The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) continues to play an active role in shaping the future of African conservation through high-level global engagements. Tusk Conservation Symposium From 2–6 March 2026, our CEO, Theresa Sowry, represented the College at the Tusk Conservation Symposium in Zimbabwe. The event brought together conservation leaders, practitioners, and partners from across Africa. Organised by the conservation charity Tusk, the symposium...Read More
Written by: Kealeboga Moshupa, third-year Diploma Student In the dry landscapes of Africa stands a tree that looks almost too strong to be real — the baobab, scientifically known as Adansonia digitata. It has survived centuries of drought, heat and violent storms. Many people call it the “Tree of Life”, but to me, it represents something deeply personal. It mirrors my journey, my struggles, my growth and the quiet strength I...Read More
Written by: The SAWC Junior Leaders At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), leadership is not merely a title; it is defined by action, collaboration, and measurable impact. Recently, our Junior Leaders have demonstrated this ethos in abundance, rolling out a series of strategic initiatives that actively strengthen our College community from the ground up. Streamlining Focus for Greater Impact To...Read More
By Dr. Thabang Teffo The first quarter of 2026 has been a period of significant strategic advancement for the Nature-Based Economy (NBE) unit, with a strong focus on securing critical funding and expanding our partnership network. Strengthening Local Value Chains A major milestone was the signing of a funding agreement with the United Nations Development Programme...Read More
By Sboniso Ryan Phakathi The Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 Governance Guidelines development workshop recently kicked off to a vibrant and lively start. Facilitated by Conservation Synergies and supported by project partners, the workshop forms a critical milestone within the broader GEF-6 Partnership Programme in the Greater Kruger Landscape. The programme, part of the Global Environment Facility’s sixth funding cycle, focuses...Read More
By Scott Yammin, Precious Malapane, Bruce McDonald and Peter Hamming Protecting natural landscapes requires more than traditional law enforcement. It demands a holistic approach that integrates compliance, resilience, technology, and collaboration. At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), this integrated model continues to strengthen protected area integrity through targeted training, operational support, and innovation across multiple units. Strengthening Environmental Compliance A key...Read More
By Ronan Carvill Frogs are an often overlooked and undervalued category of biodiversity, but with the visit of the leading Anuran (frog and toad) scientist in Southern Africa, Dr Jeanne Tarrant, they became the centre of attention. The Diploma students got a week-long crash course in all things froggy. Frogs tend to have a slightly negative reputation...Read More
By Fortunate Mathonsi, Christopher Kafoteka & Kudakwashe MusengiThe Student Administration and Programme Support (SPS) department has experienced a tremendous level of activity during the first quarter as we welcomed our long-course students to the campus. The team worked diligently to ensure prompt registrations, preventing any loss of valuable classroom time. To date, 126 students have...Read More
At the College, leadership is not reserved for those at the top – it is nurtured at every level. Now in its third year, the Junior Leaders Programme has become a catalyst for innovation and internal transformation, answering an important question: how can junior staff shape the future of the College today? What began in 2023...Read More
By Dr. Thabang Teffo In the first year of implementing the new Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) Strategy 2030 plan, the Nature-Based Economy (NBE) thematic area demonstrated strong leadership and steady growth throughout 2025. The year reinforced the SAWC’s role as a regional training institution for the responsible use of natural resources, regenerative land management, and...Read More
