Travel to South Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, the Greater Kruger National Park, and research ways to protect its wildlife
This thrilling opportunity lets biology students gain incredible research experience while living and working in the Greater Kruger National Park alongside Africa’s most iconic wildlife.
This program places you with a long-standing environmental conservation organization with a research center situated in the Greater Kruger Park. This versatile organization engages in a range of wildlife management, landscape security, and community outreach projects all working towards one key objective: to support management in making informed decisions based on scientific evidence.
Research underpins all of the organization’s activities from anti-poaching units to vegetation control. As an intern, you’ll help conduct this research. There are multiple active projects at any time, so the focus of your internship depends on when you join and what you’re interested in. These projects could have you monitoring hyena populations, tracking temporal changes in vegetation, or developing elephant deterrents. Your findings can be used in a university thesis or published in peer-reviewed scientific journals too.
Learning objectives
Transfrontier Africa is a long-standing wildlife conservation organization that works from its research facility in the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa to develop wildlife management practices and strategies. They function as part of a network of wildlife research institutions to devise evidence-based projects to foster successful cohabitation of wildlife and local communities and respond to wildlife conservation crises.
Fueled by their research, the organization collaborates with management teams of wildlife parks and reserves, implements on-the-ground wildlife management and security strategies, and runs community outreach and education programs. With multiple projects on the go at any given time, the organization makes a tangible impact on the conservation of rare species, habitat protection, and anti-poaching efforts.
Projects vary across the year, so the project you join depends on when you apply (see the projects we’re currently hiring for below). In any case, you’ll join a small team of two researchers and three field technicians and conduct independent research projects under the supervision of the research coordinator. Amidst a weekly schedule of team meetings, fieldwork, and short lectures on local wildlife when necessary, interns will conduct literature reviews, analyze data collected, and write reports.
We are currently hiring for the following research projects:
Temporal Changes in Vegetation Structure and Communities
This project seeks to analyze vast data sets collected via fixed-point photography since 2019. The research aims to identify trends in vegetation phenology and identify the factors within the ecosystem that cause these trends.
Alien Vegetation Monitoring
This project seeks to study the effectiveness of control methods for invasive alien species, as these reduce biodiversity and disrupt ecological functions, being a threat to ecosystems and native species.
Wildlife Monitoring
This projects seeks to closely monitor threatened and iconic species (rhinos, wild dogs, Southern ground-hornbills, and vultures) and the data is shared with various conservation programs.
Ecological Carrying Capacity
This project seeks to yearly evaluate vegetation composition and density to assess the ecological carrying capacity of the reserve in order to compare to the game count data.
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Along with Predator Diet Analysis, Subterranean Waters, and Human-Elephant Conflict projects. Depending on your interest, you can be assigned to a specific project, assist an MSc/PhD student on their research, or assist in the general ecological monitoring with the research team. The available projects and where you may thrive best will be discussed with you during the application process.
Interns will stay at the Ndlovu Bush Camp in Olifants West Nature Reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park. The camp consists of basic but comfortable brick chalets with thatched roofs and shared rooms, an open-air communal area, a kitchen, open-air bathrooms, and a viewing deck. All chalets are equipped with rudimentary solar panels, but electricity is limited. You’ll also occasionally work at the Reserves offices if your projects require it.
The camp and office are both safe from crime, however being an open camp in a Big 5 area, there are wildlife risks to be aware of. For this reason, interns are accompanied by professional security teams protecting the teams from local wildlife threats.
The camp is equipped with solar panels that provide electricity depending on the weather. The camp also has its wifi modem and signal connection however computer work can be challenging for the camp.
Interns are provided with three meals a day plus snacks at the camp apart from weekends if interns choose to participate in local outings. All food eaten while on external excursions will be at interns’ own expense. Meals at camp will be prepared by the interns themselves and other volunteers on a rota.
Your camp is located in the Olifants West Nature Reserve which forms part of South Africa’s Greater Kruger Park. This is a Big 5 area of the park so you can expect some incredible wildlife sights from the camp’s viewing deck. The camp is also open, meaning wildlife is free to roam through.
You can start your internship every week with arrivals on Monday.
What you’ll pay (2025 rates)
8 weeks USD 3,679
12 weeks USD 4,621
16 weeks USD 5,563
20 weeks USD 6,505
26 weeks USD 7,918
Some of our most commonly asked questions for programs in South Africa.
During your internship in South Africa you can expect to meet people from around the world, as well as indulging yourself into the culture of this beautiful country! If you want to know more about what to expect, make sure to check out our top 7 reasons for an internship in Cape Town.
Yes! We partner with various activity organizers that can offer discounts exclusive to Roots Interns, for example, a road trip through the Garden Route and bungee jumping off the world’s largest natural bungee. You may also explore the country on your own and we are happy to give recommendations.
Yes! You are able to do a part-time internship with certain organizations so that you can continue your studies, while also gaining valuable work experience.
Unfortunately, no. When working with a nonprofit organization, your internship will be unpaid, but there are many ways to fund your internship. Your experience will bring a wealth of knowledge and opportunities for both professional and personal growth that are invaluable!
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.
Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
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!
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.TEST
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
