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Equine All-Inclusive Safari Event - 6 Days of Lectures, Practical Sessions & Amazing Wildlife

Sun, 16 November, 2025 - Sat, 22 November, 2025

Species

Equine

Contact Hours

18 Hours

Early Booking Deadline

Sun, 05 October, 2025

Registration Deadline

Sun, 19 October, 2025

Language

English

Sponsors
Discipline

Dermatology

Diagnostic Imaging

Internal Medicine – Endocrinology, Haematology, Infectious Diseases, Parasitology & Oncology

Orthopaedics

Reproduction / Theriogenology

Sports Medicine

Industry Partners

Global

Veterinary Partners

Global

 

 

EVENT DESCRIPTION

VetPD has combined an exhilarating week-long safari experience at the Mongena Game Lodge**** in the Dinokeng Game Reserve, near Johannesburg, South Africa, with a total of 25 hours of safaris, 30+ hours of cutting-edge lectures / case discussions and 30+ hours of practical sessions / wetlabs on live horses and specimens for attendees to choose from. The following internationally renowned speakers will be involved with this event and lectures/wetlabs will be aimed at experienced general and advanced practitioners:   Dr. Natasha Werpy (Equine Diagnostic Imaging, USA), Dr. Harold Schott (Michigan State University, USA), Dr. Henk van der Veen (Lingehoeve Diergeneeskunde, The Netherlands) and Dr. Annette Petersen (Michigan State University, USA).

The Dinokeng Game Reserve is a malaria-free game reserve, 1 hours' drive from Johannesburg International Airport. There the ‘Big Five’ (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard & rhinoceros) roam wild and free in the 18,500-hectare game reserve.  Bass fishing and the obligatory swimming pool will provide you with the ideal environment to relax with your friends and accompanying partner/guest. The lectures and wetlabs will be held at Mongena Game Lodge.  Guests will be staying at one of the following stunning Lodges within the Dinokeng Game Reserve, a short scenic drive from Mongena Game Lodge:  Little MongenaChameleon Bush Lodge and Siyaya Game Lodge.

From Mon – Thu there will be a total of 4-5 hrs per day of sunrise- and sunset safaris and the lectures and practical sessions will be held between 10.15am – 3.30pm.  Every day attendees can choose from several streams of highly illustrated lectures (in English) or wetlabs on a wide range of disciplines and topics.  The evenings will be free for leisurely wining and dining, to meet up with old friends and to make new ones.

The 30+ hours of cutting-edge lectures / case discussions and 30+ hours of practical sessions / wetlabs on live horses and specimens in true small groups will cover the following disciplines (program to follow soon)

  • Dermatology
  • Orthopaedics & Lameness Diagnostics
  • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
  • Radiography & Radiology
  • Advanced Imaging
  • Internal Medicine

During the course open and frank discussions are encouraged and the speakers will share their personal experiences with attendees, be it successes or failures.  There will be plenty of opportunities to discuss diagnostic/therapeutic strategies and cases with the speakers during the lectures or the dedicated case discussions.

On Friday there won’t be any lectures or practical sessions, which will allow attendees and their partners/guests to relax at the pool, go for a bush walk or go on a daytrip to explore this beautiful region.

Daytrips to 'Adventure with Elephants', Kevin Richardson, the lion whisperer, 'Rhino Save Haven' and the Diamond Mine in Cullinan to name but a few can be organised through our partner 'Dinokeng Events' (Subject to availability and surcharges (transfers & entrance at cost) apply).

With regards to the practical sessions, please note that spaces are limited. We will allocate spaces on a first come first serve basis so make sure you register early.

*The event fee includes airport transfers, accommodation, all meals (incl. tea/coffee and one soft drink per meal), transfers between lodges and the sunrise and sunset safaris from Monday to Thursday, all lectures and wetlabs as well as extensive course notes and a certificate of attendance. Attendees can choose to stay in a single room or can share a room with another attendee at a reduced price.  Attendees are also welcome to attend the course with a partner/guest (special guest price available).  The course fee does not include flights or alcoholic drinks. Rooms are allocated at the discretion of VetPD. Early course registration is recommended as there are only a limited number of places available.

Additional Terms & Conditions:

  1. VetPD Ltd, accepts liability for the course program only (lectures & practical sessions)
  2. Liability for airport transfer, accommodation, meals and all other pre-booked components (safari activities etc.) rest with the Mongena Game Lodge. Cancellation of these components of the course is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Mongena Game Lodge.
  3. Attendees are expected to take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance in the event of unforeseen circumstances leading to attendees falling ill or having to cancel their trip to South Africa.

Dr. Petersen graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany in 1991 and completed her dissertation in 1992 from CVM Hannover, Germany (equal to a master’s degree in the United States). Dr. Petersen completed a rotating small-animal medicine and surgery internship at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University in 1993, as well as continuing to do some relief work in small-animal practices in Germany during 1993. Subsequently, she worked in private practice in the state of Washington and Idaho from 1994-95 and then completed the Veterinary Dermatology Residency Training Program at Michigan State University from 1995-97. She has been an assistant professor of veterinary dermatology at MSU since 1998 and completed her board certification in veterinary dermatology in 2004.

Dr. Petersen has been presenting lectures and research presentations to veterinarians and veterinary students nationally and internationally since 1996. Clinical and research interests: allergic skin diseases, autoimmune skin diseases, otitis externa and media, the treatment of mycosis fungoides (cutaneous lymphoma), with a focus on equine skin diseases.

