Veterinary Science Volunteering in South Africa

Travel to South Africa and make a positive impact in the country with the top volunteer organization, African Impact. Participate in a life-changing journey in a country consistently rated as one of the best travel destinations in the world. We specialize in award-winning volunteer programs that collaborate with a broad range of charitable projects throughout the country. You could be researching Africa's Big 5 in the Greater Kruger, improving skills in wildlife photography, or doing a veterinary internship. Through African Impact's programs in South Africa, balance volunteer work with various experiences such as safaris in the world-famous Kruger National Park, shark cage dives, or a drive through the world-renowned Garden Route.

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and medical initiatives. GoEco operates in over 50 countries, providing unique cultural immersive experiences that aim to make a positive impact on the environment and society. The organization also offers internships and academic programs for students. GoEco provides safe and meaningful experiences while promoting sustainable travel and reducing carbon emissions.

Volunteer at a premier game reserve that is home to the Big 5 and other majestic wildlife, including endangered species like cheetahs and white lions, as well as domestic animals like horses and sheep. This conservation project offers an incredible opportunity to witness animals in their natural habitats. As a volunteer, you’ll participate in vital day-to-day activities, which in turn broaden your knowledge of veterinary diagnosis and treatment. The reserve’s conservation work and habitat maintenance are essential in ensuring the safe coexistence of humans and wildlife. Contribute to their initiatives by assisting with primary and secondary (preventative) activities. Tasks depend largely on current needs during your stay. You could conduct general health checks, treat wounds and parasites during game capture, monitor lion kills found (which are rare!), and monitor behavioral characteristics among others. This program is available all year round. To be eligible, you need to possess an interest in wildlife and conservation. It is recommended that you bring your own laptop for documenting your learning. This is an ideal project for veterinary and animal science students.

Join the 6-month Gap Year, an extraordinary six-month journey of learning, adventure, and making a difference. This gap year program is the perfect blend of excitement and enrichment, offering a language and culture study course in Spain, environmental initiatives, and addressing social and economic issues in South Africa, turtle conservation in Sri Lanka, and a community preservation, building and gardening volunteering in Cambodia. Eligibility requirements: - Must be in good physical and mental health - At least 18 years old during travel - Have a fluent understanding of English - Have a clean background check if working with minors Broaden your horizons and nurture a deep sense of cultural appreciation that will extend beyond the end of the program. Visit our website and inquire today to get specific details about this program.

A volunteering experience with bite! Relocate to the incredible setting of the South African bush for the animal encounter of a lifetime, working closely with the entire spectrum of safari wildlife on a working game reserve. This special program calls for animal lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to join the effort to protect Africa’s iconic big game species through park patrols, predator tracking, species surveys, and more. As part of its mission to study and conserve all that spectacular wildlife and support the ecosystem they habitat, the reserve operates a range of conservation projects in which the volunteer can actively participate.

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!

Dive into ethical, meaningful, and practical veterinary work tailored to your goals, interests, and abilities! This program meets the requirements for Extra Mural Studies (EMS) and Animal Husbandry Extra Mural Studies (AHEMS). Depending on the skills you’d like to gain, get paired with either an individual or a team of qualified vets for the best possible exposure and experience. Work with some of Africa’s most respected vets in their everyday work wherein you don’t just treat injured and sick animals, but you also play a key role in conservation. You could be assisting with wildlife relocation, immobilizing and moving animals to help manage their population, testing for diseases, and even performing necropsies. From fieldwork to clinical work, become engaged in responsible veterinary activities across several diverse species and gain hands-on experience. Plus, develop a unique understanding of the biology, behavior, and conservation of Africa’s wildlife. Whether you are an undergraduate searching for a valuable internship, a seasoned veterinarian or nurse looking for a new challenge, or are simply interested in studying veterinary science, this is the experience for you.

The Sibuya Wilderness Experience welcomes participants from all walks of life. Volunteers, adventure-seeking travelers, gap year students, adults taking work sabbaticals... Anyone with a passion for nature conservation. This is the perfect Eco Volunteer Program if you are looking for a meaningful travel opportunity abroad that puts your passion for nature, environment, and wildlife to good use, trying to make a difference. Our unique itinerary runs on a two-week program, wherein the content is only covered twice in a month, making a four-week stay the perfect getaway to experience everything at least twice. Nowhere else in South Africa is a volunteer itinerary this diverse.

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Live on a private reserve in Limpopo, surrounded by wildlife in their natural habitat. Collaborate with GVI staff and other participants to contribute towards meaningful conservation and research efforts for wildlife protection and longevity. Learn about biodiversity and habitat monitoring, and how to track and identify each species using radio telemetry techniques. This is also an opportunity to work alongside Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) experts while seeing well-known South African predators, herbivores, and other species populations first-hand. You’ll contribute to the research efforts of the reservation’s natural resources. Your assistance provides reserve authorities and conservation organizations with the data they need to manage and preserve ecosystems. All GVI projects align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and have short, mid, and long-term objectives. In your free time, travel with other like-minded participants to the nearby Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Make a difference while experiencing one of the most breathtaking cities in the world! Connect-123’s volunteer program in Cape Town matches you with projects that align with your unique skills, passions, and goals—allowing you to give back while gaining valuable experience. Our network includes NGOs, schools, clinics, community programs, and animal refuges, offering opportunities in healthcare, education, youth mentoring, conservation, social services, and more. Whether you’re supporting underprivileged youth, helping at a public hospital, or protecting local wildlife, you’ll play a meaningful role in projects that truly matter. Outside of your volunteer placement, Cape Town offers endless adventures—from hiking Table Mountain and exploring vineyards to discovering local markets and vibrant cultural events. Our on-the-ground team is here year-round to guide and support you every step of the way, from customizing your placement to helping you settle in and make the most of your time in South Africa. With flexible start dates and customizable program lengths, your life-changing volunteer experience in Cape Town begins on your schedule.

