It's a long way from working with lions and elephants in his birth country of Swaziland, but Condobolin's new vet Patrick Hlatshwayo is looking forward to his next Australian adventure.

Dr Hlatshwayo joined the Central West Local Land Service in July. Since then, he has been getting to know the region and the farmers who live there.

"I go out and visit the farmers just to say hi and ask them how things are going," he said. "I don’t want to just go there when people have issues."

 Dr Hlatshwayo's interest in veterinary medicine was sparked during his childhood growing up on a farm in Swaziland. He went on to graduate at Perth's Murdoch University in 1990, before returning home.

In Swaziland, he helped contain a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak that started in 2000.

"One vet from the field phoned me to say that all the animals were lame," Dr Hlatshwayo said. 

He took a sample from a cow's tongue to a lab in South Africa for testing where it was confirmed that the animals suffered from FMD.

The outbreak had disastrous economic impacts on Swaziland and it took more than six years for the European Union to start trade with them again. 

The new vet in town is enjoying his time in the regional NSW.

Dr Hlatshwayo also treated animals in the wild which could be dangerous work. 

"When you are in a game reserve with other animals, they see a vet and think you are food." 

In 2003, Dr Hlatshwayo got a job in New Zealand before coming to Australia in 2006 and working as an on-plant veterinarian for the Federal Government. 

He returned to Swaziland in 2015 to write regulations for the Veterinary Public Act and opening a private practice in 2019. 

When Dr Hlatshwayo saw the job opening in Condobolin he knew he had to take his chance. "I thought let me just apply for this job and do something that's different from what I've done before.

"I think it's a lifetime opportunity for to me to meet different people and have experiences I wouldn't have otherwise."

He plans to stay in Condobolin for the long haul and is in the process of bringing over his family.

"People tell me that they've had a hard time keeping a vet around. I'm happy to be in the community. I think it's the best thing."