Facilitated Wildlife Research Internship in South Africa

INTERN

CONSERVATION

Contribute to Important Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Imagine yourself embedded within the vibrant tapestry of the Greater Kruger Area, collaborating with a dedicated research team on a conservation-driven initiative. This unique and highly personalized wildlife research internship transcends the boundaries of traditional programs, empowering you to design your own field research project focused on an African species that ignites your passion.

Within the expansive embrace of the Greater Kruger Area, encompassing over 20 private wildlife reserves bordering the world-renowned Kruger National Park, lies a thriving ecosystem teeming with diverse life. These reserves, united in their unwavering commitment to conservation, form a critical sanctuary for some of the planet’s most remarkable creatures.

Project highlights

  • Supervisor Guidance

Get one-on-one assistance from our Research Coordinator.

  • Focus Drives

Enjoy twice weekly, focused intern-only game drives.

  • Design Your Own Project

Develop your own project on arrival at the Wildlife Research Internship.

  • Provide Guidance

Assist the Research Coordinator from the first week.

  • In The Kruger Area

Stay on the doorstep of one of South Africa’s most popular parks.

Greater Kruger Area, South Africa
Available: May – Oct
Duration:
8 Weeks+
Price From $5,950
This cost covers your accommodation, meals, project fees, transfers, 24/7 support and in-country orientation.

Project impact areas

Here’s how you will create significant impact through the Facilitated Wildlife Research Internship in South Africa.

CONSERVATION

Research Projects

The Greater Kruger Area is a hotspot of diversity when it comes to the natural world, meaning research topics are plentiful. You’ll get to design your dream research project, you might delve into the wonders of mammals, birds, reptiles or even entemology in the summer months. As long as it aligns with our mission to protect this extraordinary ecosystem, it’s yours! This internship is your chance to make a real difference, one groundbreaking discovery at a time.

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

1. Life on Land

2. Life Below Water

3. Climate Action

4. Responsible Consumption & Production

CONSERVATION

Data Collection and Analysis

Regular research game drives will allow you to collect data on the movements and behaviors of key species. From this, you will then help analyze raw data and turn it into reports that are given to our partner reserves and conservation partners to assist in the preservation of wildlife. Through training on useful analysis techniques such as QGIS, you will learn how to map the data we collect to determine things like distribution, social networks, family relationships, and wildlife corridor use.

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

1. Life on Land

2. Life Below Water

3. Climate Action

4. Responsible Consumption & Production

CONSERVATION

Camera Traps and Observation

If you choose to study an animal species, we will supply additional camera traps to assist you in assesseing animal movements out of hours and collect data on your chosen species in their natural habitat. As part of this wildlife internship, you will be responsible for organizing and uploading these images to our Camerabase software and help to produce comprehensive reports that help our wider conservation team.

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

1. Life on Land

2. Life Below Water

3. Climate Action

4. Responsible Consumption & Production

Example Daily Schedule

Monday - Friday

Morning

07:45 – 11:00

Daily Game Drive and Data Collection

11:00 – 12.00

Free time

Lunch

12:00 – 12:30

Afternoon

12:30 – 13:00

Preparation for Afternoon Activities

13:30 – 16:00

Data Processing &  Research

Dinner

18:30 – 19:00

Evening

19:00 – 21:00

Free time, games night or movie night

Accommodation & Meals

Greater Kruger, South Africa

Your home away from home in the Greater Kruger area is a secure, lodge-style volunteer base with comfortable shared rooms and relaxed communal spaces in the bush.

From 2026 you’ll stay in the heart of the African wilderness in Mtimkulu Private Reserve. The accommodation will be a mix of tented rooms and shared dorms. This base camp is set up as a research camp on the reserve, and will provide a true and authentic bush experience. Your accommodation will feature spacious dorm and tented rooms with sweeping views of the reserve. There will be shared bathrooms, with toilets and showers. Amenities include a welcoming outdoor fire pit for braais (BBQs), relaxed social areas, and a lively common dining area.

Please note image is a rendering, camp is under construction.

You’ll be based in the untamed majesty of the Greater Kruger area, a sprawling tapestry of over 20 private reserves seamlessly woven together. Bordering the iconic Kruger National Park, this vast landscape pulsates with life, serving as a sanctuary for an extraordinary array of threatened species – from the majestic lion to the powerful elephant, the humble giraffe to the endangered African wild dog.

