Wildlifevets.com

Lowveld Wildlife Consulting Services

read the full script on line
Offering Wildlife Conservation Medicine Courses since 1998
a black and white photo of a person holding a measuring tape

About Us

Welcome to Wildlifevets.com


Wildlifevets.com is dedicated to providing both our local and international clients with the highest standard of service excellence. Having many decades of experience in game capture and wildlife veterinary practices, we are confident that our expertise can satisfy any client’s needs. Our team and equipment enable us to take on any wildlife related projects, and we are involved in ongoing conservation programs that have stretched over several years.


Our aim is to be leaders in the wildlife industry, while implementing practices and methods we envisage becoming the standard in the future.


The practice is situated outside Mbombela, in the eastern part of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. It is in proximity to Kruger National Park, Swaziland and Mozambique. Situated on a small game farm, but part of a much greater Conservancy. It creates a wonderful environment for training students in wildlife medicine. We also have a lab and a postmortem facility on site. Students travel with us wherever we work in South Africa and even nearby countries. We have our own relocation vehicles, ambulatory vehicles and specialized equipment. Through our Technology Transfer Section, we offer various activities; courses, internships, masters' and PhD programs



OUR SERVICES

Game Capture & Relocation, clinical Veterinary Services, consulting services, Courses, Research and community projects

Having actively developed our skill set over the last 23 years, we have a solid foundation to draw from. Here is a brief breakdown of what we offer:

Clinical Veterinary Services

Most of our clinical cases involve the treatment and protection of wildlife from human-inflicted causes. Dehorning rhinos, removing snares, treating poisoned animals and assisting organizations with the rehabilitation of wildlife, forms part of our day-to-day job. We are also fully equipped to do various surgery and diagnostic procedures on any wildlife species. Other work includes postmortems and disease surveillance, to assist reserves and game farms to maintain optimal herd health.

Game Capture and Relocation

With a fleet including a link and 12 meter trailers, as well as a 4×4 crane truck, we can move a great deal of game efficiently. We have moved and exported large numbers of various wildlife species to various destinations across the country, and to other international destinations. Should a specific project require temporarily holding wildlife for quarantine and permitting reasons, we can accommodate most species in our world-class boma facilities, located at our practice in Mpumalanga.

Wildlife Consulting Services

We have consulted both locally and internationally, implementing management strategies in national parks, zoos and for private clients. We have been involved in many conservation projects and breeding project management for many years, and have a great deal of knowledge to share. Should a client require assistance in setting up a project, actively managing a project, or upgrading an existing project, we can provide expert management services.

Research – Clinical Trials, Equipment

Working closely with Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd, our research department helps test new drugs and management systems for the wildlife veterinary industry. This is done through a combination of field tests and controlled boma tests. In conjunction with various PhD programs, the data is worked, and conclusive reports are compiled. Our research programs can be run year round, with every aspect being handled in-house.

Meet the team

Dr Cobus Raath – cobus@wildlifevets.com

Dr Chris Smith – vet2@wildlifevets.com

+27 73 294 4279

Dr Hayden Cuthill – vet1@wildlifevets.com

+27 82 413 3096

Louis van Wyk– capture@wildlifevets.com

+27 71 462 4775

Our vision is to enhance veterinary participation in global sustainable conservation through local implementation of conservation medicine principles.


Courses

“It's time to leave your footprints in Africa.”

This is your opportunity to be part of the planning, preparing, executing, cleaning up, interpreting, discussing and researching the everyday life in a wildlife veterinary practice.

Introduction to Conservation Medicine

The Introduction to Conservation Medicine Program


This is a two-week course that is specifically tailored to veterinary students. There are a maximum of 12 students per course. You will accompany the veterinary and game capture teams on call-outs, and we try to give you the maximum practical opportunities and to participate in all procedures.


The course covers both theoretical and practical components. The veterinary team will try and cover as much of the theory through a series of structured lectures, but it may not always be possible as the program will focus on practical field experience. There will be some fixed sessions which include pathology lectures and a dedicated day to the veterinary care of reptiles.


There will be at least one visit during your stay to offer primary veterinary health care to the communities on the border of the Kruger National Park. You will have the opportunity to work with cattle, goats, and dogs in the human-wildlife conflict areas and learn how important disease control is.


You will also have the chance to have a game drive in the magnificent Kruger National Park, as well as explore some of the best views that the Mpumalanga Province has to offer!




Amenities


You will stay on our farm, in the “Africa House.” There are 2 large rooms with 5 beds in each and 2 smaller rooms with 2 beds in each. This will be your base for the duration of the course. We may have to spend a night out from time to time depending on the work schedule. If we do have to travel for work, we will organize the necessary accommodation at no extra fee.

