Veterinary experience in South Africa

Hands-on veterinary experience in the wilds of Africa

Get into the heart of Africa and work with some of the continent’s most renowned mammals on a lush game reserve. Work closely with the part-time reserve vet and wildlife experts as they work to ensure the health and well-being of the animals in their care. If you are looking to gain veterinary experience or put your skills into practice, this veterinary experience is a fantastic way to acquire a highly practical knowledge base.

This programme has been designed to give participants plenty of practical experience, often backed up with useful theoretical knowledge. Most of the knowledge acquired on this programme is learned “on the job” however lectures are arranged to gain a deeper insight into certain issues surrounding veterinary work with wild animals.

How does it work?

This experience is divided into two main areas of work, reflecting the set-up of the reserve and the role of the vet. It is important to remember that the reserve is a dynamic and changing environment, and as such it is important to understand that there are not always animals in need of direct veterinary intervention.

Direct veterinary activities

The reserve comprises three main sections: the wild reserve, the rehabilitation area and the domestic animals centre. Participants will assist with checking the health of animals in these areas to ensure their continued well-being. This can include domestic and wild animals which are part of a rescue and rehabilitation programme; young cubs that are being hand reared for rehabilitation or even farm animals which are suffering from disease or illness.

The tasks at hand all depend on the specific cases at the time, however you should be able to work on a diverse variety of cases. None of these can be guaranteed, however they are often carried out:

• Assisting with minor operations or application of antibiotics
• Application of boosters and vitamin supplements
• Checking of gums and eye sockets on predators for signs of anaemia and jaundice.
• Monitoring of behavioural characteristics of animals in the rehabilitation programme
• Monitoring of the well-being of animals for signs of ill health, parasites or wounds
• Treatment of animals for external and internal parasites and wounds
• Darting of animals with antibiotics when necessary for wounds or possible pneumonia
• The basic utilisation of the dart gun on a target, when necessary
• Autopsy on fresh dead animals for parasites
• Autopsy on cows brought in for feeding to determine cause of death, when possible
• GPS of lion kills found

These activities will be done with one of our on-site experts in the field such as the vet, predator experts, elephant experts and game rangers. You will work directly with a variety of experts who excel in their individual fields, dramatically broadening your experience and giving you a greater understanding of the importance of veterinary science on a game reserve. Please note that the vet is at the reserve 2 – 3 days each week, and at other times you will be working with other specifically trained experts.

Indirect veterinary activities

In addition to the direct veterinary tasks, participants will also immerse themselves in the greater day to day routine of conservation and wildlife management on the game reserve. Participants work alongside the Big 5 participants in a variety of other reserve projects, which can include:

• lion tracking and monitoring
• helping out with the predator breeding programmme
• game counts
• game captures
• game drives
• fence patrol
• removal of alien vegetation in and around the reserve
• planting of natural species
• wilderness trail walks and patrols

These tasks are all  carried out with the welfare of the animals of the reserve in mind, and will be completed working alongside experienced wildlife professionals keen to teach you all about the animals and the processes here.

This progamme is ideal for those who are taking a gap year before going to study veterinary medicine at university, who are looking to get some veterinary experience during holidays or who are changing career paths to go into veterinary medicine. Anybody is more than welcome to participate in this programme, however it is important to note that the level of knowledge would also determine the extent of the work possible.

Your programme will keep you busy at the reserve from Monday to Friday, with weekends free for relaxation and exploring. At the weekend many participants choose to head in to Port Elizabeth to enjoy the sea, surf and sand, as well as to use it as a base from which to explore the area. Accommodation is provided whilst in Port Elizabeth for no extra charge, although you  will need to budget for food. Alternatively, you are more than welcome to remain at the reserve to enjoy the fantastic facilities there and simply relax.

Accommodation and Food

Your accommodation is on site, right at the heart of the reserve, so your day starts with beautiful views out over the prairie.  The accommodation is probably amongst the most luxurious that Oyster offers. It has large comfortable dormitory-style rooms to be shared with others. There are large lounges and outdoor areas to relax, so you will likely find that your bed is just a place to lay your head at the end of the day.

There is internet access at the main lodge. Swimming pools, tennis courts and other leisure facilities are all at your disposal, so there isn’t a moment to get bored here.

We provide you with three delicious meals a day, so you don’t even need to worry about cooking. The food is varied, with an African/ Asian feel to it.  However there are plenty of western options too.

When should I book?

Whilst late-availability is possible, we would advise booking as soon as you can to guarantee your ideal dates. Our projects are very popular and spaces can fill up several months in advance, especially for the months of June to September.

Want to go travelling afterwards?

We can arrange a week-long Garden Route tour after some of the sports coaching sessions. Follow the link to find out more about the Garden Route Tour.