African Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Management Course

In collaboration with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, our combined expertise provides a unique bush-learning experience. You’ll actively participate in daily operations on a Big 5 reserve, engage in monitoring and research projects, and experience our monitor training program firsthand.

The Conservation Training Course combines instructor-led learning and hands-on fieldwork, featuring Wildlife ACT's 267-page conservation handbook, refined over 16 years. The course includes theoretical modules paired with practical conservation activities, whenever possible. Participants will attend weekly lectures, complete assignments and exercises, receive a final evaluation, and earn a certificate of completion. The field-to-classroom learning ratio is roughly 60:40, depending on field conditions.

By the end of the course, participants will have gained proficiency in the following skills:

Wildlife Monitoring

• Review of Monitoring Development: Modern monitoring techniques, technology and equipment, effective data collection and management, and monitoring ethics.
• Endangered Species Monitoring: Wild Dog, Cheetah, Lion, and Vulture
• Incidental Species Monitoring: Hyaena, Ground Hornbill, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Leopard and Elephant. 
• Ethology: Social systems, communication, protective behaviour, home ranges and territories, anticipating animal behaviour.
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Camera Trapping

• Pre-field work: survey type and setup preparation
• In the field: considerations, security and details
• Post setup: identification, analysis and photo tagging
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Tracking and Spoor

• Observing and interpreting
• Identifying different types of animal tracks and signs: arboreal, terrestrial and aerial
  
  

Conservation and Habitat Management

• Game Count Survey methodologies: Road strip counts, walking transects as well as data entry thereof
• Fire: learning the theory of fire as a management tool
• Soil erosion: types, causes, and preventative methods, road rock packing (practical techniques)
• Bush encroachment and alien plant control: causes, control methods and techniques (practical techniques)
• Vegetation Survey methodologies: Tree wire wrapping for elephant deterrent, fixed point photography sampling techniques (practical)
  
  

Game Capture and Relocation

• Purpose and necessity: genetic populations, injuries or carrying capacity
• Capture method theory: Mass capture, passive capture, immobilisation
• Boma management: Structure and type, monitoring and protocols (theory and practical)
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Wildlife Crime and Illegal Trade

• Causes & drivers of Illegal Wildlife Trade
• Impacts of Wildlife Crime & Illegal trade on wildlife populations
• Potential solutions and problem solvers

Community Conservation 

• Community Conservation Programmes around HiP
• How Wildlife ACT is working with communities
• CCP engagement: Meet Community Conservation Program members (practical)
• Human Wildlife Coexistence strategies and discussions

This African Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Management course is open to individuals aged 18 and older. Individuals eager to expand their knowledge of wildlife monitoring and management are encouraged to apply.

Conservation Course Prerequisites

• In good physical condition, with the ability to walk in the field for at least 2 hours and tolerate peak-day heat if required for an event.
• Proficient in understanding, speaking, and writing in English.
• Open-minded, enthusiastic, and passionate about making a difference.
• Have a basic background in ecology or conservation, through prior courses, diplomas, degrees, or previous experience in wildlife conservation and habitat management. This will make it easier to grasp both theoretical and practical concepts related to the project requirements.

During the first few days of your camp orientation, we will cover all Health and Safety aspects in detail. Please bear with us as we go over the guidelines – they are essential for your protection and to ensure you are fully aware of any risks. This is a key part of the orientation.

Medical Information

WILDLIFE ACT STAFF ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. 

• Malaria: Zululand is considered a low-to-medium-risk area for Malaria. It is advisable to consult your doctor about recommendations for preventative medication. To further reduce your risk, protect yourself from insect bites by using repellents, sleeping under a mosquito net, and wearing lightweight, long-sleeved clothing in the evenings. If you develop a fever within one week to three months of visiting a risk area, seek medical attention and get tested for malaria (or tick bite fever).
  
  
• Physical Fitness: While the physical demands are not overly strenuous, a reasonable level of fitness is recommended as the weather can be extremely humid, and you will be working outside for a large portion of the time.

Health & Safety

• Field Base Safety: All students will be informed of the risks, health and safety procedures for the field base on arrival. It is imperative that everyone both understands and respects them.
  
  

Personal Safety: Look after your important documents and take a separate photocopy with you. Do not wear excessive jewellery or walk around areas outside camp with valuable items on display e.g. cameras. Do not carry large amounts of cash.

BOOKING FLIGHTS :

We collect ALL arriving participants from RICHARDS BAY (our closest big town).

After you have confirmed your placement with us, you may proceed with booking your flight tickets.

You will need to book your International flight to land at Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International Airport), and then book a short domestic (internal) flight, from Johannesburg (JNB) to Richards Bay (RCB).

For your ARRIVAL flight on Monday, you will need to book a flight arriving to RICHARDS BAY AIRPORT at 12:00 PM, or earlier.
Any flight arriving LATER than 12:00 will NOT be suitable, since we will not be able to get all participants to the various project locations, in time before the Reserve Gates close.

For your DEPARTURE flight on the Monday, you will need to book a flight departing from RICHARDS BAY AIRPORT at 12:25 PM, or later.
Any flight departing EARLIER than 12:25 will NOT be suitable, since we will not be able to get all participants from the various project locations, to the Airport in time for check-in.

If participants cannot find flights to fit in with the timing guidelines for Arrival Monday, participants will need to fly to Richards Bay on the SUNDAY, and overnight near the Airport and then MAKE THEIR OWN WAY BACK to the Richards Bay AIRPORT by latest 11:45 AM on the Monday, to meet the Driver.

If you do have the ability to CHOOSE to arrive on the Sunday, many of our volunteers have commented that booking a flight arriving to Richards Bay on the Sunday has been PREFERABLE, since it allows a chance to get a good night’s sleep after the long flight, and before joining our teams to begin the conservation work!

RICHARDS BAY OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION :

Participants should please book Accommodation options situated CLOSE TO the Richards Bay Airport (i.e. within the leafy suburb of the “BIRDSWOOD” area of Richards Bay). The “Fish Eagle Inn”, “Serendipity Guesthouse” , “Woodpecker Inn” and “Gecko Inn” options (all located within 5 kilometres of the Airport), have all been used by our previous participants, since you can ASK these venue options whether they would be willing or able to collect you from the Airport, given their close proximity.