By: Pieter NelThe Scientific Mandate for Professional HerdingThe Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) Herding Academy’s role in the Herding and supervised managed herds, has been validated by a four-year case study published by Mudongo et al. (2025). This paper serves as a scientific mandate for our approach, proving that strategic management offers clear economic superiority...Read More
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) has an opportunity for 10 candidates to complete an online Bushwise Nature Site Guide – Theory NQF 2 course. Following successful competition of the online course, two (2) scholarships will be awarded for the six-month Bushwise International Field Guide Course, which will take place at the SAWC.IMPORTANT DATES &...Read More
Investigating the Effectiveness of Reed Beds in Improving Wastewater Quality Reed beds are essentially natural filtration systems, using wetland plants and soil to treat wastewater in a contained environment. At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), this system is more than a compliance measure; it is a research opportunity. The reed bed is being studied...Read More
On 20 September 2025, the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) hosted its third consecutive Wildlife Ranger Challenge (WRC) Race Day as a regional hub, joining more than 170 teams from across Africa in this continent-wide celebration of rangers. Now in its sixth year of participation, the SAWC team once again represented the College with pride. The...Read More
Written by the Makuleke Landscape Restoration Project Team This is our story – the story of the Makuleke community. Our deep love for this land, which fuelled our successful land restitution process, now guides our journey of landscape restoration. We are transforming a top-down conservation approach into a true grassroots movement, proving that our collective ownership...Read More
The TLC programme, an initiative of Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA), is supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and implemented with partners including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Friends of Education Africa (FEA). This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to develop a continent-wide...Read More
By Dr. Thabang Teffo Hands-On Training and Skills Development Our trainers remained deeply engaged in the field, leading practical sessions that included ballistics, bush walks, and dangerous game courses. Together with the Kingfisherspruit Section Ranger, we advanced fire safety and ecological burning initiatives, ensuring landscapes remain resilient and productive. Specialist training was also delivered for industry partners,...Read More
Written by Sboniso Ryan Phakathi Training field rangers in human rights, safeguards, and trust building in conservation, is both a timely and complex undertaking. In regions like Southern Africa, where conservation landscapes overlap with the lived realities of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, rangers are required to navigate not only ecological challenges but also social, cultural,...Read More
By Scott Yammin, Precious Malapane and Bruce McDonald University of Kent – Burnett Scholarships for KAZA Ranger Training 2025: Building Capacity for the Future This year’s KAZA Ranger Training, now in its second year of implementation, brought together 22 participants from Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe for 10 weeks of intensive learning. The programme covered everything from...Read More
Raising the Bar in Learning and Education The Southern African Wildlife College’s Learning and Education Department continues to make remarkable strides through its Occupational Programmes Pillar. This pillar is committed to advancing skills, leadership, and excellence, while ensuring that every learning programme it delivers achieves measurable impact. Central to its mandate is the rollout of occupational...Read More
