If you think “volunteering Africa” then one of the things that’s probably going to come to mind is being out in the wild – or at the very least somewhere where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of your normal life.

What’s more, you probably can’t get a phone signal in the African bush and there certainly won’t be an internet connection so nobody is going to bug you for a few weeks. For some it’s a very exciting thought.

Of course for some it’s a nightmare idea! Many people would be lost without their daily intake of Facebook or texting!

The fact is somewhere between the two extremes. If you’re out on a lion walk then you probably won’t get a signal. However, depending on your service provider and the deal you have you might well have access once you get back to your overnight accommodation. If you’re helping orphans in the slums of Cape Town you’re not likely to find somewhere to charge a laptop but in Cape Town itself you will find internet cafés so you can catch up if you want to or need to.

Modern communications are necessary for your volunteer project to work efficiently. We would also never leave you without any means of staying in touch with people. You may not be able to pick up your emails 24/7 but equally if you need to telephone home – or they need to contact you – a message can always get through.

You could look at volunteering Africa in some ways as the best of both worlds. You are safe and secure in the knowledge that you can make a call if you need to. On the other hand, if there are people that you would rather not talk to for a while you have a useful excuse – just tell them you can’t get a signal, they probably don’t know any better!