Kruger Vet Project
South Africa
This programme is designed for those interested in a career in veterinary medicine, nursing, technology or conservation. This hands-on course will have you working with a range of iconic African wildlife alongside the team's wildlife vets. The balance of field work and lectures compliment each other to allow for the greatest learning experience- ensuring you go home with a wealth of knowledge, unforgettable memories, and breathtaking experiences from the heart of the Greater Kruger Area
If you are a gap year, pre vet or pre-clinical student check out our Kruger Wildlife Project.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Practical hands-on veterinary medicine experience on wildlife
Working with and learning from some of Africa's best wildlife vets
Learn how to dart on the ground and from a helicopter
Capture and relocate iconic wildlife species
Learn to monitor anesthesia and apply treatments in the field
Field-based discussions on conservation, wildlife medicine, animal management and veterinary procedures complement your practical training.
Spend your time enjoying game drives in the Kruger National Park, visiting sanctuaries and exploring Africa
Project video
While completing the program, you'll expand your horizons and be immersed in the daily goings-on of a destination, giving you exposure that you simply wouldn't get as a regular tourist. This course is intensive, and aims to send you home confident with planning, carrying out and understanding the logistics surrounding wildlife work. This is of great benefit if you wish to peruse a career in exotics, wildlife or zoo work.
During the week you will enjoy both lecture and practical based teaching in the following areas:
Wildlife veterinary pharmacology - Different types of drugs, why they are used, and how to effectively use them.
Game capture techniques - Different methods of game capture and why it needs to be done.
Wildlife diseases - Different diseases that affects wildlife, methods of testing and ways to control them.
Animal breeding project - Why certain animal species need to be involved in breeding programmes and what is being done to help them.
Darting - Effectively and efficiently using a dart gun.
Parasitology - Different types of parasites that affect wildlife and how to control them.
Medical work on wildlife - Assist the vets with diagnosis and treatment of injuries or different types of sicknesses, monitor the animal’s health as well as provide support to the vets.
A week on project
Monday – Morning lectures (safety, pharmacology and drug handling) Afternoon: Going out into the field with the wildlife vet. Prepare for the following day's capture.
Tuesday – Morning: Participate in wildlife conservation activities such as snare sweeps and animal monitoring. Afternoon: Dart gun practice, wildlife management activities and field-based training with the veterinary team.
Wednesday: Wildlife veterinary and conservation activities. Depending on operational requirements, participants may gain experience observing or assisting with darting procedures from a helicopter. Practical dart gun training may also be included.
Thursday: Wildlife Management activity to capture antelope and give parasite treatment. Prepare for the following day's capture
Friday: Wildlife capture, relocation and management activities as required. Tasks may include parasite treatments, preventative healthcare and other veterinary procedures. Activities vary depending on operational needs.
Saturday: Game drive in the Kruger National Park.
Sunday: Visit Moholoholo wildlife sanctuary to see lion, leopard, rhino and cheetah among other animals. Games round the fire.
Please Note
As this is a working wildlife veterinary project, activities vary depending on wildlife management requirements, conservation priorities, weather conditions and veterinary case load. No two weeks are exactly the same.
KEY ACTIVITIES
You will be living in one of the most renowned and well managed wildlife areas on the planet. The management, rescue and care of wildlife is as varied as it is exciting. From routine work, to fast paced emergencies, some of the procedures you may be involved in include:
DNA sampling. Species could include antelope like Nyala, Impala, Sable, and Waterbuck
Zebra, impala and giraffe movement between game reserves.
Rhino de-horning to fight the illegal poaching trade.
Assisting with wildlife capture, relocation, monitoring and veterinary procedures as required.
Immobilising buffalo and antelope to measure horn size for animals for sale.
TB testing in buffalo.
Fitting collars to animals that will be tracked for research.
Transmitter darting for animals in thick bush or at night.
Mineral and vitamin injections delivered by darting.
Deworming herbivores and other routine husbandry care, like hoof trimming and dipping.
In your free time you will do a number of included activities with the team incliding visiting Moholoholo Wildlife Sanctuary, going on safari in the Kruger Naitonal Park for a game drive and lunch and taking a half day drive along the stunning Panorama Route to explore towering mountains, sweeping views and and beautiful waterfalls.
Project Photos
ACCOMMODATION
The large luxury tented camps situated in the wild lanscape, amid raw african bush and farm land. There is a kitchen, where you can store extra snacks and food (if the 3 large meals a day don’t quite fill you up!) and an outside deck, a pool and jacuzi overlooking the waterhole where the animals of the big five reserve come to quench their thirst. Near the tents there is a communal area with a fire pit, an honesty bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages). Tents have two single beds, a fridge to store drinks and snacks, and ensuite bathrooms with two showers each. Regardless of where you sleep, bedding and towels are provided. If we need to stay away from home for a night to complete work, all accommodation will be in comfortable farmhouses or lodges.
