Experience wildlife veterinary medicine in Big Five territory

This is your chance to get veterinary experience with wild animals such as rhinos, elephants, wild dogs, lions, cheetahs and more, in their natural environment.

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Join our Practical Wildlife Veterinary Short Course, combining the observation hours that universities and employers are looking for with something few candidates can offer: real exposure to wildlife medicine in the African bush alongside a registered professional vet.

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Whether you're applying to vet school, completing elective requirements, building professional experience, or just looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with wild animals, this course offers an unforgettable experience in an African conservation setting. 

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Experience an overnight sleep-out under the stars in a wildlife reserve and immerse yourself in nature like never before.

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Build meaningful experience to boost your career

This course is a premium educational program that bridges the gap between classroom theory and field reality. You’ll get rare access to the world of wildlife medicine, conservation, and veterinary science, joining real-world scenarios in the wild.

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Spend your days on the front lines with wildlife veterinarians during real field operations, exploring wildlife disease management, learning the principles of chemical immobilisation, and gaining exposure to the challenges of veterinary work in a conservation setting.

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While you'll remain hands-off during live surgeries and medical procedures, this is far more than simply watching from the sidelines. You'll shadow wildlife veterinarians during real conservation interventions, observe wildlife capture and translocation operations, explore avian rehabilitation projects, and gain exposure to the decision-making processes behind wildlife healthcare.

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Away from the field, you'll participate in laboratory-based learning, including wildlife parasitology and diagnostic investigations. You'll also develop an understanding of ecosystem health, wildlife disease management, and the vital role veterinarians play in modern conservation efforts. The result is a deeper understanding of wildlife medicine and conservation than can be gained through traditional classroom learning alone.

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No prior veterinary experience or qualifications are required to join the course, making it suitable for both students pursuing veterinary careers and wildlife enthusiasts looking to gain deeper insight into conservation medicine.

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Verified veterinary observation hours

At the end of your course, your attendance, case exposure and logged hours can be verified by a registered South African wildlife veterinarian. This makes the programme particularly valuable for students preparing university applications, or completing elective placements or Extramural Studies requirements.

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Instead of spending months arranging placements, accommodation, transport and supervision independently, you'll arrive at a fully coordinated programme where every detail has already been taken care of.

Why choose Bushwise?

Trusted for over 20 years

For more than two decades, Bushwise has been a trusted name in wildlife training. Our long-standing commitment to quality education and industry partnerships means generations of guides have launched successful careers with our support, making us a reliable foundation for wildlife careers.​

Ethical wildlife specialists

At Bushwise, we train all wildlife professionals to be ethical guiding specialists, a skill that is more important than ever in today’s wildlife and conservation industry. Ethical wildlife handling and animal welfare principles are integrated throughout the course.​