Interns will assist the reserve’s founders in their daily tasks through this environmental internship opportunity. Their days are full, they participate in various and varied activities: control of animal movements in the reserve, species census, data collection and analysis, surveillance, etc. Like all of our environmental internship programs, the environmental conservation project in South Africa allows students to gain university credits while having a positive and lasting impact on the region’s ecosystem.

The animals are free ranging, direct interactions are limited but you will be able to observe wildlife during the 2 daily expeditions with the guides and researchers. You will actively participate in the effort to conserve species in South Africa. Leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, elephants, 395 species of bird, giraffes, zebras, blue wildebeests, impalas and many species of small mammals and primates await you…

This project is one of our ‘academic’ internships:

It includes a more in-depth follow-up with a theoretical part that adds to the practical experience in the field. In addition to receiving the necessary ECTS credits to validate your year, at the end of the program you will obtain an international certification recognised and delivered by the University of Richmond, in the United States. You will have two online course modules to complete before the field mission, to prepare you for the project. During but also after the internship, you will benefit from professional support: a specialised internship supervisor will monitor your work and give you a final evaluation, and you will benefit from access to a portal of job offers in NGOs as well as a recommendation from your internship supervisor on LinkedIn.

Take a closer look at the specifics of this internship as an academic program, and sign up to start a sustainable career via an approved internship!

Program highlights

– You will learn about conservation strategies for animal species in South Africa.

– You will participate in the daily monitoring of the animals in the reserve.

– You will see the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitat.

– You will learn to identify predators, such as lions, cheetahs and leopards, as well as megaherbivores such as elephants and rhinoceroses.

– You will master telemetry techniques and learn how to track and record animal movements.

Objective of the mission in the nature reserve

With habitat destruction, human encroachment, poaching, and other factors contributing to the decline of many animal species, our nature reserve is committed to nature protection and species conservation in South Africa. The objectives of this environmental internship opportunity are:

– To facilitate further study and research on the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.

– To improve communication with neighbouring communities for better mutual understanding and participation of rural communities in conservation and preservation efforts.

– To monitor (radio collars, cameras) lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas in order to record as much behavioural and environmental data as possible for the conservation of these species.

– Daily monitoring of white rhinos with the specialised anti-poaching unit.

– To control, maintain and renovate of the fence line to ensure the safety of the animals.

– Occasional animal capture and construction of passive capture devices.

– To eradicate exotic invasive plants to protect endangered habitats.

– To provide conservation education in community schools.

On-the-job training

– All field training will be included as part of the environmental internship offer, you do not need any special skills and there is no age limit. A full briefing on the project, the environment and any relevant topics will be organised upon arrival at camp.

– Ability to identify vertebrate animals, their names and indications of their presence.

– Skills in radio-telemetry, GPS and search techniques

Why choose to go to a nature reserve in South Africa?

Located a 5-hour drive from Johannesburg airport, Limpopo Province is recognized as one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in South Africa.

The organisations on site are driven by the desire to protect Africa’s treasures: the environment and wildlife. Researchers and guides are in constant need of volunteers to carry out their species protection projects in South Africa. We involve our volunteers in all our actions, everyone can and should feel concerned. Our goal with this environmental internship is to educate volunteers on the issues of environmental and animal protection and to have them carry the message back home. Remember that no action is too small, every action counts.