A volunteer helps out with a dogs examination in a veterinary clinic during his Veterinary Medicine work experience in Ghana.

Veterinary Medicine Internship in Ghana

Gain veterinary medicine work experience while treating farm or domestic animals alongside qualified vets in Ghana

Destination

Ghana

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,295 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

Risk Free Booking Guarantee

1200+ verified Trustpilot reviews

Trip Overview

Gain practical veterinary experience

Work alongside experienced vets in Accra or the Akuapem Hills, assisting with consultations, treatments, and even operations.

Learn about animal care

Gain practical skills in animal care, disease prevention, and public health, contributing to animal welfare in Ghana and helping support your career.

Explore Ghanaian culture

Live with a caring host family, enjoy traditional Ghanaian cuisine, and experience the warmth and hospitality of the local people.

Fall in love with Ghana

Explore the diverse landscapes of Ghana, from the bustling capital city of Accra to the tranquil beauty of the Akuapem Hills and surrounding wildlife.

Develop your personal skills

Enhance your adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while gaining confidence and broadening your global perspective.

What you need to know

Overview

Our Veterinary Medicine internship is perfect for anyone interested in getting practical work experience with animals. This is especially useful if you want to become a vet in the future. It will add relevant work experience to your CV and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews and applications.

You don’t need previous experience or training to do this internship. You’ll be supervised by a vet every step of the way, and they’ll teach you everything you need to know. They will be there to answer your questions as you learn about working with animals in a developing country. You can also reach out to Projects Abroad staff for support and guidance at any time.

This project runs year-round, so you can choose when you would like to join. We recommend that you stay for a minimum of two weeks to see and learn more.

A Day in the Life

You’ll begin each morning with breakfast at your host family’s house. You’ll then get dressed in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty before grabbing a tro tro or shared taxi to your placement. On your first day, a staff member will accompany you and show you the way.

A typical day on this project can start as early as 7am and end around 3pm. You can either eat a packed lunch during the day or wait until your shift is over and enjoy lunch back at your host family’s house.

You’ll meet with your supervisor and discuss the day’s activities before setting out for the day. Depending on the placement you choose, you’ll either spend your time at farms or a veterinary hospital. You’ll be involved in administering vaccinations, as well as assisting with operations, routine treatments and observing post-mortems.

In the evenings and over the weekends, you’ll have time to yourself. Use this time to sample traditional dishes like jollof rice in Accra, enjoy the beach in Cape Coast, and spend time with other interns and volunteers.

Aims & Impact

The main aim of this project is to give you an educational experience and the opportunity to learn directly from local vets. You will also give back by helping care for animals and sharing knowledge on how people can better care for their pets and livestock.

In Ghana, there is a shortage of vets. With only a small group of vets available to farmers and pet owners, many animals go untreated. Most vets work in cities, and farmers in rural areas have no access to them. In addition, a large percentage of human diseases come from sick animals. This means that you’re likely to see diseases that have been eradicated in your country.

With your help, our partner vets can reach more people and animals to provide treatment. Treating diseases and distributing vaccinations will help prevent future outbreaks of animal-related diseases.

Gain invaluable veterinary medicine work experience in Ghana and give your CV an extra edge while promoting the welfare of animals.

Activities

As a Veterinary Medicine intern, you’ll either work with livestock on various farms in a rural setting or with domestic and farm animals at a local veterinary hospital. Here are some of the tasks you’ll be involved in:

A Projects Abroad volunteer helps a local veterinary to assess a small dog in Ghana during her veterinary medicine internship.

Observe and assist local veterinarians as they assess the animals during routine consults and treatments

Assist with operations and observe post-mortems on farm and domestic animals

A Projects Abroad volunteer doing a veterinary medicine internship in Ghana applies a vaccine to a dog.

Educate the public and farm owners on the correct animal care procedures

At your Veterinary Medicine placement in Ghana, your work will focus on the following areas:

Observe and assist during routine consults and treatments

You’ll work alongside vets during farm visits (if in the Akuapem Hills) or at a veterinary hospital (if in Accra). You’ll shadow them during the day and watch how they conduct consultations, work with the animals, and assess them for treatment. Under the supervision of the vet, you can also assist. If permitted, you can help with tasks like:

General care of the animals
Administer vaccines and medication
Dress wounds
Disease testing
Setting IVs

Lend a hand during operations and observe post-mortems

Depending on your level of experience, you may get to assist with more hands-on work. You can assist the vet by preparing surgical areas and equipment and lending a hand during operations such as sterilisations. On the odd occasion, you’ll be able to observe post-mortem surgeries. Here, you’ll be able to find out if an animal died from injury, disease, or other complications.

Educate the public and farm owners on the correct animal care procedures

In Ghana, there is often a lack of knowledge about animal care. Many animal and farm owners do not take their livestock or pets to the vet, as they are unable to afford the fees. They often don’t have the means to travel for veterinary care either.

Because of this, they either do not report cases of sick animals or leave it too late. If the animals do not recover by themselves, they can die from their conditions. By teaching the public about correct animal care, you’ll see lower mortality rates and help prevent the spread of disease.

Map & Location

Formerly called The Gold Coast, Ghana became an independent nation in 1957, and the first African country colonised by Europeans to achieve independence under majority rule. Still famed for gold and cocoa production, it’s a treasure trove of cultural and natural experiences.

Explore lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and golden beaches or get stuck in to the lively music and dance scene. With a rich mix of languages and traditions, its people are known for their warmth and hospitality.

Accra

Accra, the capital of Ghana, is a lively city on the Atlantic coast with a population of over two million. This sprawling metropolis blends modern skyscrapers with historic landmarks, artisan markets, and beautiful beaches. It has a tropical savannah climate with hot temperatures all year.

Accra is culturally rich, with traditional drumming and dance performances alongside an energetic nightlife and thriving arts scene. More than half of the population is under 24, so it’s never short of excitement!

Akuapem Hills

About 90 minutes north of the capital, Accra, lie the quiet and tropical Akuapem Hills. Known for their lush greenery, cocoa farms, and charming villages with traditional architecture, the hills are a perfect escape from city living.

You’ll never feel more welcomed than in the heart of the Ghanaian countryside and you’ll have access to all the essential amenities. Plus, Accra is well within reach for a day trip if needed!

Food & Accommodation

Immediately feel at home with a supportive and welcoming local host family. We’ve vetted each family to guarantee you get everything you need for a wonderful stay. This includes a comfortable bed, three daily meals, fresh drinking water, and daily transport to and from your placement, arranged by our team.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and they will welcome you as one of their own from the moment you arrive. Absorb the local culture, enjoy their incredible home-cooked food, and build a lifelong connection during the course of your stay.

You’ll stay with other Projects Abroad participants on your travels. If you share a room, we will match you with someone of the same gender and age. Whether you go it alone or with friends, you’ll have the time of your life.

Free Time and Leisure

Volunteering in Ghana is an ideal way to explore this colourful West African country. There’s a huge variety of different activities to do while you’re there, giving you plenty of exciting ways to spend your free time.

Music is a central part of Ghanaian culture. In the bigger towns, especially Accra, you will hear some great live bands and have some memorable nights out. Evenings spent at buzzing restaurants will also give you a taste of some of the delicious local cuisine.

For a look into Ghana’s history, you can tour the slave forts of Cape Coast and visit museums. Nature lovers will relish trekking through the rainforests of Kakum National Park or Mole National Park.

We run a wide range of projects in Ghana so there’s sure to be other volunteers there during your trip. This means you can explore the country solo or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Ghana Arrival Procedures page.