Oudtshoorn Vet Experience Internship
South Africa
2021 Sessions: No Availability
Cost
“Build Your Own” (2w): $2,000 USD
“Full Experience” (4w): $3,600 USD
Additional weeks: $800 USD/week
2 weeks+
16+
Age
-
Destination
-
Departure
Every Saturday from February – November -
Departure Time
Small Animal | Large Animal | Wildlife -
Return Time
Animal Lovers | Pre-Vet Students | Vet Students | Vet Techs & Nurses | Vets -
Dress Code
Training is provided for all activities. Interns receive a welcome packet on arrival with a full program itinerary, guide to local culture, and t-shirt. Certified courses and Sunday activities are only included in sessions of at least 4 weeks. Limited to 4 interns per group. -
Included
AccommodationAirport TransfersFree-time ActivitiesLaundry FacilitiesMealsOn-Site SupportPre-Departure SupportWi-fi -
Not Included
FlightsTravel InsuranceVisa Fees (if applicable)
1
Week 1 : Mixed Practice (Small Animal, Equine, Dairy, Sheep & Exotics)
Saturday: Arrival (transfer to Oudtshoorn)
Sunday: Group Orientation, Weekly Meeting & Cango Wildlife Ranch tour**
Monday: Mixed Practice Vet Lectures, Training & Introduction
Tuesday-Friday: Practical Experience (see “Activities”)
2
Week 2: Companion Animal (Small Animal & Equine)
Saturday: First Aid certification course
Sunday: Weekly Meeting & John Benn river cruise tour
Monday: Companion Animal vet lectures, training & introduction
Tuesday-Friday: Practical experience (See “Activities”)
3
Week 3: Farm Animal (Dairy, Beef & Sheep)
Saturday: Laignsburg Animal Welfare (rescue & rehab center)
Sunday: Weekly Meeting & Mossel Bay tour (whale & seal watching, sunset cruise, shark cage diving)***
Monday: Farm Animal vet lectures, training & introduction
Tuesday-Thursday: Practical experience (see “Activities”)
Friday: Artificial Insemination certification course (Day 1)
4
Week 4: Wildlife
Saturday: Artificial Insemination certification course (Day 2)
Sunday: Weekly Meeting & Cango Caves tour
Monday: Wildlife vet lectures, training & introduction
Tuesday-Wednesday: Practical experience (see “Activities”)
Thursday: Schoongezicht Wildlife Refuge (rescue, rehab & sanctuary)
Friday: Oudtshoorn SPCA (non-profit clinic)
Saturday: Departure (transfer to George Airport)
*Interns may design their own session by choosing from the options above. Please note that certified courses and Sunday activities are only included in sessions of at least 4 weeks, and the wildlife option is only available 2 weeks per month.
**Trips are scheduled on a rotating basis every 4 weeks- the first tour will vary based on the date of arrival.
***Transportation to Mossel Bay is included but activities are an additional fee.
Tour Location
Interns stay in a 4-star boutique estate on a working farm in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Each room has 2 beds and a private bathroom. Amenities include A/C, wifi, laundry and cleaning service, outdoor pool and lounging areas. The lodge is guarded and staff are available 24/7 to ensure intern safety. All meals are included in the program fee- breakfast and dinner are provided by Surval and a sandwich lunch is packed each morning.









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Vet/Animal Activities:
Learn about all the animals you'll be working with here.
Mixed Practice Activities:
Small Animal:
- Wellness examinations
- Routine vaccinations
- Surgery pre-med, prep & post-op
- Anaesthetic monitoring (ECG, BP, etc.)
- Blood draws
- Observe surgeries
- Observe dental procedures
- Ultrasound
- Radiographic positioning
- In-patient care (IV fluids, blood work, lab testing)
- Faecal worm egg counts
- Microscopy of Common African Diseases (tutorial)
Equine:
- General clinical exams
- Pre-purchase exams
- Health checks
- Pregnancy testing (ultrasound scanning, seasonal)
- Lameness workups (including nerve blocks)
- Observe dental exams & extractions
- Surgery pre-med, prep & post-op
- Ultrasound
- Radiographic positioning
Dairy:
- Pregnancy testing (ultrasound scanning, seasonal)
- Bull fertility
- Udder health and milk in-house culture
- Milk parlour routine observation
- Herd vaccination programs
- Herd management and wellbeing
- Calf rearing
Sheep:
- Wool and sheep industry education
- Shearing (seasonal)
- Lambing (seasonal)
- Teaser ram vasectomy procedures
- Sheep vaccination programs
- Sheep management and wellbeing
Exotic:
- Bird Industry and protection education
Companion Animal Activities:
Small Animal:
- Routine healthcare & wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Deworming
- Wound care
- Laceration repairs
- Pre and post-op care
- Patient monitoring for routine procedures (dentals, spays, neuters) and non-routine procedures (cystotomies, orthopedic procedures, amputations, etc.)
- Routine diagnostics (blood draws, lab work, fecal analysis, x-rays)
Equine:
- General consultations and exams
- Vaccinations
- Deworming
- Fecal analysis
- Lameness exams
- Ultrasound and x-ray
- Reproductive and neonatal work (seasonal)
- Surgeries (colic, angular limb deformities, umbilical hernias, c-sections, etc.)
- Dental work (rasping and occasional extractions)
- Postmortems (when available for anatomy lesson)
Cattle:
- Reproductive exams with ultrasound
- Evaluation of calf health in rearing units
- Tissue sampling for mineral analysis (blood sampling and liver biopsies)
- Sterile milk sampling
- Udder health monitoring
- Bull fertility
- Herd vaccinations and management
- As needed:
- Difficult calvings
- Uterine prolapse repair
- Down cows
- Postmortem exams
- Bovine surgery (LDA correction, mass removal, enucleation, c-section)
- Wool and sheep industry education
- Shearing (seasonal)
- Lambing (seasonal)
- Teaser ram vasectomy procedures
- Sheep vaccination programs
- Flock management and wellbeing
South Africa has one of the most diverse and exciting wildlife populations in the world. Experience the thrilling world of game capture – from immobilization to transport, treatment and release. Learn about the game industry in South Africa, species identification, wildlife conservation, dart gun safety and operation, pharmacology and species-specific drug protocols. At the end of the week, each intern gets a bird’s eye view of the game reserve from our game capture helicopter*.
- Vaccinations
- Immobilization for transport and relocation
- Immobilization for clinical exams, medical treatment, wound repair, measuring horn length and trimming hooves
- Immobilizing buffalo to test for TB, Brucellosis, Corridor Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease
- Immobilizing buffalo for breeding soundness evaluation/examination
- Immobilizing game for sample collection for genetic analysis
- Darting game with vaccines, deworming agents and multivitamins
- As needed:
- Surgery
- Rhino Dehorning
- X-Rays
*Session must be at least 4 weeks.
Free-Time Activities:
Sundays are for students to unwind and explore the unique beauty that South Africa has to offer- guided tours are available and included in the program fee: Cango Wildlife Ranch (conservation & education center), Cango Caves, Mossel Bay (whale & seal watching, sunset cruise, shark cage diving)*, Schoongezicht Wildlife Refuge, John Benn river cruise. Other activities include safari game drives, sky diving, bungee jumping, and more! *Transportation to Mossel Bay is included but activities are an additional fee.















