VACorps Internship Program Housing & Lifestyle

Planning an internship in South Africa without any local assistance is a daunting task, while attempting to find suitable short-term accommodation in Cape Town is an even greater challenge. Our staff makes a point of assisting future VACorps interns with the location of Cape Town internship accommodation in the months prior to their arrival in South Africa. This is one of the most important services we offer our program participants. We have partnered with several local housing providers to offer a range of fully-furnished accommodation options suitable to any participant's living needs.

Cape Town accommodation options range from trendy loft apartments in the city center to student-orientated accommodation in a neighborhood called Observatory, near the University of Cape Town. To help you navigate a maze of potential housing options, we will work closely with you to identify the type of internship accommodation in Cape Town that best suits your needs and budget. Most VACorps participants choose to live in their own room within a fully furnished house or apartment (which eliminates the hassle of procuring the necessary furnishings and home ware) while living with other program participants. Some of our older participants or those who prefer living alone will choose more expensive accommodation options in the city center. Either way, our staff will help you find the accommodation option that best suits your living needs.

Most VACorps participants will live within an area of the city called Observatory (affectionately referred to as ‘Obz’). One of the most exciting student neighbourhoods in all of Cape Town, Obz features a surprisingly cosmopolitan vibe despite its intimate size. This can be largely contributed to the international visitors (like you!) that make up a large percentage of the area’s inhabitants. It is not at all uncommon to overhear conversations in several different languages while walking through the neighborhood, yet Obz manages to retain its intrinsically South African flavour because it is home to a vibrant arts scene. Living in Observatory is a great way to experience the cultural and political vibes of the ‘New South Africa’ in a way that will introduce you the larger scale complexities of a nation still defining its post-Apartheid identity.

By the time you arrive in Cape Town, we will have taken all the necessary measures to prepare your living space so that you will be free to explore the city from day one. Depending on your personal housing requirements, monthly rental rates will range between R2600 to R3400 (Daily Exchange rates). Click the following link to view pictures of example Cape Town internship accommodation provided by our housing partners in Observatory.

A typical VACorps intern is outgoing, adventurous and enjoys the discovery of new cultures. During your leisure time as an intern in South Africa, you will have ample time to explore the city. The sidebar to the right of this page features sever articles about Cape Town “Lifestyle” options; this is not a definitive activity guide but rather, an introduction for someone unfamiliar with Cape Town's amazing urban lifestyle. If you would like a more comprehensive lifestyle guide, please contact us to request a copy of "The Insider's Guide to Cape Town," the official program guide of the Volunteer Adventure Corps. Please be sure to visit the VAC Facebook Page and the VAC Flickr Gallery for more information about the lifestyle you will experience as an intern in Cape Town.