Veterinary & Animal Care Volunteer Programs in Africa

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At African Impact, we offer a fine range of exciting volunteer opportunities to work with animals abroad, which allow volunteers to directly contribute toward conservation efforts by supporting healthy animals, and in turn, wildlife populations. Join some of the most interesting veterinary volunteer opportunities abroad available, get unique practical work experience with African wildlife, and be part of important wildlife conservation initiatives. A bonus to this experience is the privilege to work in a beautiful natural environment, and explore some of the country’s highlights during your time off!

Animal Care Volunteer Program Highlights

  • Rehabilitation — Help care for injured or orphaned wildlife at an animal rehabilitation center or get hands-on veterinary experience.
  • Embrace Nature — For those who are active and enjoy being outdoors, embrace the African wild, and feel your animal-lover side fully activated.
  • Beautiful Environment — Live in the African Bush or in a coastal nature area, and see the natural environments take over.
  • Inspiring Work — Be part of important veterinary volunteer work that adds value to wildlife conservation efforts in Africa.
  • Close-knit Community — Enjoy the company of veterinary experts, conservation researchers and fellow volunteers from around the world.

Browse All Animal Care & Veterinary Volunteer Programs

At African Impact, we offer a fine range of exciting volunteer opportunities to work with animals abroad, which allow volunteers to directly contribute toward conservation efforts by supporting healthy animals, and in turn, wildlife populations. Join some of the most interesting veterinary volunteer opportunities abroad available, get unique practical work experience with African wildlife, and be part of important wildlife conservation initiatives. A bonus to this experience is the privilege to work in a beautiful natural environment, and explore some of the country’s highlights during your time off!

Greater Kruger Area, South Africa
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Animal Care
Join African Impact and volunteer on a wildlife rehabilitation project in South Africa! Care for rescued animals that have been injured, neglected, or lost.

$2,195 – $6,195

Garden Route, South Africa
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Animal Care
Join our Wildlife Veterinary Assistance volunteer project in South Africa, and get hands-on, incomparable experience in all facets of wildlife capture and wildlife veterinary procedures, situated on the beautiful Garden

R64,500

Zimbabwe
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Wildlife Conservation
Join African Impact and volunteer on a horse riding & elephant conservation project! Contribute to anti-poaching efforts and community education.

Veterinary & Animal Care Volunteer FAQs

Why Volunteer in Animal Care With African Impact

The work we do now in animal care and wildlife conservation is essential for protecting Africa’s endangered species for future generations — at African Impact this message rings true with our veterinary and animal care volunteer programs in Africa. By volunteering with animals abroad, your involvement will create a positive impact on the important work done at wildlife rehabilitation centers or through veterinary wildlife initiatives where you’ll learn how to care for vulnerable animals and endangered species. Compared to the rest of the world, Africa is facing some of the most significant conservation issues of the last century; working together with fellow international African Impact volunteers, locals, and field experts, you’ll come together to make a positive and sustainable difference on wildlife conservation in the face of these challenges.

Wildlife species in Africa are currently facing a dangerous situation. With Africa’s growing population, increasing urbanization and the worsening effects of climate change, much of Africa’s wildlife have been forced out of their habitats. As a result, wildlife migrates closer to populated areas, where they are often met with conflict by humans. Wildlife and humans’ negative interactions threaten long-term conservation work in Africa’s parks, creating an increasing need to protect local animals.

Join our Wildlife Veterinary Assistance Program, and come across ways to look after endangered animal species, from the African wild dog to the African Elephant (these are some of Africa’s most iconic species that face high extinction risks in the near future). A plunge into our Wildlife Veterinary Assistance Program, which offers you the opportunity to visit even the most powerful predators, such as Great White Sharks, who are currently vulnerable in the wild. They too, are not immune to these frightening prospects. At African Impact, we know first hand the incredible wildlife that calls our continent home. Unfortunately these species are currently facing severe threats; and are hurting at the hand of unsustainable and harmful human interactions.

As an animal care volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in wildlife conservation projects that aim to protect Africa’s precious species. Focusing on rescue, rehabilitation and release, animal care is a valuable way to give vulnerable wildlife a second chance at life. There will also be opportunities to get involved in general conservation work. Conservation volunteering creates unique opportunities to engage in sustainable conservation practices in Africa’s stunning parks. From conducting wildlife research on the health of local species to tracking migration patterns, our volunteer opportunities related to African wildlife conservation are exciting and varied.

Join one of our programs! We offer two key types of programs working with animals in Africa:

  • Volunteering with animals in an Ethical Rehabilitation Center: the center takes in strayed, hurt and rescued wildlife to be rehabilitated for discharge back into the wild. As a volunteer in animal rehabilitation, you’ll ethically tend to wild animals at the center to provide the care they need to heal and ultimately be released.
  • Veterinary volunteer opportunities in Wildlife Veterinary Medicine: Working alongside qualified experts, you’ll study and practice essential animal care techniques, including wildlife capture and veterinary procedures. You’ll have opportunities to get your hands dirty in physical conservation projects in the area.
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