Emily is a final-year North Dakota State University Biological Sciences student specializing in Ecology and Conservation, with minors in Zoology and Anthropology. Driven by a lifelong passion for wildlife preservation, Emily proactively sought field opportunities to complement her rigorous academic background.
She recently completed a Reserve Management & Research internship in South Africa, gaining critical, hands-on experience in the study and protection of African elephants and their ecosystems. As an aspiring African elephant conservationist, Emily is leveraging this practical foundation to propel her toward graduate school and a meaningful career in field research.
Hi Emily! Tell us about your internship experience - what were you involved in?
There was so much to do!
The main tasks of my Reserve Management & Research internship included:
- Collaborating with a multidisciplinary, international team during data collection and input.
- Conducting research and collecting data on a personal research project.
- Assisting with long-term biodiversity surveys, general labor, camera trapping, vegetation sampling, and habitat assessments.
All data collected from sites were analyzed and used for GIS surveys, animal movement surveys, and habitat assessments. The assistance with these studies are critical to research the ecosystem and to ensure its success.
I have stayed up to date with advancements in my field by reading relevant articles and keeping up to date with NGOs. I followed the work the NGOs do online and regularly read research articles that introduce new topics, technologies, and procedures for work. Recently, I focused on the poaching of rhino horns, as that is a major problem in Kruger National Park. I learned a lot about poaching from the presentations and documentaries during my internship. There are articles on the updated anti-poaching techniques that caught my eye because I am particularly interested in anti-poaching.
In addition to this, the internship program serves the local community and ecosystem around us. The management of the reserve helps the animals survive, the plants thrive, and allows the other reserves and managers to get around and do more work easier. We built pyramids and placed them around the Marula trees to protect them from elephants, conducted biodiversity surveys to manage the ecosystem health, observed animal behaviors and densities to identify problems within their populations, and cleared bushes from the roads to increase safety and lessen the risk of negative animal encounters.
I gained useful field experience with African fauna, collected data for ongoing projects, and conducted my own research in the area. My research project focused on the protection of Marula trees and the mitigation of African elephant destruction in the Greater Kruger area. Learning about the ecology of elephants and how they impact other species in the area was so rewarding. I also helped with tasks like camera traps, bird point counts, game transects, and reserve work to help with the road upkeep. I observed the behavior and collected data for numerous antelope and megafauna species, strengthening my commitment to working with African species.
I had to juggle numerous responsibilities with the responsibilities at the reserve taking up most of the time during the week, so I used the time in between tasks to complete my other tasks as well. I also had my classwork, journals, internship report, and job applications to complete, which I completed on the weekends based on priority.
Why did you choose to do this internship in South Africa?
I came into this experience knowing I would be doing work for things much bigger than myself. The tasks required on the reserve - such as fixing roads and moving rocks - may seem like hard work, but it impacts every person living, working, and studying in the area. The data we collected is used by ecologists to study and understand the ecosystem.
Before this internship, I was a lot more hesitant to take on more responsibility, because I didn’t feel like I was the right person for a supervisory role. Now, I feel very comfortable taking ownership of challenges. As I have taken on a lot more responsibility with this internship role, I am now more confident in my ability to motivate people, complete challenging tasks, brainstorm solutions to issues, and lead others.
The advice I would give other people, choosing to come into an international internship experience like this - especially related to the field of conservation - is to look beyond yourself and try to see how the work is impacting the people and organisms in the area, and also to take challenges as they come.
What was it like sharing this international internship experience with others?
The internship program provided a multidisciplinary, international team environment that respects everyone’s customs and languages. Everyone was extremely nice and accommodating.
Having a minor in anthropology and an interest in cultural anthropology has already helped me learn about cultures and how to respect differences. However, living and working with all these people, during an internship abroad, helped me fine-tune my cultural competence abilities. For example, a different group will prepare dinner every night, so we’ve had food from everywhere.
How has this internship impacted your future goals?
After completing this Reserve Management & Research internship in South Africa, I feel more empowered to be successful in my field. I have gained a full understanding of the ecology of the animals I want to work with, as well as a more well-rounded view of their roles in the environment. This internship experience has truly opened my eyes to the future careers in the field and I am excited for all the possibilities.
My initial goals were all very relevant and aligned well with the internship. I reflected on my future career, found a role model, and was able to ask them questions about guiding, learned about other cultures and norms, and have definitely adapted to new environments and people. I met so many people from all over the world, and the experience has opened my world view to living elsewhere after I graduate.
What was the highlight of this internship experience for you?
Choosing one memory as my favorite is very difficult! This intern abroad program was the best experience of my life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
The internship taught me a lot about animal behavior, bushcraft, animal identification, and the conservation and management of African species. Everything that I’ve learned applies to my future career in conservation and management of these species.
I’ve also gained commercial awareness skills that I can emphasize during a job interview. This internship has specifically helped with my knowledge of the ecology of African fauna. While I still love African elephants and want to work in their conservation, I have learnt a lot about how they can negatively impact their environment when they are in a restricted area. Natural behaviors like uprooting, ringbarking, and pushing over trees can lead to a rapid decrease in large tree populations.
If I had to pick one highlight overall, I would pick my very first memory of camp: Driving into camp with the other participants for the first time. The drive in the reserve really made it feel real because we passed so many animals that I had been waiting my whole life to see. When we finally arrived at camp, I was happier than I had ever been. I felt like I was finally where I wanted to be, and I couldn’t believe I had the chance to stay there for 3 months. The safari drives were also absolutely breathtaking!
FAQs
A Reserve Management & Research internship in the Greater Kruger area combines rigorous fieldwork with scientific data collection to support long-term ecosystem sustainability. Daily responsibilities generally include Fieldwork & Reserve Upkeep, Biodiversity Monitoring, Data Collection & Analysis, and Independent Research.
Interning on an active African game reserve equips you with a blend of technical fieldwork skills and professional competencies that build strong global commercial awareness. Through hands-on mentorship, you will develop real-world fieldwork techniques and anti-poaching insights, as well as key leadership and adaptability skills.
While an academic background in Biological Sciences, Ecology, Zoology, or Anthropology is highly advantageous, a primary requirement is a strong willingness to learn and adapt. Interns must have an adequate level of physical fitness and be prepared for outdoor conditions. Overall, the experience is designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and field-ready practice, making it an excellent stepping stone for graduate school or career-level research.
Living on a reserve is a deeply immersive, communal experience where you reside alongside international peers and local wildlife. Interns have the opportunity to live and collaborate within a diverse international team, fine-tuning cultural competence. Base camps are located directly within active reserve environments, meaning you encounter iconic African fauna from day one. Weekdays are heavily structured around field tasks, data input, and reserve operations. Weekends are typically utilized for self-led study, internship journaling, or going on breathtaking safari drives. To get the most out of your experience, look beyond the immediate physical exertion of reserve work. Routine tasks like clearing a road or protecting a tree directly enable local rangers and ecologists to navigate safely, protect species, and conduct life-saving anti-poaching work.
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