Dr Eberhardt is an active researcher in the field of equine cardiology at the University of Pretoria. Her main research focus is echocardiography including advanced modalities such as speckle tracking echocardiography. Dr Eberhardt has developed a point of care echocardiography protocol for the evaluation of horses in the emergency and critical care situation. Her research also includes studying advanced teaching methods for echocardiography training. In addition, she collaborates with the Department of Wildlife Medicine to study the heart rhythm of white rhinoceros and other wildlife species using a telemetric mobile ECG device.

Dr Piketh is an up and coming young researcher at the University of Pretoria with goals aiming at research relating to the cardiovascular responses to systemic and infectious diseases in horses. His research interests also extend to immune mediated disease in horses with a focus on inflammatory bowel disease. His current research project aims at describing clinical and clinicopathological changes seen in horses, naturally infected with equine encephalosis virus. 

Dr. Hal Schott earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell in 1980 and a DVM from the Ohio State University in 1984. He worked in a private equine practice in Santa Barbara, Calif., from 1984 to 1987 and followed that with a residency and PhD program at Washington State University from 1987 to 1991. He was on the WSU faculty from 1991 to 1995 as an instructor and then an assistant professor of equine internal medicine. In 1995, he came to Michigan State University as an assistant professor and progressed to associate and then full professor. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

His clinical interests include all types of urinary tract disease in horses, and his research focuses on fluid and electrolyte physiology, especially with prolonged endurance exercise.

Henk graduated from Utrecht University, The Netherlands, in 1988. He spent the six years that followed working in two equine clinics in the north and southwest of The Netherlands. In 1994, Henk joined Lingehoeve Diergeneeskunde equine referral hospital in the heart of the Netherlands as equine veterinarian in the ambulatory practice. Since 2000, he has specialised in orthopaedics including lameness exams, pre-purchase exams and diagnostic imaging (radiology, ultrasound, scintygraphy and contrast CT). Henk gained his ISELP certification in 2008.

Dr. Natasha Werpy is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and specializes in equine imaging. She graduated from the Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO (CSU) in 1999. After completing an equine internship in 1999-2000, she completed an imaging internship with Dr. Norman Rantanen followed by a diagnostic imaging residency with Dr. Rantanen and Colorado State University. She worked as the Medical Imaging Director at the Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University from 2004–2011. She worked part time as an Associate Professor of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Florida in Gainesville from November 2011 – January 2016. Dr. Werpy is a Consulting Radiologist at Advanced Equine Imaging of Wellington, and at the Ocala Equine Hospital, both in sunny Florida.

Venue

Dinokeng Game Reserve (Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport)

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel to Dinokeng Game Reserve, South Africa

  • Vaccination

Mongena Game lodge is located in the Dinokeng Game Reserve and one of the biggest lodges in the area. Dinokeng Game Reserve is in a malaria free area. Check your government advice on vaccination etc as it differs for country to country.

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for South Africa: hepatitis Ahepatitis Btyphoidcholerayellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. Shot lasts 2 years.

  • VISA

The following link shows a list of countries exempt from requiring a VISA when traveling to South Africa: http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries. This list may change without notice so check just before your trip.

To apply for a VISA, click the following link: https://ehome.dha.gov.za/epermit/home

If your country is not on the list, please use this link for the PDF form: VISA Form

Forms need to be emailed to VisaVerifications@dha.gov.za

 

Money and tipping

The local currency is South African Rand (ZAR). For currency conversion to your local currency click here: https://www.xe.com

It is advisable to exchange money into local currency – either at the airport or in your country ahead of the event. However, there is a shop with an ATM nearby, where the rangers or VetPD can take you too.

There is no expectation of tipping at Mongena Game Lodge. The guideline is voluntary tipping of 10% on service fee/food/beverages.

Generally speaking, if you purchase anything at Mongena or wish to tip the staff, these charges can be added to your room and you settle your room bill at the end of your trip by credit card (or cash if you wish).

 

WiFi

There is WiFi available at Mongena Reception, conference room and guest rooms.

Voltage

Plugs Voltage from US https://en-us.wikiconnections.org/power-supplies/continents/africa/what-can-i-connect-to-a-south-african-power-supply

Dress Code

The entire event is very casual. For wetlabs, shorts and t-shirt are perfectly fine. We recommend closed toes shoes when choosing wetlabs with live horses.

For dinner, the dress code is also very casual.

During the early morning and evening safaris a warm jumper, cardigan or coat is useful to have as it can get quite cold on the open plan jeeps.

Have any unwanted textbooks?

"VetBooks for Africa“: a group of veterinary students from the vet school at Onderstepoort does a tour of some neighbouring countries, visiting vet schools and charities. The main purpose behind the trip (other than offering the students an opportunity to visit the countries and making connections) is to distribute veterinary textbooks to them. They collect books on an ongoing basis, and would be very happy to receive any unused text books. There is a short video of their last trip at  https://youtu.be/i9fqrtFlamU

 

Don’t forget to pack: Top tips

  • Adapters (South Africa is different from the rest of the world, but most rooms have European plugs)
  • Sun cream
  • Bathing Suit
  • Insect spray
  • Binoculars
1 Vet - All Inclusive

Destination Event

USD 4161.05

USD 3782.77

1 Vet & 1 non-Vet Guest (no CE)

Destination Event

USD 4960.84

USD 4528.52

2 Vets - shared room, all inclusive

Destination Event

USD 7554.74

USD 6906.26

If the options you are looking for are unavailable, please contact us.

No tax will be added unless you are a UK taxpayer

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