Wildlife Veterinary Medicine and Rehabilitation is a specialised field, and this volunteer project gives you the chance to experience both hands on. Assist a top wildlife veterinary medicine doctor and a highly experienced wildlife rehabilitation expert in their daily duties treating rescued indigenous wildlife in South Africa. This is the perfect project for veterinary medicine students and professionals wanting to specialise with wildlife and needing experience and can also be used for practical credits for your studies.
| Starting days | Starting days are Monday to Friday all year around |
| Minimum Requirements | 2 weeks to 12 weeks. A minimum age of 18 years old. Those studying veterinary medicine or qualified in the field, will be given preference. Please book early for this project as space is very limited and it is very popular |
| Cost | £1400 for 2 weeks and £550 for each additional week |
| What is included | 3 meals a day, accommodation at a beautiful guesthouse, meeting you at OR Tambo International airport, airport collection and drop-off, donations to your project, pre-departure support, in-country staff, 24- emergency help and more |
| What is not included | Flights, visas, travel insurance, spending money |
| Best for | Veterinary students, qualified veterinary doctors and nurses, conservation students, zoology students, biology students, career breakers, post-retirement gappers, animal lovers, nature lovers, volunteers who like to get hands-on |
Project Description
Join a dedicated team of experienced wildlife rehabilitation specialists and veterinary doctors at this remarkable veterinary hospital, treating indigenous South African wildlife. These truly wild animals, without owners, receive expert care until they are healthy and mature enough to be released back into a safe, natural environment, where they can thrive as nature intended.
Some of the species treated include antelope, primates, wild cats, owls and other birds of prey, bats, mongooses, pangolins, genet, galagos (bushbabies), hedgehogs, garden birds, water birds, reptiles (tortoises, snakes and monitor lizards), honey badgers and otters — to name but a few. Working with wildlife is unpredictable so we cannot guarantee what species will have been rescued and needing treatment at any given time.
Often injured and compromised wildlife are taken to the nearest veterinary practice for treatment. Frequently, the veterinarian on duty does not have the expertise, the time, or the resources to treat a particular species and as a result these animals often get inadequate care (medical, dietary and husbandry). Even 24-hour veterinary facilities are not equipped to handle wildlife long-term, as this- in particular rehabilitation- is not their specialty.
So a veterinary facility that only treats indigenous wildlife on a full-time basis was established. The rehabilitation aspect of the hospital is run and overseen by a wildlife rehabilitation specialist, aided by permitted, trained team members. Regularly veterinary students and nurses are trained as well as experienced veterinarians in the approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of indigenous wildlife by the onsite qualified wildlife veterinary medicine doctor. For those studying veterinary medicine, this project can be used as an internship as the wildlife veterinary medicine doctor is qualified to sign off on practical credit documentation.
Volunteers allow the project to grow as a facility by taking on more patients and a greater workload. The project is busiest in the summer months, December, January and February, and baby season which is Spring, September, October and November, but requires assistance all year round.
While the project is a veterinary hospital first-and-foremost, a large portion of the work done consists of wildlife rehabilitation, cleaning and food preparation – husbandry. As wildlife is treated for free and funds are limited to employ local staff, volunteers are relied on to help with this work.
Volunteers assist with 6 days on and 1 day off a week.
The hours during the week are 08h00 to 16h00 and weekends are 09h00 to 16h00.
- Volunteers WILL be required to assist with cleaning inside cages and outside enclosures. This involves removing old food and faeces and replacing contaminated blankets and straw.
- Volunteers WILL be required to assist with food preparation. This involves chopping vegetables for tortoises and other herbivores, sorting insects for our insectivores, and chopping day-old chicks, rats, mice and other ‘wild’ meat for our carnivores and omnivores.
Depending on the workload, volunteers MAY:
- assist with animal enrichments for those in undergoing rehabilitation
- have the opportunity to handle, hold, or assist with the treatment of some of the patients.
- have the opportunity to witness surgeries, examinations, blood transfusions, x-rays, blood tests, ultrasound, CT scans, necropsies, and medical treatments, depending on the patients currently in care. Those studying or qualified in veterinary medicine, will be able to assist the veterinary doctor in procedures.
- have the opportunity to witness or assist with deworming, faecal testing and gavaging (tube-feeding) birds that are too young or too sick to feed themselves.
