FROM: 2 weeks: £1000 | 4 weeks: £1880 | 8 weeks: £3760 | 12 weeks: £ 5640
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If you have made up your mind your application starts here
Interested in volunteering, but have a question then please contact us
Become a Pre-Vet Wildlife Volunteer and join our qualified team of experts and work with the wildlife, livestock and domestic animals of the stunning Wild Coast region.
Highlights
- Study and work with African wildlife in commercial and non-commercial game reserves
- Get hands-on experience with a range of agricultural livestock
- Care for and work with a range of vulnerable and abused domestic animals in the rural villages and township settlements of this area
The experience that our Pre-Vet Wildlife Volunteers gain on this project is diverse and as an example, previous volunteers have worked with elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions, raptors, antelope, tortoises, snakes, monkeys, giraffe, bulls, cows, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, rats, mice and many other animals!
Most of the practical experience will be with domestic and agricultural animals. Although there will be plenty of exposure and experience with wildlife, it is an area that obviously requires less human intervention.
Pre-Vet Wildlife Volunteer Project Background
This is a chance to learn from skilled professionals in the field and gain invaluable experience with a range of wild, domesticated and agricultural animals.
The volunteer project is managed by a highly experienced and qualified local botanist Dennis Taylor who holds a BSc Botany and Zoology, Dip Agricultural Management, FGASA Field Guiding Level 3 (with special knowledge and skills of dangerous animals). He has 15 years in conservation management and is an accredited trainer for the Field Guide Association South Africa (FGASA).
Project Gallery
Project Details -Your role as a volunteer
he volunteer programme is designed for students and young professionals with an interest in wildlife and animals. Our volunteers are typically looking to enter the professional fields of veterinary science, animal welfare and animal management. Working alongside professionals, you will receive theoretical and hands-on experience with African wildlife, agricultural livestock and domestic animals.
African Wildlife
Typically around one third of volunteer time will be spent in commercial and non commercial game reserves.
Agricultural livestock
Volunteers visit a range of livestock farms and gain experience of agricultural management in South Africa as well as livestock heath, nutrition, inoculation and behaviour.
Domestic animals
South Africa’s rural villages are home to many vulnerable and uncared for animals and animal rights are low on the social agenda.
It is for this reason that this work is of high priority and the area of the project where volunteers make the most positive impact to the animal welfare of this region of South Africa.
During visits to rural villages and township settlements, volunteers can get involved with practical, hands-on work with a broad range of domesticated animals. These animals live under extremely difficult circumstances and are often vulnerable or abused
Areas of learning and experience
During the project, through delivered lessons and practical experience, you can expect to gain experience (of wild, agricultural and domesticated animals) in the following areas:
- Health and safety
- Animal management
- Game capture (where possible)
- Ecosystem support and biodiversity preservation
- Threats to wildlife
- Toxic and venomous animals
- Animal health, nutrition and behaviour
- Immobilisation, tranquilisation & inoculation of animals
- Community support services
- Exposure to South Africa’s animal welfare agencies
- Understand the challenges faced by organisations like the SPCA
Feedback for this project is coming soon. If you want to leave feedback for this project then please go here.
The Pre-Vet Wildlife Volunteer project is unavailable during January and early February due to the lambing season.
Please contact us for dates.
- Accommodation
- Three meals a day whilst working on the project
- All project related transport
- Support of experienced on-site project co-ordinator
- Welcome pack with orientation and project information, meal and drinks vouchers for local Chintsa restaurants and bars, 1 hour free internet access upon arrival and volunteer t-shirt.
- Shuttle from East London airport upon arrival and departure
- Flights
- Personal insurance
- Snacks, drinks and meals outside of project
- Extra excursions and trips
Shared accommodation is provided in a volunteer house close to the beach. Facilities at the volunteer house include a communal kitchen, living area and bathroom; electricity and hot running water; washing machine; bed linen.
Depending on the local requirements at the time the project is undertaken, volunteers work between various wildlife reserves, farms and rural villages. Accommodation that is closer to the work placement is made available to respond to this need. Volunteers are therefore asked to be flexible and occasionally expect to stay in a variety of accommodation (including tented camps, bush cottages and farm houses) in the wider Chintsa area. This will be arranged for you and will always be comfortable and safe.
Trips to the local backpackers lodge or overnight stays in a rural village can be arranged for your free time. There is also the opportunity to explore local areas and even make a weekend trip to Cape Town.
The project co-ordinators will be available to provide assistance and support 24/7 during your time as a volunteer.
You can also contact our UK office by email, or telephone. In addition, you will be provided with an emergency contact number in the UK prior to your departure. This should only be used for genuine emergencies out of normal office hours.
This project is ideal for students and young professionals with an interest in wildlife and animals and looking for hands-on experience with a broad range of animals.
A minimum age of 18 applies.