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About The Program
The Program is structured around three core areas – Small Animal Practice, Large Animal Practice, and Wildlife & Game Capture.
Small Animal Practice is divided into two parts: clinical work and community outreach.
- Community Outreach takes place in rural regions and plays a vital role due to the significant socio-economic divide in South Africa. Many people cannot afford veterinary care for their animals, so the programme regularly visits townships to provide essential services. These include anti-parasite treatments (dipping and dosing), wound management, follow-up care, and community education on animal health and handling.
Large Animal Practice covers livestock and farm animal medicine. Work is carried out both on commercial farms and during rural outreach, focusing on cattle (beef and dairy), goats, sheep, pigs, and horses. Activities include parasite control (endo- and ecto-parasites), artificial insemination, and pregnancy testing. Most tasks are completed under the supervision of farmers and qualified staff, with veterinarians involved either through the farmers themselves or directly provided by the program.
Wildlife & Game Capture offers exposure to African wildlife through activities such as game counts, game captures, darting with anti-parasitic treatments, species identification, wildlife care, and treatment of captive animals. Game capture procedures involve immobilisation, sedation, and transport of animals, always conducted under veterinary supervision. This component also highlights important issues such as conservation, the management of captive wildlife, hunting, and the application of the Five Freedoms.
Who’s the Program For?
The program is designed to accommodate a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and levels of experience.
Pre-Vets: Students in high school, on a gap year, or in an undergraduate college/university considering a career in veterinary medicine are classified as “pre-vet”. These participants will gain experience that will help them to decide if they want to go into veterinary medicine, give them a unique experience to set them apart on applications, and provide an opportunity for practical experience that may not be otherwise available to them.
Vet Students: Students already enrolled in vet school. The program makes great husbandry EMS hours, and gives vet students extra experience.
Vet Nurses, Vet Techs and Student Nurses: Qualified and student nurses are always welcome on the programme! These participants will be given more responsibility and their skills are always appreciated. The programme offers a unique experience that you cannot get at home. These participants make a big difference by giving veterinary care and treatment to underprivileged animals in poor communities.
Animal Lovers: These participants don’t have a lot of experience with veterinary work and may or may not be interested in veterinary medicine. Focus is more on an exciting and unique opportunity to work with exotic wildlife and to help diseased and malnourished animals in local communities.
Program Times
The programme runs all year, with the start day being each Monday. Participants can choose their dates within this time. The program runs from 2 weeks to a 6 month internship
A 30% deposit is required to secure you place on the project. The remaining balance needs to be paid in full 8 weeks before your arrival date. Your final destination when booking flights needs to be East London Airport.
The project starts every Monday, so fights need to land and depart on Mondays in order to include transfers.
Flights can land and depart at any time on Mondays. For arrivals or departures on other days there will be a transfer fee of around £30/R50O.
Example of PreVet programme:
Please note this is only an example programme as the schedule changes weekly as per the needs of the community, availability of facilities, etc
Suggested Packing List
You should pack the following for all weather conditions:
- Sweaters/jumpers and a jacket
- Working shoes
- A pair of sneakers/trainers
- Several work tops (tank tops or t-shirts that can get dirty)
- Work pants (shorts + long pants that can get dirty)
- Weekend day outfits (for weekend activities)
- Weekend night outfits (for the occasional evening out at the local pub)
- Warm night clothes
- Swimwear + beach clothes
- Raincoat
- Camera and charger
- Backpack or small bag for overnight trips
- Water bottle
- South African/International power plug converte
- Towel
- Insect Repellent
- Sun cream
- Sunhat/cap
- Sunglasses
- Notebook/diary + pen
Keep in mind that you will often be working on farms and game reserves and will have direct contact with a variety of animals. You should be prepared to get your clothes dirty and they should be comfortable and easy to move in.
It is important to take extra of all medications & prescriptions.
Travel Information
Summer months in South Africa:
March – August
Please note that immigration in South Africa now requires you to have two completely empty pages in your passport alongside each other. Passports must be valid for at least six months after your arrival in South Africa.
Visas: Please check whether you need a visa depending on your home country. Most countries are issued a tourist visa stamp at the airport, valid for 90 days.
We advise that you take £100 – £200 per week as spending money depending on what activities you would like to do in your leisure time.
Rates
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Location
South Africa
Start Date
March – August
Price
Starts at $1,254.00
