Kruger Vet Project

South Africa

This programme is designed for those interested in a career in veterinary medicine, nursing, technology or conservation. You do not need any prior qualifications, just a passion for wildlife, adventure and a desire to support animals in their natural habitat.

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Practical hands-on veterinary medicine experience on wildlife

Working with and learning from some of Africa's best wildlife vets

Learn how to dart on the ground and from a helicopter

Capture and relocate iconic wildlife species

Learn to monitor anesthesia and apply treatments in the field

Lectures on conservation, medication, surgery and animal management to compliment your training

Spend your time enjoying game drives in the Kruger national park, visiting sanctuaries and exploring Africa

Project video

While completing the program, you'll expand your horizons and be immersed in the daily goings-on of a destination, giving you exposure that you simply wouldn't get as a regular tourist. This course is intensive, and aims to send you home confident with planning, carrying out and understanding the logistics surrounding wildlife work. This is of great benefit if you wish to peruse a career in exotics, wildlife or zoo work.

During the week you will enjoy both lecture and practical based teaching in the following areas:

Wildlife veterinary pharmacology - Different types of drugs, why they are used, and how to effectively use them.

Game capture techniques - Different methods of game capture and why it needs to be done.

Wildlife diseases - Different diseases that affects wildlife, methods of testing and ways to control them.

Animal breeding project - Why certain animal species need to be involved in breeding programmes and what is being done to help them.

Darting - Effectively and efficiently using a dart gun.

Parasitology - Different types of parasites that affect wildlife and how to control them.

Medical work on wildlife - Assist the vets with diagnosis and treatment of injuries or different types of sicknesses, monitor the animal’s health as well as provide support to the vets.

A week on project

Monday – Morning lectures (safety, pharmacology and drug handling) Afternoon: Going out into the field with the wildlife vet. Prepare for the following day's capture.

Tuesday – Morning: Snare removal from an elephant. Cleaning wounds and assisting the vet with treatment. Afternoon: Lectures on drugs for different species and dart guns & safety.

Wednesday: Helicopter safety & preflight checks. Helicopter demo flight. Afternoon: Practicals on loading darts, loading & shooting a dart gun, preparing for the following day's capture.

Thursday: Wildlife Management activity to capture antelope and give parasite treatment. Prepare for the following day's capture

Friday: Net gunning antelope (impala, eland, reebok, waterbuck etc.) for relocation. Give parasite treatment and administer prophylactic antibiotics. Afternoon: Dart gun practice from a helicopter.

Saturday: Game drive in the Kruger National Park and overnight bush sleep out.

Sunday: Visit Moholoholo wildlife sanctuary to see lion, leopard, rhino and cheetah among other animals. Games round the fire.

This is a rough example of how your week could look. However, due to the nature of the project these activities may change on a daily basis.

KEY ACTIVITIES

You will be living in one of the most renowned and well managed wildlife areas on the planet. The management, rescue and care of wildlife is as varied as it is exciting. From routine work, to fast paced emergencies, some of the procedures you may be involved in

include:

DNA sampling. Species could include antelope like Bontebok, Impala, Sable and Roan Antelope.
Zebra, impala and giraffe movement between game reserves.
Rhino de-horning to fight the illegal poaching trade.
Darting lions or elephants for medical treatment such as snare or fight wounds.
Immobilising buffalo and antelope to measure horn size for animals for sale.
TB testing in buffalo.
Microchip implant insertion for carnivores.
Fitting collars to animals that will be tracked for research.
Transmitter darting for animals in thick bush or at night.
Mineral and vitamin injections delivered by darting.
Deworming herbivores and other routine husbandry care, like hoof trimming and dipping.

In your free time you will do a number of included activities with the team incliding visiting Moholoholo Wildlife Sanctuary, going on safari in the Kruger Naitonal Park for a game drive and lunch and taking a half day drive along the stunning Panorama Route to explore towering mountains, sweeping views and and beautiful waterfalls. Additional activities are offered but are not included.

