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.

​

​