WILDLIFE VETERINARY ASSISTANCE
Quick Facts
Garden Route, South Africa
Cape Town International Airport
Specific Start Dates
3 weeks
Impact: Animal Care
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.
Read more about Wildlife Veterinary volunteering Assistance in Africa.
Project Highlights






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
Meals
Communication
Climate
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!”
“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.”
Frequently Asked Questions
African Wildlife Veterinary Volunteer
Why volunteer with animals in Africa?
How can we help African animals?
Which are the most endangered animals in Africa?
Do you need veterinary experience to volunteer?
Why volunteer for animal volunteering in Africa?
Other Activities
EXPLORE BY LAND
EXPLORE BY OCEAN
EXPLORE BY AIR
Apply Now

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