Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience

A personalised veterinary experience

Our vet groups range in size from two to ten people, which means you’ll have a personalised experience assisting some of Africa’s most respected wildlife vets in their day-to-day work.

Get involved with animal darting

You’ll be a key member of the vet’s team when they dart wild buffalo, giraffe, rhino and other species. While the animal is immobilised you’ll be responsible for important tasks like monitoring its heart and breathing rates.

Learn new skills

You’ll be fully involved with the treatment and handling of wildlife, including responding to emergency callouts and learning how to immobilise wildlife and test for diseases.

Explore rural Africa

Working in the field, you’ll travel to many different wildlife reserves and explore Africa’s diverse ecosystems. You’ll also gain an insight into the culture of local towns and communities.

Support African wildlife conservation 

As a veterinary volunteer, you’ll play an important role in treating and managing South Africa’s famous wildlife.

As a volunteer at Shimongwe, your role will be very hands-on. Depending on the animals being treated, the vet you’re partnered with, and your areas of interest, you’ll get involved in the following activities:

Darting, capturing and collaring

Animals need to be darted for treatment, relocation and monitoring purposes. Species you might get the chance to help dart include antelope, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and sometimes rhino.

• Wildlife darting and game capture
• Chemical immobilisation and sedation
• Tagging, ear notching or fitting tracking collars to darted animals

Real fieldwork

Your time will mostly be spent in the field and, depending on the vet you work with, you may also get to experience life inside a busy veterinary clinic too.

• Treatment of injuries, wounds, health conditions and diseases
• Disease testing and prevention
• Pregnancy testing
• Parasite control
• Contraceptive work to control breeding in rehabilitation centres or manage populations of wildlife reserves

Conservation

• Humane rhino horn trimming – learn about the pros and cons of this controversial topic from the people who actually carry out the procedure
• Wildlife relocation to help manage populations across different regions

As well as gaining hands-on experience, you’ll also receive on-the-job training and get the chance to take part in lectures led by experienced vets. Together, these will give you a unique understanding of the biology, behaviour and conservation of Africa’s wildlife.

Conservation

• Wildlife management’s role in conservation
• The importance of genetic diversity in wildlife populations
• Human-wildlife conflict in South Africa resulting from the spread of towns and cities
• Rhino poaching, anti-poaching methods in the field and relocation programmes
• African wildlife’s relationship to employment and tourism

Biology

• The physiology and anatomy of various African wildlife species
• The natural diet of these wildlife species

Behaviour

• Animal behaviour both in the wild and in captivity

Lectures in the field

• African wildlife diseases
• Wildlife management
• Darting, game capture and relocation
• Veterinary drugs used in South Africa
• Challenges of treating wild animals
• Poaching
• Breeding programmes
• The role of hunting in conservation