Kruger Vet Project
South Africa
This programme is designed for those interested in a career in veterinary medicine, nursing, technology or conservation. This hands-on course will have you working with a range of iconic African wildlife alongside the team's wildlife vets. The balance of field work and lectures compliment each other to allow for the greatest learning experience- ensuring you go home with a wealth of knowledge, unforgettable memories, and breathtaking experiences from the heart of an African national park!
If you are a gap year, pre vet or pre-clinical student check out our Kruger Wildlife Project.
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:
2024 : The cost of this course is £2200 for two weeks, plus 100 Euro for your conservation fees.
2025: The cost of this course is £2400 for two weeks. Conservaiton fees are included.
Want to know what’s included? Great news, it is pretty much everything! Including your:
Pre departure assistance 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)
100 Euro conservation fee, to be paid in cash on arrival
Any ‘extra activities’ you wish to do. (we suggest budgeting 5,000 to 10,000 Rand)
PROJECT SPECIFICS
AGE: 18 – 40 years old
QUALIFICATIONS: currently studying vet/nursing or graduated
EMS (other), CEMS, CPD, CE
While this project is fully booked our brand new SOS Wildlife project provides the opportunity to partake in a very similar experience with African Wildlife! Check it out here: SOS WILDLIFE
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.
2024 dates:
3-16 May 2024 (FULL)
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)
2025 dates:
1 - 14 June 2025 (FULL)
15 - 28 June 2025 (FULL)
29 June - 12 July 2025 (FULL)
13 - 26 July 2025 (FULL)
27 July - 9 August 2025 (FULL)
10 - 23 August 2025 (FULL)
1 -14 September 2025 (FULL)
15 - 28 September 2025 (FULL)
Volunteer feedback
Rosine Smith
June 2023
"The amount of useful knowledge gained in just 12 days was fantastic. Great connections made. Variety of exposure to different cases was fantastic. Feeling like you are making an impact."
Veronica Gonzalez
July 2023
"The vulture/poison course was super informative, sightseeing on the weekends was mostly fun to see South Africa. Target practice and learning to use the guns was thrilling.
My favorite is that I absolutely loved the food!!!!!"
WHAT NEXT?
If the idea of joining our team treating, rescuing and working with wildlife sparks your interest, just click the "apply now" button, fill in our form, and we will be in touch with you right away.
SUGGESTED PROJECTS
