Safari4u Vet Student Internship
South Africa
This internship was designed for students who have completed at least 1 year of a veterinary course. The internship structure is an equal mix of small animal, large animal, and wildlife aspects, as in the Vet Experience program, however, the Vet Student Internship has more advanced skills and procedures, a smaller group size, and a full-time veterinarian. Vet Student interns work alongside the vet, seeing a wide range of species, working through clinical cases, and participating in focused discussion groups.
For the wildlife portion of the session, vet students will earn a certification in Introduction to Chemical Immobilization of African Mammals and will be involved in every aspect of the capture from planning to immobilization, then transport and release as part of this 1-week course. Training includes lectures on the history of game capture, related pharmacology, standard operating procedures, dart gun safety and practice, obtaining and processing lab samples, and more. The following 2 weeks are designed to be an even mix of small animal, farm animal and equine experience, however this may vary depending on the needs of the community.
This internship has a limited number of sessions but vet students are also welcome to join our Vet Experience program!
Now accepting applications for 2023!
Cost
3-week session: $4,500 USD
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Destination
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Departure
June 17 - July 10, 2023 -
Departure Time
Small Animal | Large Animal | Wildlife -
Return Time
Vet Students | Vets -
Dress Code
Interns receive a welcome packet on arrival with a full program itinerary, guide to local culture and t-shirt. Training is provided for all activities. The program fee supports our non-profit clinic as well as volunteer activities, transportation and accommodation. Limited to 7 interns per session. -
Included
AccommodationAirport TransfersLaundry FacilitiesMealsOn-Site SupportPre-Departure SupportWi-fi -
Not Included
FlightsFree-time ActivitiesTravel InsuranceVisa Fees (if applicable)
From Our Gallery
Ready for an adventure? Meet us in South Africa!
Gain practical knowledge and experience while you intern with experienced vets in local communities.
Week 1: Introduction to Wildlife Chemical Immobilization Certification Course
Week 2: Small Animal
- Assisting at our non-profit small animal clinic (1-2 days)
- Clinical exams, basic wound care, and treatment
- Diagnostics
- Community visits, preventative medicine, education
- Discussion Topics: in-depth clinical case discussion, aggression, tick-borne disease, TVTs
Week 3: Large Animal
- Cattle (beef & dairy): Pregnancy testing, dehorning, routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Sheep & goats: Pregnancy scanning, tail docking & castrating lambs, routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Pigs: Artificial insemination, tail docking (piglets), routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Horses: Lameness exams, dental exams, routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Discussion topics: in-depth clinical case discussion, abattoirs, disease control
Tour Location
Chintsa is the “home base” of the program. Vet Student and Vet Experience interns stay in dorm-style rooms at a beautiful property adjacent to Chintsa Beach. Amenities include a pool, volleyball court, ping-pong table, yoga room, canoes, boogie boards, indoor and outdoor lounging spaces and dining areas, pool table, and communal kitchens all with beautiful views and a short walk to the beach.
Chintsa is a beach town near many villages, farms and game reserves, which provide access to a wide range of animals and activities. Interns often spend 1-2 nights per session at one of our Community Project sites. Bedding is provided (sheets, pillows, blankets) and we guarantee safe and comfortable accommodation at all sites. Meals are simple and nutritious. Breakfast consists of cereal, fruit, eggs, toast, tea, and coffee. Interns pack a sandwich lunch at the beginning of each day- options include meat & cheese, peanut butter & jelly, or tuna mayo, along with fruit and juice. Dinner includes a protein, a starch, and at least 1 vegetable. We try to accommodate all dietary preferences- our vegetarian menu has gotten rave reviews!
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Vet/Animal Activities:
Learn about all the animals you'll be working with here.- Assisting at our non-profit small animal clinic (1-2 days per week)
- Clinical exams, basic wound care, and treatment
- Diagnostics
- Community education
- Discussion Topics: in-depth clinical case discussion, aggression, tick-borne disease, TVTs
- Cattle (beef & dairy): Pregnancy testing, dehorning, routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Sheep & goats: Pregnancy scanning, tail docking & castrating lambs, routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Pigs: Artificial insemination, tail docking (piglets), routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Horses: Lameness exams, dental exams, routine checks, wound care, treatment
- Discussion topics: in-depth clinical case discussion, abattoirs, disease control
- Students will spend one week with an experienced wildlife veterinarian earning certification in an Introduction to Wildlife Chemical Immobilization and will be involved in every aspect of the capture from planning to immobilization, then transport and release. Training includes lectures on the history of game capture, related pharmacology, standard operating procedures, dart gun safety and practice, obtaining and processing lab samples, etc. Students will be providing treatments as needed, monitoring vitals, and physically transporting a variety of species.
