Botswana Wildlife Conservation Internship

The Botswana Wildlife Conservation Internship is a remote wildlife conservation and cultural immersion experience based in the Tuli Block, Botswana. This region is known for its untouched landscapes, rich biodiversity, and raw natural beauty, offering a true off-the-beaten-track African wilderness experience.

Wildlife Conservation & Safari Experience in Botswana’s Central Kalahari

Botswana Wildlife Conservation Internship in the Central Kalahari

The Botswana Wildlife Project is located on private conservancy land bordering the Central Kalahari Game Reserve — one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the world. The project is hosted by an eighth-generation farming family with deep roots in the Kalahari, working in active partnership with San Bushmen trackers whose ecological knowledge of this landscape spans thousands of years. This internship is not a safari. It is fieldwork. Early mornings, physical effort, and the patience that genuine conservation requires are all part of it.

What You Will Do

Our approach is built on sustainability, collaboration, and responsibility. We work closely with local communities and conservation teams to ensure that every initiative is relevant, ethical, and designed for long-term impact. As a volunteer, you will take part in practical conservation and wildlife research activities, including:

RHINO TRACKING

Rhino monitoring and tracking — on foot, before sunrise, with experienced San Bushmen and conservation staff

CAMERA TRAPPING

Camera trap setup, maintenance, and data analysis

PREDATOR RESEARCH

Predator monitoring — documenting lion, cheetah, leopard, and African wild dog movement and behaviour

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

Cultural exchange with San Bushmen trackers — learning traditional tracking, plant identification, and survival techniques

HORSE & CAMP CARE

Horse care and predator camp maintenance

Animals You May Work With

Wildlife of the Central Kalahari

The Central Kalahari is home to an extraordinary diversity of African Wildlife. Interns have the opportuntiy to observe and track:

ElephantRhinoLionBuffaloGiraffeAntelopeRaptorsTortoisesSnakesMonkeysCattleHorsesPigsGoats & SheepDogs & CatsChickensRats & Mice

what to expect

What’s Included

Accommodation on the farm
3 Meals per day
Airport transfers and transport
Safari experiences and excursions
24-hour support and supervision
Certificate of completion

package

Each Week Includes a Mix of:

Practical fieldwork
Educational lectures
Veterinary shadowing
Community activities
Conservation activities
Safari and outdoor experiences

would you qualify?

Who this Programme is for?

Individuals interested in wildlife conservation and environmental protection
Students or graduates seeking practical field experience
Travellers looking for a meaningful experience beyond tourism
Anyone wanting to reconnect with nature

Unique Highlights

What Makes This Programme Different

Remote, uncrowded wilderness with rich wildlifeFar from tourist routes, the Central Kalahari offers an authentic, undisturbed African wilderness experience that is increasingly rare.

Contribute to a large-scale conservation visionInterns contribute to an ambitious vision of creating connected protected areas across the Central Kalahari.

Daily life in a true safari-style environmentLive in a tented camp surrounded by wildlife. Campfires, star-filled skies, and the sounds of the African bush are your daily backdrop.

Stunning landscapesAncient baobab trees, rocky outcrops, seasonal rivers, and open savanna make the Central Kalahari one of Africa’s most visually spectacular wilderness areas.

Accommodation & Camp Life

Life in the African Bush

⛺

Tented Safari Camp

Comfortable tented accommodation with shared facilities in an authentic African bush setting.

🍽️

3 Meals Daily

Three meals provided every day, with campfire dinners a regular evening highlight.

🌟

Sleep-Outs Under the Stars

A signature experience — sleeping in the open African bush under the night sky.

🔥

Close-Knit Group

Small intern groups, shared experiences, braais, and lasting friendships.

Programme Structure

Arrive in Botswana

SAVE Foundation coordinates all transfers to the Central Kalahari project site. Miminum stay of 1 week.

Arrive at the Project Site — Tented Camp

Settle into the tented safari camp. Meet your team, receive a site orientation, safety briefing, and introduction to the conservation programme.

Daily Fieldwork Schedule

Morning and afternoon fieldwork sessions — wildlife research, tracking, and conservation projects. A mid-day rest period follows traditional African bush practice during peak heat.

Weekly Highlights

Game drives, braais, guided bush experiences, and cultural encounters each week. Sleep-outs under the stars are a signature programme highlight.

The minimum stay is 1 week. Interns who stay longer build deeper relationships with the wildlife and land — and make a greater contribution to ongoing research.

Programme Transparency & Support

Ethical Conservation in a Remote Environment

All conservation activities are conducted under the supervision of experienced guides and professionals with deep knowledge of the Central Kalahari ecosystem. Wildlife interactions are observational and research-based — always respectful of animal welfare and natural behaviour.

SAVE Foundation is a registered NPO operating with a genuine conservation mission. This programme is not a tourism product — it is a meaningful contribution to protecting one of southern Africa’s most important wilderness areas.

✓ Registered NPO✓ Supervised daily✓ 24/7 support✓ Animal welfare first✓ Certificate issued

Botswana Wildlife Conservation Internship