ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION 

Today you will get picked up at O.R Tambo International airport in Johannesburg. You will then be taken to a big 4 game reserve in Pongola. You will be spending the next few days learning about conservation efforts on the reserve. You will be lodging in a research camp surrounded by wildlife such as giraffe, antelope, rhino, elephant, leopards, and lots more. You will also take part in an orientation where we explain everything that lies ahead for the next few weeks.

GAME DRIVE & VULTURE CONSERVATION 

You will start the day off by going on a game drive to spot some of the animals on the reserve. In the afternoon you will attend a presentation on the different species of vultures and the reasons why populations are declining. You will then visit the vulture restaurant and go for a drive and look for some vultures, record sightings and do a species count.

RHINO CONSERVATION & TELEMETRY 

Today you will be given a lecture about the efforts being done to conserve the rhino on the reserve, you will then go out and track the rhino on foot. In the afternoon you will be fine-tuning your skills in telemetry. You will be going out into the bush to track an ‘animal collar’ using telemetry. You will learn about the different types of pitches, meanings, and how to tell how far or close the collar/animal is.

HIPPO & CROCODILE BOAT CRUISE, & ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

Today you will go on a 2-hour river safari with the reserve researcher to try and spot the hippos in the lake and the crocs and other wildlife on the shores of the lake. You will then go to the neighbouring lodge for lunch and breathtaking views of the reserve. In the afternoon, you will attend a lecture on the conservation management of elephants on the reserve, and the conservation issues surrounding them.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK 

Today you will make your way to the Kruger National Park! Here you will meet the vet and attend lectures on current topics affecting the control and management of the animals in the park as well as wildlife-livestock interface. Our guide will take you on drives in the park to try and find you the BIG 5!

AVIAN & SMALL MAMMAL COURSE 

The next 2 days will be spent with a wildlife vet doing an avian and small mammal course. You will do lectures in the morning and a practical in the afternoon. Topics covered are: husbandry and care, animal safety and handling, animal health assessments, biosecurity and hygiene, preventative medicine and common diseases, first aid, anaesthesia and surgery and medical techniques. You will get a certificate for both courses!

WILDLIFE VET ASSISTANCE

The next two days will be spent with wildlife vets or game capture specialists, accompanying them and assisting them in the duties they perform. Please keep in mind that the time you spend with the Wildlife Vets/game capture specialists depends on the bookings they have for the days you are with them, so that will depend on which animals you get to work with.

K9 CONSERVATION, DART GUN PRACTICAL AND HELICOPTER FLIP

You will spend the morning with the K9 dog’s unit! Learning about the value of dogs working in poaching. In the afternoon you will get a lecture on all the different darts and dart guns used in wildlife game capture. You will also learn how to prepare a tranquilizer dart and shoot with a dart gun while flying in a helicopter! (Please note: The use of the helicopter depends on availability and the weather).

COMMUNITY VET CLINIC & BUSH WALK

In the morning you will be going into an underprivileged area and offer your assistance and learn from the vets working in the rural/ disadvantaged communities. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to go on a bush walk in the wildlife estate, through a variety of plains game (giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, nyala, kudu impala and warthog) as well as a few predators!

ADVANCED VETERINARY REPTILE COURSE

Today you will partake in a reptile veterinary course. The course includes reptile husbandry, animal safety and handling, animal health assessment, biosecurity and hygiene, preventative medicine and common diseases, reptile first aid, reptile anaesthesia and surgery, reptile emergencies, medical techniques and a reptile necropsy.

PRIMATE MEDICINE COURSE

Today will be spent with a wildlife vet doing a course focused on primates. Topics covered are: primate husbandry and care, animal safety and handling, biosecurity and hygiene, animal health assessments, medical care and considerations, anaesthesia, preventative medicine, and common diseases. You will get a certificate after the course!

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE

Today you will make your way to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Here you will get the opportunity to learn all about the centre and the vital role they play in rehabilitation as well as breeding rare and endangered species. You will see how the centre is run and the challenges facing endangered species in SA and why we need rehabilitation centres.

ROAD TRIP!

Most of today will be spent driving back to Pretoria. After today you will have one more day left!

Enjoy the drive through the beautiful countryside!

WILDLIFE VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Today you will be accompanying a vet at a wildlife veterinary hospital. The hospital is a non-profit organisation that treats small to medium-sized wild animals with the goal that they will be rehabilitated and released. In the afternoon we will take you for one last safari game drive in a nearby game reserve!

DEPARTURE

Today is a sad day as we have to say goodbye. We will take you to Johannesburg international airport (O.R Tambo) where you will make your way back home. We are sure this experience will never be forgotten and will benefit you throughout your career!