Blog

Update from the K9 Unit Department – March ’25

By Simon Mnisi (Dog Master) and Precious Malapane (Deputy Dog Master) © Images by Chris Anderson Photography. BARSA Summit 2025: A Collaborative Conservation Effort At the BARSA (Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa) Summit, Precious Malapane (Deputy Dog Master) and Bruce McDonald (Chief Pilot) delivered speeches on the collaborative role of the College’s K9 […]

Selection Process - Ranger Training

Professionalising the Ranger Force: Standardised Basic Training

The Importance of Standardised Basic Training  Field rangers require a solid foundation in standardised principles when they begin their careers. Training must incorporate lessons learned and key operational principles to ensure that rangers can operate safely and effectively as part of a patrol team.  Basic training for rangers typically lasts between six and eight weeks, […]

Update from the RISE Department – March ’25

By Sboniso Phakathi – Project Leader: Rural Initiatives for a Sustainable Environment (RISE) Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) People and Parks Leading Heart training  Dr. Thabang Teffo, Head of the Responsible Resource Management department, and I worked together to deliver the Leading Heart training (Reg number: HE08/004/RISELH) to 20 People and […]

Update from the RRM Department – March ’25

‘sThe first quarter of 2025 has been a period of significant progress for the Southern African Wildlife College’s (SAWC) Responsible Resource Management (RRM) department.  In January, the senior trainer, Pieter Nel, led a game drive, delivered a lecture on Dangerous Game Awareness, and presented on community-led conservation practices and the nature-based economy to a delegation […]

Update On Student and Programme Support – March ’25

The Office of the Registrar  The year began with strong momentum as the new student database, developed with support from our Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department, is now fully operational. This system streamlines the registration process, ensuring that students are registered on the College’s database upon arrival. To date, we have registered 138 students […]

Update from the ALR Department – March ’25

Applied Learning and Research Department: Advancing Conservation Science and Research Collaboration The Applied Learning and Research Department (ALRD) at the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) has had an eventful quarter, marked by key engagements, research initiatives, and knowledge-sharing platforms.   Workshop Highlights – Johannesburg Session By Natashia Khosa – Administrative Coordinator  On 13 February 2025, the […]

Partnership between the Southern African Wildlife College and Commonland  focuses on addressing the urgent need for holistic landscape restoration in Southern Africa

The College and Commonland have joined forces in a new partnership aimed at scaling long-term, community-led conservation and restoration efforts across Southern Africa. By combining the SAWC’s expertise in community-led conservation and restoration training with Commonland’s 4 Returns Framework, this partnership will develop and implement training programmes and materials to help guide holistic landscape management […]

Inclusive Conservation: A Path to Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecological Resilience in Africa

In recent years, the concept of inclusive conservation has gained significant attention as a transformative approach to harmonising biodiversity preservation with the livelihoods of local communities. In Africa, where ecosystems are rich in diversity and critical to global environmental health, the success of conservation efforts depends on involving the very people who have historically lived […]

Minister Dion George attends training to initiate stronger support for rangers

MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, FISHERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT : 16/01/2025 The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dr Dion George, recently attended a course at the Southern African Wildlife College, located in the greater Kruger National Park. Through the course, the Minister gained a deeper understanding of the crucial work […]