Kruger Wildlife Project
South Africa
This project is perfect for anyone interested in zoology, wildlife conservation, game park management, or anyone with a passion for wildlife. Set on a South African wildlife reserve and farm, this project is centred around conservation, welcoming both skilled and non-skilled volunteers to get involved. Throughout the project volunteers will have the opportunity to get involved in various aspects of wildlife management and conservation.
This project is for gap year, pre vet and pre-clinicals; (anyone not yet qualified)- if you are a clinical vet student or qualified vet/ vet nurse/ vet-tech check out our Kruger Vet Project.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Getting involved with wildlife reserve and animal management
Involvement in anti-poaching efforts, including the use of anti-poaching dogs for conservation
Contributing to the importance of wildlife conservation and research
Work with iconic species such as rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard and lions
Exposure and involvement with community outreach and development
Working side by side with a wildlife veterinarian and assist with darting at minimum one animal per week
Live within a big 5 wildlife reserve deep in the bush, in the most authentic African way
Project video
While completing the two week project, you'll expand your horizons and be immersed in the daily efforts that go into the management and conservation of wildlife in South Africa. You will be assisting in the daily management of wildlife camps, with herds of buffalo, impala, sable and elephants, assessing their conditions, implementing parasite control, conducting pregnancy diagnosis and immobilising (darting) injured animals for treatment.
The management, rescue and care of wildlife is as varied as it is exciting. From routine work, to fast paced emergencies, some of the procedures you may be involved in, include:
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT:
Snare removals from antelopes, elephant, giraffes and predators
Collaring procedures, with elephants, lions, wild dogs etc
Monitoring of rhinos, elephants, and lions by using radio telemetry
Location and mapping of injured animals by vehicle patrols
Help relocate animals that may have broken out of the reserve (lions, hippos, buffalo) and return them to their home reserves
Sable, giraffe and buffalo herd health management and monitoring
Assessing and counting of sable and buffalo calves
Participating in faecal egg counts and how to counteract any parasites
Feeding of wildlife in dry periods of the year
ANTI-POACHING:
Please note: as a volunteer will not be put into a real life situation, endangering you, all patrols and tracking with the k9s will be simulations and training exercises and loads of fun!
Assisting with anti-poaching fence patrols
K9 (antipoching dogs) tracking and patrols
Take a bite from one of the K9s if you are brave enough! (wearing a protective suit)
Assisting with ongoing maintenance on the farm – path/bush clearing/alien vegetation
Night monitoring and camera trapping of predators, such as leopards, lions, hyenas
Please note that working with the K9 unit is not always guaranteed and is subject to availability of the dogs and their training schedule.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Learn how to use both a pneumatic and .22 dart gun, both which are used for immobilisation of wildlife
Mountain trails & bush walks
Sleep out under the stars in the big 5 area
Learn the art of tracking animals, identifying spoor (tracks) of various wildlife
Understand the need for breeding projects and how it aids conservation
Project Photos
ACCOMMODATION
The large luxury tented camp is situated in a wild lanscape, amid raw african bush and farm land. There is a kitchen, where you can store extra snacks and food (if the 3 large meals a day don’t quite fill you up!) and an outside deck, a pool and jacuzi overlooking the waterhole where the animals of the big five reserve come to quench their thirst.There is a communal area with a fire pit, an honesty bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages).
The large glamping style tents that out students stay in have two single beds, a fridge to store drinks and snacks, and ensuite bathrooms with two showers in each. Bedding and towels are provided. If we need to stay away from home for a night to complete work, all accommodation will be in comfortable farmhouses or lodges.
