Reptile Care Centre
South Africa
This hands-on project involves assisting in a reptile centre and sanctuary as they strive to rescue and rehabilitate a plethora of different reptile species. You will be involved in the day-to-day care of the centre’s residents, assist on impromptu rescue missions to remove reptiles safely from neighbouring areas (and either release or rehabilitate the patient, depending on circumstances), and have the opportunity to handle a range of different reptiles.
You do not need any qualifications to attend this project.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Work alongside a dedicated team of herpetofauna specialists.
Assist in the rescue and relocation of reptiles within the surrounding areas.
Understand reptile management and care for a wide range of species.
Learn to handle diverse reptiles, maintain exhibits, prepare diets, design enrichment, and assist with research or documentary shoots.
Visit some of the best South African attractions on your days off.
Contribute to reptile conservation efforts.
Project video
Reptiles and amphibians are frequently misunderstood and even persecuted today. This project offers a unique chance to collaborate with a dedicated team committed to creating a sanctuary for these species, while fostering genuine appreciation and understanding of their ecological value.
The centre's onsite herpetologist and conservationist, together with the dedicated staff at the centre, provide the perfect team for a hands-on, holistic experience from animal care to rehabilitation. When there are medical cases, the volunteers may be exposed to medical procedures such as administering medications, wound management, reconstruction (carapaces, broken legs, etc.), supportive care, or anything else an animal may need. Please be aware that this is not a clinical project, however a veterinarian will be called in should any medical emergencies arise.
The centre's mission is to reeducate the local community and rehabilitate surrounding populations - a perfect balance of conservation through education. As a volunteer on this project, you will be treated as part of the family and learn how to handle different reptiles, maintain animal exhibits, prepare animal diets, create animal enrichment, and even get involved in rescue and rehabilitation missions for these outstanding creatures. There will also be the additional opportunity to learn how to handle venomous snakes for those who are interested.
During your days off, you are welcome to explore the nearby local attractions, such as Blyde River Canyon or the Kruger National Park, amongst many other awesome opportunities, with fellow volunteers!
KEY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
The centre has some awesome permanent residents that volunteers will be very involved in caring for, from feeding to cleaning enclosures and everything in between! Focused on husbandry and learning about care for a diverse range of reptiles, this project provides an amazingly unique opportunity to gain an understanding of reptile management. Some of the permanent residents include a Nile Crocodile, baboon spiders, alligator snapping turtles, scorpions, and a variety of indigenous and exotic snakes.
Daily assessment, cleaning, and maintenance of enclosures.
Upgrading of enclosures.
Administration duties such as maintaining animal records.
Food preparation and feeding of animals.
Medical work with sick or hurt animals- when applicable.
Animal enrichment.
Animal handling training.
Attend any courses/programmes/lectures being given at the Centre.
Attend any emergency call-outs for rescue/injured reptiles.
Attend any community outreach or excursion programmes scheduled
Project Photos
ACCOMMODATION
Mamba Manner, nestled within the park property, offers shared accommodation for those seeking to contribute their time and efforts. With its self-catering kitchen and shared bathrooms, volunteers can enjoy a comfortable and convenient living space.
The lounge provides a cozy area for relaxation and socialising, while the large garden and swimming pool offer refreshing outdoor activities. To stay connected, free WiFi is available throughout the house, ensuring volunteers can stay connected with friends and family.
Volunteers at the house cook their own meals using the ingredients provided. The self-catering kitchen is equipped with everything they need to prepare their favorite dishes. By utilizing the provided ingredients, volunteers can exercise their culinary skills, create delicious meals, and enjoy a personalized dining experience during their stay.
LOCATION
The Reptile Centre is located in the town of Hoedspruit, situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Hoedspruit is a small town known for its proximity to various natural wonders. The immediate area surrounding Hoedspruit boasts remarkable biodiversity, with the presence of diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife.
During your stay, there will be scheduled rest days within the program. On these days, you can choose to either relax with your fellow volunteers at the volunteer house or to explore the surrounding areas and take in all of the local attractions. The Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world, is just a short distance away from the reptile centre, offering breathtaking views of towering cliffs, lush vegetation, and the meandering Blyde River. The iconic Kruger National Park is easily accessible from the reptile centre, making it an ideal base for wildlife enthusiasts, researchers, and the good conservation work the centre does.
PROJECT FEE
To provide you with a fun, safe, and rewarding stay, we have a project fee that covers your accommodation, meals, and transfers during your time with us. This cost also ensures you are covered by our public liability and professional indemnity insurance. We do not charge for your experience or time spent with veterinarians, so you can focus on having an amazing experience while we take care of the details. Barring costs to cover necessities, the funds are donated to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
2026 project fees:
2 weeks: £1,032
3 weeks: £1,548
4 weeks: £2,064
5 weeks: £2,579
6 weeks: £3,095
7 weeks: £3,611
8 weeks: £4,127
What's included
Want to know 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
Pick up and drop off to the airport
Accommodation
Fully equipped and stocked self-catering kitchen
Support at the volunteer accommodation by on-site staff
Someone is always available in case of emergency
What's not included
Required: Personal medical insurance. Optional: trip/flight/luggage insurance
Flights to your destination
Visas
Extra activities
PROJECT SPECIFICS
AGE: 18 – 70 years old
QUALIFICATIONS: open to anyone
EMS (other)
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 1 kilometre 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
Volunteers fly in and out of Hoedspruit Airport and can start every Monday of the year. There is some flexibility with the start dates of this project so please ask us if you are looking at a different start date.
WHAT NEXT?
If you want to gain valuable work experience, develop a variety of skills and grow your CV, whilst learning to care for animals and support conservation, then this project is for you.
To chat with our team, discover availability and have all your questions answered by our volunteer coordinators, 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
Marisa LaBarca
11 April, 2025
"I booked a 2 week experience with the Reptile Vet Project, my only regret is not booking longer. This team really cares about reptile education and teaching volunteers how to safely handle venomous snakes. As a vet student, my experience was specifically teetered towards my interests, so I spent ample time with the veterinarian in charge discussing cases and medical scenarios. There were also break days where you could rest in the house or go into town, on safaris or on waterfall hikes. I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in learning about reptile handling, wildlife medicine or seeking a memorable adventures."
Marta Paina
August 2025
"My two weeks of volunteering at Hoedspruit Reptile Centre through Worldwide Vets changed my life, and I don’t mean this in a figurative way. I am currently in Australia following my dream, thanks to this experience.
The Reptile Care Centre team was absolutely amazing. I had the opportunity to learn about reptile conservation from Jessica Joubert and Given, beautiful souls and highly competent curators, and to attend veterinary lessons with Dr Jessica Briner. I was also lucky enough to get to know Christine and Arno, who worked there and made me feel at home away from home. I can’t recommend this experience enough. If you love reptiles and want to gain knowledge, this is the place for you. Everybody was so eager to teach me, and they were all incredibly patient and kind while doing it."
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