Our internship programme operates annually from February to November, with our ‘peak season’ running from April to October. Work outside of the peak season is less intense but certainly still occurs. Please contact us for the latest information regarding available slots and dates.

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It is important to note that the wildlife veterinary workload can be extremely variable as we are dealing with wild animals and open-system reserves. Wildscapes can be extremely busy or exceptionally quiet from week to week. It cannot be over-emphasised that there can be no expectations regarding the case load, especially regarding frequency and species. We therefore suggest and prioritise a placement of at least 4 weeks, or longer, to make the most of your time with us.

Some universities only support a 2-week placement. This can be arranged but please understand the limitations and unpredictability of a shorter stay. We will prioritise 4-week to 8-week placements over 2-week placements. The maximum duration of an internship with us is 3 months, as South Africa only issues a tourist visa for a maximum of 90 days. 
 

Your accommodation will be provided for when interning with us. We have a cosy intern house in the secure Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. It is a comfortable three-bedroom, two-bathroom, fully furnished home and kitchen, with a small garden, patio and access to a large swimming pool. It has everything you need and is within walking distance to the main shopping centre in town. Don’t be surprised to encounter a zebra or two on your walk to the grocery store. As we can be an extremely busy practice, we do not cater for meals, and it is up to you to buy and/or cook your own food. 
 
Although it is a three-bedroom home, we only offer internships to a maximum of two interns at a time. We want to keep the experience intimate and exclusive while still accommodating the high demand for internship slots.

We are based in the small town of Hoedspruit, in Limpopo Province, bordering on the Kruger National Park. Our town is central to thousands of hectares of wild, natural space and home to extensive and diverse ecosystems.

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Our work is extremely varied, and every day is different. We mainly deal with African antelope species and the “Big 5” (rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rarely leopard). You may even be lucky enough to treat an endangered African wild dog or threatened cheetah. We don’t have a patient-accepting clinic, so all our work is mobile and outdoors. We service both the wildlife conservation and commercial game industries. Our aim is to involve you in all aspects of wildlife veterinary work and to give you a unique hands-on learning experience while also immersing you in what happens behind the scenes. Your responsibilities will include the preparation, cleaning and maintenance of our equipment and patient record-keeping.

​We treat you like a colleague and not a tourist, so be prepared for 24/7 call-outs, long days under the African sun but more importantly, some of the most rewarding and impactful days of your veterinary career.

Costs are inclusive of all accommodation-related expenses, travel to veterinary cases and Hoedspruit airport transfers. Costs exclude travel to Hoedspruit, food, travel and health insurance, personal activities and travel during days off. 

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Please note there is a seasonal price difference.   Please reach out to us for the updated internship fee schedule.