A life-changing experience - for students and Africa’s wildlife.
From contributing to frontline wildlife conservation to supporting meaningful community work, our service learning field trips empower students to have a real impact on important issues - all while exploring the unique wildlife, culture and ecosystems of southern Africa.
Guided by experienced professionals, students will play an active role in ecological fieldwork and community engagement. Through this physically and emotionally testing work, they’ll develop leadership, confidence, resilience and teamwork skills.
Whether they’re busy restoring an area of degraded natural habitat, monitoring critically endangered vulture nests, or providing a helping hand to a local creche, our service learning trips give students the purpose and drive they need to grow personally, learn collaboratively and contribute to a meaningful cause.
I travelled with African Conservation Experience (ACE) for my school studies, and to see whether a career in conservation could be right for me. I feel like I’ve made a real positive impact, and helped to conserve the wildlife and the land here.
Having personally overseen the coordination of these field courses with colleagues at ACE for a number of years, I can testify that the service provided by the ground staff both in the UK and in southern Africa is second to none.
Students supporting a local creche during playtime
International service learning trips
Discover service learning that makes a difference
Our immersive, interdisciplinary service learning experiences go beyond the classroom, where students have real-world impact. On these educational trips, students gain hands-on experience and meaningfully contribute to conservation and community initiatives.
These international service learning trips expose students to the full scope of conservation work - from animal husbandry and care techniques to the strategies involved in habitat restoration and ecosystem management. Under the guidance of wildlife experts and local community leaders, students will take part in research, education, and fieldwork in creating sustainable conservation outcomes. They will see firsthand how interconnected every aspect of conservation is, and how their contributions support long-term, measurable impact.
Every service learning school trip is tailored to your specific learning outcomes. Guided by local professionals, students will engage with communities, listen to their stories, and understand how Africa’s past has shaped its present-day conservation challenges. Through these educational service learning trips, students will come away with more than new knowledge. They'll gain real insight into the complexities of protecting biodiversity in a globalised world and the confidence of knowing their efforts have made a tangible, lasting contribution to Africa’s future.
Where real-world impact meets personal growth
Our service learning trips are designed to shape thoughtful, resilient, and socially aware global citizens. Through a wide range of activities - from wildlife rehabilitation support at trusted centres like Moholoholo, to impactful community engagement - students will experience what it means to step outside of their comfort zone and contribute to something bigger than themselves. These life-changing moments are what turn a service learning study trip into a lasting memory and a personal milestone.
As students collaborate to solve real-world problems and work toward shared conservation goals, they’ll build critical teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. Every task, whether it’s maintaining enclosures, restoring natural habitats, or gathering ecological data in the field, contributes directly to meaningful outcomes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is service learning with purpose - where students see the results of their hard work and leave with a sense of fulfilment, ownership, and pride in what they’ve achieved together.
A service learning trip abroad is also an opportunity for students to reflect on their place in the world. They will begin to understand the importance of intercultural respect, the power of education in community upliftment, and the urgency of wildlife protection in the face of global environmental challenges. These are the moments that develop empathy, broaden perspectives, and help students build the emotional intelligence needed to become leaders, changemakers, and responsible citizens of the future.
FAQs
What support do you offer to help the service learning trip to Africa get off the ground?
After our initial meeting, we will put together a detailed slide deck of your custom itinerary that you are welcome to use to present to your school leadership team, parents and guardians, and students. We would also be delighted to host information evenings to meet with parents, guardians and students to discuss and answer any questions about the trip!
What are your safeguarding procedures?
Safeguarding is paramount throughout the trip. On each day, students will always be in the presence of at least one teacher or school chaperone. We will never split the group into more vehicles than there are teachers or school chaperones. Students will share accommodation with other students of the same gender, while the teacher and school chaperone accommodation will be separate but nearby.
How do you assess risk on your educational service learning trips?
We use certified Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) practitioners to regularly assess every location, activity, and transfer. We are also very happy to provide a copy of our internal risk assessment for you to look through and assess for yourselves.
What is the procedure for dealing with medical emergencies for students?
A member of our in-country team will be with you at every step of your journey - from the moment you land to when you check in for your flight home. They will be on hand to deal with any emergencies, should they arise. In over two decades of running school, college and university field trips to Africa, there has never been an emergency that we have not been able to solve comprehensively.
Will I have access to the internet to keep in touch with parents, guardians, and my school?
Yes! All of our sites provide internet access. However, everyone is encouraged to disconnect and fully engage in life in the bush.
We also carry our own private router for your use in case of emergencies.
What if parents and guardians are still worried about travel to Africa?
It's natural. To put them at ease, we are one of the most trusted names in school, college and university travel to Africa. The health and safety of everyone present on our field trips is our top priority. With the expertise of our team and our comprehensive safety protocols, we’ve enabled hundreds to take part in school expeditions to Africa with confidence and peace of mind.
We're ABTA-accredited, ATOL-bonded, and follow strict UK and international travel standards. That means complete protection, legally and financially, for your booking. We also have our own on-the-ground support team, available 24/7. You can find more information on how people travel with confidence at the dedicated page.
We’re also happy to chat with parents and guardians directly, answer their questions, and give them peace of mind.
How will students support conservation efforts?
Depending on your itinerary, you may assist with wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, or animal care and husbandry.
We only partner with wildlife research projects in Africa that either support fully self-sustaining animal populations or follow an "assisted sustainable" model, where minimal human intervention supports long-term viability. All our partner animal rehabilitation centres strictly follow the animal welfare standards set by SATSA and ABTA, ensuring that animals live as naturally as possible while receiving the highest standards of care, ethical treatment, and conservation value. Both types of work align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and we are also proud to be affiliated with leading global organisations like WWF and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), so you know your contribution will be delivering high conservation value.
How do I start planning an international service learning trip with you?
Take the first step by simply submitting an enquiry form. Our education experts will then be in touch to discuss the various opportunities we have available, tailoring the trip to your learning outcomes.
We can't wait to speak with you about the best service learning trips to Africa!
