SANParks Graduate Internship Programme 2026 – Kruger National Park | Conservation, Finance, HR & More

South African National Parks (SANParks) has opened its 2026 Graduate Internship Programme, offering unemployed graduates the opportunity to gain meaningful workplace experience in one of South Africa's most iconic conservation environments. The programme will be hosted at Kruger National Park, with placements in Skukuza and Phalaborwa, and will run over a period of 24 months

SANParks is the leading conservation authority in South Africa, managing over 3.7 million hectares of protected land across 20 national parks — including Kruger, Table Mountain, and Addo Elephant Park. Participants in the programme are placed across various functional areas, including environmental management, scientific services, finance, communications, and human capital management.

This is a unique and career-defining opportunity for South African graduates who want to combine their academic qualifications with hands-on experience on real conservation and operational projects inside Africa's most celebrated wilderness environment. Whether your background is in conservation science, finance, HR, IT, or communications, SANParks has a placement aligned to your field of study.

💡 Applications must clearly indicate the Work Station (Skukuza or Phalaborwa), the relevant Division, and Field of Study the applicant is applying for. Failure to include this information will result in disqualification.

Available Placement Divisions & Fields of Study

Conservation & Scientific Services

• Nature Conservation / Environmental Management

• Wildlife Management / Biodiversity Management

• Zoology / Botany / Ecology

• Hydrology / Earth Sciences

• Veterinary Science / Animal Health

Corporate Services

• Finance / Accounting / Financial Management

• Human Resources Management / Industrial Psychology

• Communications / Media Studies / Public Relations

• Information Technology / Computer Science

• Supply Chain Management / Logistics

• Legal / Risk Management / Compliance

• Tourism Management / Hospitality

Key Responsibilities (Field-Dependent)

• Assist with conservation, anti-poaching, and biodiversity monitoring projects

• Support environmental education programmes in communities surrounding Kruger National Park

• Assist with financial reporting, budget management, and procurement administration

• Provide HR, communications, and administrative support within your assigned department

• Contribute to research initiatives, data collection, and report writing

• Engage with internal teams and stakeholders in a professional public sector environment

• Complete all logbooks, assessments, and programme requirements as specified by SANParks

Apply Now

📧 Email your full application to: 📧 jobapplications7@sanparks.org" class="text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-300 font-semibold hover:underline inline-flex items-center bg-blue-50 dark:bg-blue-900/30 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded">📧 jobapplications7@sanparks.org

Job Location: Kruger National Park — Skukuza & Phalaborwa, Limpopo / Mpumalanga (On-site)

Job Type: Graduate Internship (24-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Salary: R6,355.69 – R9,088.37 per month (stipend — amount depends on NQF qualification level)

Closing Date: 27 March 2026 ⚠️ (Closing very soon — apply immediately)

• South African citizen

• Aged between 18 and 35 years

• Currently unemployed

• Completed a National Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, or Honours Degree (NQF 6, 7, or 8) in a relevant field of study from a South African Higher Education Institution (HEI)

• Must not have previously been employed nor participated in an internship or placement programme

• Candidates applying outside their area of residence must arrange own accommodation and transport

• Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA prior to application

• Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged individuals (PDI/HDSA)