Qualifications to Apply


  • You must be a veterinary student.
  • Candidates must have a particular interest in wildlife medicine and conservation.
  • Candidates must be comfortable with remote living and limited amenities.
  • Candidates must have a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.
  • Candidates must be proficient in English.


Cost of Course


The cost will be US$ 4000 per student for the course. (Unfortunately, we do not offer discounts for a shorter stay.)


Once your application is approved, you will need to pay a US$ 1500 deposit to secure your spot.

(Banking Details will be on your invoice. Deposits are non-refundable.)

Your application turn around period is 3 days. If you have not heard from us, you are welcome to follow up via mail: sourcetreecourses@wildlifevets.net


The final outstanding balance of the course fees are to be paid 60 days before the start date of your course.


Should you cancel your trip 30 days or less before arrival the final payment is not refundable.



INCLUDED :

  • Collection and drop-off at KMIA Airport or bus station
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinners are provided with some snacks during the day.

-(there is a R1500-00 surcharge fee for students with specific dietary requirements)

  • Weekly change of towels
  • WIFI
  • Wildlifevets.com scrub top to wear during field work
  • Laundry (only on the middle Friday of the course) any extra loads will be charged an additional R500.00 cash per extra bag of laundry.

Excluded :

  • Travel Costs to and from South Africa


If you are interested in the Introduction to Conservation Medicine Course, we would like to hear from you.

Please send an email to sourcetreecourses@wildlifevets.net

WILDLIFEVETS.COM INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION MEDICINE COURSES 2024 and 2025

There are several courses in a year and in each of these courses we take a maximum of twelve candidates.

2024

COURSE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

ARRIVE

7 - APR

21 - APR

26 - MAY

16 - JUN

30 - JUN

14 - JUL

18 - AUG

1 - SEP

DEPART

20- APR

4- MAY

8 - JUN

29 - JUN

13 - JUL

27 - JUL

31 - AUG

14 - SEP

STATUS

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

COURSE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2025

ARRIVE

20 - APR

4 - MAY

25 - MAY

8 - JUN

29 - JUN

13 - JUL

17 - AUG

7 - SEP

DEPART

3 - MAY

17 - MAY

7 - JUN

21 - JUN

12 - JUL

26 - JUL

30 - AUG

20 - SEP

STATUS

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

OPEN

OPEN

OPEN

OPEN

FULLY BOOKED

OPEN

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Internship Program


The internship program is a 27-day course that runs throughout the year except for January and February. You will accompany the veterinary and capture teams on every call-out (day or night!). As an intern, you will be incorporated into the team at every level, from the practical side, to the general running of a wildlife veterinary practice in South Africa. The internships run concurrently with the Introduction to Conservation Medicine Courses, and you will also form part of the “Instructors Team” and help facilitate the student programs.


You will receive two theoretical assignments, each on a relevant topic to the practice. At the end of your stay, you will present your topics to the veterinarians and students. As we do not go out every single day, (highly unpredictable) the off times are used for completing the theoretical projects, conducting procedure reviews and assisting in preparation and planning for upcoming activities.


We suggest that you rent your own vehicle during your stay. This will allow you to be more flexible, so that if there is some quiet time, you can do some of your own exploring in the area (such as a game drive in the Kruger National Park).


As we are involved in many countries in Africa, you may have to travel with us, so come prepared for anything.

Amenities


The candidates stay in a separate facility on our farm, each in their own room with a small kitchenette and their own fire and barbeque area. The Intern Program is self-catering, and each candidate will be required to prepare their own food. “Town Runs” will be done occasionally for shopping.

Qualifications to Apply


·You must be a qualified veterinarian or veterinary nurse.

·Candidates must have a particular interest in wildlife medicine and conservation.

·Candidates must be comfortable with remote living and limited amenities.

·Candidates must have a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.

·Candidates must be proficient in English.


COST OF INTERNSHIP


The cost for the internship is US$ 4 050.00 per slot. (Unfortunately, we do not offer discounts for a shorter stay.)


A non-refundable US$ 1500 will be required to book a slot.

(Banking Details will be on your invoice. Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE.)


Your application turn around period is 3 days. If you have not heard from us, you are welcome to follow up via email to vet2@wildlifevets.com or vet1@wildlifevets.com


The final outstanding balance of the course fees is to be paid 60 days before the start date of your course.


Should you cancel your trip 30 days or less before arrival, the final payment is not refundable.


Included :


·Collection and Drop-Off at KMIA Airport or bus station

·Daily cleaning of the room

·Weekly change of linen and towels

·WIFI

·Desk space in the vet’s offices

·Wildlifevets.com scrub top to wear during field work


Excluded :


·Travel Costs to and from South Africa

·Food and beverages

·Laundry (This is done off-site due to water constraints, but can be done in “Town Runs”)

·Any private excursions



If you are interested, we would like to hear from you.

