National Park Internships in South Africa

This past summer I interned abroad in Cape Town, South Africa at the Legal Resource Centre as a Legal Intern. What made my experience so great was the people and my program advisor Carla. Upon arriving in Cape Town me and my fellow interns were able to meet up with Carla and get more information about Cape Town. We then got to know each other better and proceed to have the best 8 weeks!

Some experiences stay with you long after they come to an end, and my time in Bali was definitely one of them. I had the opportunity to spend five weeks in Bali, completing my internship at Made Tea in Ubud, and honestly, it turned out to be so much more than I expected. From the beginning, I felt welcomed and appreciated. Working with Made Tea gave me the opportunity to discover a different professional environment, develop my communication and digital marketing skills, work on creative projects, and gain valuable hands-on experience. I had the chance to create content, work on social media, communicate with potential business partners and contribute to real projects. It was rewarding to see that my ideas and work were genuinely valued. One of the highlights was definitely the people. I am especially grateful to my supervisor, Roni, for her kindness, trust, guidance and patience throughout my internship. Being surrounded by such welcoming people made the experience even more special. And then there was Bali itself! 🌺 Living and working in Ubud allowed me to discover a completely different culture, meet people from different backgrounds, experience the local lifestyle and create memories I will always cherish. Every day brought something new, whether it was discovering beautiful places, trying new food, learning about local traditions or simply enjoying the atmosphere. What I appreciated most was the balance between professional development and personal discovery. I didn’t just gain experience to add to my CV; I also became more independent, confident, adaptable and open-minded. If you are considering an internship abroad, I would genuinely encourage you to take the opportunity. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You might arrive expecting to gain professional experience, but leave with new skills, wonderful connections and memories that will stay with you forever. Thank you, Made Tea, and Bali, for five unforgettable weeks. A little piece of my heart will always remain in Indonesia. ❤️ Sometimes the best experiences are the ones you never fully expect.

I had a good time here. The VAC staff were so welcoming and friendly and definitely one of the best parts. My internship was fulfilling, the doctors were patient and friendly, and I got to do a lot of things as well!! During my internship, I pushed myself to be a bit more confident and not afraid to try new things at the hospital. My advice for future interns is to be open and friendly, learn some isiXhosa, and don’t hold yourself back. I stayed for four weeks and definitely see how staying longer would be even more beneficial educationally. Outside of the internship, there were some fun things to do in Cape Town and lots of places to try. The pre-arrival information had so much detail and made me feel reassured, and the airport pickup was very friendly and reassuring. I also really appreciated the internship placement and the weekly activities.

I chose Cape Town because I wanted to understand how youth programs work here because I’m interested in working for a youth program back in the States. During my internship, I was able to learn more about different political issues here in Cape Town. I also really appreciated the weekly activities, the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. I really love the VAC staff <3

My internship gave me the opportunity to grow both creatively and personally. It was an incredibly open-minded and creative environment, with a strong sense of belonging and community. There were so many opportunities to get involved, build meaningful relationships with the students, and contribute to different creative projects. During my time there, I gained much more confidence in my creative process as an artist and developed a clearer sense of direction about what I want to pursue in the future. I was able to contribute to projects that supported the organization’s mission while also supporting students on their own creative journeys as artists. What stood out to me most was seeing how music and creativity can create opportunities for young people to express themselves, heal, and shape the direction of their lives. Being part of an environment driven by creativity and a genuine sense of community made my internship especially meaningful. I also really appreciated the support I received from VAC. The calls and communication before arriving made me feel much more confident about joining the program, and I especially appreciated how responsive my placement advisor was throughout the process. Once in Cape Town, I enjoyed the weekly check-ins, Friday meetups, and Monday culture series, which gave us opportunities to connect throughout the program. My advice to future interns is to really take advantage of the opportunities around you. Get involved, make connections with the people at your internship, and don’t be afraid to ask if there are projects you can help with. There is an abundance of opportunity if you’re willing to put yourself out there.

The GIS & Reserve Management internship was extremely rewarding. It was extremely rewarding to able to admire the Fynbos biome again, seeing the cheetahs and lions eat, finding a Robertson's Dwarf Chameleon, walking with giraffes and taking photos of various birds like the Cape Sugarbird, African Hoopoe, African Fisheagle and Pin tailed Whydah. It was also great finishing the PDF-chapters, cooking good meals, taking beautiful photographs of animals and plants, learning new plant species names and being able to identify them in the field. In a nutshell, the experience was eventful, full of amazing animals and plants and very soothing spending some time out in nature.

It was extremely rewarding being able to actively contribute to scientific research and conservation efforts within the community for my internship. It was also an eye-opening, humbling, and exhilarating experience! Yes, it certainly did for the most part. South Africa is such a beautiful country, and being able to experience it without the luxury of high-end hotels and resorts made it that much better and more authentic. The people around Sodwana Bay were extremely welcoming and friendly, and it took no time at all to fit in.

