Zoology & Wildlife Sciences Study Abroad Programs in South Africa

CIEE offers the most extensive network of internship programs. Are you a U.S. college student looking to study and intern abroad? We have full-time and part-time placements across 40+ locations worldwide and in diverse fields, from AI and engineering to public policy and business administration. Find the right fit for you! Live, learn, and work abroad on an internship program with CIEE! CIEE Summer Internships CIEE Summer Global Internships are 6-credit, 8-week programs with full-time working hours (approximately 30 hours weekly) and a seminar. CIEE Summer Intern and Study Abroad are 6 to 7-credit, 6-week programs with a part-time internship (approximately 20 hours weekly), a seminar, and a 3-credit academic course. CIEE Semester Internships CIEE Semester Global Internships are 9 to 13-credit, 12-week programs that feature a full-time internship (approximately 30 hours weekly), a seminar, and an optional 3 to 4-credit academic course online. CIEE Semester Intern and Study Abroad Programs are 12 to 14-credit, 12-week programs that feature a part-time internship​ (approximately 20 hours weekly), a seminar, and two academic courses.

IES Abroad offers 140+ programs in more than 35 locations worldwide for undergraduate students. We're a little obsessed with study abroad, and not at all ashamed to admit it. We are a highly-charged force of study abroad enthusiasts. Every day we have the privilege of witnessing how study abroad changes our students' lives. That's the reason we do what we do: to provide once-in-a-lifetime educational adventures. Everything we do is about the IES Abroad student. Our goal is to provide personal support and guidance throughout your application and enrollment process. Whether it's housing or cultural events or field trips, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible. Study with us for a summer, semester, or year. No matter the term, our world-class faculty and courses will engage you as you discover new ways of learning both inside and outside the classroom. How will study abroad redefine you? We can't wait to find out.

Study identity, culture, and social transformation in South Africa, a society still grappling with apartheid’s legacy. Choose one of four tracks—multiculturalism, education, health, or climate—while building shared foundations in South African history and contemporary issues. From Cape Town and Johannesburg to rural communities, engage in field visits, cultural immersion, and guest lectures. Complete independent research or an internship as you connect theory with real-world challenges of inequality, justice, and social change. Please visit the SIT Study Abroad website for details on the program highlights and details of coursework, educational excursions, and housing. MONEY MATTERS SIT has given an average of over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students in recent years and is committed to ensuring you have the information necessary to apply for such funding. Our program costs include academics, excursions, accommodations, airport transfers, and health insurance. Meal arrangements vary by program. Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor and read the website for more specific information.

Travel to the culturally diverse country of South Africa and gain insight into both wildlife research and conservation activities as well as critical community development initiatives. Groups get to participate in this interdisciplinary course, accredited by universities and colleges around the world. We introduce students to international service-learning and sustainable development, both in theory and practice. Two weeks prior to departure and two weeks after returning home students engage in lectures, discussion, research, service, and reflection at home and abroad. Emphasis will be placed on relating long-term goals with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and engaging in daily reflection surrounding the experience, led by qualified group facilitators, furthering individual educational development. This course curriculum will be tailored to students' academic level or curriculum. The aim of our Service Learning course is to empower students to gain confidence in their knowledge and practical experience of their subject area.

Phezulu is proud to offer this unique and special program for students seeking diverse, real-world, and practical experience working with small and large animals, as well as wildlife, in line with their studies in veterinary practice, animal husbandry, conservation, or game and livestock farming. We provide convenient access to diverse animals (including horses, sheep, and cattle), as well as rich wildlife habitats and game farms where students can work with antelopes, bucks, zebras, giraffes, and big cats, to name a few. Phezulu Pre-Vet provides unique opportunities for students to work alongside and learn directly from qualified animal professionals with diverse experience. These include veterinary practitioners, farmers, game rangers, animal feed specialists, and veterinary physiotherapists. Our study program is suitable for pre-vet students and undergraduates seeking to hone essential skills in a real working environment during their studies. We work closely with universities and colleges to meet the specific, practical elements required for their courses.

Are you a student or young professional looking to enhance your career prospects through international work experience and hands-on learning? At Intern Abroad HQ, we help students and young professionals turn career aspirations into reality. We organize affordable internships in 20 destinations across 24 career fields that are tailored to meet each individual’s academic, professional, or personal requirements. With over 200 internship programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America and South America to choose from, and options to intern from 2 weeks to 6 months either full-time or part-time, in-country or virtually, we facilitate career-enhancing experiences that work for you, not just the host organization. Intern Abroad HQ is proudly brought to you by the team behind International Volunteer HQ. We have collectively supported over 120,000 program participants since 2007 and are the only B Corp certified provider in our field.

