Veterinary Medicine in South Africa

Micaela Chaffin Start Date: Feb 7, 2019 - End Date: Jun 6, 2019
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Professional Development
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Blouberg, South Africa

My Travel Story

by: Micaela Chaffin Start Date: Feb 7, 2019 - End Date: Jun 6, 2019
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Professional Development
  • Volunteer Trip
This summer, I will be traveling to South Africa for three weeks to further my veterinary medicine education! While there, I will be spending half of my time in the Blouberg Animal Clinic helping the local vets, and the other half of my time will be spent with Veterinarians out in the wild. My time in the clinic will involve carrying out necropsies and dealing with diseases such as canine distemper and various tick borne diseases. Some cases may be more unique to South Africa, such as treatment of exotic diseases, different snake bites or injuries caused by wildlife like baboons or warthogs. My time in the “bush” will consist of darting the wild animals to conduct pregnancy tests, give vaccinations, and to capture/relocate the wild animals. Here, I will have the opportunity to work mostly on buffalo and antelope, however I may also get the opportunity to work with giraffes, zebras, and possibly even rhinos (if I’m lucky). This opportunity will present me with a chance to not only further my veterinary education, but to help boost my Vet school application, as I will be applying to go to Vet school for Fall 2020. This will also give me the travel that I crave, and help me to broaden my cultural understanding. This will be the experience of a lifetime, that I will never forget. I started this fundraising page to help pay for my flight to South Africa, and to offer a way for my friends and family to support my trip.
  • Blouberg, South Africa