Please send an email to vet2@wildlifevets.com or vet1@wildlifevets.com with:


·Your CV

·A short explanation of your interest in wildlife

·Your preferred slots (3) in order of preference

WILDLIFEVETS.COM INTERNSHIP ROSTER

FOR 2024 and 2025

There are ten identified Slots in a year and In each of these slots we take a maximum of two candidates.


2024

SLOT NR

Slot 1

Slot 2

Slot 3

Slot 4

Slot 5

Slot 6

Slot 7

Slot 8

Slot 9

Slot 10

ARRIVE

02-MAR

30-MAR

27-APR

25-MAY

22-JUN

20-JUL

17-AUG

14-SEP

14-OCT

10-NOV

DEPART

29-MAR

26-APR

24-MAY

21-JUN

19-JUL

16-AUG

13-SEP

13-OCT

09-NOV

07-DEC

AVAILABLE SLOTS

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

FULLY BOOKED

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2025

SLOT NR

Slot 1

Slot 2

Slot 3

Slot 4

Slot 5

Slot 6

Slot 7

Slot 8

Slot 9

Slot 10

ARRIVE

02-MAR

30-MAR

27-APR

25-MAY

22-JUN

20-JUL

17-AUG

14-SEP

14-OCT

10-NOV

DEPART

29-MAR

26-APR

24-MAY

21-JUN

19-JUL

16-AUG

13-SEP

13-OCT

09-NOV

07-DEC

AVAILABLE SLOTS

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Community Student Program

GOINING THE EXTRA MILE

Community Program


During the summer months when the wildlife work is limited to emergency work due to the heat and rain, the practice tends to focus more on community projects and activities including:


  • Veterinary services
  • Clinical Medical Assistance
  • Disease investigation and control
  • Writing management plans, implementation and monitoring
  • One Health Program on all our adjacent interfaces


You will have a lot of practical experience working with cattle and dogs, offering primary animal health care to those less fortunate. You will also assist the team if there are any wildlife emergencies during this time.

The course will be limited to 4 students at a time to maximize the practical opportunities. All in all, it is an exciting learning experience. This is a real opportunity to make a difference in peoples, and their domestic animals’ lives.


Amenities


The candidates stay in a separate facility on our farm, each in their own room with a small kitchenette and their own fire and barbeque area. The Community Student Program is self-catering, and each candidate will be required to prepare their own food. “Town Runs” will be done occasionally for shopping.


Qualifications to Apply


  • You must be a veterinary or veterinary nurse student.
  • Candidates must have a particular interest in conservation medicine.
  • Candidates must be comfortable with remote living and limited amenities.
  • Candidates must have a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.
  • Candidates must be proficient in English.


Cost of THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM


The cost will be US$ 1500 per slot. (Unfortunately, we do not offer discounts for a shorter stay).


A non-refundable deposit of US$ 750 will be required to book your slot.

(Banking Details will be on your invoice. Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE)


Your application turn around period is 3 days. If you have not heard from us, you are welcome to follow up via email to vet2@wildlifevets.com or vet1@wildlifevets.com


The final outstanding balance of the course fees are to be paid 60 days before the start date of your course.


Should you cancel your trip 30 days or less before arrival the final payment is not refundable.


Included :


·Collection and Drop-Off at KMIA Airport or bus station

·Daily cleaning of the room

·Weekly change of linen and towels

·WIFI

·Wildlifevets.com scrub top to wear during field work


Excluded :


·Travel costs to and from South Africa

·Food and beverages

·Laundry (This is done off-site due to water constraints, but can be done in “Town Runs”)

·Any private excursions


If you are interested, we would like to hear from you.

Please send an email to vet2@wildlifevets.com or vet1@wildlifevets.com with:


·Add:

  • Your CV
  • A short explanation of your interest in conservation medicine and community work
  • And your preferred slot

WILDLIFEVETS.COM COMMUNITY PROGRAM ROSTER

There are only 3 slots in a year and in each of these slots we take a maximum of four candidates.


2025

ARRIVE

12 - JAN

26 - JAN

09 - FEB

DEPART

25 - JAN

08 - FEB

22 - FEB

AVAILABLE SLOTS:

4

4

4

Zoo, exotics and wildlife anaesthesia course

(Qualified vets only)

More information coming soon

2024

COURSE

1

ARRIVE

4- AUG

DEPART

17 - AUG

STATUS

FULLY BOOKED

COURSE

1

ARRIVE

3 - AUG

2025

DEPART

16 - AUG

STATUS

OPEN

GENRAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO South AFRICA

It can be daunting traveling to a new country or even continent. Here are some guidelines to help you be better prepared in planning your trip and knowing what to expect. PLEASE NOTE: You will be attending the course in South Africa, a country in Africa, and NOT Southern Africa which refers to a region of the African continent. South Africa is a well-developed country, with a very good infrastructure. This also means that we are not affected by most of the issues you might encounter on the media regarding Africa. If you are unsure of anything, you are welcome to check with us directly.

