For many South Africans, Mandela Day means setting aside 67 minutes to give back. But why stop there?
Here are some of the best Mandela Day activities for travellers, nature lovers and anyone looking to do a little good while getting out and about.
Roll up your sleeves at Ladles of Love’s Hands-On Mandela Day
One of the country’s biggest Mandela Day initiatives is hosted by Ladles of Love, transforming thousands of volunteer hours into practical support for vulnerable preschool children.
This year’s flagship events take place at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 17 July and the Johannesburg Expo Centre on 22 July, where volunteers can spend 67 minutes making a tangible difference.
Choose between four activation zones:
- Make nutritious food boxes or join the famous Sarmiethon sandwich-making challenge.
- Create educational posters, flashcards and activity books.
- Craft teaching aids like puppets and beanbags.
- Grow herb and vegetable grow boxes for community food gardens.
Tickets cost R300 per adult and R200 for students and pensioners, with proceeds helping provide nutritious meals and educational resources for more than 20,000 preschool children.
It’s a fun, energetic morning that feels more like a community festival than traditional volunteering.
Go behind the scenes at SANCCOB
Animal lovers should add SANCCOB to their Mandela Day plans. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds rescues, rehabilitates and releases thousands of seabirds every year, including the critically endangered African penguin.
Book a guided tour to learn how injured birds are cared for before returning to the wild, meet the dedicated rehabilitation team and see conservation in action. Your entrance fee directly supports their work, and Mandela Day is also a great opportunity to enquire about longer-term volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Pack food parcels with FoodForward SA
If you’d like your 67 minutes to have an immediate impact, FoodForward SA’s annual Mandela Day Packing Event is well worth considering.
Held on 17 July in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, volunteers spend just over an hour packing nutritious food that will be distributed to communities experiencing food insecurity. Tickets cost just R67, a fitting nod to Mandela Day itself. Last year’s volunteers packed enough food to provide more than 880,000 meals, and organisers hope to exceed that this year.
Join a beach clean-up
If your perfect day involves salty air and ocean views, swap your towel for a litter picker. Organisations around South Africa host beach and river clean-ups over Mandela Day weekend, giving volunteers the chance to protect marine wildlife while spending time outdoors. Every plastic bottle, fishing line and food wrapper removed helps keep our coastline healthier for seabirds, seals and marine life.
Plant trees with Greenpop
Few things leave a longer-lasting legacy than planting a tree. Environmental NGO Greenpop regularly hosts tree-planting and urban greening initiatives around Mandela Day, inviting volunteers to help restore indigenous biodiversity while learning about sustainable conservation. Expect muddy shoes, fresh air and the satisfaction of knowing your contribution will continue growing for years to come.
Spend the morning at a community food garden
Across South Africa, community gardens are helping families put fresh produce on the table while teaching valuable growing skills. Many welcome volunteers to help with planting seedlings, harvesting vegetables, composting or maintaining beds. You’ll leave with a greater appreciation for sustainable food production—and probably a few gardening tips too.
Walk shelter dogs
For animal lovers, this might be the most rewarding outing of all. Rescue organisations such as TEARS Animal Rescue and many SPCAs rely on volunteers to walk dogs, socialise animals, tidy kennels and spend time with pets waiting for forever homes. Sometimes an hour of attention can make all the difference to an animal’s day.
Volunteer at a nature reserve
South Africa’s protected areas also need helping hands. Several reserves host alien vegetation clearing days, trail maintenance projects and habitat restoration initiatives throughout the year. If hiking is already your favourite weekend activity, why not leave the trail a little better than you found it?
Support local makers with purpose
Mandela Day doesn’t always have to involve physical volunteering. Spend the day visiting local craft markets or social enterprises where your purchases directly support small businesses, community projects and artisans. It’s an easy way to combine a leisurely outing with meaningful spending.
ALSO SEE: Some of the Western Cape’s oldest lighthouses and the stories behind them
Some of the Western Cape’s oldest lighthouses and the stories behind them
Feature image: Unsplash
