VACorps Program Calendar

The VACorps Program Calendar

We recommend that you arrive on one of the “Best Arrival Dates” listed below to ensure that you will participate in your VACorps program orientation with other new interns who have just arrived in the city. Your orientation will be far more enjoyable when experienced in a group and it’s really fun to explore a new city with other individuals, who like you, are visiting the city for the first time, and don’t know anyone in Cape Town.

Past participants have noted that some of their best friendships were established during their first few days in Cape Town. Remember that anyone who is accepted to the VACorps program is adventurous, open-minded, and culturally curious! So the program orientation is an ideal place to connect with your fellow program participants and start planning adventures and excursions in Cape Town. If you arrive outside of our Best Arrival Dates, there is a chance you will be the only person attending the orientation and you may not establish friendships as quickly.

Program Session Dates + BEST Arrival Dates for 2023

Session 2 May 2nd – September 1st, 2023

• BEST Session 2 Arrival Dates: May 7th-8th, June 11th-12th, June 18th-19th, July 2nd-3rd, and July 16th-17th.

Session 3 September 3rd – December 15th, 2023

• BEST Session 3 Arrival Dates: September 3rd-4th, September 16th-17th, October 1st-2nd, and October 15th-16th.

*Please note that we do not accept program arrivals in December.

Program Session Dates + BEST Arrival Dates for 2024

Session 1 January 4th – April 26th, 2024

• BEST Session 1 Arrival Dates: January 15th, January 28th-29th, February 11th-12th and March 3rd-4th.
• Gap Year Program Dates: January 4th – March 8th. (Optional trip to Kruger Park from March 8th – March 13th)

Session 2 May 5th – August 23rd, 2024

• BEST Session 2 Arrival Dates: May 5th-6th, May 19th-20th, June 2nd-3rd, June 15th-16th, June 30th-July 1st, and July 14th-15th.

Session 3 August 26th – December 13th, 2024

• BEST Session 3 Arrival Dates: September 1st-2nd, September 29th-30th, and October 13th-14th.

*Please note that we do not accept program arrivals in December.

Important dates to consider as you plan your trip to South Africa

The VACorps annual calendar consists of three Program Sessions, as detailed above. Each session typically includes at least one optional weekend adventure and an optional safari trip to Kruger Park. Additionally, we have indicated public holidays and South African school holidays, which are relevant for participants interning at schools.

2024 VACorps Program Calendar

Session 1: January 4th – April 26th, 2024

• Recommended date of arrival for gap year participants: January 4th
• South African public schools reopen: on January 15th
• Recommended weekend for independent participants to arrive in Cape Town: January 14th-15th
• Garden Route Safari Trip with HotSpots2C: January 26th – 28th and February 23rd – 25th
• Hotspots2C Kruger Park Trip: March 8th – March 13th (a second trip will also be run in Session 1)
• Human Rights Day: March 21st (Public Holiday – no internship)
• SA School Holidays: March 20th – April 2nd (no internship for those working at SA schools)
• Good Friday: March 29th (Public Holiday- no internship)
• Family Day: April 1st (Public Holiday- no internship)
• Freedom Day: April 27th (Public Holiday- no internship)

Session 2: May 2nd – August 30th, 2024

• Workers Day: May 1st (Public Holiday- no internship)
• Garden Route Safari Trip with HotSpots2C: May 24th-26th
• SA School Holidays: June 17th – July 8th (no internship for those working at SA schools)
• Youth Day: June 16th (Public Holiday – no internship)
• Garden Route Safari Trip with HotSpots2C: June 21st-23rd
• Hotspots2C Kruger Park Trip: June/July TBC (ask your VACorps program advisor for more information)
• National Women’s Day: August 9th (Public Holiday – no internship)
• Garden Route Safari Trip with HotSpots2C: July 12th-14th

Session 3: September 2nd – December 13th, 2024

• Heritage Day: September 24th
• SA School Holidays: September 23rd – September 30th (no internship for those working at SA schools)
• Garden Route Safari Trip with HotSpots2C: October 11th-13th
• Hotspots2C Kruger Park Trip: November TBC (ask your VACorps program advisor for more information)

2025 VACorps Program Calendar (Detailed schedule TBC)