The Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience gives you the opportunity to work closely with a wildlife veterinarian. The project is based in some of the most wildlife-rich areas in southern Africa.
We work with a number of veterinarians, all of which are very well established. Volunteers will join the practice and day-to-day activities of an experienced wildlife veterinarian in the field and, depending on the vet, sometimes in a clinic. Depending on individual capabilities, volunteers will actively assist in most tasks that have to be performed - and not just sit back as spectators. Volunteers will actively partake in the treatment and physical handling of animals and the administration of low schedule drugs. The animals you may work with ranges from various antelope species, to buffalo and even sometimes lions. Much of the wildlife veterinary work is related to game capture and relocation.
Since the wildlife vets move between local landowners, volunteers will more than likely get to travel a great deal throughout the local areas. The project is personal and very hands on and each vet only takes small groups at a time. Volunteers interested in a career in the veterinary field or animal care will benefit most from this project, but anyone with a strong interest in veterinary work can join.
A certain level of fitness and determination is required by the students as the work can be strenuous. It is up to the vet’s discretion to judge the competence of each volunteer and the risks involved in each activity, before allowing the volunteer to participate in a specific activity.
The programme is practically orientated and you will most likely gain experience in the following activities:
- Game capture and immobilizing animals. By law only a registered vet can use the high schedule drugs to immobilize animals. You will however still learn a lot about the drugs involved and darting techniques, and will administer low schedule drugs
- Taking blood samples from animals
- Animal translocation
- Medical work on injured or sick animals, including some domestic animals and livestock
- Diagnosing and treating various conditions or diseases in animals
- Animals that the vets frequently work with: Sable-antelope, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, lion, elephant, roan-antelope, nyala, eland.
Please note that the vets do occasionally work with domestic animals too and there is some clinic work involved depending on which vet you work with.
Factbox!
Duration: 2 - 12 weeks.
Cost: From £2290 for 2 weeks to £5790 for 12 weeks. Includes return international flights from London, transfers, all meals, accommodation, all project-related costs and back up and support.
Accommodation: Various depending on the vet you are placed with. Tented camp, annexe to the vet’s house, brick built cottage. Shared tents/rooms. All accommodation has flushing toilets and hot showers.
Time of year: From the beginning of April to the end of September each year. You may also like to tie it in with a Game Ranger Guide Course at a reduced rate to give you a broad experience of the African bush! Please contact us for more details.
