Internships Details

About the Organization

This is an individualized placement with the Table Mountain National Park system. Applicants for this position will be placed in a particular unit of Cape Town's Table Mountain National Park that corresponds with their area of study and professional interest.

The two primary placements are the MCM Research Aquarium and Boulders Beach

MCM Research Aquarium:
The research aquarium is a private government facility operated by the Marine and Coastal Management division of the national park. It is based in a large building with tanks and labs that are well equipped to handle any kind of marine research. The main type of research performed at the aquarium benefits the commercial cultivation of certain marine animals. Recent experiments include the cultivation of squid, the research of a new Abalone disease and the study of an algae that has lead to fatal food poisoning. The aquarium is not open to the public and is a tremendous research-based internship for a student interested in marine biology.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony:
Boulders Beach, part of the historic Table Mountain National Park, is home to a colony of the threatened African Penguin - nearly 3,000 of them! Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information center.

Job Description

Job responsibilities will vary widely depending on the placement. They may include assisting with marine or land-based research, monitoring wildlife populations, patrolling protected waters, or assisting with educational and tourist programming.

MCM Research Aquarium:
Interns have the freedom to get involved with the research projects that interest them most and may even be able to propose, develop and run their own experiments depending on the needs and resources of the aquarium.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony:
Interns work with conservation staff and park officers at the penguin colony at boulders beach. The will learn about the colony and conservation efforts in great detail and then serve as a guide and educator for foreign and local visitors to the colony.

# of Positions per term

Varies

Start Dates

Any

Duration of Internship

10 weeks

Qualifications

Academic Background

Biology, marine biology, conservation, wildlife science, environmental studies, oceanography

Skills/Experience

Qualifications will vary by placement. Generally desirable qualifications include ability to work with a team, positive attitude, passion for conservation, prior academic study in the general areas of environmental studies, biology or oceanography.

Language Ability

English

Other Requirements

Internship Costs

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.
ALL ESTIMATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IE₃ Program Fee

For spring term 2012, the program fee for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. The expected program fee beginning summer term 2012 is $3450 for the first term. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
Host Site Fees	An additional fee of $1900 applies to this program, and covers accommodation, airport transfers, local orientation, internship management, 24-hour local support, and placement.
International Travel	$1,800 round trip from Portland to Cape Town, South Africa
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations	$400

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	Included in host site fee
Food	$300
Local Transportation	$100-$200, depending on placement
Recreation	$150
Personal Expenses	$120

Compensation

None

Additional Expense Information

Accommodation: Interns will be accommodated in private student-oriented housing in the Observatory neighborhood. Interns will have a fully-furnished private room, kitchen and laundry facilities, 24-hour security and wireless internet connection. (Shared rooms are occasionally available at a lower cost.) Accommodation and local support is provided by Volunteer Adventure Corps. Interns will need to pay a $50 lease fee and a refundable $350 housing deposit upon arrival in South Africa.

Note: Students who have participated in Africa internships have suggested that interns may want to bring additional money so that they may participate more in uniquely African activities, such as visits to game parks, buying local clothing and crafts, contributing to local organizations, and bringing home gifts for friends and family. Therefore, depending on your interests, you may want to budget additional funds.

Additional Information

Visit the South Africa National Parks Table Mountain National Park and the Marine and Coastal Management websites for more information on the work of these agencies.

Most interns will be living in Observatory, and will be supported by local host organization Volunteer Adventure Corps. Observatory, or “Obz” as locals call it, is one of the most exciting student neighborhoods in all of Cape Town. It features an eclectic sundry of nightspots and restaurants, and an atmosphere that is surprisingly cosmopolitan given its intimate size. Much of this unique vibe is attributed to the presence of many international visitors. It is not uncommon to overhear conversations in several different languages while walking along the street. Yet, Obz is also intrinsically South African. Living in Obz and experiencing its cultural and political vibes will help interns better understand, on a greater scale, the complexities of the “new” South Africa.

Observatory is popular among the international student/ volunteer community because it is located halfway between the city center and the False Bay coastline. Visitors have an endless selection of outdoor activities to choose from, such as hiking, surfing, scuba diving, golfing, outdoor concerts and wine tasting. Cape Town is surrounded by oceans and is home to many beautiful beaches! The city centre, known to Capetonians as the “bowl”, is the ideal place to go on cultural excursions.

Following are several student-produced videos about the internship opportunities in Cape Town through the IE3 program.