Wildlife Vet Experience - The Expedition Project

Register 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.

Dates

5 – 19 December 2021 🔒 bookings closed

19 June – 3 July 2022 🔒 bookings closed

3 – 17 July 2022 ➜ Interviews now open – limited spots!

7 – 21 August 2022 ➜ Interviews now open – limited spots!

Arrival

Sunday arrival into Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (or when possible / if advised – Hoedspruit Airport) where you will be collected by our team (please arrive by 10:30pm at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport on your arrival day in order to meet our transfer time).

Hoedspruit Airport is reached via a 1 hour connecting flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport.

Contact us for details and coordinating flight arrivals and departures.

Costs

Starting at £150 GBP / $200 USD / *R3000 ZAR (for 2021) per day for 2 weeks

*Rate based on required South African Rand and therefore international currencies subject to change.

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:

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

Wildlife Vet Shadow and Reserve Management

Focus – Shadow an experienced wildlife vet

Wildlife Vet – Dr Chris Boshoff and Dr Peter Rogers (when available).

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. When possible – Husbandry skills – physical exam, Husbandry skills – reproduction, Husbandry skills – routine health care.

Conservation in the community

Focus – Wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife orphanage, community education and cheetah breeding

Projects – Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre plus Daktari Bush School and Nourish

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

(Subject to Change in 2022)

Local Area

Find out more about the Hoedspruit area here.

How to book

1. Register here.

2. Once your initial registration has been approved you will be invited to set up an interview here.

3. A deposit request to secure your spot will be sent to you.

4. Personalised support then follows – this includes payments plans and trip planning.

Before you travel

Consult our Travel Advice here and also refer to Government advice and regulations around COVID (South Africa here and UK here) and prepare your Declaration for Travel if required.

The best way to prepare for this experience is to take our Wildlife Vet Online course and read about our partners.

Daktari Wildlife Orphanage

Hoedspruit, Limpopo

Flight Support

Register here | Prep here

Why choose The Expedition Project for Wildlife Vet Training?

As a social enterprise, we are unique in our community partnerships and project spending. Additionally, our expeditions include donations and community support, carbon offset via tree plantings and local business partnerships. Where your money goes is very important to us! Continue reading – click here.

Read here about our objectives, visions and where your money goes

The EXPEDITION Project works with organisations, NPOs, charities, social enterprises and small businesses to create a reliable network across South Africa for all to use as a ‘how, what, where, who’ resource. Our vision is to contribute meaningfully to sustainable rural communities, food security and an improved quality of life for all South Africans. Continue reading – click here.

Covid-19 Travel Refunds

It is the passengers responsibility to ensure that all COVID related requirements as well as passport and visa requirements are met prior to traveling. The Expedition Project cannot be held responsible for the traveler being denied boarding / entry due to incorrect / insufficient documentation.

We understand that planning travel in the currently situation is stressful. Should you have to cancel your trip for reasons around travel restrictions or COVID-19 then full refunds are available 45 days prior to arrival and partial refunds will be available up to 7 days prior to travel – Continue reading – click here.

Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure you will be allowed entry into South Africa with all relevant documents and COVID-19 tests complete.

Look out for updates on entry requirements – click here. Continue reading – click here.

Covid-19 Travel Updates

No quarantine at present when entering South Africa, however travellers could also still need to quarantine if they present COVID symptoms upon arrival.

Travellers must produce a printed negative COVID PCR test that is not older than 72 hours. Passengers are advised to have several printed copies ready.

Look out for updates on entry requirements – click here. Continue reading – click here.

Journey to drive change

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