Life at the Base

Greater Kruger, South Africa

A volunteer capturing a photo of a scenic river with mountains in the background.

The Great Kruger area comprises of almost 5.5 million acres of unfenced land where animals roam freely across wild savannah. This offers endless opportunities for wildlife encounters – the elephants might join you for dinner and just wait until you hear the hippos at night!

On the weekends, you can head out on a Kruger safari, explore the epic viewpoints of the Panorama Route at Blyde River Canyon, visit conservation initiatives like Down To The Wire or Rhino Revolution, or add a thrill with quad biking and adventure activities at Magoebaskloof.

Cellular signals can be variable. If you are purchasing a local, South African SIM Card, we would recommend using MTN as the service provider. WiFi is available throughout the lodge.

Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) is your best bet, just 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kambaku II Camp. Arrive anytime on the Sunday that your placement begins and depart anytime on the Sunday it ends. We’ll be there to greet you! Look for the African Impact sign and a friendly face ready to welcome you.

If you are arriving from somewhere other than Hoedspruit, our partner shuttle company offers African Impact volunteers a discount when booking with a promo code. Please request this from your Destination Specialist.

Your Base Manager will be Jason Kipling. Jason is a dedicated conservationist and experienced leader in the eco-tourism and volunteer sectors, with a strong background in developing and managing impactful programs.

His work with African Impact has been central to his career, where he played a key role in establishing and revitalizing conservation and volunteer projects across Africa. From leading safari operations in Kruger to rebuilding a marine conservation initiative in Zanzibar, Jason has specialized in creating sustainable, ethical programs that contribute to conservation efforts and local communities.

Our qualified Field Guides are trained in wildlife encounters, have valid driver’s licenses and our vehicles are well-maintained. Our vehicles are all fitted with radios to ensure we always have contact with base camp. Our project is committed to safeguarding our volunteers, staff and the environment. Our team is trained in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) competencies. The base is equipped with fire safety equipment, evacuation plans and has access to an ambulance service. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is provided for physical conservation work. Upon arrival, our staff will induct you on our policies, procedures, and code of conduct to ensure your safety and awareness.

Project Destination

The Great Kruger area comprises of almost 5.5 million acres of unfenced land where animals roam freely across wild savannah. This offers endless opportunities for wildlife encounters – the elephants might join you for dinner and just wait until you hear the hippos at night!

On the weekends, you can head out on a Kruger safari, explore the epic viewpoints of the Panorama Route at Blyde River Canyon, visit conservation initiatives like Down To The Wire or Rhino Revolution, or add a thrill with quad biking and adventure activities at Magoebaskloof.

Communication

Cellular signals can be variable. If you are purchasing a local, South African SIM Card, we would recommend using MTN as the service provider. WiFi is available throughout the lodge.

Flights & Arrivals

Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) is your best bet, just 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kambaku II Camp. Arrive anytime on the Sunday that your placement begins and depart anytime on the Sunday it ends. We’ll be there to greet you! Look for the African Impact sign and a friendly face ready to welcome you.

If you are arriving from somewhere other than Hoedspruit, our partner shuttle company offers African Impact volunteers a discount when booking with a promo code. Please request this from your Destination Specialist.

Staff

Your Base Manager will be Jason Kipling. Jason is a dedicated conservationist and experienced leader in the eco-tourism and volunteer sectors, with a strong background in developing and managing impactful programs.

His work with African Impact has been central to his career, where he played a key role in establishing and revitalizing conservation and volunteer projects across Africa. From leading safari operations in Kruger to rebuilding a marine conservation initiative in Zanzibar, Jason has specialized in creating sustainable, ethical programs that contribute to conservation efforts and local communities.

Safety

Our qualified Field Guides are trained in wildlife encounters, have valid driver’s licenses and our vehicles are well-maintained. Our vehicles are all fitted with radios to ensure we always have contact with base camp. Our project is committed to safeguarding our volunteers, staff and the environment. Our team is trained in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) competencies. The base is equipped with fire safety equipment, evacuation plans and has access to an ambulance service. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is provided for physical conservation work. Upon arrival, our staff will induct you on our policies, procedures, and code of conduct to ensure your safety and awareness.

