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Shumba Experience offers you an amazing opportunity to work alongside a wildlife vet in South Africa. The Veterinary Project will allow volunteers to understand the every day workings of a wildlife vet and also give you valuable experience working with a wide variety of African animals. Volunteer’s activities will be based around the vet’s movements and so you will undoubtedly have plenty of hands on experience working with the wildlife in South Africa.
The Veterinary Project only takes small groups at a time and so each volunteer will gain both knowledge and experience from a very hands wildlife project. This will be ideal for volunteers studying or looking to study a veterinary or animal care course.
On the veterinary project, you may work on a range of different game reserves in South Africa. You will travel with the vet to different locations and assist with the veterinary services that are required. Most of the work will be based on game reserves, although there may be some clinical work at the local veterinary surgery or treatment of domestic animals.
Shumba volunteers will be actively involved with the veterinary work from beginning to end. You may help with the treatment of injured animals and assist with the physical handling of the wildlife. The veterinary work may involve a range of animals including rhino, zebra, buffalo, sable, lechwe and giraffe.
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On the Veterinary Project, the practical work that will vary depending on the local needs and as a guide to the veterinary experience that you may gain, the following veterinary work was carried out in 2009:
A variety of rhino work including notching rhino, removing wire off a rhino and accompanying rhino in transport between different game reserves
Darting rhino, buffalo, giraffe, sable, roan plus various plains game
Carrying out vasectomy on lions
Sable pregnancy diagnosis
Buffalo bleeding
Treating septic arthritis in a sable
Taking blood samples from various game
Diagnose and treating patent urachus in a zebra
Clinical work in a local veterinary practice
Accompanying other game in transport including buffalo
Treating injuries on locals cats and dogs from time to time
Veterinary treatment on infected joints in various animals
And even rescuing a rhino from a swimming pool (don’t ask!)
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All of the food and accommodation is included in the price whilst the volunteer is on their placement. However there may be occasions, where the vet has to accompany rhino or buffalo in transit and so you may not always be based at the house. If the situation arises then you will be travel with the vet and stay at suitable accommodation. This may vary from cottage style houses on the game reserve, guesthouses or even camping in the bush, which will give you a real adventurous experience!
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The project runs from mid May to mid September each year, with volunteers joining for anywhere between 2 and 8 weeks.
**Two week programme also available**
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| Project Fees |
| 2 Weeks |
£1095 |
| 3 Weeks |
£1495 |
| 4 Weeks |
£1795 |
| 6 Weeks |
£2495 |
| 8 Weeks |
£3095 |
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| Combination of Projects |
Yes you'll be able to combine this with many other Shumba conservation projects
Please see Combo Page for exciting ideas! |
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| What's Included |
1) Accommodation, Meals & Airport Transfers
2) Pre-departure Information and Support
3) Assistance with Flights & Travel Insurance
4) Project Booklet
5) Onsite Training and Guidance
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| Accommodation |
House - Shared room |
| Food |
3 meals a day included |
| Transfer to/from airport |
Yes, in host country |
| Not Included |
Flights & travel insurance |
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