I was excited by the opportunity to expand my horizons through an internship abroad and chose Cape Town for its vibrant culture and incredible natural landscapes. From the ocean and mountains to the greenery surrounding the city, the natural beauty was easily one of my favorite parts of the experience. Whether exploring botanical gardens, visiting the coastline, or simply taking in scenery unlike anything back home, Cape Town constantly gave me something new to appreciate. As my first experience traveling abroad, my eight weeks here challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. I left with a greater sense of gratitude, cultural awareness, and a broader perspective on the world. During my internship with a local environmental conservation organization, I researched and wrote about threatened wildlife species and environmental awareness. One of my favorite projects challenged my own assumptions about an animal I had previously been wary of and gave me the chance to learn about its importance within the ecosystem. I also joined colleagues on an overnight conservation trip to a nature reserve, which became one of the highlights of my time in South Africa. My internship also helped me better understand what I value in a future workplace and the kind of environment I hope to work in. Although two months gave me plenty of time to experience Cape Town, I still left feeling like there was more to discover. I’m especially grateful for the warmth and generosity of the VAC team and for the experiences they created throughout my stay.

My internship exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the work far more than I thought I would and found myself invested in the project and its future. I was surprised by the amazing location of the camp and the incredible sightings. Mostly my expectations were exceeded due to the people and the staff making it some of the most fun I’ve ever had! A once in a lifetime experience that I am incredibly grateful for and will never forget.

My Program Manager very helpful and helped me through the process for my pre-departure preparation steps. Overall, the internship improved my independence and confidence in living away from home. The month I spent in the Gondwana Game Reserve allowed me to either pick up new skills I hadn't previously had or developed skills that will help me in the future. For example, being in a small group allowed me to improve my cooking skills which i need to survive at university! I now have more confidence in the kitchen and can cook meals without using a recipe. In my professional development, I now have a solid understanding of QGIS, which has supported me at university already. I learned how to use ArcGIS and can now transfer my skills from one to the other. Looking into the future, the GIS & Reserve Management internship has strengthen my CV, so I'm more attractive to employers within the Geo-mapping industry as a prospective employee for jobs in conservation, meteorology, geographical surveying and tourism.

What an amazing internship experience! It was an unforgettable month that pushed me out of my comfort zone, gave me experiences I’d never have at home, and allowed me to learn about conservation while meeting some amazing people. I learned a great deal and the entire experience definitely exceeded my expectations! I really enjoyed game drives. It was a good way to explore the reserve, learn lots about the environment and wildlife, get to know other participants and no drive was ever the same. Seeing all the animals, sunrise and sunsets on drives and getting to know new people made the experience truly unforgettable.

The time spent doing my GIS internship at the Gondwana Game Reserve exceeded my expectations in both the knowledge I received and the amazing views I was fortunate enough to see. I learned a great deal, saw a lot of amazing animals and it was extremely rewarding to learn so much about GIS and wildlife.

The Marine Biology & Reef Conservation internship in Sodwana Bay (South Africa) was an amazing experience! I learned a great deal - had an awesome time and met some wonderful people! It was unforgettable to see the manta rays too!

I enjoyed the most learning interesting facts about each individual animal and trees. This helped me gain experience in the field and it will definitely be helpful for a possible future career in environmental ecology. The accommodations were great, better than I expected, and the guidance and support I received was always very clear, detailed and helpful.

Meeting the people in my flat really changed my experiences. They were so kind. I was lucky with my internship with having people supporting me and also wanting to get to know me. I highly recommend this to someone.

I loved my time in Cape Town. Two months was a great amount of time, although I think staying for two and a half to three months would have allowed me to experience even more than I did. I really appreciated how the VACorps program was structured, it provided plenty of support while still giving us the freedom to explore independently. The two-week orientation was a highlight, and I made friendships that I know will last well beyond my time here. From day one, the VACorps staff made me feel welcomed, comfortable, and supported. My internship with a community-based organization gave me the opportunity to learn by observing experienced professionals and seeing how their work made a difference. One of the biggest lessons I took away was that you don't need to have the biggest role to make a meaningful impact. That realization gave me a new appreciation for teamwork and the importance of every contribution, no matter how small it may seem.

Karen and Kristal at Intern Abroad HQ were wonderful at assisting me and my study abroad counselor throughout the whole process (esp. with the academic credits). Thank you to them! What I enjoyed most about the Public Health internship in Cape Town was being able to work closely and connect with such qualified, educated, and passionate professionals in my field. Being exposed to the work that they do gave me a clearer idea of what I want to do in my own professional career and gave me insight into what it takes to get there. Furthermore, I enjoyed being mentored by my internship supervisor and being able to take charge of my own internship project.

The thing that I enjoyed the most in the Reserve Management & Research internship was being able to see all of the wildlife that is unique to the area in Kruger National Park, while also being surrounded by nature and actually contributing to something as a visitor to the area; rather than just being a spectator on the sidelines. Personally, this internship gave me the unique opportunity to see animals (that I have only seen in a zoo) in the wild and in their natural habitat. The internship has also given me more confidence in different areas like communication and being social, while also making me more knowledgeable about how people are from different countries, alongside with making friends from all over the world. Professionally, this internship contributed to my development by providing me experience in an area that will be relevant along with completing a project associated in the field. This will help me stand out from others when it comes to job applications and it has given me the edge.

My opportunity to intern was one of the best things I've been blessed enough to be a part of. It taught me so much about the world, the field of International Policy, culture, and working with people from other cultures. It contributed so much to how I developed as a person, how I travel, and how I live life, and the whole experience was incredibly eye-opening, both professionally and personally. I am incredibly glad that I decided to take part in this internship, it was one of the most amazing things I've gotten to be a part of.

I think Intern Abroad HQ was a great program because it provided and coordinated all that I needed. It was encouraging to not have to have every bit of my internship figured out and to know everything that was included would be reliable.