Three hearty meals a day will be provided for you in your course fee. There is an additional cost if you have a specific diet requirement such as vegetarian or vegan, in order to help us produce great meals for you. Kindly see Costing section. You help yourself to breakfast and choose from cereals, breads, juice and fruit. Lunches are prepared for you (unless we take a packed lunch) and dinner will be cooked and served for you at the accommodation. You will enjoy regular Braais (BBQ’s) consisting of African steak, boerewors (sausage), stews, bolognaises, burgers and pastas. The project can cater for most dietary requirements so just ask us at time of booking. No matter what is eaten, it is always at the end of a good day’s work, under the stars, enjoying the dancing light of the campfire. Once a week you will be taken to town for any extra snacks or supplies you may need. Don’t forget the marshmallows to toast on the fire!
LOCATION
Kruger National Park needs little introduction. It is the largest national park in South Africa, located on the north eastern edge of the country. This area of the world is real wildlife territory, with animals crossing freely between the main park and surrounding reserves. It is one of the best places to visit in Africa to view wildlife and is known for thriving populations of elephants, giraffe, lion, leopard, rhino wild dog, zebra and other planes game like antelope. Here you are surrounded by nature every moment of the day, off the beaten track, waking up early to enjoy the calmness of the bush and enjoying evenings around the campfire, under the stars.
During your stay, you will have weekends off to make the most of your time in South Africa. Some students enjoy relaxing by the pool with a good book, whilst others head out to do extra activities including visiting wildlife sanctuaries such as the great Moholoholo Rehab Centre) to help care for rescued wildlife. We run daytrips through the world famous Panorama Route, a breath-taking drive through the mountains of the Mpumalanga province, centred around the Blyde River Canyon, (the 3rdlargest canyon in the world) and a chance to explore waterfalls and sleepy historic towns.
ASSOCIATED COST:
2 weeks: £1500
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. If you have a special dietary requirement, in order to give you be best meals possible, from the start of 2026 we will be adding a £20 per week cost to the project fee which allows us to cater for you as well as possible. It can be a challenge to find good vegetarian, vegan and other such diets in South Africa, but we promise to impress! It is important you let us know any requirements at the time of booking so we can correctly invoice you. Your project 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.
Want to know what’s included? Great news, it is pretty much everything! Including your:
Pre departure assistance with planning your trip from one of our destination specialists
3 daily meals (requiging an additional £20 a week if you have specific dietry requirements from 2026 onwards)
Non-alcoholic beverages
Accommodation
Water bottle
Transport
Wi-Fi
Laundry
An attendance certificate
Transfers to and from the airport
£100 conservation fee, paid to the reserve you will be living on
OUR PRICES EXCLUDE:
Flights to/from South Africa
Personal medical insurance
Visa for South Africa (free to many nationalities)
Any ‘extra activities’ you wish to do. (we suggest budgeting 5,000 to 10,000 Rand)
PROJECT SPECIFICS
AGE: 18 +, no upper limit.
QUALS: gap year, prevet, preclinical vet students. you can expect 1 or 2 immobilisations or vet procedures a fortnight, so if you are a clinical year vet student or a qualified professional needing clinical hours, you can look at our more clinically intensive courses.
EMS (other)
START DATES
The project has set start dates throughout the year. We can also run private courses if you have a group of 6 or more people for outside of these dates. Please email us to discuss this.
2024
10-23 January
7-20 February
7-20 March
4-17 April
1-14 May
1-14 November
1-14 December
2025
10-23 January
7-20 February
7-20 March
4-17 April
1-14 May
4-17 June
2-15 July
6-19 August
3-16 September
7-21 October
1-14 November
1-14 December
There is the opportunity to join the project in 2025 for longer periods:
18 June - 1 July 2025
16 - 29 July 2025
17 - 30 Sept 2025
2026
10-23 January
7-20 February
7-20 March
4-17 April
1-14 May
4-17 June
18 June- 1 July
2-15 July
16-29 July
6-19 August
3-16 September
17-30 September
4-17 October
1-14 November
1-14 December
Volunteer feedback
WHAT NEXT?
We want you to join us in South Africa, to help the animals and have the adventure of a lifetime. Sound good? Just fill in the form below and we will be in touch with you right away.
SUGGESTED PROJECTS
