience is required - just passion and a willingness to learn. Everything you need to know will be taught by our experienced team on arrival and through the programme.
Yes. All work with wolves and exotic animals is supervised by experienced AHF staff, and a thorough safety briefing is the first thing you'll receive on arrival. Respect for the animals is everything here.
Yes - additional weeks can be arranged at $675 per week, subject to availability. Many volunteers extend once they arrive. Just let us know as early as possible.
Begin Your Journey
Book Your Experience.
Ready to join the family, or simply have a question? Reach out directly by email, phone or WhatsApp and a member of the team will be in touch within 48 hours with availability and joining instructions.
Hartbeespoort, North West · South Africa
Wolf & Paw Volunteers operates under All Hearts Foundation — a registered South African non-profit organisation (NPO 174-118).