Vet Visions
Zimbabwe
This exciting 2 week course allows pre-vet students or anyone with an interest in vet-care, sanctuary care, or just plain animal lovers to explore a mix of conservation and veterinary care in Zimbabwe. We will take you on an exciting journey from the capital through to Bulawayo and along the way you will get hands on experience from vaccinating cattle to caring for orphaned animals within private game reserves and animal sanctuaries throughout the country.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Come into contact with iconic Zimbabwean wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopard, hyena and so much more!
Assist in the day to day care and upkeep of animals within a sanctuary
Hands-on vaccinations, assisting on farms, and deworming
Enjoy hands on work with wildlife orphans
Work alongside local vets and animal caregivers within different communities
Perfect for people interested in zoology, wildlife, and sanctuary care
Explore Zimbabwe as opposed to being stationed in one place
Project video
This course is designed to open your eyes to the culture, community, and lifestyle of various locations within Zimbabwe. With a limit of 10 in each group – one-on-one learning is made possible. Covering a wide area you will be exposed to the care of livestock in rural areas, sanctuary care for orphaned animals, anti-poaching control within a game reserve and so much more! Set in Zimbabwe, you will be in contact with African animals such as elephants, lions, leopard and other iconic species throughout your trip. We have laid out a route destined to keep you hungry for more with a fast paced and well scheduled itinerary intended to take advantage of every moment of your trip. Explore Africa from a different perspective with both the wild and domesticated taken into account.
KEY ACTIVITIES
During your trip, you will carry out the following activities. Our trip is always subject to slight change, and alterations in the plan may alter a little depending on which animals are most in need of care and attention:
Vaccinating cattle
Learning about disease control in poultry (chickens)
Administering parasite treatment for various species
Assisting at the local dog shelter
Observing surgery in different veterinary clinics
Rhino tracking
Walking pangolin to allow them to forage for food
Deworming and vaccinating primates
Vaccinating and weighing sheep
Collection of samples for worm counts
Worm counts
Deworming carnivores
Post mortems of cows/donkeys/horses/sheep
Learn about dangerous drugs, how to load ad
Supporting conservation and animal welfare in Zimbabwe
The trip either starts in Harare and crosses west to finish in Bulawayo, or starts in Bulawayo and crosses East to finish in Harare. Regardless of which way you take the trip, our visits will be to the same places and the work, teaching, and activities will always be relevant, fun and support the local community and conservation.
Project Photos
ACCOMMODATION
The nomadic style of our trip will allow you to experience 5 different locations including animal sanctuaries, private wildlife reserves, and private concessions. In Harare, our hotel is in a safe area of the city, close to the shops, markets, and some great restaurants, so you will get a true feel of life in Zimbabwe as a local and enjoy the lush gardens and swimming pool in your free time. As we head across the country we dive deeper into the wild, staying on local farms, and within animal sanctuaries.
There are no dangerous wild animals roaming in the areas we stay, so you can explore and relax, admire the night stars sat around a fire, or stay up to listen to the call of nocturnal animals. In Bulawayo, you will stay on-site at an animal rescue center with the orphaned animal nursery just a few meters away from your rooms. The farms where we work are welcoming and will immerse you in the real experience of vetting and animal management in Africa. Each location will have shared rooms, hot and cold running water, good bathrooms, and nice common areas where we enjoy home-cooked meals, bonfire evenings, and good vibes!
LOCATION
Zimbabwe is based in the middle of Southern Africa. It is renowned as being the best place to see wildlife because there are considerably fewer tourists, and the nature reserves are much more wild and free. It is home to Victoria Falls, one of the 7 wonders of the world, being the largest waterfall in the world. There are some of the largest national parks in Africa, the largest man-made lake in the world (Lake Kariba), beautiful cities, rolling grasslands, endless horizons and cultural diversity. “Zimbos” (as they call themselves), are friendly and love showing volunteers their way of life, culture, and history.
The project will see you travelling around Zimbabwe so you will get to experience numerous places including the capital Harare, numerous wildlife reserves, the historical town of Bulawayo, the iconic Matopos National Park, and farms exisiting peacefully with nature. One thing is sure, once you visit Africa, it will be "in your blood" and you will want to return again and again for the nature, wildlife, people and fun of living wild.
ASSOCIATED COST:
2025: £2550
2026: £2750
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. This cost also allows you to be covered by our public liability and professional indemnity insurance. We do not charge for your training or spending with with our vets. So you can focus on having an amazing time and we will take care of the rest.
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
Transfers to and from the airport
Project coordinator with you the ground 24/7
3 meals a day
Shared accommodation
all transport around Zimbabwe
OUR PRICES EXCLUDE:
Flights to/from Zimbabwe
Required: Personal medical insurance. Optional: trip/flight/luggage insurane
Visa
PROJECT SPECIFICS
AGE: 18 -25
QUALIFICATIONS: Open to anyone. Ideal for Gap year and pre-vets aiming to get into vet or nursing school. Vet students in years 1 and 2 and nurse students in all years of study. Not suited to qualified vets or nurses as this is not a clinical project.
EMS (other)
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.
You will fly in to Harare or Bulawayo airport by 1pm on your first day and have a flight departing Harare or Bulawayo no earlier than 10 am on your last day.
2025
2nd June - 15th June (Harare to Bulawayo route)
16th June - 29th June (Bulawayo to Harare route)
5th July - 18th July (Harare to Bulawayo route)
21st July - 3rd August (Bulawayo to Harare route)
2026
4 June- 17 June (Harare to Bulawayo route)
19 June- 2 July (Bulawayo to Harare route)
9 July- 22 July (Harare to Bulawayo route)
23 July- 5 August (Bulawayo to Harare route)
Volunteer feedback
Ashlynn Jensen
July 2024
"The best part of my experience was getting to see a wide array of animals and locations. I liked being able to see the vet school, a clinic and shelter, a farm, and multiple wildlife rehabilitation centers."
Sophie Dunn
July 2024
"I had the best time making new friends and learning about conservation. I feel like I have come out of this experience with more knowledge and love for Zimbabwe and its animals."
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 suport conservation, then this project is for you.
To chat to 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.
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