Conservation Beyond Borders When landscapes function, they support water, livelihoods and economic stability far beyond protected area boundaries. Keeping these systems intact requires long-term, on-the-ground management at scale, often across national borders. Founded in 1997 by President Nelson Mandela, HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, and Dr Anton Rupert, Peace Parks Foundation works at scale, supporting the management of key protected...Read More
Conflict Prevention Training and Campfire Reflection at the College Written by: The SAWC Junior Leaders The Southern African Wildlife College recently hosted a meaningful and engaging Preventing and Facing Conflict Training, attended by 24 staff members across departments and at all levels. The session, facilitated by Melissa Davies from Nego Services, created a valuable platform for learning, reflection, and strengthening workplace...Read More
By Dr. Thabang Teffo The Nature-Based Economy (NBE) thematic area continues to strengthen its role in advancing conservation capacity building, leadership development, and strategic partnerships across Africa and beyond. This reporting period was marked by significant international engagement, new collaborations, funding milestones, and the continued delivery of specialised training programmes. International Engagements and Leadership Development The unit participated in several...Read More
By Sboniso Ryan Phakathi The Community-Led Conservation Practices thematic area continues to advance innovative, people-centred approaches to conservation education, with a strong focus on experiential learning, youth development, and community empowerment across Southern Africa. Conservation Coaching Programme in Botswana Two members of the SAWC Coaching Conservation (CC) team travelled to Maun, Botswana (8–21 March 2026) to deliver a Train-the-Trainer programme for the Coaching...Read More
By Scott Yammin, Precious Malapane and Bruce McDonald Building Conservation Leaders Across Borders Through KAZA 2026 The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) recently hosted the 2026 Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) training programme, proudly supported by the University of Kent in collaboration with the Notsew Orm Sands Foundation for the project: “Burnett Ranger Training”. The programme brought together wildlife field rangers...Read More
What is Biomimicry? Learning from Evolutionary R&D Written by Ronan Carvill Humans, since time immemorial, have looked to nature for ideas and inspiration. Indeed, many of our greatest technological innovations have come from learning and emulating how nature does things. Millions of years of evolutionary research and development tend to produce decent designs! A famous...Read More
By Kudakwashe Musengi, Cliford Nxumalo, Christopher Kafoteka & Fortunate Mathonsi The Southern African Wildlife College’s Learning and Teaching Department, working closely with the Student Administration and Programme Support (SPS) team, has had a strong and dynamic second quarter. Marked by growing student numbers, increasing regional diversity, and steady academic progress across programmes, the year is already demonstrating the College’s commitment to developing...Read More
Collaboration remains at the heart of effective conservation. Over the past quarter, the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) has taken significant steps to deepen its impact and expand its reach by signing three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements, entered into with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), IQWild, and LEAD Conservation reflect a shared commitment to advancing conservation through collaboration, innovation, and...Read More
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) and LEAD Conservation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalising a collaboration built on a simple premise: that two organisations with different strengths working together can do more for conservation than either could alone.The SAWC brings deep institutional experience in conservation education, accreditation, and training delivery, along with an...Read More
Are you passionate about the wild? Do you have the charisma and drive to become a world-class nature guide? The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), in partnership with Bushwise Field Guides, is offering a life-changing opportunity for 10 aspiring conservationists to kickstart their guiding careers. The Opportunity We are looking for 10 dedicated candidates to...Read More