Join us for two weeks at Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary in South Africa! A sanctuary to many previously injured and trapped animals, Lory Park is now home to cheetahs, jaguars, lions, owls, pythons, hedgehogs, servals, lemurs, and many more! During this study abroad program, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside veterinarians and learn more about the behavior and conservation of various animals at the park. Your coursework will focus on the anatomy, handling, and medical needs of animals in captivity. In addition to veterinary labs such as necropsies and lectures from veterinarians and expert guests, you'll also get the opportunity to safari in Pilanesberg reserve, visit community schools, and support enrichment for animals at the park.

The foundation for a wild career! Is your goal to become a safari guide, wilderness guide, or wildlife guide? The IFGA Professional Safari Guide course (6-12 months) is the most comprehensive and immersive course available. Train with the industry’s award-winning instructors and wildlife experts. This is also an excellent sabbatical or gap year program. Course overview: Imagine driving a 4x4 game viewer across a riverbed, pointing out rare bird species to your guests. You slow to a stop – is that a leopard you see? Later, you serve sundowners and take in another vibrant African sunset. An afternoon spent sharing wildlife knowledge, nothing’s better! The IFGA Professional Safari Guide course (6-12 months) develops highly skilled professionals in the guiding industry. It is specifically developed to provide vocational skills and qualifications required by employers in Southern Africa. In addition, our top-performing students can also qualify for the IFGA qualification at no extra cost to their training. Training is held in Big Five territory, where you’ll observe animals in their natural habitat.

Take part in a field study program offered by Ecolife Expeditions in South Africa. This is ideal for students from the fields of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and is approved for academic credits through the North-West University in South Africa. The expeditions are provided in the form of a camping safari that runs for three weeks. Students get the chance to interact with researchers, veterinarians, and rangers working in the field. In addition, they will gain valuable insights into life, problems, and successes related to conservation in Africa.

If you are looking for hands-on African vet experience and need to fulfill a portion of your Extra Mural Study (EMS) requirements, or if you’re looking for further experience with exotic animals, Vets Go Wild has the perfect animal care courses for you. These feature the opportunity to work with wildlife vets in South Africa. This course is limited to pre-vets, veterinary medicine students, nurses, techs, and qualified vets and vet nurses. You will be based at the Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Amakhala is home to the founder of Vets Go Wild and world-renowned vet Dr. William Fowlds, who you will work alongside while in South Africa. The program fee includes all field activities, lectures, community visits, day trips, accommodation, transfers, and meals.

Are you ready to embark on your ranger adventure and complete your Apprentice Field Guide training in 55 days? This former Field Guide Level 1 course offers expert guidance from seasoned leaders and covers essential basics of Southern Africa’s flora and fauna. The program emphasizes hands-on training in the wild, preparing you to conserve the African wilderness's beauty. You will master orientation and navigation techniques, including using constellations for positioning, handling a cross-country vehicle, and safely navigating rough terrain. You'll also gain skills in tracking, analyzing animal behavior, and identifying local wildlife and plant species. Experience nights under the stunning starry sky; gather around the campfire with fellow adventure seekers; and create unforgettable memories in the bush.

The Wildlife Field Research & Ecology Program at Baobab Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is an immersive two-week experience designed for anyone looking to build real-world research skills and ecological insight in Africa’s bushveld. Whether you're preparing for an independent research project, considering a career in conservation, or simply eager to move beyond the classroom, this intensive program will train you in core field techniques, from ethical data collection and species tracking to interpreting ecological patterns in wild environments. Based on a 1,200-hectare private reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, the program blends guided fieldwork with practical workshops and daily mentorship. Participants leave with the confidence, skills, and context needed to pursue more advanced research or further study. We don’t just teach you about wildlife. We show you how to read the bush.

This two-week Wildlife Forensic Training course, based in the picturesque surroundings of Cape Town, South Africa, is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of wildlife forensics and crime scene investigation. The course combines in-depth theoretical lectures, hands-on demonstrations, local educational excursions, and practical assessments to equip participants with the necessary skills to address the complexities of wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade. Our cutting-edge Experience Lab is the first of its kind – featuring multiple simulated crime scenes, incorporating taxidermized animals to enrich the hands-on learning experience. Additionally, our academy boasts an on-site courtroom facility, where course participants engage in simulated moot courtroom scenarios to effectively prepare for providing testimonies in a legal setting.