Elephant and Rhino Medicine Course
South Africa
This course aims to provide you with an in-depth level of veterinary knowledge, specifically for professionals in the industry who have an interest in megaherbivore care, focusing on African elephants and rhinoceros. You will engage in a combination of theoretical lectures, practical training, and in-the-field clinical work, gaining hands-on experience with these incredible species. Led by Dr Johan Marias from the charity Saving the Survivors, a world-renowned expert in fieldwork, research, and clinical skills, you will also be supported by Dr Gemma Campling, who brings years of experience working with African wildlife.
This course is RACE accredited for 50 hours, ensuring you receive recognised continuing education credits while deepening your expertise in megaherbivore veterinary care.
Project Highlights
Clinical Exams: Gain confidence in performing clinical exams on African elephants and rhinoceros, crucial for their health and welfare.
Hands-on Veterinary Experience: Work directly with megaherbivores, including both elephants and rhinos, in the field, providing essential veterinary care.
Immobilization Techniques: Learn about the specific drugs and methods used for immobilization, sedation, and anxiety management in megaherbivores.
Wildlife Procedures: Participate in planning and executing wildlife procedures with an experienced veterinary team, gaining hands-on skills in wildlife care.
Additional Activities: Enjoy exciting activities, including safari drives, bush walks, sundowners, and quality time in the African wilderness.
Stunning Location: Live and learn in one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse areas of South Africa, immersed in both nature and the veterinary experience.
Project video
Focusing on elephant and rhino (megaherbivore) physiology, capture, handling, medicine, and surgical intervention, you will take part in lecture teaching, practical sessions, and real wildlife work in South Africa. The week-long course is broken down into six modules, with one being covered each day. Each module includes a practical component and is complemented by getting out into the bush to work with real cases.
Module One
You will focus on planning the work. Topics will include conducting clinical exams (both hands-on and hands-off), understanding normal physiology and when intervention is required, managing the logistics of wildlife procedures, implementing health and safety measures for staff, procedural planning, and legal considerations.
Module Goals:
Gain confidence in performing clinical exams on elephants and rhinos, both hands-on and hands-off.
Understand the normal physiological parameters of megaherbivores during clinical examinations.
Learn how to plan a veterinary procedure for a megaherbivore.
Develop a thorough understanding of health and safety protocols and how to implement them to keep both people and animals safe.
Practical Work:
Conduct a visual exam of wild rhinos and elephants from a distance.
Perform a hands-on examination of anaesthetised elephants and rhinos in the field.
Assist in planning and executing immobilisation procedures on at least one elephant and one rhino.
Take part in safari drives to understand location selection for veterinary procedures
Module Two
You will focus on the chemical immobilisation of megaherbivores. A significant part of this module will explore the differences in drug combinations used for black and white rhinoceros, as well as for different age groups of elephants. You will assess the options for helicopter versus land darting and compare immobilisation techniques for captive versus wild animals. You will also examine standard drugs that have been widely used, along with new research-based combinations currently being implemented by leading experts in Africa.
Module Goals:
Learn about the immobilisation, sedation, and anxiolytic drugs used for megaherbivores.
Understand the processes of partial and full reversal of immobilisation drugs.
Recognise how techniques vary depending on the capture method.
Select the most appropriate immobilisation method based on the animal and the scenario.
Practical Work:
Practise selecting the correct projectile (dart) for different procedures.
Load and prime a dart.
Handle a variety of dart guns, including unboxing, preparing, loading, firing, and maintaining them.
Practise firing darts at a target.
Module Three
You will cover the pharmacology of medications for megaherbivores that do not fall into the immobilisation category. In-depth discussions on contraception, antibiotic protocols, and the use of anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic medications will be presented.
Module Goals:
Understand methods for providing contraception for megaherbivores.
Select a suitable antibiotic protocol for a range of ailments.
Ethically use anti-inflammatory medication to provide analgesia.
Ensure responsible use of antibiotics in wildlife species.
Diagnose parasites in wildlife.
Use antiparasitic medications efficiently.
Practical work:
1. Select, dose, and administer the above medications during wild elephant and rhino immobilisation.
Module Four
You will focus on anaesthesia monitoring for megaherbivores. Veterinary and nursing interventions to maintain stable anaesthesia for a range of procedures will be discussed.
Module Goals:
Gain confidence in monitoring anaesthesia in megaherbivores.
Understand physiological ranges under anaesthesia.
Plan environments to reduce risk factors associated with field anaesthesia.
Understand laboratory sampling and its role in analysing physiology.
Practical work:
At least one rhino and one elephant per course will receive veterinary care, and you will assist with all aspects of stabilising the patient, monitoring anaesthesia, and drawing samples.
Assess samples drawn from patients.
Module Five
You will explore the transportation of megaherbivores over short and long distances. The legalities of transporting animals on the IUCN Red List will be covered, along with lifting, rolling, loading, and transportation methods.
Module Goals:
Understand legal requirements for moving and relocating megaherbivores.
Know where to seek information on regulatory bodies that need to be informed or present.
Develop confidence in lifting, rolling, loading, and transporting megaherbivores.
Practical work:
Practise aspects of rolling, lifting, and moving using a dummy animal.
Take part in case planning in discussion groups.
Carry out rolling, lifting, and moving if required by elective procedures during the course.
Module Six
You will cover veterinary intervention and treatment plans for poaching-induced trauma. This includes snare wound management, gunshot wound management, and methods for facial reconstruction following horn poaching. You will examine case studies from the educating veterinarian, historically successful treatment methods, and new methods under trial and research.
