Saving Africa’s endangered wildlife through informed, impact-driven projects, thereby enabling broad-scale biodiversity conservation
A four week course offering practical, hands-on training, underpinned by course material carefully developed by experts. Provides a unique understanding of the most up to date, in-field conservation techniques and practices, for nature enthusiasts or those considering a career in conservation. Includes practical Big 5 monitoring, data collection, management and research, learning about wildlife management and ecological principles, supporting research goals on the reserve, and engaging in habitat and reserve management activities as part of Wildlife ACT’s ongoing conservation programmes.
Price
57770
Duration
4 weeks
type
Conservation Training Course
Requirements
18+
All Wildlife ACT staff go through a comprehensive wildlife conservation training programme before being assigned to field positions on the various conservancies and protected areas we work on. Following continued requests from previous volunteers, interns and research students who expressed a desire to join our staff training programme, Wildlife ACT has adapted our field-staff training programme and developed our course in endangered and priority species conservation and habitat management.
The Conservation Training Course provides nature enthusiasts and those considering a career in conservation with the opportunity to train in parallel with Wildlife ACT staff in order to attain a practical skill set as well as a theoretical understanding of what it takes to become a field conservationist. The on-the-job training also gives you the opportunity to be a part of day-to-day wildlife conservation management initiatives on the world famous Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park – the oldest proclaimed protected area in Africa and the place where the White Rhino was saved from certain extinction in the 20th century.
As part of our vision to create a center of learning excellence, Wildlife ACT hosts small groups for those who wish to gain both practical and academic experience within the wildlife conservation field, as well as to provide educational experiences for nature enthusiasts. Wildlife ACT has created a 28-day programme designed to expose students to the various facets of African wildlife conservation and game reserve management. You will be involved in practical Big 5 monitoring, data collection, management and research, whilst learning about wildlife management and ecological principles. In addition to supporting monitoring, and in some cases, research goals on the reserve, you will engage in habitat and reserve management activities that are part of Wildlife ACT’s ongoing conservation programmes.
Working in association with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, our combined expertise allows us to incorporate a unique bush-learning experience while you participate in the day-to-day tasks and operations on a Big 5 reserve and in ongoing monitoring and research projects. The Conservation Training Course balances instructor-led learning with practical field-work. Each theoretical module will be aligned with practical-based activity, when possible, where students will sit in on weekly classroom lectures, carry out assignments and practicals, receive final report card evaluation and be awarded with a certificate of completion upon conclusion. The ratio of field to classroom learning is approximately 60 to 40 but will depend on the dynamics in the field at the time accordingly.
Students will learn and be competent in the following skills before they leave:
Wildlife Monitoring
Camera Trapping
Tracking and Spoor
Conservation and Habitat Management
Game Capture and Relocation
Wildlife Crime and Illegal Trade
Community Conservation
Anyone from the ages of 18 to 65+ is welcome to join this Endangered and Priority Species Conservation and Habitat Management course. Individuals with a keen interest in furthering their knowledge of not only wildlife monitoring, but also wildlife management and the material behind wildlife conservation, are encouraged to apply to join. What is required is to be;
During the orientation of your first few days at camp, all Health and Safety aspects will be covered in detail. Please bear with us regarding the Health and Safety guidelines; it is there to protect you and ensure you are aware of all the risks and is an important aspect to the orientation.
Medical Information
PLEASE NOTE THAT WILDLIFE ACT STAFF ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO GIVE OUT MEDICAL ADVICE
Health & Safety
Conservation course students are based at the Hluhluwe Research Camp, which is located on top of a hill in a coastal scarp forest. The research camp is shared with other scientists and researchers carrying out studies in the Park, although their rooms are separate from our Wildlife ACT participants.
On arrival at the Wildlife ACT Hilltop campus, you will get time to settle in and unpack. During the first days Wildlife ACT course instructors will go through an orientation programme to familiarise you with all aspects of the course. The below provides some information to assist with this orientation process to make you aware of some of the camp structures, facilities and rules and regulations.
Accommodation & Facilities
Our Wildlife ACT students are accommodated in twin rooms, each with a desk and shelving/cupboard space for your belongings. Accommodation is shared with other researchers so students will share toilet and shower facilities. There is also a communal kitchen and barbecue area.
The camp is situated within walking distance from the main tourist camp – “Hilltop Camp”, which is open to the general public and has a restaurant and a small shop.
Internet & Communication
Please be aware that mobile reception in and around campus is very limited due to the isolation of the campus, and signal and connectivity problems are sometimes experienced. We recommend the use of Vodacom SIM cards for the best network coverage for the area.
Meals and Food
Meal preparation and food is all on a help-yourself basis. There is basic food supplied, however, if you require any “luxury” items, these will be at your own expense. There is a designated trip into town one day per week, thus food needs to last the full week.
Vegetarian Meals: Wildlife ACT endeavors to supply healthy, balanced ingredients to our vegetarian students, however, please note that due to the area in which the camp is located, as well as local cultures and customs and food budgets, it is not always possible to supply many vegetarian substitutes. Expensive items, such as tofu and soya milk, will be up to the student to purchase. Please make sure you inform us of any dietary requirements BEFORE joining the course. The Wildlife ACT kitchen may not be prepared for ‘surprise vegetarians’ upon arrival.
Wildlife ACT endeavors to conform with any previously-disclosed dietary requirements, however, please note only dietary requirements for medical reasons will be catered for. We unfortunately cannot cater for specific weight-loss or fitness diets unless medically important.
Essential Equipment/Clothing
Recommended Equipment List
Please note that the following equipment list is only a guide.
Other Personal Items (non essential)
57770.00
2968.00
31 March 2025
09 June 2025
04 August 2025
29 September 2025
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) is the oldest proclaimed protected area on the African continent. The Park is 960 km² 96,000 hectares and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora. Due to the size of the protected area, logistically it is divided into two Management Sections: namely the Hluhluwe Section and iMfolozi Section, but the two sections are not separated by fences and are managed together as “one natural system.” Wildlife ACT’s main focus in the Hluhluwe Section of HiP has always included the monitoring of the African Wild Dogs, Lion, Cheetah, Vultures and Elephant populations. During these monitoring sessions, any incidental sightings of other priority species including Rhino, Ground Hornbill, Hyaena, and Leopard, are also recorded. Over time, through this hard dedicated work, a more hands on approach has been requested to aid HiP in behind the scenes conservation management. Wildlife ACT students will now, in addition to these components, also be involved in the logistical management of the above mentioned methodologies and surveys.