- Game counts & wildlife identification: Learn about land caring capacity and identify exotic species
- Parasite control: Darting with parasiticides (firearm handling & safety training provided)
- Discussion group topics: conservation, hunting, Five Freedoms
- Animal Experience (hours/week): 30-40
- Vet Experience (hours/week): 40-50
- Clinical Experience (hours/week): 20-30
- Surgical Experience* (hours/week): 0-10
Free-Time Activities:
Weekend Activities and Trips include:
Stay Local: Our motto is “work hard, play hard!" Weekends and evenings are free time for volunteers on all programs to unwind from the excitement of the week. Some students head to the beach or hang out at the local cafe for a laid-back atmosphere, but those looking for more excitement can certainly find it in and around Chintsa. All bookings can be made on arrival.- Horse Riding - Take a leisurely ride from the bush to the beach and support our local equine rescue and rehabilitation center (3 Hours).
- Surf Lessons - Learn to ride the waves on the beautiful Chintsa Beach with a qualified instructor (3 hours).
- Quad Bike Safari Tour - Ride through the game reserve on your own ATV and see wildlife from a whole new perspective (1 or 2 hours)
- Zipline Tours - Fly through the game reserve over 10 zip lines up to 153m long and 70m high (2 hours)
- Kayaking/Canoeing - Take a leisurely paddle through the game reserve and enjoy the scenery (half day)
- Abseiling - Repel down the cliffs of the Areena game reserve to really get your adrenaline pumping (1 hour)
- Spa Treatments - Think you deserve some pampering after running around in the bush all week? Head to Crawford’s Spa to release that tension and start the next week rested and refreshed.
- Brewery Tour - Visit our local brewery, learn about the brewing process and even stay for lunch.
- Volleyball - Join the locals in a friendly game or grab some friends and start your own match.
Overnight Trips:
Want to see more of South Africa? Use the weekend to explore the Eastern Cape, Wild Coast, or even Cape Town by rental car or Baz Bus. All bookings can be made on arrival.
- Addo Elephant National Park - Visit the third largest National Park in South Africa and see some of the country’s most amazing creatures in their natural habitat.
- Hogsback Mountain Village - J. R. R. Tolkien’s inspiration for The Lord of the Rings’ fantasy world “Middle-earth”.
- Inkwenkwezi - Spend a night or two at a local game reserve with game drives, quad biking, canoeing, and great food!
- Shark Cage Diving - Get up close and personal with some great white sharks for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s sure to get your blood pumping.
- Bungee Jumping - If you’re an adrenaline junky, head to the Bloukrans Bridge for the tallest commercial bridge bungee jump in the world.
- Sky Diving - There’s no better place to jump out of a plane than over the beautiful Garden Route.
- Cango Caves - Walk and climb through this natural landmark to experience one of South Africa’s most popular tourist destinations.
- Sandboarding - When in Africa… ride the dune!
- Cape Town - Climb Table Mountain (or take the cable car) | See Nelson Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island | Take a wine-tasting tour | Experience night life on Long Street | Waddle down to the penguin colony | Have breakfast and shop at the V&A Waterfront | And a lot more!
Please submit an application for this program below. Our team will contact you with more information within 72 hours- if you don’t hear from us, please check your spam folder!
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Tanvi K
It was an amazing experience with Global Vet Experience! Worked with amazing animals, met amazing people and got to experience South Africa at its best and natural self😍
You will learn a lot not just about veterinary but also about yourself in this experience.
(Safari4u Vet Experience &. Vet Student Internships)
July 2022
Chris T.
Lots of difference and diverse activities were panned. I was really impressed… I expected less community involvement and teaching than there was so pleasant surprise… [I] had a really great and fulfilling time.
Beth E.
Loved it!… Game Capture [was an] amazing learning experience – loved the booklet… Community work – Great hands on, animal handling experience… Pregnancy Diagnosis (Cow) – Very useful… Small groups were great. Vet group of 4 was perfect amount – got adequate time for questions and discussion.
Faye N.
I learnt so much, love it…. Nikki was an amazing teacher and displayed lots of patience and a strong willingness to learn… I would [recommend this programme] as I learnt a lot and was surrounded by great people.