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South Africa Wildlife Conservation Short term Internship (Directory Program)

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  • Locations: Limpopo, South Africa
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Calendar Year, Fall, J-Term, Jan Term, Janterm, May Term, Semester, Spring, Summer, Summer I, Summer II, Summer III, Summer IV, Trimester, Winter
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: GVI 
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction: English Housing Options: Dormitory, Hostel/Hotel, Other
Program Description:
South Africa Wildlife Conservation Short term Internship
Kickstart your career in conservation by gaining invaluable work experience in the South African savannah habitat.Call the South Africa savannah home for three months while earning wildlife conservation skills, work experience, and relevant qualifications that will set you up for your dream job in conservation on this South African wildlife conservation internship.
Limpopo cover
Program Focus
Join our international team, on a private nature reserve, one hour from Kruger National Park to work on conservation projects with leading local and international conservation organisations, like the South African National Parks authorities, Panthera, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and Elephants Alive. This is not your conventional internship experience. You will live and work with international participants and GVI staff in the heart of the savannah landscape. Wake to the sounds of endemic South Africa birdlife and spend your mornings tracking the movements of animals in the reserve. Spend your lunch hours recording and analysing valuable data and the rest of the afternoon conducting further wildlife research or reserve maintenance work. In the evenings learn more about local species and ecosystems or work on your own research project. 

The main project our team works on is recording the number and species of animals in the reserve to assist management with maintaining a healthy balance of predators and prey. We also assist Panthera by providing data on lions and leopards and Elephants Alive with preventing damage caused by elephants to fragile local plants. In addition, we also monitor cheetah feeding behaviour and their success in the reserve environment in partnership with Endangered Wildlife Trust. In the local community, we also run environmental education programs and support the reserve with environmental rehabilitation and anti-poaching initiatives. As a GVI wildlife conservation intern in South Africa, spending 3 months with us at our base, you will have a chance to get involved in just about all these projects. 

In addition you will also complete a Biological Survey Techniques program, allowing you to learn how to set up a conservation research project in just about any ecosystem worldwide, as well as an Emergency First Response program, incredibly valuable skills when living and working in a remote natural environment, as most conservationists do. 

Limpopo giraffes clouds
Location
As a mostly rural province, Limpopo has many natural habitats that have been unchanged by human impact. With its large bushveld, the province is home to a great number of African wildlife, making this a must-see travel destination for nature-lovers. Go on a wildlife safari adventure in a private South African nature reserve while contributing directly to conservation efforts. Listen to the quiet hush of the wild open spaces, waking each morning to a chorus of savannah birds and drifting off to the nighttime hum of endemic frogs and crickets. In your free time, visit the famous Kruger National Park, only an hour away from where the GVI base is located or visit the nearby Drakensberg Mountains where awe-inspiring vistas are afforded over the Blyde River Canyon.

Program Highlights
  • Earn skills, experience, and qualifications that will help move you closer to your dream job in conservation.
  • If staying 8 weeks or longer you will complete your Biological Survey Techniques training and qualification.
  • Earn your GVI ILM Leadership Development certificate, a qualification recognised by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
  • Go on a wildlife safari adventure in a private South African nature reserve.
  • Listen to the quiet hush of the wild open spaces, waking each morning to a chorus of savannah birds and drifting off to the nighttime hum of endemic frogs and crickets.
  • Learn to identify predators, like lions, cheetahs, and leopards, as well as megaherbivores like elephants and rhinos.
  • Master radio telemetry techniques and learning how to track and record animal movements.  
  • In your free time, visit the famous Kruger National Park, only an hour away from where we are based or visit the nearby Drakensberg Mountains where awe-inspiring vistas are afforded over the Blyde River Canyon.
  • Live and work alongside Field Guide Association of South Africa, FGASA, qualified guides, growing personally and professionally by learning from their experiences.
  • Sleep under the star-filled Southern night sky,its beauty enhanced by the lack of light pollution, and wake to a golden African dawn.
If applying for this program to obtain credit from an institution, GVI can supply learning outcomes and support in the application. Risk assessment available upon request, please contact GVI for more details. 

For more information, check out our video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY5jgv0Z7yc