When we booked the Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience, it was mainly for Katie and her love of animals. She wants to become a veterinarian so this trip was going to be an opportunity for her to see if being a wildlife vet is a career path she wants to follow.
We thought that I would just be coming along to supervise and support Katie, however, this experience opened both of our eyes! It was an adventure and we learnt and saw so much from the culture, the animals, and the other volunteers. It was just an amazing experience!
Kathy: For me, I don’t have a veterinary background and knew very little about the field, but I still got so much out of it.
What we loved the most about the experience was that the work was tailored to any experience level. Katie has learnt so much and it has definitely solidified her desire to become a vet in the future.
Katie: I definitely now know what aspects of wildlife veterinary work I enjoy as I got to experience being out in the field but I also got involved in surgeries.
Everyone was super supportive and we really felt like we were part of the project. With us being 15 and 58, we were worried we didn’t have much to offer in terms of our experience. However, we became part of the team and were given jobs to do that we felt comfortable with. It definitely makes you feel important.
Kathy: We felt like we were actually helping the animals and the team without just standing there like we were just observers.
We had the chance to work with lots of different species including lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos.
We saw an operation on a lion and got to watch everything as we were right beside the vet. With the buffalo, we were giving them vaccinations and the vet supported us in putting in the needle as their skin is very thick!
The vet work with the leopard was unplanned but it was amazing to see how the vet remained calm in the situation. We were unable to save the leopard but it then allowed us the opportunity to see an autopsy, which was really interesting. It was incredible to learn about the different body parts and identify what was abnormal. It was a very educational day.
The vet was really supportive and before every procedure, they would explain what was going to happen and why it was important. We were then offered the chance to participate where possible if we wanted to.
Kathy: We never felt like we were pushed out of the way, and they always encouraged us to get involved.
They also went over the safety at each procedure so that on the slim chance something were to happen, though nothing ever did, we felt prepared which we really appreciated.
When we weren’t busy with the work, we had a chance to relax and take in the beautiful scenery. There was also the chance to do some extra activities like going on hikes or doing some rehabilitation work with the lions. We also got to visit the Kruger National Park twice!
To anyone considering this experience, go in with an open mind, because anything can happen!
Katie: It really gives you the insight of what a wildlife vet is doing and the work that goes into all of it.
This experience has far exceeded our expectations. We were comfortable with all of the pre-departure information but you never know for certain what to expect. We were blown away and really saw the value of the project.
We often forget how big this world is and how there's so much out there to see. We had some hesitations about visiting South Africa but African Conservation Experience did an amazing job of making us feel secure and taken care of.
Feeling inspired by Kathy and Katie Best's experience?
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