Itinerary

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Day 1 (Sunday)  Arrive into Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) on Sunday morning where you’ll be met by our team at 1pm and then we’ll drive directly to the reserve, a journey of around 90 minutes.  On arrival, you’ll settle in and get to know the other participants and staff members before orientation and dinner.

An internationally renowned 22,000 hectare game reserve, Shamwari features five different fauna and flora habitats (biomes).  Facilities include an animal rehabilitation centre, an animal hospital and anti-poaching unit.  Shamwari is also the host to the Born Free Foundation’s Big Cat Rescue and Education Centre for rescued lions and leopards, which we visit during our stay.

The Wildlife Veterinary Experience runs weekdays Monday to Friday, with the weekend off in between.  Due to the nature of working with wildlife in a live environment, a precise day by day itinerary is unrealistic to provide, however the typical Big 5 Veterinary Experience involves most or all of the following activities:

Practical Experience
  • Wildlife drives on reserve
  • Species identification
  • Immobilisations
  • Health-checks and translocations
  • Mass capture of herbivores
  • Target shooting with dart gun – both on foot and from helicopter
  • Visits to Shamwari Rehab Centre, Born Free Sanctuary and VulPro (vulture project)
  • Basic veterinary care and treatment of community animals – pet outreach
  • Necropsies

Lectures & group discussions
  • Role of the veterinarian on game reserves
  • Wildlife management, monitoring and ecology
  • Species identification
  • Game capture techniques (mass capture, passive capture, chemical immobilisation)
  • Game translocation
  • Immobilising drugs, darting and translocation equipment
  • Husbandry of captured animals
  • Important infectious diseases of wildlife
  • Wildlife sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation
  • Community work at disadvantaged communities
  • Poaching and veterinary implications of survivors of poaching incidents
Lion Conservation
On the middle weekend we have an optional (AUD $535) tour to explore the world famous Garden Route of South Africa. We’ll visit Tsitsikamma National Park, Robberg’s Nature Reserve and two excellent eco-projects - Monkey Land (a small primate sanctuary) and Birds of Eden (a free flight bird sanctuary created to shelter rescued birds).
After spending the night in beautiful Plettenberg Bay, it’s time to seal the deal at the wonderful Cape Fur Seal colony – it’s your choice whether to stay dry on the boat or brave the cold (do it !) and enjoy the full immersion and snorkel/swim.
Dinner, breakfast, transport, hotel accommodation and all entries and activities are included.

Last day (Saturday) Having said your goodbyes and packed your bags, we’ll whisk you off to the airport in plenty of time for your flight home.   Even better, extend your stay in Africa and join an amazing 1 week camping adventure from Johannesburg through Botswana to the mighty Victoria Falls, ticking off bucket-list item after item as you go (details in the Info Pack).
Accommodation and Meals  The comfortable twin/triple-shared rooms all have private bathrooms – if travelling solo you’ll be paired with another participant of the same gender. 

​Three meals a day are included so you’ll enjoy the luxury of having your breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared for you. Vegetarians and other dietary requirements can be catered for, provided we’re notified in advance.