Three hearty meals a day will be provided for you in your course fee. There is an additional cost if you have a specific diet requirement such as vegetarian or vegan, in order to help us produce great meals for you. Kindly see Costing section. You help yourself to breakfast and choose from cereals, breads, juice and fruit. Lunches are prepared for you (unless we take a packed lunch) and dinner will be cooked and served for you at the accommodation. You will enjoy regular Braais (BBQ’s) consisting of African steak, boerewors (sausage), stews, bolognaises, burgers and pastas. The project can cater for most dietary requirements so just ask us at time of booking. No matter what is eaten, it is always at the end of a good day’s work, under the stars, enjoying the dancing light of the campfire. Once a week you will be taken to town for any extra snacks or supplies you may need. Don’t forget the marshmallows to toast on the fire!
LOCATION
The project is based in the Greater Kruger area of South Africa, approximately 50 km from Kruger National Park. This region forms part of one of Africa's most important wildlife conservation landscapes, where wildlife moves freely across large protected areas. It is an exceptional location to experience wildlife conservation and veterinary work, with thriving populations of elephant, giraffe, lion, leopard, rhino, wild dog, zebra and numerous antelope species.
During your stay, you will have weekends off to make the most of your time in South Africa. Some students enjoy relaxing by the pool with a good book, whilst others head out to do extra activities including visiting wildlife sanctuaries such as the great Moholoholo Rehab Centre) to help care for rescued wildlife. We run daytrips through the world famous Panorama Route, a breath-taking drive through the mountains of the Mpumalanga province, centred around the Blyde River Canyon, (the 3rd largest canyon in the world) and a chance to explore waterfalls and sleepy historic towns.
PROJECT FEE
2026: £2,580* for two weeks.
In order to provide you with a fun, safe and rewarding stay, we have a project fee to cover your accommodation, food, and all transfers when staying with us. If you have a special dietary requirement, in order to give you be best meals possible, we add a £20 per week cost to the project fee which allows us to cater for you as well as possible.
What's Included
Great news, it is pretty much everything! Including your:
Pre-departure assistance with planning your trip from one of our destination specialists
Transfers to and from the airport
Project coordinator on the ground 24/7
3 meals a day
Shared accommodation
Laundry service
A visit to Moholoholo Wildlife Sanctuary, a full-day safari drive in the Kruger Naitonal Park, a half day drive along the Panorama Route.
What's Excluded
Flights to/from South Africa
Required: Personal medical insurance. Optional: trip/flight/luggage insurane
Visa for South Africa (free to many nationalities)
Any ‘extra activities’ you wish to do. (we suggest budgeting 5,000 to 10,000 Rand)
PROJECT SPECIFICS
AGE: 18 – 40 years old
QUALIFICATIONS: Currently studying vet/nursing/technician courses, or graduated vet, nurse and technicians
EMS (other), CEMS, CPD, CE
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
Due to the isolated nature of our locations, and the demanding nature of our work, a certain level of fitness is required to join this project. While we try to make our work as comfortable as possible, there are times when physical tasks are necessary to ensure safety and efficiency.
As such, you should be able to:
Climb up and down from a high pickup truck
Comfortably run 50 metres
Walk 3 kilometres over rocky and uneven ground
Not suffer from severe or unmanaged depression or anxiety
If mental or physical challenges prove problematic to safety, attendees will be required to sit out of activities, and in severe circumstances, we reserve the right to terminate a stay based on incorrectly or undisclosed disabilities. If you have a history of physical injuries, disabilities, or mental health conditions and would like to discuss your fitness to attend, we encourage you to apply and highlight this in your application form. We’re more than happy to have a conversation with you, and always do our best to be inclusive and accommodating.
START DATES:
The project has set start dates throughout the year. We can also run private courses if you have a group of 6 or more people for outside of these dates. Please email us to discuss this.
2026 dates:
3 - 16 May 2026: FULL
1 - 14 June 2026: FULL
15 - 28 June 2026: FULL
10 - 23 August 2026: FULL
WHAT NEXT?
If the idea of joining our team treating, rescuing and working with wildlife sparks your interest, just click the "apply now" button, fill in our form, and we will be in touch with you right away.
Project Fees
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that makes a real impact on animal welfare and provides a chance to learn and travel to beautiful places....
booking conditions
Worldwide Vets aims to provide you with an easy booking experience and the a trip of a lifetime. As such, we have terms and conditions we ask you to abide by when booking a project with us...
PAST feedback
Rosine Smith
June 2023
"The amount of useful knowledge gained in just 12 days was fantastic. Great connections made. Variety of exposure to different cases was fantastic. Feeling like you are making an impact."
Veronica Gonzalez
July 2023
"The vulture/poison course was super informative, sightseeing on the weekends was mostly fun to see South Africa. Target practice and learning to use the guns was thrilling.
My favorite is that I absolutely loved the food!!!!!"
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