Register here | Book here | Prep here
If you’ve been searching online for wildlife vet opportunities to gain some in-person, practical experience, you may be restricted by the cost or quality of the options out there. For this reason, we’ve designed an exclusive package just for vets-in-training that is both affordable and of high quality. It’s built around our principles of collaboration, credibility and accessibility by connecting communities and exceptional projects and experts while not sacrificing on some of the fantastic food and accommodation that South Africa has to offer.

2021 Dates
20 June – 4 July 2021 (subject to full subscription)
4 July – 18 July (subject to full subscription)
8 August – 22 August (subject to full subscription)
Arrival
Sunday arrival (20th June, 4th July or 8th August) into Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport where you will be collected by our team.
Contact us for details and coordinating flight arrivals and departures
Costs
Starting at £150 GBP / $200 USD / R3000 ZAR per day for 14 days
Your experience includes
Selecting only 8 student per two-weeks, the Wildlife Vet Experience will bring the Wildlife Vet Online course to life with a tour of projects, reserves plus wildlife vet shadowing. The experience includes the following highlights:
Dr Peter Rogers and Dr Chris Boshof Community Education Projects Nourish Eco Village Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage, Hoedspruit Hoedspruit Endandered Speices Centre Clinical EMS, Wildlife and Reserve Management
Inspiring project and reserve visits
Credible wildlife vets
Practical clinical EMS and AHEMS sign-offs
24 hour support crew
Professional airport pick up and drop off
Complementing activities and conservation topics
Delicious South African food
And fantastic reserve accommodation
Week 1
Wildlife Vet Shadow and Reserve Management
Week focus – Shadow an experienced wildlife vet
Wildlife Vet – Dr Chris Boshoff
Week summary – Observe / participate in clinical procedures, observe darting / capture techniques, helicopter darting (optional add-on). We aim to include the following – Assist with rehabilitation, Human-wildlife conflict, anti-poaching, and conservation techniques, Husbandry skills – handling, Husbandry skills – observation, Husbandry skills – physical exam, Husbandry skills – reproduction, Husbandry skills – routine health care.
Week 2
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
Week focus – Wildlife rehabilitation and cheetah breeding
Wildlife Vet – Dr Peter Rogers (when available). Read more here.
Week summary – Monitoring and care of Cheetah, Wild Dogs, White Rhino, Lion, African Wild Cats, Ground Hornbills, Sable Antelope and more, feeding and assisting with or observing veterinary activities, learning about cheetah breeding, learning about hospital equipment, feeding rhinos, lions and leopard. When possible – Vaccination of cheetahs, Lime Sulphur treatment of cheetahs, Treatment of antelope for internal and external parasites. More details here.
Topics
We aim to include and allow you to sign-off the below topics. Please note that when working with wildlife, wildlife vets and wildlife conservation there are times when ethics or circumstances do not always allow schedules to run according to plan.
Clinical EMS:
Observe / participate in clinical procedures
Observe darting / capture techniques
Helicopter darting (optional add-on)
Husbandry skills:
Wildlife handling
Wildlife observation
Wildlife physical exam
Wildlife and / or captive routine health care
Wildlife conservation:
Assist with wildlife rehabilitation
Human-wildlife conflict, anti-poaching, and conservation techniques
Conservation in the community:
Wildlife education
Environmental conservation
Accommodation
Read more about your accommodation here.
Local Area
Find out more about the Hoedspruit area here.
Your Support
Roger – Pre-departure Aidan – Project co-ordinator Terry-lee – Resident ecologist Dr Peter Rogers BVSc – World renown vet HESC – Project placement
How to book
1. Register here.
2. Pay your deposit here.
3. Schedule an interview here.
Before you travel
Look for updates on entry requirements here.
The best way to prepare for this experience is to take our Wildlife Vet Online course and read about our partners.