Everyone in VAC, from the staff to the interns, was very welcoming and helpful upon my arrival. I never had a problem finding someone to help me or do something with. This was very important to me as it was my first time out of the United States. I quickly felt comfortable in “Obs” and at my internship site, the Two Oceans Aquarium.
I couldn’t have asked for a better internship placement. At the Two Oceans Aquarium I did a variety of things including helping the aquarists clean the exhibits, help prepare the food and feed the animals. I also was able to join along on a few collection trips to Mouille Point, Miller’s Point in Simons Town and even a boat trip in Table Bay. My two favorite moments of my internship was seeing the aquarists work together to get a large ragged-tooth shark out of the predator tank for an x-ray and being able to put a wetsuit on and get into a few of the tanks.
Between working during the week and sightseeing on the weekends, there was never a boring day. A few of my favorite activities out of work include hiking the surrounding mountains, playing with kids in Langa, shark cage diving, and horseback riding in Stellenbosch. I will also never forget how hiking Lion’s Head and constantly being on ladders at work helped me overcome my fear of heights. There really is something for everyone in Cape Town and I can’t wait to come back.
Everyone in VAC, from the staff to the interns, was very welcoming and helpful upon my arrival. I never had a problem finding someone to help me or do something with. This was very important to me as it was my first time out of the United States. I quickly felt comfortable in “Obs” and at my internship site, the Two Oceans Aquarium.
I couldn’t have asked for a better internship placement. At the Two Oceans Aquarium I did a variety of things including helping the aquarists clean the exhibits, help prepare the food and feed the animals. I also was able to join along on a few collection trips to Mouille Point, Miller’s Point in Simons Town and even a boat trip in Table Bay. My two favorite moments of my internship was seeing the aquarists work together to get a large ragged-tooth shark out of the predator tank for an x-ray and being able to put a wetsuit on and get into a few of the tanks.
Between working during the week and sightseeing on the weekends, there was never a boring day. A few of my favorite activities out of work include hiking the surrounding mountains, playing with kids in Langa, shark cage diving, and horseback riding in Stellenbosch. I will also never forget how hiking Lion’s Head and constantly being on ladders at work helped me overcome my fear of heights. There really is something for everyone in Cape Town and I can’t wait to come back.
Many incredible people have passed through the VACorps internship program since we first started hosting interns in 2006. “Oh the places you’ll go” is a series where our alumni share updates about their careers and life accomplishments. In this interview, Dan Brower...
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Lila joined the VACorps Program as part of her Gap Year in September 2023 and participated in an internship at an eco-tourism company.
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I knew that Cape Town would be good for me. Invaluable human rights experience? Check. Hiking? Check. Surfing? Check. Wine tasting? CHECK. I could go on. But what I didn’t know was how much. That I would cling to my...
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