Help Protect, Rescue, and Care for Animals Around the World If you’re passionate about animals and dream of making a real difference, our Animal Care & Wildlife Volunteering Abroad Programs offer unforgettable opportunities to work hands-on with animals in need. With Volunteering Journeys, you can join projects that protect wildlife and rescue domestic animals in Sri Lanka, Peru, and South Africa — three of the world’s most biodiverse and inspiring destinations. Whether you’re looking to care for stray dogs, assist with wildlife rehabilitation, or help protect endangered elephants and sea lions, these programs are perfect for animal lovers, veterinary students, and gap-year travelers who want to combine meaningful work with adventure.

Become a part of the day-to-day life at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC). HESC offers the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the Centre's work. Wildlife Conservation Experience (WCE) is a 21-day program divided into 3 main sections: conservation, participation, and sightseeing. Conservation: The program focuses largely on conservation, wherein students acquire in-depth knowledge through several activities. These include targeted informal lectures, external courses from professional organizations, and physical work at the Centre. Participation: WCE participants get involved in the everyday care of many animal species at the Centre – cleaning, feeding, and assisting with or observing any veterinary activities occurring during their stay. They gain specific and personal knowledge of HESC's animals and operations/work. Sightseeing: The program enables participants to put theory into practice through direct observation in the wild or at other Centres specializing in research and conservation in areas different from HESC.

Everyone has heard of the Big 5—Africa's “must-see” animals! But are you ready for your disappointing fact of the day? They are called that because they were the most difficult to hunt. Because of this, “claim to fame” hunters have gone overboard, making each of these animals endangered and needing your help! This volunteer trip will put you in the heart of South Africa’s gorgeous Eastern Cape. It’ll be your job to track the movements of wild herds across a 6,000-hectare private game reserve on an open-top safari! You’ll make a meaningful impact by ensuring that the Big 5 will be around to hunt—with cameras, of course—for many generations! Make lifelong friends and memories while doing meaningful work. Get up close and personal with some amazing animals in a program that includes everything you can think of!

The South Africa projects are dotted around several different reserves within the country, each focused on assessing the environmental impact of the game and large mammal species, especially elephants, within the reserves. The projects are two to six weeks in length, with some of them involving an additional week at our marine site in Sodwana Bay, where you can learn to dive. Operation Wallacea is a research and environmental organization working alongside university and college academics to build long-term data sets to put toward various conservation management goals. We recruit volunteers to help out with data collection, training them in the skills and background needed to help effectively. There's also the option to complete dissertations or senior theses at our sites.

These big, gentle giants are loved worldwide for their magnificent stature and playful personalities. This programme allows volunteers to really get to know elephants and contribute to their welfare. Volunteers are critical for this programme, becoming part of a team who dedicate their time to understanding these animals better and to researching and monitoring their well being. As the first elephant research center in the world to focus solely on the welfare of these gentle giants, this truly is an exciting place to volunteer. Each day, you will be out and about in the park monitoring the elephant's behavior, as well as helping with data inputting, growing elephant food, and creating enrichments. Volunteers live right in the heart of the park, in a shared accommodation. There is a lounge area, laundry facilities, and internet access. By the end of your experience, you will have met some like-minded people and work towards a worthwhile goal - the most satisfying type of trip!

Volunteer in South Africa and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Unlike other programs, your experience is based on actual conservation work. You are expected to participate in activities ranging from perimeter patrols and reserve maintenance to game counts, wildlife relocations, and more. Along with other participants, you stay in luxury shared accommodation with all the amenities you might need. The program takes place on a proclaimed private nature reserve close to the bushveld town of Thabazimbi. Various plains game, including giraffe and zebra, call the reserve home. Though dangerous game isn’t present, you can spot a healthy predator population, including leopards and spotted and brown hyenas. Spend at least two weeks on the reserve, with the option of extending for up to six weeks. We welcome volunteers 18 years and older who are reasonably fit and healthy.

This 9-day, once-in-a-lifetime mission to protect rhinos from relentless poaching attacks for their horns is geared towards veterinarians, vet techs, veterinary nurses, and clinical-year vet students. Dehorn up to 50 white rhinos and 15 critically endangered black rhinos in a special mission in South Africa. Participate in the darting, anesthesia, capture, and anesthetic monitoring of white and black rhinos. Learn how to dart from a helicopter with an experienced and renowned wildlife helicopter pilot. Stay on-site at the beautiful Selati Game Reserve, surrounded by wildlife on the outskirts of the world-famous Kruger National Park, and visit the world’s largest rhino orphanage.