General information:


  • Our currency is Rand (ZAR). Most stores accept Mastercard and Visa. We suggest you don’t carry more than R500.00 cash on you. There are ATM’s at most filling stations if you need to draw more cash.
  • We have 11 official languages in South Africa.
  • We work on 220V – 240V AC @ 50Hz. We have a type M wall socket. We advise you to buy these converters at a South African airport.
  • Our country is almost double the size of Texas. We are bordered by Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Flights and travel:


·Flights are not included in the course fees.

·Fly from your country of origin to OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.

·Should you need to stay over in Johannesburg, please stay close to the airport and use a Shuttle service provided by the Hotel. There is a City Lodge Hotel based at OR International Airport.

(Be aware of whom you use for transport in order to travel efficiently and safely.)


·Then you have 2 options:


OPTION 1:

Take a connecting flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA – quickest option after a long flight).


OPTION 2:

Take the Lime Time or City Bug bus shuttle to Nelspruit. Lime Time & City Bug Bookings


Whichever option you choose to suit you best, give us your arrival times and we will fetch you from either KMIA or the respective bus stop in Nelspruit. Remember to send us your itinerary to sourctreecourses@wildlifevets.net

General course information


  • Be prepared for any kind of weather. Generally the temperatures are around 10°C (50°F) and up to 30° Celsius (86°F), but in some areas where we work during the winter months (June to August), the temperatures can go below freezing. In the middle of summer (January and February), temperatures can exceed 40° Celsius (86°F).
  • If you have forgotten something, you’ll most likely be able to buy it from a store at OR Tambo International Airport. Alternatively, we will do our best to assist you in Mbombela.
  • You’ll be staying at Ngongoni Lodge. We are located on a game farm in a rural area. Due to busy course schedules, limited vehicles, and our location, we can’t always just “nip into town”.
  • We do NOT allow visits to bars/clubs in the evenings. All evening activities are based on the farm, unless it is necessary to sleep out due to capture logistics.
  • We always advise that students pay a visit to their doctor and get a broad spectrum antibiotic for JUST IN CASE! In the case of emergencies, Nelspruit has world-class hospital facilities. Please ensure that you share your medical insurance details with us before you arrive.
  • Please ensure that you are up-to-date with your rabies vaccinations. You will be working with the dogs in the rural communities (the risk is low, but there are occasional rabies cases in our area.)
  • The lodge is located in a low-risk Malaria area. You will be entering areas with Malaria, but a good repellent is the best defense. We do not take Malaria medication ourselves.
  • Be aware of the medication you take – it is not always necessary, and the side effects may prevent you from having the best experience on the course.
  • During the course, you are in our care, and we make every effort to ensure your safety and well being. Please do not arrange private trips with friends or other operators during the course.
  • No one is permitted to leave the group during the course, or on captures, with any person that does NOT work for Source Tree Pty Ltd, Wildlifevets.com or Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd.



Your Stay


  • We do offer free Wi-Fi at the lodge. (Our main service provider is Vodacom: www.vodacom.co.za.)
  • It is advisable to activate your international roaming whilst you are still in your home country.
  • You are welcome to go for a run in the early morning or late afternoon. Always have a buddy with you.
  • We have credit card facilities at the lodge. We accept only Mastercard and Visa.


Our History

Dr Cobus Raath took his first step in his career when he joined the team of Kruger National Park in 1983 as the Veterinarian for the National Parks Board in South Africa. After over a decade of working for the National Parks, where he helped to develop various research and management plans which are still in place to this day, he decided to move into the private sector in the late 1990's.

Comprehending the need to advance conservation medicine globally, Dr Raath joined forces with Dr William Lance of Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (USA), and added even more expertise to Southern Africa. Not long after in 1997, Dr Raath registered Wildlife Pharmaceuticals South Africa. This exceptional move demonstrated not only his love and passion for what he was doing, but his vision for the future of conservation in South Africa.

Wildlifevets.com was established in 2001. It was, and has been based since, just outside Mbombela in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Starting as a veterinary practice with Dr Raath’s skill and passion, it has grown into a force in the wildlife industry, educating, developing, and working throughout the world.

Privacy and Policy

Who we are

Our website address is: https://www.wildlifevets.com.

What personal data we collect and why we collect it


Comments

When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.

An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

Media

If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.

Contact forms

Cookies

If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.

Embedded content from other websites

Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.


Analytics

Who we share your data with, and how long we retain your data

If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.

For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

What rights you have over your data

If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Where we send your data

Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

STAY CONNECTED

字母f图标
Black Instagram Icon