Module Goals:
Understand current methods and developing research for wound management.
Explore current methods and developing research for facial trauma reconstruction.
Practical work:
Participate in anatomy labs/museum visits to visualise megaherbivore skull structures.
Visit a wildlife rescue centre and meet rhinos recovering from poaching injuries.
Discuss case recovery in small groups with colleagues.
Project Photos
Accommodation
During your time on the course, you will be based at a beautiful safari camp in the Limpopo region of South Africa, offering an immersive experience in a breathtaking natural setting. This camp will serve as your accommodation, lecture space, and a retreat for relaxation after long days in the field. With its blend of comfort and authenticity, it provides the perfect backdrop for your veterinary training.
You will stay in shared same-sex accommodation, with two people per room, though an upgrade to a single room may be available upon request. Your room will be equipped with a comfortable bed, crisp sheets, and access to hot and cold running water. The camp’s communal areas offer the perfect setting to unwind, whether you are watching the sunset, sitting around a fire, or simply soaking in the African atmosphere. A reliable power supply ensures your devices stay charged, and Wi-Fi is available in the lecture room yard.
Your meals will be hearty and full of local flavour, beginning with a traditional South African braai (BBQ) on your first night. Breakfast includes cereals, toast, spreads, and a cooked option, while lunches will either be prepared on-site or packed for field days. Dinners will be home-cooked meals made with fresh local ingredients, and tea, coffee, and juice will be available throughout the day. Safe drinking water is also provided, ensuring you stay hydrated throughout your stay. This comfortable, well-equipped camp provides a welcoming and relaxing environment for both learning and recreation, making it the perfect base for your veterinary course.
Location
You will be based in the Limpopo province of South Africa, approximately two hours north of Johannesburg International Airport. This region is famous for its incredible biodiversity and subtropical climate, making it an ideal destination for wildlife enthusiasts and veterinarians alike.
Limpopo Province: As one of the largest safari regions in South Africa, this area is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), along with many other iconic species. You will experience a true African wildlife adventure while working directly with these animals in the field.
Wildlife Reserves: Your course will take place across multiple reserves, giving you the chance to attend lectures and participate in hands-on veterinary procedures in a variety of natural environments. This unique setting ensures that you gain practical experience while being fully immersed in the African wilderness.
Cultural Experience: South Africa is not only famous for its wildlife but also for its warm and welcoming culture. Throughout your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience authentic South African customs, traditions, and cuisine, adding to the richness of your learning experience.
This course offers you a true immersion into the African veterinary field, with the added bonus of experiencing the beauty and excitement of life on a safari reserve. You will be surrounded by nature, basking in the warm African sun during the day and enjoying breathtaking starry skies at night.
Project Fee
In order to provide you with a fun, safe and rewarding stay, we have a project fee to cover your accommodation, food, and all transfers when staying with us. This cost also allows you to be covered by our public liability and professional indemnity insurance. We do not charge for your training or spending time with our vets. So you can focus on having an amazing time and we will take care of the rest.
£ 2,950 for 1 week
What's Included:
Great news, it is pretty much everything!
Pre-departure assistance with planning your trip from destination specialists
Transfers to and from Johannesburg airport
A veterinary manager on the ground available 24/7
All entry into national parks and reserves
Ground transportation related to the project
3 hearty meals per day
Safari drives during the project
Shared accommodation
What's Not Included:
Flights to/from Johannesburg, South Africa
Required: Personal medical insurance (optional trip/flight/luggage insurance)
Visa for South Africa (free to many nationalities)
Projects Specifics
AGE: 20 – 65 years old
QUALIFICATIONS: open to qualified vets, nurses and technicians
RACE: Accredited for 50 hours, CPD, CE
Fitness Requirements
Due to the isolated nature of our locations, and the demanding nature of our work, a certain level of fitness is required to join this project. While we try to make our work as comfortable as possible, there are times when physical tasks are necessary to ensure safety and efficiency. We often need to run towards the darted rhinos through bushes, across streams and up hills, to give lifesaving reversal medication and physiological support, as the cars and helicopters are sometimes unable to get us close. Often may need to cover around half a kilometre on foot to get back to our vehicles. All delegates need to be able to move quickly out the way of these 2 ton animals as they wake up, should they decide to behave in an aggressive or unpredictable manner. Thus a moderate level of fit is important to the safety of the animal and our delegates.
As such, you should be able to:
Climb up and down from a high pickup truck
Comfortably run 50 metres
Walk 3 kilometres over rocky and uneven ground
Not suffer from severe or unmanaged depression or anxiety
If mental or physical challenges prove problematic to safety, attendees will be required to sit out of activities, and in severe circumstances, we reserve the right to terminate a stay based on incorrectly or undisclosed disabilities. If you have a history of physical injuries, disabilities, or mental health conditions and would like to discuss your fitness to attend, we encourage you to apply and highlight this in your application form. We’re more than happy to have a conversation with you, and always do our best to be inclusive and accommodating.
Start Dates
6th to 12th of July 2025 (7 days) FULL
13th to 19th of July 2025 (7 days) FULL
WHAT NEXT
If the idea of joining our team treating, rescuing and working with wildlife sparks your interest, just click the "apply now" button, fill in our form, and we will be in touch with you right away.
Project Fees
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that makes a real impact on animal welfare and provides a chance to learn and travel to beautiful places....
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