Pre-Vet & Safari Internship Eastern Cape
A hands-on wildlife internship program for aspiring veterinarians and animal lovers. Work alongside professionals with African wildlife, agricultural livestock and domestic animals in the heart of South Africa’s Wild Coast.
- 2 - 12 weeks
- Cathcart, Eastern Cape
- All /levels Welcome
- Malaria-Free Zone
About The Pre Veterinary Internship Programme
Gain real-world experience in animal care, veterinary science, and conservation through practical fieldwork, mentorship, and safari experiences in the Eastern Cape.
This Pre-Veterinary Internship is built around one belief: the most powerful learning happens through hands-on involvement. Based on a working commercial livestock farm in Cathcart, in the heart of the Eastern Cape, the programme immerses you directly in the world of large animal practice — horses, sheep, and cattle — alongside small animal exposure, diverse wildlife habitats, and access to nearby private game reserves.
Programme days follow the rhythm of a genuine working farm. One morning you might be helping with pregnancy scanning or assisting during lambing season; the next, administering injections and drenching, or observing a veterinarian perform surgery. This internship is ideal for pre-veterinary students, veterinary nursing students, animal science undergraduates, or anyone building a competitive veterinary school application who needs documented, hands-on animal hours in a genuine clinical or field setting.
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. By focusing on practical, measurable outcomes, we aim to create meaningful change that benefits both people and the environment.
CLINICAL PRACTICE
Practical in-field animal health care procedures and clinical veterinary practice overshadowing
ANIMAL HEALTH
Lectures on animal nutrition, animal diseases, and animal breeds of South Africa
WILDLIFE IMMOBILISATION
Theoretical and hands-on practical training in the chemical immobilisation of wildlife
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement — subsistence livestock practices in a rural Eastern Cape village setting
SAFARI EXPERIENCE
An included overnight safari experience at a private game reserve with game drives and a night drive
About the Program
Why This Matters For Veterinary School Applications
For veterinary school applicants, this internship provides documented hours across the VMCAS and UCAS categories most commonly required: veterinary experience (supervised clinical work), animal experience (direct handling and observation), and research experience (conservation data collection). A verified clinical log and supervisor evaluation signed by a registered veterinarian, alongside an international reference letter, form part of your programme completion pack.
A full spectrum of animal experience
African Wildlife Conservation
Through exposure to nearby reserves and field-based activities, participants learn about wildlife behaviour, habitat preservation, and the challenges facing conservation in South Africa. The focus is on responsible, ethical interaction with wildlife while understanding the role conservation plays in protecting species.
Agricultural Livestock
Visit livestock farms across the region. Gain hands-on experience in inoculations, nutrition, pregnancy testing, lambing and agricultural health management with a variety of animals including cattle, sheep, goats, and other farm animals. Learn through fieldwork, lectures, and mentorship from veterinarians.
Variety of Activities
Experience a variety of activities including:
- Animal health care and treatments
- Farm management and breeding practices
- Veterinary procedures and shadowing
- Conservation and research work
Animals You May Work With
20+ species across three environments
Previous interns on this program have had the opportunity to work with:
Learning experience
Programme Structure
- Small animal practice
- Large animal practice
- Wildlife practice
- Veterinary physiotherapy
- Research & Conservation
package
Each Week Includes a Mix of:
- Practical fieldwork
- Educational lectures
- Veterinary shadowing
- Community and conservation activities
- Safari and outdoor experiences
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
would you qualify?
Who is it for?
- Anyone interested in veterinary science, animal care, or wildlife
- No prior experience required
- Minimum age: 16
Daily activities
Unique Experience
The programme is structured to provide a well-rounded and immersive conservation experience, combining orientation, field work, learning, and community:
Location
Practical in-field animal health care procedures and clinical veterinary practice overshadowing
Impact
Ongoing
Chance to assist in rare research trips and conservation activities
Full Package
Mix of practical work, education, and adventure.
The minimum programme duration is 2 weeks. Many volunteers choose to extend their stay after experiencing the programme first-hand.
Programme structure
A typical week on the program
Do I need previous veterinary or animal experience to apply?
No experience is required. This programme is designed to give students a genuine hands-on veterinary experience — whether you are building your CV, deciding if veterinary medicine is the right path for you, or want to experience African wildlife while helping animals.
Will these hours count toward VMCAS or UCAS veterinary school applications?
Yes — the programme provides a clinical log and supervisor evaluation signed by a registered veterinarian, along with an international reference letter, designed to support VMCAS, UCAS, and similar veterinary school application requirements. Confirm your specific institution’s documentation standards with your pre-vet advisor before applying.
What animals will I actually work with?
The farm runs a genuine commercial livestock operation, so your caseload reflects real seasonal need — most commonly horses, sheep, goats, and cattle, alongside small animal exposure and wildlife encounters at nearby game reserves. You will also receive theoretical and practical training in the chemical immobilisation of wildlife.
What is the safari component and can I see the detailed schedule in advance?
Every placement includes an overnight stay at a private game reserve with game drives, a night drive, a hosted dinner, and a bush camp stay. Due to the nature of the reserve partnership, the detailed hour-by-hour schedule is shared directly with confirmed interns rather than published publicly.
Why is the minimum age 16, and what does parental consent involve?
The programme accepts interns from age 16, reflecting that many participants are still in secondary school building early veterinary school applications. Applicants aged 16 or 17 must submit a signed parental consent form as part of their application.
Where does the programme start and end?
All arrivals and departures are through East London Airport, with a fixed two-week programme starting every Monday. The programme is closed during December and January, reopening on the second Monday in January each year.