Are you studying veterinary medicine, nursing, or technology? Our Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience volunteer project is a unique opportunity for qualified students and professionals. Enhance your practical experience while supporting animals from disadvantaged communities and collaborating with a busy veterinary doctor serving low-income pet owners and rescued animals at an animal welfare facility. Alternatively, you can work alongside a team of seasoned veterinary professionals gaining hands-on experience with diverse variety of animals. For a comprehensive learning experience, consider combining both areas.
| Starting days | Starting days are Monday to Friday. Closed between the 5th of December and the 10th of January. |
| Minimum Requirements | 2 weeks and longer subject to visa requirements. A minimum age of 20 years old and studying or qualified in a veterinary medicine field. |
| Cost | £1150 for 2 weeks and £350 for each additional week |
| What is included | Food allowance, accommodation, meeting you at the airport, airport collection and drop-off, welcome braai (BBQ), Saturday tour, a weekly sponsored sterilisation, pre-departure support, branded t-shirt, in-country staff, 24- emergency help and more |
| What is not included | Flights, visas, travel insurance, spending money |
| Best for | Veterinary medicine students, veterinary nursing students, vet techs, qualified veterinary medicine doctors, qualified veterinary medicine nurse, those planning to study veterinary medicine |
Project Description
We have two very different veterinary practices on the Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience volunteer project that we place our veterinary medicine students, interns, nurses, technicians and qualified veterinary participants while on the Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience in Knysna. Both have very dedicated qualified staff, and both are very different in work routine, treatments and patients. Participants are placed according to availability and their personal needs and goals and the needs at the time.
Animal Welfare
This animal welfare project is a privately funded, non-profit association solely working for the benefit of animals found mostly in underprivileged areas. Acting and speaking for those who have no voice, the society engages in rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing where possible, education programs and daily clinics, as well as operating a sterilization program which operates on often a daily basis, servicing the greater Knysna area. Besides responding to distressed callouts from the public, the animal welfare is often also driven to engage in the welfare of larger animals, that although not falling within their jurisdiction, cannot likewise be ignored. The emphasis is on sterilization to prevent unwanted litters of kittens and puppies
Education is power, and to the best of their abilities, the staff of the society distributes visual pamphlets on both the care of animals, feeding requirements, and disease protection and control. Many of the pet owners have wonderfully cared for and loved animals, but sadly these cases are in the minority, leaving the heavily financially burdened society and limited staff with an awesome, and for the most part, heartbreaking task. The welfare also treats those with lower incomes with low-cost veterinary treatment which there is a huge need for.
The case load is very high with many cases too of mange, abuse, malnutrition, fighting, car accidents and injuries, Parvovirus, Distemper, Babesia and other parasites and infections both internally and externally
Private Veterinary Clinic
This private veterinary practice has been established for many decades and is the largest in the area and much loved by the residents and their furry family. They have numerous veterinary doctors, nurses and staff has an excellent reputation for their veterinary treatment with modern equipment. Aside from domestic animals in the greater Knysna area that they treat they also treat livestock and horses in the neighbouring farming areas and wildlife from rehabilitation centers in the area. They hold a mobile veterinary clinic in the poorer areas of the Knysna townships on the first Wednesday morning of the month for vaccinations, flea and mange treatment and to veterinary care. They also treat rescued injured and sick wildlife- both birds and animals- brought in by the local public, for free
There also have satellite veterinary clinics in the nearby towns of Sedgefield and Wilderness so you may join one of the veterinary doctors when they treat patients there.
Accommodation
The Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience volunteer accommodation is a comfortable, self-catering flat located just a few minutes’ walk from Knysna town centre, providing easy access to shopping malls, restaurants, takeaways, gyms, nightlife, entertainment, and essential services. The flat features a fully equipped kitchen with a dining table, fridge, kettle, induction plate, and all necessary utensils for meal preparation. The bathrooms are fitted with showers, sinks, and toilets. For leisure, there are TVs and access to a pool for hot summer days, as well as a private garden area with a picnic table for outdoor dining. Laundry facilities are available for personal use, and we provide laundry detergent. The property is secured with perimeter beams and situated in a quiet, safe neighbourhood. Accommodation options include shared or private rooms, depending on volunteer numbers. Additionally, there is WIFI, and arrangements can be made for couples, friends, and families to stay together. There is a cleaner once a week.
If the volunteer flat is full, we have other self-catering options that are walking distance to the town centre and its amenities and very comfortable.
Food
You will receive a food allowance while on the Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience to cover your basic groceries for self-prepared meals. As part of your induction, you will be taken on a grocery shopping trip upon your arrival, allowing you to select specific foods that meet your dietary requirements. Knysna boasts several grocery stores as well as a variety of excellent restaurants and takeaways for those times when you prefer not to cook. The kitchen is well-equipped with an induction plate, microwave, fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster, and grill.
Location
You will need to fly into George Airport between 09h00 and 16h00 for your airport collection for your Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience volunteer project where you will be met by your Volunteer International Adventures representative and driven to your volunteer accommodation in Knysna. On completion of your project, you will be driven back to George Airport in time for your return flight which must be any time after 10h30. If arriving by coach from Cape Town, you will be fetched and dropped off at the coach depot in Knysna. Arrivals and departures must be Monday to Fridays and not weekends.
Knysna is one of South Africa’s favourite towns based around the beautiful Knysna estuary with views of the iconic headlands. It is not known as the jewel of the Garden Route for nothing and is surrounded by magical forests, farmlands and a breath-taking coastline dotted with blue flag beaches which are great for swimming, barbequing or just simply watching dolphins surfing in the waves. It is also home to the famous elusive Knysna elephant which are the most southern free roaming elephants in the world and there are still hot debates about the numbers with some saying there is only one left and others a small herd of about four.
The area that Knysna is situated is the Garden Route of the province of the Western Cape and it is a dream for animal lovers and extreme sports enthusiasts as there are numerous private wildlife reserves, national parks, whale watching, predator sanctuaries, primate sanctuaries, elephant sanctuaries, wolf sanctuaries, skydiving, paragliding, sandboarding, numerous interesting markets and so much more so boredom is not an option.
Our projects take place mainly in the local townships in the poorer areas where we do our best to try and lighten the load for the teachers, schools and NPOs assisting in the area with hands on help and financial support
For more information or to book, either fill in the contact form or please email info@volunteerinternationaladventures.com
“I cannot begin to express how incredible this opportunity was from arrival to departure. Sharon answered any and all questions I had prior to pursuing this trip and was at the airport waiting for me on arrival with warm welcoming open arms and made me feel at home. The experience I gained from this trip was invaluable. Working with an animal welfare in this community introduced me to the cultural differences of animal care and veterinary medicine. It exposed me to the importance of proper client education and animal care in an underserved community. This experience allowed me to gain a perspective of the veterinary field I would not have had a chance to in the US and emphasized the importance of an open-minded, resilient, and flexible mind set within the veterinary profession. The staff at at the project were genuine and allowed me to have as much hands on experience as possible, from examinations to diagnostics to surgical procedures. During my stay, there was a major fire and Sharon provided me with a place to stay and made me as comfortable as I possibly could have been. I truly cannot recommend this experience enough! Everything about it was more than I expected it to be!”
-Alanna Wildman, USA
If you are studying veterinary medicine or qualified, you might be interested in this project too with veterinary medicine and animal care on the island of Zanzibar…. Animal Welfare and Veterinary Medicine Skills