Blog

Leading the way: The SAWC strengthens its voice in African Conservation Leadership

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 […]

Nature-Based Economy: Building Prosperity for People and Nature

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 […]

Teaching Human Rights, Safeguards, and Trust Building in Conservation 

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, […]

SAWC’s Integrated Approach to Protected Area Integrity

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 […]

SAWC’s Occupational Programmes: Advancing Conservation Skills

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 […]

Optimising Grazing Practice

Professional herders play a pivotal role in optimising grazing practices through informed, continuous decision-making based on key metrics: timing, duration, intensity, and frequency of grazing. This strategic approach not only enhances pasture productivity but also contributes significantly to soil health and carbon sequestration. Timing of Grazing The selection of appropriate grazing periods throughout the year […]

The Bateleur – Quarter 2 (2025)

As the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) embarks on a transformative journey guided by our newly adopted SAWC Strategy 2030, we’re delighted to unveil a refreshed way of connecting with you. Welcome to The Bateleur, our revitalised newsletter, now a bimonthly publication, that integrates our Wildlife Guardian News newsletter, which further supports our matrix structure. This redesigned newsletter is […]

Shaping Stewards: The SAWC Approach to Leadership in Conservation

At the heart of the Southern African Wildlife College’s (SAWC) Strategy 2030 lies a clearly defined commitment to developing competent, confident, and transformative leaders capable of working across multiple sectors and governance levels to implement sustainable, inclusive conservation practices. Thematic Area 5, Leading and Managing in Conservation, focuses on building leadership capacity to address interconnected […]