Why you'll love pet and house sitting in South Africa

An illustration of a cat laying on his pet bedForget hotel rooms

From home comforts to the calming company of pets, house sitting offers so much more.

An illustration of a glowing green heartIt feels good to give

Explore new places while making a difference to the lives of pets and people along the way.

An illustration of a house with a tree in the foregroundA new perspective

You don’t have to travel far. With pet and house sitting, you can find a world of adventures just around the corner.

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A win-win without money

When you’re house and pet sitting, you provide free house and pet care. And pet parents offer you free accommodation in return for looking after their home and furry friends. The only cost is your annual membership, making it an affordable and fulfilling way to travel.

Find out more about memberships

I am so blessed to have this experience and to be able to have a companion by my side the entire time. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity TrustedHousesitters provides! This is truly life changing.

Adelia, sitter member from Bath, UK

Popular pet sitting and house sitting destinations

Feel safe, secure and supported

An illustration of a speech balloon with five stars on itRead feedback from sitters

Want to know if a house sit is right for you? Look for feedback previous sitters have left on the pet parent's listing.

An illustration of stacked documentsHome & Contents Plan

House sit in homes with peace of mind they’re covered at no extra cost to you or the pet parent.

An illustration of a dog sniffing the air24/7 Vet Advice Line

With a free direct line to a dedicated team of veterinary nurses, you can quickly clear up any pet queries.

Ready to start your South Africa house sitting adventure?

Join our worldwide community and start your membership today.

South Africa house sitting FAQs

With an annual sitter membership, animal lovers like you can enjoy free accommodation all over the world in exchange for pet care. Live like a local with a cute pet pal by your side as you provide peace of mind to pet parents who know their adorable animals are in the best of hands. Apply for as many sits as you like and get ready for meaningful connections and unforgettable adventures, all made possible by pets!

Choose your membership plan and create a profile that stands out from the pack - include clear photos, relevant experience, and references (these don’t have to be from previous house sitting jobs). Next, set up a saved search to be the first to find out when house sitting jobs in South Africa become available for your chosen dates. Once you’ve found the ideal sit, write a personalized message to the pet parents explaining why you are the perfect person for the job! Find out more with 10 tips on how to become a house sitter.

Your number one priority when house sitting in South Africa will be taking care of the pets. Daily walks, mealtimes, and lots of cuddles will be top of the agenda as most house sits include a pet. Aside from this, house sitters in South Africa need to keep the home clean and tidy and send regular updates to the pet parents about their precious pet pals.

At TrustedHousesitters, our members are driven by a genuine love of pets, not getting paid. They exchange passionate pet care for free accommodation, gaining a wealth of experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

House sitting in South Africa

Like the idea of discovering new corners of the globe while making life-long pet pals along the way? Naturally. Pet lovers like you can explore the world far and wide with a furry friend by your side as a member of our community at TrustedHousesitters. South Africa boasts beaches, bustling cities and unreal landscapes for travelers like you to set their sights on - the ideal location to broaden your travel horizons and care for cute pets while you see places you’ve always dreamed of. 

Tick the African Savanna off your bucket list, along with tasting legendary South African grapes in Franschhoek vineyard, flower watching in the Karoo or adventuring along the beach-lined coast.

Yup, South Africa really is many countries in one. From its striking mountains, to canyons, waterfalls, semi-deserts and lush green forests, it’s no surprise that the country is such a popular spot for visitors. And what better way to explore a new country than with a new furry friend by your side, every (paw)step of the way? 

To find out what else your South Africa house sitting adventure could bring, along with how it all works, take a look below.

House sitting in South Africa - how does it work?

People like you whose passion for pets rivals their love for travel stay in homes across the globe without spending a penny on accommodation. It’s all simply in exchange for caring for cute animals, keeping the garden tidy and the house as they found it. 

And surrounded by local communities, our members can travel sustainably, staying in homes rather than hotels at every stop.

So by house sitting in South Africa, you can experience the country’s unreal scenery and wildlife, without worrying about hotels and with a new furry friend to take care of at every stop.

What’s house sitting like for our members?

Hear from our members Shelley and Lars on what it’s really like to go pet sitting in South Africa.

“Little did we know, when coming across the TrustedHousesitters site a few years ago, that it would eventuate in us finding ourselves in this South African paradise — an extremely special place to be house sitting.”

House sit in South Africa like the digital nomad of your dreams

Yup, house sitting in South Africa means caring for cute pets, plants and homes and traveling like the digital nomad of your dreams. It means opening your laptop from just about anywhere with a furry pal by your side every step of the way. And what’s better than exploring new mountains, lakes, forests, and an entirely new cuisine? Doing all of that with a four-pawed pal for company, naturally.

Keep it local with your new furry friends

Pet sitting in  South Africa not only means the company of new furry friends, but you’re also surrounded by a local community everywhere you go. And unlike a traditional vacation, pet sitting allows you to stay in the heart of local communities. That means hopping along to local events, booking into a yoga class, walkies at nearby nature reserves and chatting to neighbors is all totally the norm.

And something we always recommend is tracking down your local dog parks - we’re sure your new furry pal will have sniffed those out and know the way, already.

Not only are nearby dog parks a great place to let your pooch pal run free alongside other canine friends, they’re also a fab way for you to get to know local animal lovers in your new, temporary neighborhood.

Surf like a local

Depending on where you stay during your South Africa house sitting adventures, there are sure to be a few chances to surf and take your new fluffy pal to local dog-friendly beaches for walkies. 

Whether it’s house sitting in Umhlanga, False Bat, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Muizesenburg or Kalk Bay, you’ll find swells to meet all your surfing needs and beaches to let Fido run free. Just be sure to check the canine rules at your local beach before heading out!

Feast your eyes on famous sights

If your love for the animal kingdom extends beyond dogs and cats and you’re house sitting in the Eastern Cape, you’ll love Addo Elephant Park - South Africa’s third largest national park. Or maybe you’re nearer the famous Kruger National Park, home to the Big 5 - that’s lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. 

And if history is your thing, you might enjoy house sitting in Stellenbosch where the country’s Dutch colonial history can be seen throughout the town along with cafes, boutiques, galleries and some seriously impressive vineyards. Plus if you’re passing through Johannesburg, find out about South Africa’s Apartheid history at The Apartheid Museum.

South Africa hiking

If both you and your new furry friend are up for a day of hiking (well, extended walkies), then there are plenty of great places to explore while you’re house sitting in South Africa. Always check that the area you’d like to discover is dog-friendly, then you’re on your way. 

Take Table Mountain National Park - there are heaps of dog-friendly trails of varying difficulties that mean only one thing - an epic day out bonding with your new fluffy pal, and hiking in South Africa ticked off your bucket list. 

From Lion’s Head Summit to Cecilia Waterfall and Newlands Forest, you won’t be short of areas spread with lush greenery and unreal views of South Africa’s varied landscape. 

Walkies, wine and cheese

If wine is your thing (and even if it’s not), the Western Cape wine route is home to a variety of hiking trails that you and your new fluffy pal will love. And if you’re near the Buitenverwachting winery, your canine companion can roam freely - now there’s a chance to try some of the best wines in the world and take your new pal on an epic walk. And if you’re near Simonsberg, we dare you to resist trying their award-winning cheeses.

House sitting South Africa: your adventure awaits

Ready to put South Africa on your pet sitting map? Fab - hop aboard our pet-loving community of travelers today to kick off your next adventure.