Live 4 Now: w!ld vets, South Africa

Description of Elective Experience: 

Day 1

ARRIVE 

Today you will get picked up at O.R Tambo International airport in Johannesburg. You will then be taken to a big 4 game reserve In KwaZulu Natal. You will be spending the next few days learning about conservation efforts on the reserve. You will be lodging in a research camp surrounded by wildlife such as giraffe, antelope, rhino, elephant, leopards, and lots more.

 

Day 2

ORIENTATION & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 

Today you will take part in an orientation where we explain everything that lies ahead for the next few weeks. You will then be given a lecture on the conservation management of the elephants on the reserve. This offers a new perspective on nature, elephants and the conservation issues surrounding them. You will also go on a game drive to spot some of the animals. In the evening you will be given a talk by the owner/vet of the reserve.

 

Day 3

ELEPHANTS & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 

Today you will get the chance to interact with elephants! The knowledgeable rangers will talk you through the elephant’s history and provide you with some interesting facts about these amazing, majestic creatures. In the afternoon you will be fine-tuning your skills in telemetry. You will be going out into the bush to track an ‘animal collar’ using telemetry. You will learn about the different types of pitches, meanings, and how to tell how far or close the collar/animal is.

 

Day 4

ST LUCIA TOWN, HIPPO/CROC BOAT TRIP & MARKET

Today you make your way to the seaside town of St Lucia. Here you will go on a 1.5-hour boat trip down the St Lucia estuary in between hippos and crocs. It is one of the best spots in Africa to get close to these amazing creatures. You will then go into the town to look at all the local curio markets and enjoy a lunch at one of the restaurants. Before you go back to the reserve you will go to the beach and put your feet in the beautiful Indian Ocean.

 

Day 5

ELEPHANT RIVER SAFARI & RHINO CONSERVATION 

Today you will be given a lecture about the efforts being done to conserve the rhino on the reserve, you will then go out and track the rhino. You will also be going on an elephant river safari to try and spot the elephants on the lakeshore. You will be accompanied by the elephant researcher who will inform you about the research on the elephants on the reserve.

 

 

Day's 6 to 8

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK 

Today you will make your way to the Kruger National Park! Here you will meet the vet and attend lectures on current topics affecting the control and management of the animals in the park as well as wildlife-livestock interface. You will attend a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how Kruger runs their laboratories, go to the Bomas and learn about the orphaned rhino programme, how animals in captivity are managed and about the anti-poaching dogs/reaction team.

 

Day's 9 to 13

WILDLIFE VET ASSISTANCE

The next few days will be spent with the wildlife vets, accompanying them and assisting them in the duties they perform. This offers you the chance to get some hands-on experience under their supervision. You will also learn how to prepare a tranquilizer dart and shoot with a dart gun and get to fly in a helicopter! (Please note: The use of the helicopter depends on availability and the weather).

 

 

Day 14

COMMUNITY VET CLINIC

Today you will be going into an underprivileged area and offer your assistance and learn from the vets working in the rural communities. The CVC (community vet clinic) is a non-profit organisation providing primary veterinary health care to animals in disadvantaged communities.

 

Day 15

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE

Today you will make your way to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Here you will get the opportunity to learn all about the centre and the vital role they play in rehabilitation as well as breeding rare and endangered species. You will see how the centre is run and the challenges facing endangered species in SA and why we need rehabilitation centres.

 

Day 16

ADVANCED VETERINARY REPTILE COURSE

Today you will partake in a reptile veterinary course. The course includes: reptile husbandry, animal safety and handling, animal health assessment, biosecurity and hygiene, preventative medicine and common diseases, reptile first aid, reptile anesthesia and surgery, reptile emergencies, medical techniques, and a reptile necropsy.

 

Day 17

ROAD TRIP!

Today you will be making your way to Pretoria as tomorrow you will be spending the day at a wildlife hospital helping and learning about the treatment of small to medium-sized wildlife.

 

Day 18

WILDLIFE VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Today you will be accompanying a vet at a wildlife veterinary hospital. The hospital is a non-profit organisation which treats small to medium-sized wild animals with the goal that they will be rehabilitated and released. The hospital has a dedicated veterinarian present on a full-time basis. The rehabilitation part of the hospital is run and overseen by a wildlife rehabilitation specialist.

 

Day 19

DEPARTURE

Today is a sad day as we have to say goodbye. We will take you to Johannesburg international airport (O.R Tambo) where you will make your way back home. We are sure this experience will never be forgotten and will benefit you throughout your career!

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

THE PROGRAMME IS SUPERVISED BY WILDLIFE VETS AND  WILL ADDRESS ASPECTS SUCH AS...
WILDLIFE DISEASES
Learn about the different diseases that affect our wildlife. Learn about the different methods of testing for diseases as well as the ways to control them.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Learn about the many ongoing efforts occurring on game reserves in order to conserve our precious wildlife.
GAME CAPTURE TECHNIQUES
Learn about different methods of game capture and why it needs to be done.
TRANSLOCATION OF WILDLIFE
Assist in the capture, transportation, and release of wildlife to new environments.
ANIMAL BREEDING PROJECT
Learn about why certain animal species need to be involved in breeding programmes and what is being done to help them.
VETERINARY CARE OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS
Go into the rural areas and assist the Community Vet Clinic. The CVC is a non-profit organisation providing primary veterinary health care to animals in disadvantaged communities and education to pet owners and subsistence farmers.
DARTING
Learn how to use a dart gun effectively and efficiently.
WILDLIFE PHARMACOLOGY
Learn about different types of drugs, why they are used and how to effectively use them.
MEDICAL WORK ON SICK AND INJURED WILDLIFE
Assist the vets with diagnosis and treatment of injuries and sicknesses, monitoring the animal’s health as well as provide support to the vets.
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Learn about the ways animals interact with each other and their environment.
PARASITES
Learn about some of the different types of parasites that affect our wildlife and how to control it.
ANIMAL REHIBILITATION
Learn about what is being done to help abandoned, injured and poisoned wildlife.
REPTILES
Learn about reptile husbandry, animal safety and handling, animal health assessments, biosecurity and hygiene, preventative medicine and common diseases, reptile first aid, reptile anaesthesia and surgery, reptile emergencies and medical techniques.
AVIAN MEDICINE
Learn about Avian husbandry and care, animal safety and handling, animal health assessments, biosecurity and hygiene, preventative medicine and common diseases, avian first aid, Avian anaesthesia and surgery and medical techniques.
MAMALIAN WILDLIFE
Learn about mammalian wildlife husbandry and care, animal safety and handling, animal health assessments, biosecurity and hygiene, Drug choice and management, anaesthesia, preventative medicine, common diseases and medical techniques.

Student Housing (include costs, amenities, pet friendly, contact info if different from elective contact info): 

The trip is $3,850 with no hidden fees. This cost includes accommodations, 3 meals a day, cost of excursions, in-country round transportation, lectures and course materials, etc. The only additional cost would be a flight and travel insurance (as well as a Visa, though the USA does not require a visa if the trip is under 90 days). Housing is not pet friendly. 

Supervisor: 
Melissa du Plooy
Website: 
https://www.live4now.co.za/
Contact email: 
Address: 
5 Boyce Close
Hunters Home
Knysna, Western Cape
6571
South Africa
Animal Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
Yes
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
60+