I am a vet student in the Netherlands, and I recently had the pleasure of volunteering at the Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
The Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience was so much more than I ever expected, and there was a lot of wildlife work. The highlight for me was when we got to work with 25 buffalo in one day.
From dawn till dusk it was go, go, go – drawing blood, doing health checks, and moving from one massive buffalo to the next.
I also got to work with kudus, sable, and nyala antelopes – I’d seen them in the Kruger National Park before, but being up close and working with them in the field was a completely different experience. We gave injections, measured their horns, and even got to see the vet dart some sables for pregnancy testing. I was blown away by the precision and care the vets took – always prioritising the welfare of the animal. We were right there beside them, watching every move and absorbing every detail.
Vet work in the African bush is a completely different experience to work in a European clinic.
It is really amazing to see how an experienced wildlife vet adapts to different situations out in the field. I would really like to be a wildlife vet one day, and I’ve learnt a lot from my time on this project!
Then came Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. I arrived just after there had been a mass vulture poisoning event in the Kruger National Park, and so the centre was full of rescued birds. It was all hands on deck, and the staff were working around the clock, treating bird after bird. It was moving, intense, and truly unforgettable.
At Moholoholo, you work hard – cleaning enclosures, prepping food – but the rewards are huge. I even got to watch a surgery on a Cape Vulture with a broken wing. Working with Cape Vultures will change the way you think about vultures forever. They’re very beautiful.
Even the quiet moments were special. Cleaning enclosures while African wild dogs played nearby. Hearing lions roar. Watching some of the rehabilitated vultures get released back into their natural habitat, soaring into the air.
You can really see how much the Moholoholo team cares about the centre and the animals that come in, and they made me feel so welcome. They also organised a Sunday trip to the Kruger National Park which was amazing.
Overall, my time with ACE was a very special experience, and I had so much fun! I have come home with new skills, incredible memories, and friends for life.
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Learn more about Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
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