- be part of the team of wildlife rehabialtion and veterinary experts on discussions on treatment after evaluation of patients.
Volunteers need to be enthusiastic, focused, hard-working, and eager to learn. This is a very serious project, and we need volunteers that are committed.
Over the busiest seasons of summer and baby season, volunteers are required to work extra hard, often without breaks. If you have any physical limitations, please let us know beforehand, so that we can adjust the jobs assigned to you accordingly.
Dates available for 2024
Fully booked
Dates available for 2025
Available spaces for the whole of 2025 except fully booked for March, July, August and 1/2 of September
We require an additional deposit of £300 for this project on completing your initial booking as space is very limited and we expect all veterinary student and professionals to be 100% committed to taking part in this serious project.
Daily schedule
07:00- have a fresh start, shower and enjoy a good breakfast.
08:10- start the brisk 2-minute walk to the veterinary facility with other volunteers
08:15- arrive and wait for the the staff to open the gate. The hospital opens at 08:00 in the week and 09:00 on weekends and volunteers need to arrive 15 minutes after opening time.
12:00 to 12:30- have a quick break and enjoy your packed lunch
16:00- its closing time and time to walk back to the guesthouse with other volunteers. In summer when very busy, you may be asked to assist a little later. Summers are hot so a perfect time to also take a dip in the pool before dinner
18:00- time for a great hearty dinner and relaxing time with other volunteers.
Please be aware that for all volunteers booking this project, we require a £300 deposit, and the balance of the project cost is due 3 months before taking part in the project.
Accommodation
Volunteer accommodation is provided at a charming family-run guesthouse, just a 2-minute walk from the veterinary hospital. Located on a quiet, access-controlled street in a leafy suburb on the outskirts of Johannesburg, the guesthouse offers a tranquil setting with abundant birdlife. The property is spacious, with 24/7 monitored security, armed response, and is shared by the friendly owners, their dogs, other guests, and volunteers.
Rooms are shared, with bedrooms and bathrooms shared with one other volunteer. Upgrades to single rooms are available for a small surcharge, and shared rooms can be arranged for couples or friends. The guesthouse features a kitchen for meal preparation, a pool for cooling off on hot days, and braai facilities for outdoor cooking. Ensuite bedrooms come equipped with tea and coffee stations, and there’s a lounge with satellite TV for evening relaxation. Linen is provided, and weekly laundry services are included. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.
Volunteers are responsible for keeping their living spaces tidy and will enjoy a short, pleasant walk sometimes with fellow volunteers to the project base each morning and back in the evening.
Food
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided, featuring hearty, traditional South African cuisine—known for its generous portions. Breakfast includes a selection of cereals, toast with spreads, and a hot cooked option. Lunch is a packed meal, perfect for taking with you, while dinners are robust, home-cooked meals served in the dining area. Vegetarian options are also available upon request.
Location
You will need to fly into OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for your collection during daytime only where you will be met by your driver with your name on a board at the Arrivals entrance to take you to your volunteer accommodation. Although Johannesburg is not the capital of South Africa, it is the largest business hub with a very large buzzing population. It is easy to organise an Uber to take you to local shopping malls on your days off or alternatively we can assist you with a private tour to local wildlife reserves, like the Pilanesburg Wildlife reserve, on your day off to view the Big 5. There are plenty of interesting attractions for those wanting to learn more about South Africa’s history and many cultures like tours to the Apartheid Museum, the Cradle of Mankind, Gold Reef City or Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the home of three noble peace prize-winners. It is also very easy to travel from Johannesburg after your project to Cape Town, Durban, Kruger National Park or other parts of South Africa
……or even catch a short flight to Victoria Falls to catch this must-see natural wonder of the world.
“I am at vet student from Germany in my last year and spent 4 weeks of volunteering during June 2024 at the wildlife vet clinic. I learnt a lot about reptiles and indigenous birds (crocodiles, nile monitors, owls, hadedas, eagles, pangolins), especially handling, diagnoses, treatment and nutrition. The vets and the staff were always polite, friendly and open to explain and answering questions. The more interest and motivation you show, the more you are allowed to do. I feel much more secure as a vet now, because I got a lot of practise in these 4 weeks”
-Martin Bernhardt, Germany, May 2024
For more information or to book, please use the contact form or email us at info@volunteerinternationaladventures.com
