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Bird Research and Conservation Internship in South Africa logo

Bird Research and Conservation Internship in South Africa

by: Roots Interns

5 (1)VerifiedSince 2016

Grab this exciting opportunity to gain practical work experience in Africa’s wildlife conservation. You'll join a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of the ground hornbill, an iconic African bird in danger of extinction. The organization, run by a team of biologists and expert conservationists, has a multifaceted and collaborative approach to its mission. They provide an excellent learning opportunity for anyone interested in wildlife sciences, conservation, or related areas. As a wildlife research and conservation intern, you'll take on a varied portfolio of tasks. These can include data collection in the field, data analysis, monitoring rescued chicks, and impact reporting. There's also an opportunity to join conservation education projects in nearby communities. You can expect to have an immersive, in-depth, and rewarding experience. And you'll be lucky enough to be based in a game reserve, surrounded by a wealth of wildlife. We look forward to receiving your application!

Program Highlights

Enjoy field-based experience in wildlife conservation research.

Contribute to the conservation of an iconic African bird.

Get insights into wildlife conservation in an African context.

Help raise awareness of the ground hornbill in local communities.

Live and work in a stunning South African game reserve, surrounded by a wealth of wildlife.

Quick Details

Locations:
  • South Africa
Starts At: $100-300, $300-600
Availability
Year(s) Offered: Year RoundDuration:
  • 3-6 Months
  • 9-12 Weeks
Age Requirement: 18-35
Types & Subjects
Fields:
  • Biology
  • National Park
  • Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
Causes:
  • Animal Welfare
  • Biological Research
  • Parks
  • Veterinary Science
  • Wildlife
Guidelines
Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni
See all program details
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Awards

Innovative New Program, Intern Abroad Winner 2022Innovative New Program – Intern Abroad Finalist 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

5

Total Reviews

1

Amazing experience

August 16, 2022by: Nmolea
5

Everyone at the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project is so dedicated to the conservation of the incredible and unique Southern Ground Hornbill, on top of being friendly and welcoming. I had a great time interning at the project and learned a lot. I'm looking forward to visiting again.

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • South Africa

Types and Subjects

  • Fields
  • Biology
  • National Park
  • Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
  • Causes
  • Animal Welfare
  • Biological Research
  • Parks
  • Veterinary Science
  • Wildlife

Availability

Years Offered: Year Round

Duration:
  • 3-6 Months
  • 9-12 Weeks
Intern Duration:
  • Summer
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • 1-3 Months
  • 3-6 Months

Age Requirement

18-35

Guidelines

Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni

This Program is also open to Solo

Starts At

$100-300, $300-600

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)
  • Airport Transfer (Drop-Off)
  • On-Site / In-Country Staff Support

Accommodation Options

  • Group living

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • English

    Accepted Education Levels

  • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Application Procedures

  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Resume
  • Online Application

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bird Research and Conservation Internship all about?

The Bird Research and Conservation Internship provides hands-on wildlife conservation experience in a South African game reserve. You will become a member of the Ground Hornbill Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the endangered ground hornbill. This is ideal for biology or wildlife sciences students who want hands-on experience and insights into species conservation.

What kind of tasks will I be involved in as an intern?

As an intern, your tasks will vary based on your skills and interests. This may include field data collection, behavioral analysis, mapping programs, and research projects. Additionally, you might assist with rescued chick monitoring, and evaluation work, and engage in conservation education programs within local communities.

Where will I be staying during the internship?

You'll live and work in a beautiful game reserve surrounded by wildlife. Expect to wake up to elephants, hear lions' roars, and see monkeys in action. Your lodging is a five-minute drive from the office and includes your room, access to common facilities, a shared kitchen for food preparation, and a swimming pool.

What are the internship dates and rates?

Internship dates are flexible and will be tailored to your availability. Here are the 2023 rates:

  • 8 weeks: USD 2,162
  • 12 weeks: USD 2,809
  • 16 weeks: USD 3,456
  • 20 weeks: USD 4,104
  • 26 weeks: USD 5,074

What does the program fee cover?

The cost includes a complete assistance package that includes an internship placement, an initial interview, orientation, regular check-ins, access to a career development platform, troubleshooting, and a reference letter. Airport transfers, on-site assistance, and single-room lodging are also included.

Roots Interns

Roots Interns

5Verified

Ready to Learn More?

Grab this exciting opportunity to gain practical work experience in Africa’s wildlife conservation. You'll join a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of the ground hornbill, an iconic African bird in danger of extinction. The organization, run by a team of biologists and expert conservationists, has a multifaceted and collaborative approach to its mission. They provide an excellent learning opportunity for anyone interested in wildlife sciences, conservation, or related areas. As a wildlife research and conservation intern, you'll take on a varied portfolio of tasks. These can include data collection in the field, data analysis, monitoring rescued chicks, and impact reporting. There's also an opportunity to join conservation education projects in nearby communities. You can expect ...

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