WILDLIFE VETERINARY ASSISTANCE

Quick Facts

from R51,300

WILDLIFE VETERINARY ASSISTANCE

Get hands-on, incomparable experience in all facets of wildlife capture and wildlife veterinary procedures in beautiful South Africa. If you wish to learn more about being a wildlife veterinarian while making a positive impact on wildlife conservation, this is definitely the place for you!

This program is designed for people either already qualified as vets, someone that is in the process of becoming a vet (preferably minimum third-year student), or veterinary nurses who are looking to gain hands-on experience in all facets of wildlife capture and veterinary procedures. However, with the right experience, others may be considered.

Project Highlights

Work alongside wildlife veterinary professionals of South Africa, receiving theoretical and practical knowledge on all aspects of wildlife capture and wildlife medicine

Learn to treat and move wildlife with the least stress and resulting side effects

Be part of wildlife conservation efforts that are saving animals from extinction through population management, breeding and genetic diversity

Gain the necessary knowledge and confidence to then treat and capture animals in zoo’s and reserves all over the world

Live on a private game reserve and share your thoughts, passion and experience with other international veterinary students

Take advantage of optional trips to explore the world-renowned Garden Route and stunning city of Cape Town

the destination

This project is set against the majestic Langeberg Mountain Range, on the world-famous Garden Route in South Africa. This route is renowned for its spectacular scenery, mild climate, pristine coastline, winding rivers, sky-scraping indigenous forests, and amazing wildlife.

Accommodation

You will be staying in a very comfortable house on Goedemoed Farm, opposite the Hartenbos Private Game Reserve. The house has 3 big bedrooms with 2 sets of bunk beds per room (4 beds). These rooms share full 5 bathrooms and 6 showers all with hot water. From the garden, you can see sable antelope, giraffe, wildebeest, and other antelope species, and the sound of Zebra is carried by the wind! You will share the property and rooms with other participants and will be accompanied by our fully supportive staff and wildlife experts! There is a nice shared kitchen area where you usually have breakfast, as well as a beautiful communal braai area outside.

Meals

There is a cozy kitchen where breakfast is served in a help-yourself style. Lunch is usually served outside in the communal braai area or packed to have in the reserve. Dinner is either in the warm kitchen or outside at the fire. There's even a small snack shop at the house where you can buy some extra treats!

Communication

South Africa has a few different cellular network providers, for which sim cards can be purchased from most shops. Various package options allow for phone calls and/or data usage. Limited internet (WiFi) access is available at the project location.

Climate

The Garden Route has a Mediterranean climate, which is pleasant to visit all year round. It gets rainfall throughout the year, mostly at night (you can imagine why it’s called the Garden Route!) Temperatures in winter range between 0-25 degrees Celsius (make sure you dress for the wind chill factor as you will be in open vehicles), and summer temperatures range between 17-35 degrees Celsius. Temperatures can get as high as 40 degrees Celsius in summer.

PROJECT IMPACT AREAS

THEORETICAL LEARNINGS

During the course, you will go through theoretical and practical information including:
• Legal and ethical considerations when doing wildlife work in South Africa
• Basic physiology
• Basic and applied pharmacology
• Stress and capture-related animal death
• Safety and first aid in the field
• Principles of chemical and physical restraint of wild animals
• Helicopter use in wildlife work
• Chemical immobilization and drug–injecting equipment
• Ballistics and projectile darting systems
• Dart projectors and other restraint tools
• Ancillary treatment in wildlife capture and care
• Capture and transport of wildlife animals
• Post-capture boma management

PRACTICAL EXERCISES

You will also be involved in practical exercises such as:
• Rifle safety and basic operation
• Dart-gun target practice and virtual darting simulations
• Radio communication and telemetry training to track collared animals
• Roping of animals like giraffe and rhino
• Injections SQ/IM/IV
• Pre-capture planning exercises
• Loading and unloading of animals
• Record keeping exercises for DNA, tags, horn measurements, etc.
• Helicopter orientation and darting a moving target from the helicopter

Recent Reviews

“I saw this project as an opportunity to experience African wildlife at a level most tourists would never dream of and I was not disappointed! From the very first day at the Game Lodge I was involved in darting and relocating cheetahs and from then on I was involved in feeding and tracking cheetahs, feeding baby caracals, cleaning the reptile park, game counts, general maintenance work, and even x-raying a lioness! The program runs Monday to Friday and on the weekends, you are free to travel as you please!”

Natalie Jayne, Australia

Wildlife Veterinary Assistance

“Met some wonderful people, learned lots of new skills, and enjoyed the variety of African wildlife I worked with. The accommodation is great and the first-hand experience you get with the animals is astonishing. You are involved in everything and supported by a fantastic staff. You feel 100% safe, and everyone is very welcoming. Every day is different and exciting for the volunteers; you can’t wait to see what you’re going to experience next.”

Michele, UK

Wildlife Veterinary Assistance

Other Activities

EXPLORE BY LAND

In your spare time, you can enjoy a range of popular outings in the surrounding areas, such as: Cango Caves tour – Oudtshoorn’s underground caverns Cheetah encounters at Cango Wildlife Ranch Visit Cape Town

EXPLORE BY OCEAN

In your spare time, you can enjoy a range of popular outings in the surrounding areas, such as: Shark Cage Diving Whale Watching boat trips (July – October) Swimming with seals

EXPLORE BY AIR

In your spare time, you can enjoy a range of popular outings in the surrounding areas, such as: Tandem sky-diving in Mossel Bay or Plettenberg Bay Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours Bungee-jumping

dates and rates

Once you have submitted your application, a Destination Specialist will be in-touch to discuss the project with you.

Please note that an additional GB£20 | US$25 | EU€20 | AU$35 is added to the program fee as a mandatory contribution to the African Impact Sustainability Fund.

project fee includes

All project-related transport
All accommodation and meals
Thorough induction and orientation
Survival course
Internet access (limited)
All necessary project equipment and materials
All necessary training
Laundry

project fee excludes

Medical and travel insurance
Flights and post-placement transport
Any visa-related fees
Any items of a personal nature, such as gifts or alcohol
Weekend trips and other non-course activities
Mandatory contribution of US$25 that is donated to the African Impact Sustainability Fund

Gallery

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WILDLIFE VETERINARY ASSISTANCE

Quick Facts

from R51,300