Location:

Cape Town, South Africa

Program Type:

Intern Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer, Year Round

Work Types:

Animal Sciences, Sciences & Environment, Social Sciences

Program Overview

Program Description:

Like a cuddle and a bath with a lion? It's not as scary as it sounds, we promise! Our friends at the lion center in South Africa offer a range of activities to get you involved in the everyday activities around the running of the center. Life down at the lion center is laid back, full of hungry mouths to feed, enclosures to clean and even lions to swim with (weather permitting!). It's not all about the rural and quiet life though, you are within easy reach of the amazing Pilanesberg Game reserve, cultural village and also a casino! Talk about getting the best of both worlds!

Trip Highlights: * Swim with lions at the center - have a swimming race! * Make friends with the giraffes leaning over your shoulder at breakfast, demanding a share of your food * Interact with the charming cheetahs at the centre!

Why does the project need volunteers? With so many mouths to feed and with such a big centre, there is a lot of maintenance and management to uphold. Lion cubs alone are demanding and need to be fed every few hours in their first few months! As a volunteer you will assist the staff with daily tasks to help make sure everything runs smoothly. You’ll also bring fresh enthusiasm to the team, which is always appreciated. Outgoing volunteers with a passion for animals, as well as people, will get the most out of their time at the park, since a lot of the work involves interacting with the public. The more proactive you are, the more you will get out of this experience!

Setting Description:

What’s the project like? The lion center is approximately 208 hectares, so it’s pretty big! It’s situated in a rural location but has a constant stream of visitors as it is featured in many guide books - and you'll be able to say that you've lived and worked here! The center is open to the public and visitors can play with baby lion cubs as well as drive through the adult lion enclosures. We don't want to say too much, but we've seen some pretty famous celebrities visit the park too! Shakira, Rod Stewart and Arsene Wenger to name a few...we obviously can't guarantee any celebrity visits though...shame.