Overview
Wildlife Conservation and Game Reserve Internship in South Africa

This 22 week Internship starts with a 10 week wildlife research expedition. You will establish your field guide skills while obtaining in-depth knowledge of African game, their habitats and conservation techniques, receiving a BTEC in Supervision of Biological Surveys. You will learn how to live and work with a research team in a remote environment and attain basic skills essential for your work placement. Upon your successful completion of this expedition you will have the basic foundations of working with wildlife in the African bush. You will then spend your final 12 weeks on your work placement.

During this phase you will be based at a safari lodge catering to tourists or a conservation organisation depending on your skills and our partners requirements. At the end of the placement qualifying interns may either be offered paid or unpaid work with GVI or with one of our local partners.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, stories from the field, video diaries and more at the programs media centre

This Internship is an incredible learning experience set in one of the most awe inspiring locations I have ever seen.

John Toscak, GVI Volunteer

Highlights

Developing your personnel management, leadership, wildlife conservation and field guiding skills. Working at beautiful safari lodges, living and working in the African bush with incredible wildlife. Getting acquainted with big game and all the main predators, including lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant and rhino. Exploring nearby regions such as the Blyde River Canyon in the Drakensberg Mountains; living and working alongside FGASA qualified South African Guides, getting constant learning and inspiration; having the chance to sleep out in the bush under the spectacular African stars and wake up to a beautiful sunrise.

Skills And Qualifications Received

• BTEC in the Supervision of Biodiversity Surveys
• Mammal Introduction and Herbivore Identification
• Survey Skills – Radio Telemetry; GPS use, Field Guide’s Reptile Course
• First Aid & CPR training
• Individual Predator Ecology and behavior
• Wildlife Management
• Basic wildlife diseases
• Large herbivore ecology and behavior
• Basic animal tracks and sign skills
• Field Safety – Radio use, Emergency Action Plan implementation and drills
• Setting up a bush camp
• Sleep-out in bush
• Spotlighting
• Planning of game drives and walks
• Communication and facilitation skills
• Dealing with guests

See Requirements And Training page for more information

Location

GVI’s expedition operates out of two reserves The Karongwe Game Reserve (KGR) and Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve (VLNR) are situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, approximately 500km northeast of Johannesburg. These areas are true ‘Big Five’ (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalos) territories and reveal the African bush at its best, being the home to such majestic animals. Interns will be allocated their base upon arrival on the expedition with the possibility to experience both camps. The Work placements are either within the region of Karongwe game reserve or Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve.

See Life on the internship page for more information

Field Conditions

When on the expedition interns live in an old farm house on Karongwe, and in a stunning permanent tented camp at Venetia, both situated within the reserves, which contain dormitory-style sleeping arrangements, bathrooms, a kitchen and an outside area. There is very limited hot water and showers will normally be cold.

While on the mountain phase, volunteers live in a cozy cottage in the mountains, on the edge of plantations. It too includes dormitory-style sleeping arrangements, including a bathroom, kitchen and sitting room, and has occasional hot water and limited solar electricity.

Work placements vary but will all offer basic to comfortable accommodations.

See Life on the internship page for more information