Project Photos

ACCOMMODATION

The large luxury tented camps situated in the wild lanscape, amid raw african bush and farm land. There is a kitchen, where you can store extra snacks and food (if the 3 large meals a day don’t quite fill you up!) and an outside deck, a pool and jacuzi overlooking the waterhole where the animals of the big five reserve come to quench their thirst. Near the tents there is a communal area with a fire pit, an honesty bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages). Tents have two single beds, a fridge to store drinks and snacks, and ensuite bathrooms with two showers each. Regardless of where you sleep, bedding and towels are provided. If we need to stay away from home for a night to complete work, all accommodation will be in comfortable farmhouses or lodges.

Three hearty meals a day will be provided for you in your course fee. You help yourself to breakfast and choose from cereals, breads, juice and fruit. Lunches are prepared for you (unless we take a packed lunch) and dinner will be cooked and served for you at the accommodation. You will enjoy regular Braais (BBQ’s) consisting of African steak, boerewors (sausage), stews, bolognaises, burgers and pastas. The project can cater for most dietary requirements so just ask us at time of booking. No matter what is eaten, it is always at the end of a good day’s work, under the stars, enjoying the dancing light of the campfire. Once a week you will be taken to town for any extra snacks or supplies you may need. Don’t forget the marshmallows to toast on the fire!

LOCATION

Kruger National Park needs little introduction. It is the largest national park in South Africa, located on the north eastern edge of the country. This area of the world is real wildlife territory, with animals crossing freely between the main park and surrounding reserves. It is one of the best places to visit in Africa to view wildlife and is known for thriving populations of elephants, giraffe, lion, leopard, rhino wild dog, zebra and other planes game like antelope. Here you are surrounded by nature every moment of the day, off the beaten track, waking up early to enjoy the calmness of the bush and enjoying evenings around the campfire, under the stars.

During your stay, you will have weekends off to make the most of your time in South Africa. Some students enjoy relaxing by the pool with a good book, whilst others head out to do extra activities including visiting wildlife sanctuaries such as the great Moholoholo Rehab Centre) to help care for rescued wildlife. We run daytrips through the world famous Panorama Route, a breath-taking drive through the mountains of the Mpumalanga province, centred around the Blyde River Canyon, (the 3rdlargest canyon in the world) and a chance to explore waterfalls and sleepy historic towns.

PROJECT COST:

2023 and 2024

The cost of this course is £2200 for two weeks.

Want to know what’s included? Great news, it is pretty much everything! Including your:

Pre departure assistance with planning
and flights from one of our destination
specialists
Transfers to and from the airport
Project coordinator on the ground 24/7
3 meals a day
Shared accommodation
Laundry service
A visit to Moholoholo Wildlife Sanctuary, Visiting Kruger Naitonal Park for a game drive and lunch, a half day drive along the stunning Panorama Route to explore towering mountains, sweeping views and and beautiful waterfalls. Additional activities are offered but are not included.

OUR PRICES EXCLUDE:

Flights to/from South Africa
Personal medical insurance
Visa for South Africa (free to many
nationalities)
Any ‘extra activities’ you wish to do. (we suggest budgeting 5,000 to 10,000 Rand)

START DATES:

The project has set start dates throughout the year. We can also run private courses if you have a group of 6 or more people for outside of these dates. Please email us to discuss this.

2023 dates:

1 - 15 June 2023 (FULL)
15 - 28 June 2023 (FULL)
27 July - 9 August 2023 (FULL)
10 - 23 August 2023 (FULL)

2024 dates:

1 - 14 June 2024 (FULL)
15 - 28 June 2024 (FULL)
29 June - 12 July 2024 (FULL)
13 - 26 July 2024 (FULL)
27 July - 9 August 2024 (FULL)
10 - 23 August 2024 (FULL)
1 -14 September 2024 (FULL)
15 - 28 September 2024 (FULL)