GVI, Ethical Impact: Internships in South Africa

I had the most wonderful time in South Africa where I stayed for 4 weeks, wish I could of stayed longer! It was a once in a life time experience and I couldn't recommend it any more. We saw amazing and beautiful animals and helped with their conservation each day on game drives and back at the base. Some of the things we helped with included spotlighting, camera traps, tracking the cheetah, vegetation surveys and prey counts, bush clearance, and data collection. I met amazing like minded people along the way and had the best time!

I thoroughly enjoyed my 6 weeks at Gvi Limpopo, getting to see the African wildlife so closely was amazing. The living conditions are basic but overall I had an amazing time and would recommend to a friend. One thing that you should be prepared for is the lack of lectures and education, the staff will always help you where they can but in terms of structured lessons, I wish there had been more to help get a career within the area.
I had an amazing time due to the people I was there with, I got really lucky

The program in Limpopo was without a doubt the best experience of my life! Being able to spend 6 months in the African bush is something I will never forget, and even better it felt like I was making a positive impact on the conservation whilst I was there. We also positively influenced the local community, getting to go into schools, teach the kids about conservation topics, and see the enjoyment on their faces, something I will always remember. I learnt so many new skills whilst I was out there, both in terms of scientific field research and personal life skills, meeting people from around the world and making lifelong friends! The staff on base made every day exciting and unique, and I would recommend anyone thinking about doing this to push yourself out of your comfort zone and go for it, you won't regret it!

It has always been my dream to work with animals and conservation. Joining the gvi team in Limpopo and being able to see wildlife as they should, learning about them, and actually contribute to conservation is a dream come true. Learning the know-hows, living simply, and meeting new people are just a few of the perks I've experienced during this time. The internship is hard work but everything is worth it at the end of the day. The staff are always helpful and fellow interns/volunteers are supportive.

Following graduation, I was looking for conservation experience in-the-field. GVI has always been on my radar as one of the best organisations for that kind of work, and after graduating it was a no-brainer for me to head out on one of their programmes. I volunteered with GVI as a Research Fellow for two months, at their GVI Limpopo base in South Africa. For eight weeks, I held a daily schedule of fieldwork research, stimulating workshops and beautiful animal encounters - it was incredible. The team at GVI Limpopo are the best mentors you could ask for to show you the ropes of the African bush. Experts in the field, they have a wealth of knowledge to pass on, and every minute was a learning experience.

I was really interested in the career prospects that GVI offers too. Aside from the considerable experience gained from the programme, the online modules and qualifications that GVI provides are impressive, and will help to improve anybody’s career skill-set. I’m looking forward to applying my GVI programme towards job applications in the coming future.

GVI Limpopo helped expand my perspective of conservation, from the lessons learned in-the-field, to the conversations and interactions I had with people from all over the world. The programme enhanced my understanding of conservation issues, as multi-faceted projects. I hope that the experience I gained will help me to make a better impact in a career in conservation.

The programme was one of the greatest experiences of my life. From the people, the place, the wildlife and the projects it was an unforgettable two months. I’d 100% recommend it, and I’m already looking at my next GVI programme.

As an intern on Karongwe, you get the wonderful experience of being in the middle of the bush. Nothing can beat it. The staff is amazing and always willing to answer questions and help out no matter what. As an intern, you learn how to service and look through camera traps, how to use telemetry equipment, how to be a leader for projects on base, and get to immerse yourself in a new culture. No day out in South Africa is the same. There are always wonders awaiting you. Every day brings magical experiences, one day you may see the Cheetah boys drinking at a dam, or they suddenly walk in front of the car while on a Bird Survey. Another day might have you experience and see the elephants walk in front of the car to munch on the newly green leaves rain has brought.

I am a thirty-something from Pennsylvania who ventured to GVI Limpopo South Africa. I decided to take a break from my current career and get involved with the wildlife conservation internship. I was there for a total of 5 weeks. I loved the experience so much I extended a week while on base. I would recommend this program to anyone who is a nature enthusiast and especially big 5 animal lover. You will get the most out of this experience if you stay 6-8weeks. Being self-directed is an important skill to be fully invested in the impact you are making. Get used to little sleep, cold showers, bad coffee, fluctuating temperatures and hand washed laundry, it is part of the experience. If you can go with the flow and don’t mind a minimal, communal living you will love this adventure. Every morning you watch the sunrise and every evening the sunset. I am a learner for life, so the internship program was a great way to stretch my “book brain” since it has been sometime since formal in-school education. You will learn everything from animal behavior, bird identification and calls, invertebrate and soil surveys, trees and invasive species, reserve work and more. The most amazing take away is all the friendships you will acquire for a lifetime. Go, Enjoy and don’t forget your camera!!!

I've been interning with GVI in Limpopo, South Africa for a little over a month now and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have always wanted to do conservation work in Africa and GVI made that dream possible. Interns work 6 days a week with Sundays off. We go on two game drives, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. We all have different responsibilities on drives whether its entering data, using the telemetry or preparing snacks for mid drive. Every day you can see something different. My favorite sighting so far was when we witnessed a leopard chase down an impala. Or it might be when a herd of elephants walked right passed the cruiser. I don't really know there are just too many moments! If you intern with GVI in South Africa you will definitely experience moments like this as well. It is a lot of work here but it is rewarding. You meet new people who have the same interests and goals as you and they can turn into lifelong friends. I recommend doing an internship with GVI.