...the joy of making a real impact...

“The research internship I had participated in for 12 weeks was the best experience of my life! I had never done anything like this before and was quite nervous when I arrived but the staff and other volunteers/ interns made me feel right at home. The facility is amazing and kept clean twice to three times a week and the food is delicious! Being located right next to the olifant river gives you a first hand experience with the wildlife and there’s nothing as surreal as a herd of elephants coming up to camp. This internship has changed my life and would recommend it to anyone questioning themselves on whether to come here or not. Do it, you won’t regret it!”

Sebastian Castellanos

Project gallery

Active Participation
Active Participation
Gallery - Project Room
Gallery - Project Room
Gallery - Game Viewer
Gallery - Game Viewer
Gallery - Leopard
Gallery - Leopard
Facilitated wildlife - Focus Drive
Facilitated wildlife - Focus Drive
Gallery - Waterbuck
Gallery - Waterbuck
Facilitated wildlife - Present Your Project
Facilitated wildlife - Present Your Project
a woman sitting on a couch while using her laptop
Research Projects
Data Collection
Data Collection
Staff - ElishaHarrison
Staff - ElishaHarrison
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Pricing

Rates

USDGBPEURAUD
DurationProgram Fee
8 weeks$5,950 ($744 per week)
10 weeks$7,650 ($765 per week)
12 weeks$9,350 ($780 per week)
8 weeks£4,760 (£595 per week)
10 weeks£6,120 (£612 per week)
12 weeks£7,480 (£624 per week)
8 weeks€5,474 (€685 per week)
10 weeks€7,038 (€704 per week)
12 weeks€8,602 (€717 per week)
8 weeks$8,806 ($1,101 per week)
10 weeks$11,322 ($1,133 per week)
12 weeks$13,838 ($1,154 per week)
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Inclusions

  • African Impact bush style accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner (Mon - Sun)
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • All project transport, equipment and resources
  • Support from experienced local and international African Impact staff
  • Full orientation for responsible project contribution

Exclusions

Price excludes flights, visas, insurance, weekend tours and personal expenses.

Requirements

  • The minimum age to join this project is 18 years old
  • The minimum stay for this project is 2 weeks
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Project faqs

How Does This Internship Support Conservation?

Your research goes beyond personal growth and resume building – it has real-world impact! After analyzing your data with our experienced team, you’ll co-author an official wildlife conservation report. This report isn’t just a line on your CV; it’s distributed to local reserves, NGOs, and conservancies, directly informing critical decisions about protecting your chosen species. Imagine your research guiding real-world conservation strategies – that’s the incredible power you hold as a Wildlife Research Intern!

How Do The Research Volunteer And Internship Projects Differ?

While both are incredible experiences, our Wildlife Research Internships are more research-focused and customizable than our Wildlife Research Volunteer project. These internships are ideal for anyone looking to gain professional practice in wildlife conservation, engage in innovative research to put on their CV, or would like to have a more academically-focused experience.

Will I Be Working Hands-On With Animals?

Due to the nature of the Greater Kruger Area being completely wild, we cannot promise any hands-on work. However, from time to time, we observe abnormalities with animals which may require veterinary intervention. In these instances you may have the opportunity to get much closer to animals.

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Our favourite weekend activities in Kruger Area

Head out on a Kruger safari, explore the epic viewpoints of the Panorama Route at Blyde River Canyon, visit conservation initiatives like Down To The Wire or Rhino Revolution, or add a thrill with quad biking and adventure activities at Magoebaskloof!

Magoebaskloof Adventures

Enjoy ziplining, river tubing, cliff abseiling, hiking, biking, and exhilarating kloofing adventures.

Blyde River Canyon

Enjoy white-water rafting, a gorge swing, or a microlight flight over the canyon.

Explore Kruger

Explore this renowned game reserve’s stunning landscape, teeming with wildlife.

Down To The Wire

This organization transforms wire snares into jewellery. Attend an informative talk and create your own jewellery.

Rhino Revolution

This organization rescues, rehabilitates, and releases orphaned wild rhino calves, typically victims of poaching.

You may also be interested in these other conservation projects