EcoLife's Professional Veterinary Expeditions aim to broaden the experiences of Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Nurses in the rich wildlife areas of South Africa. Private nature reserves provide unique opportunities to gain insight into the daily activities of the wildlife veterinarian, clinical practices and breeding of endangered species.

There is never a dull moment - game capture, rehabilitation facilities, rhino orphanages, anti-poaching practices, rural community outreaches, game viewing in our National Parks and various other activities. Our program isn't staged and every expedition is unique.

The program is 50 credit AVMA RACE approved. EcoLife's program is also CPD certified.

Your flight will arrive at OR Tambo International Airport. As you exit the customs area, you will be greeted by a super size statue of Oliver Tambo. EcoLife Representatives will meet you at the Arrivals Hall and take you to your overnight stay near the airport.

We leave the city behind after breakfast and drive towards the wildlife areas of our beautiful country.

The day is spent at a predator rehab facility that rescues predators from all over the world. The animals have all either been pets, in a circus or illegal zoos.

Donkeys are still used as transport animals and often mistreated. We visit the sanctuary and provide veterinary care to these beautiful gentle animals.

We spend the day with our wildlife veterinarian partaking in various activities involving game capture and clinical care of the animals on the private wildlife reserves in the area.

Rhino poaching is a huge problem often resulting in orphans being left behind by poachers. Rhino orphanages play a vital role in the preservation of these prehistoric animals.

We'll also visit a sanctuary for vervet monkeys who are often victims of people who acquire baby monkeys and realize they aren't pets when they are confronted with the adult monkey.

Wildlife management on private wildlife reserves requires intensive care and we spend the day with our wildlife veterinarian on his call-outs.

We travel further east, down the Drakensberg Mountains escarpment to the lowveld. We hike along the banks of the Olifants river and Prof Wouter van Hoven shares insights into wildlife conservation and his research spanning 40 years at the Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria.

Wildlife veterinary work requires disease control, vaccination and ensuring rural communities receive veterinary care for their animals.

Hands-on clinical and care work forms part of our program.

The most vulnerable trafficked animal is the pangolin. Visiting a pangolin care facility is eye-opening. We also visit a wildlife rehab center that rescues various animals who were victims of poisoning, road accidents, power lines, wind turbines and other unfortunate accidents.

Wildlife veterinarians need to dart animals from a helicopter at times. We'll fly with out experienced game capture helicopter pilots and practice shooting at a target from the air.

We depart for South Africa's flagship conservation area - Kruger National Park.

Driving south through the park and enjoying the biodiversity of Kruger National Park, we end the day with lectures from a seasoned manager of the park.

We spend a day just enjoying the African Bushveld and all she has to offer.

Driving through Kruger Park and back up the escarpment, we return to the airport in time for your flight back home.

And we hope to see you again!

Please note that the itinerary is a broad overview of activities. The fine schedule will be provided closer to departure.