Are you studying veterinary medicine, nursing, or technology? Our Veterinary Medicine Skills 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 15th 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 | £1000 for 2 weeks and £350 for each additional week |
| What is included | Food, shared accommodation, meeting you at the airport, airport collection and drop-off, weekly transport to and from your project, donation, pre-departure support, 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
On the Veterinary Medicine Skills Volunteer Project, we partner with two distinct veterinary practices in Knysna, offering placements for veterinary students, interns, nurses, technicians, and qualified professionals. Each practice has a dedicated team of skilled staff and provides a unique work environment, varying in routines, treatments, and the types of patients they care for.
Participants are placed based on availability, their individual skills and goals, and the specific needs of the practices at the time, ensuring a well-rounded and valuable hands-on experience.
Animal Welfare
This dedicated animal welfare is a privately funded, non-profit organisation committed to improving the lives of animals, primarily in underprivileged areas. Acting as a voice for the voiceless, the organisation focuses on rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming whenever possible. Their efforts also include educational programs, daily clinics, and a vital sterilisation program that operates frequently to serve the greater Knysna area.
Beyond responding to emergency callouts from the public, the organisation often extends its care to larger animals, even those beyond its direct mandate, ensuring that no suffering is ignored. Their primary focus is on sterilisation to prevent the cycle of unwanted litters of kittens and puppies, tackling the root cause of animal overpopulation.
Believing that education is key to change, the team actively distributes informative pamphlets on responsible pet care, proper nutrition, and disease prevention. While many pet owners provide loving homes, these cases remain in the minority, leaving the organization and its limited staff with an immense—and often heartbreaking—responsibility. To further support the community, they also offer low-cost veterinary care for those with limited financial means, addressing a crucial and growing need in the region.
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 well-established private veterinary practice has been serving the community for decades and is the largest and well trusted in the area. Beloved by residents and their furry companions, the clinic boasts a team of highly skilled veterinarians, nurses, and staff, renowned for their excellent care and state-of-the-art equipment.
Beyond treating domestic pets in the greater Knysna area, the practice also provides veterinary care for livestock and horses in the surrounding farming regions, as well as wildlife from local rehabilitation centers. Dedicated to community service, they operate a mobile outreach clinic in the Knysna townships on the first Tuesday morning of each month, offering consultations, vaccinations, and treatment for internal and external parasites in dogs and cats which is a highlight for veterinary students to participate in. They also provide free medical care for injured and sick wildlife brought in by the public.
Additionally, the practice has satellite clinics in the nearby towns of Sedgefield and Wilderness, where volunteers may have the opportunity to accompany veterinarians on patient visits.
Accommodation
The Veterinary Medicine Skills Experience volunteer accommodation is shared with volunteers from other Knysna-based projects. This self-catering cottage is within walking distance of Knysna’s town center, offering easy access to shopping malls, restaurants, takeaways, gyms, nightlife, entertainment, and essential services.
Accommodation options include shared bedrooms with other volunteers or single rooms, depending on how many volunteers we have. The cottage features a satellite TV, shared bathrooms with showers, basins, and toilets, as well as a laundry room equipped with a washing machine and tumble dryer.
There is a fully equipped kitchen for preparing meals, with an indoor dining area. For outdoor dining, a braai (BBQ) facility and picnic area are available. During the hot summer months, you can cool off in the swimming pool. The accommodation also provides Wi-Fi for your convenience. There is a cleaner once a week and linen and towels are provided but volunteers are responsible for cleaning up after themselves.
Couples, friends, and families are welcome, with accommodation available to suit different group sizes.
If the volunteer cottage 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 on your Veterinary Medicine Skills volunteer project 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.
Volunteers will be required to wash up after preparing their own meals in the kitchen and to keep their living areas tidy.
Location
You will need to fly into George Airport between 09h00 and 16h00 for your airport collection for your Veterinary Medicine Skills 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 our Veterinary Medicine Skills volunteer project, 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