From the moment I landed, everything ran perfectly. I was met at the airport by the African Conservation Experience (ACE) staff, and they immediately made me feel welcome. Even the drive out to the project was fantastic. Our driver was hilarious and knowledgeable, telling stories about the country, which set the tone for the trip ahead!
Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary Experience itself was incredible. As a small animal vet, it was such a precious opportunity to work with large wildlife species, as we worked with some rare and beautiful animals. For example, one day we darted and treated a roan antelope (locals even told us they’d never handled one before!), another day we treated sable and nyala bulls and helped relocate them safely to other farms. On our final day, we darted a nyala, administered injections, and helped load him into a trailer for relocation. Watching how smoothly the team worked together was truly impressive.
You felt part of something meaningful every single day, and I loved getting to know the dedicated people behind the conservation efforts!
We also worked with an incredible number of buffalo. By the end, I was joking that I’d become a buffalo specialist! We helped the vets take blood samples for tuberculosis testing on the buffalo and also gave vitamin and anti-parasitic treatments, and assisted with relocations. It was physical, sometimes chaotic work, but in the best possible way.
Every day was different. I can’t say there was one special day, I loved all of it!
One day drawing blood, another treating, another relocating, never boring, never repetitive. The sunsets after long field days were something else, too. By the end, I lost count of how many times we just stopped to take it all in!
In the clinic, the team was also brilliant. For students, it’s an incredible learning environment where they deal with everything: coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, wounds, you name it. The vets, nurses, and technicians were all so kind and open. They shared everything: dosages, protocols, and their reasoning behind treatments. Even though I already work as a vet, I loved hearing their different approaches and seeing how they worked with wildlife species. They were also just genuinely fun people to be around, warm, professional, and easy-going.
The accommodation was great too. It was clean and comfortable, with our own kitchen, bathroom, and even a terrace to relax on. There was a pool to cool off in after long days, and our host was super friendly!
On weekends, we went exploring. Our first trip was to the famous Kruger National Park, my first time there! We saw so many elephants (they were everywhere), giraffes, birds, and even a lioness. Then another weekend, we visited Leshiba Wilderness, which was one of the most magical places I’ve ever seen.
We went hiking during the day, and in the evenings, we could sit by the pool with a view over the bush, watching rhinos, giraffes, and zebras walking past. It honestly felt surreal!
The people I met made the trip even more special. There were volunteers from the UK, the US, and a few other Czechs, too, which was such a nice surprise! One of the Czech girls and I are still in touch. We text and call all the time. Everyone at the project was like a supportive, funny family, and I would work with them again in a heartbeat!
When I had to leave, I cried. That’s how much I loved the people there!
I came home, went straight back to small animal practice, but a part of me stayed in Africa. I still think about it every day: the people, the animals, the sunsets, the feeling of purpose. I honestly think my friends are tired of me always talking about it!
If anyone’s thinking about going, just do it. It was organised perfectly, the team was professional and kind, and the experience itself was everything I hoped for and more.
I am already in talks with ACE to plan my trip out with them again next year, and I absolutely can’t wait!
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