Monitor animals in the african bush as part of a greater conservation effort
We have an exciting opportunity for students to join a wildlife research internship in Victoria Falls! This is a chance to gain field experience with a wildlife conservation organization within the stunning African bush and be on the forefront of various conservation intiatives.
As an intern, you’ll monitor animals – such as lions, hyenas, and ostriches – and their habitat, as part of a larger research program in the area. You’ll be part of a dedicated team of researchers, interns, and volunteers, and you’ll be based in a tented camp in a beautiful nature reserve.
All this will happen in the most magical setting; not only will you be spending most of your time in the field, surrounded by incredible wildlife, but you’ll also be a short drive away from the famous Victoria Falls. During time off, you can enjoy these waterfalls, the welcoming town, boat cruises on the mighty Zambezi River, and plenty of other activities.
Apply now for this adventurous wildlife internship in Zimbabwe!
ORGANIZATION
While on this wildlife conservation internship, you’ll be part of a wildlife and research trust that operates a broad range of wildlife research projects. Their work focuses on lions, hyenas, other large mammals, ostriches, birds, as well as vegetation. Moreover, they run a range of community support and development initiatives, focused on human wildlife conflict mitigation, conservation education, education, and health. Their wide range of initiatives provides a broad spectrum of opportunities for experiential learning in an African context; an ideal setting for an internship in Africa!
Several papers and publications have arisen from the organization’s research, either authored by the team or by interns. Where possible, the trust also works with other conservation NGOs in the area to support them in their work through the collected data.
Though projects regularly change and evolve, here are some examples of wildlife research programs you might get involved in within Zambezi National Park;
- Monitoring and managing anti-poaching efforts and data collection.
- Evaluating current deterrents of human – wildlife conflicts in the area.
- Doing conservation education sessions in local schools.
- Studying the biodiversity of the park.
- Studying predators (lion, wild dog, leopard, hyena, and cheetah) and their habitat use.
- Conducting bird surveys.
- Assist in daily care and upkeep of captive animals through feeding, cleaning, behavior enrichment, and more.
TASKS & REQUIREMENTS
Participants on this wildlife research internship will be an integral part of the project. You’ll work closely with the research team to collect and analyse data on wildlife in the area. Gain hands-on experience while assisting the conservation of magnificent animals through unique and unforgettable close encounters in their natural habitat.
What you’ll do
Depending on the need and season, you could be involved in the following research:
- Big Cat Research
- GPS Data Analysis
- Biodiversity Studies
- Habitat Mapping
- Predator Surveys
- Bird Monitoring
- Vegetation Assessments
- QGIS Mapping
- Nocturnal Mammal Surveys
- Camera Trapping
- Anti-Poaching Initiatives
- Game Management
Wildlife management internships allow involvement in all aspects of captive animal care and research including the creation of new studies, monitoring existing ones, and creating reports that reflect the progress of each research program. All animal based research is non-invasive, with the majority being based on observational studies of the animals in their captive environment.
Requirements
- A minimum age of 21
- A strong attention to detail
- Ideally post-graduate level of a relevant study program
- Prior relevant work experience is a preference
- NB. Preference for candidates that can stay a minimum of 8 weeks but shorter stays are sometimes possible as well
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
The volunteer/intern village is a lovely tented camp in the Fuller Forest estate, a 20-drive from Victoria Falls. This wonderful natural area is 2000 hectares of flora and fauna surrounding the camp. You’ll stay in spacious safari tents of 4 to 6 people, with a large ablution block a few steps away. Down time is spent in the lounge, which overlooks a waterhole and allows you to watch animals that come drinking.
Your accommodation during this wildlife research internship will be shared with other interns and project volunteers. It’s basic, but comfortable and provides the perfect venue for building friendships. A cozy lounge offers a relaxing place in the evening for games, movie nights and other gatherings, while a large dining area plays host at mealtimes.
Transport to and from town is provided at scheduled times and taxis can be arranged, meaning that weekends can be spent taking in everything this small and welcoming town has to offer; curio shops, galleries, boutiques, bars and restaurants – not to mention free roaming baboons! A visit to the mighty Victoria Falls themselves is a must too.
DATES & RATES
You can arrive for / start this internship every two weeks on a Monday and in July and August every week. Please enquire about available dates.
What you’ll pay in 2023
4 weeks USD 3,050
6 weeks USD 4,250
8 weeks USD 5,450
10 weeks USD 6,650
12 weeks USD 7,850
What you are paying for:
- Accommodation
- 3 meals per day
- Airport transfers
- Park access fees on the ground
- All logistics and transport on the ground
- Laundry service
- Housekeeping service
- Wifi access
- Careful matchmaking, it takes time to find the right internship for each person, and we take this process very seriously
- Initial interview with one of our team to gauge your skills, interests, and desired learning outcomes
- Assistance with your visa arrangement & other preparations
- Supervision and support during your internship
- Check-ins and feedback from your supervisor
- A reference letter at the end of your internship
- Personal account on NexGen Careers, a career development platform that offers content & courses focused on exploring different career opportunities
- Troubleshooting if needed
Excludes:
- Flights to Victoria Falls
- Visa, permit, and medical & travel insurance costs for the duration of your placement – must include cover for repatriation
- Drinks, snacks, and items of personal nature (f.e. curios, gifts, clothing)
- Costs for additional excursions or activities
QUICK FACTS
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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe |
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Wildlife and Research Trust |
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Wildlife Research, Conservation |
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Min. 4 Weeks |
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From USD 3,050 |
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
”This internship exceeded my expectations. The work was exactly as i hoped it would be and I was able to learn a lot about local people, the wildlife, photography, animal tracking, and about my own goals. I learned a lot about human and animal interactions and why the conservation work is so important. The experiences confirmed for me that i really want to work in this field. I'm very proud that i was able to contribute to this organization and their work and I'm proud that i was able to learn so much.
Simon, Germany, wildlife research internship
INTERNSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Gain field experience in wildlife research and conservation
- Develop your data collection, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting skills
- Opportunity to get involved with community support and development initiatives
- Live and work in the African bush surrounded by amazing wildlife
- Visit the stunning Victoria Falls, enjoy boat cruises on the Zambezi rivers, and visit the friendly towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone (in Zambia)
4 WEEKS USD 3,050
8 WEEKS USD 5,450
12 WEEKS USD 7,850
8 WEEKS USD 5,450
12 WEEKS USD 7,850
HOW TO APPLY
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
APPLY
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV with us.
SPEAK WITH AN ADVISOR
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
INTERNSHIP MATCHING
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
CONFIRMATION
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you all the information you need.
PAYMENT
We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit. Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
NEED TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY FIRST?
Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!
