Our volunteers are very important to us, which is why we have established two volunteer houses in the Cape Town area to provide a safe and secure home from home for volunteers who are working at local projects or taking time-out from projects further afield.

We have invested a great deal of time and energy in creating a warm and welcoming environment for you to relax and enjoy during your time off, with a full-time Volunteer Cooordinator on hand at each property to assist you. So whether you want to book a shark dive, need advice on a good restaurant, or just need to speak to someone because you're feeling homesick, our dedicated Volunteer Coordinators will be there to help you throughout your stay.

The original AVIVA House in the Cape Town suburb of Observatory (affectionately called 'Obz' by the locals) opened its doors to volunteers in July 2002, and has since undergone many renovations and improvements including a major facelift in 2006.

In June 2007 we opened a second AVIVA House in the suburb of Table View, and have managed to recreate the same style and welcoming feeling as our home in Obz. Along with all the normal facilities, AVIVA House (Table View) also comes with a large swimming pool, which provides the perfect way to cool off during those long summer months.

Both houses are close to local shops and transport links, and are an ideal base for exploring Cape Town and the rest of the Western Cape. Your Volunteer Coordinator will also be happy to recommend great value taxis, car hire, overland tours, Kruger and Garden Route trips, and of course advice on anything from the best beaches to the nearest doctors.

We have created some simple House Rules to ensure that all volunteers have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the facilities at both properties. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with these rules, as all volunteers are expected to abide by them during their stay. You can also view a selection of photographs of our accommodation and below we have listed some of the facilities available at both houses:

• A full-time Volunteer Coordinator (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm), who is also available for emergencies during evenings, weekends and Public Holidays.
• Separate Male and Female dormitory accommodation - spacious with good quality mattresses, bedding and linen provided.
• Full kitchen facilities - Oven, fridges, microwave, toaster, kettle and everything you need for preparing great South African food!
• A selection of cereals, yoghurts, milk, bread, margarine, tea, coffee, sugar etc are provided for you to create your own breakfast every day.
• A telephone for incoming calls.
• Comfortable lounge with a Hi-Fi, Satellite TV and DVD.
• A lockable cupboard for your valuables and groceries.
• Showers and toilet facilities.
• Premises are cleaned and inspected daily (Mon-Fri)
• A private garden for entertainment/relaxation complete with breakfast tables, a built in braai (A South African style bbq) and at the Table View House, a large pool.
• Both AVIVA Houses are Wi-Fi Hotspots and each has a computer for you to access the Internet. We will set up a Hotspot account for you before you arrive – this will enable you to purchase Internet credits at a cost of 45 cents per Megabyte using your credit card (minimum R30 purchase). This is much cheaper, and more convenient than going to a local Internet cafe!
• Extra storage cupboards for luggage and personal items.
• Each AVIVA House is safe and secure with electrical fencing and a magnetic lock on the entrance gate.
• You will be issued with a coded magnet key to allow you to come and go 24 hours a day.