Biology & Ecology Kruger Fieldwork Trip

Welcome to your off-grid base camp, deep in the Greater Kruger National Park - home to the Big 5 plus hippo, giraffe and wild dog among others. Your group will have exclusive use of the camp with accommodation in safari tents with comfortable beds. Throughout your stay, students will help prepare meals, wash dishes, and keep the camp clean and running smoothly - a great way to learn important life skills. Evenings are usually spent around a crackling fire, soaking in the sounds of the bush at night.

Removing invasive plant species is vital for protecting biodiversity, as they can outcompete native plants and disrupt natural processes. By eliminating invasives, students will help restore and improve habitats for native species, and ensure the overall health of the ecosystem. Clearing out old fencing material is just as important, as this can be used by poachers to create snares or entangle wildlife leading to injury or death. By extracting this material students will actively save the lives of African wildlife.

Head into the bush on foot and gain insight into how wildlife is effectively protected and monitored on the ground. While on the walk, students will help look for snares and other signs of poaching activity. (Don’t worry, this is a safe activity focused on learning not encountering poachers!) Students will also learn how to recognise and identify different African animal species and their tracks out in the wild - vital skills in any game ranger’s toolbox. 

Assist the rangers in setting up camera traps to carry out real-time monitoring of wildlife. Head out on game drives to learn how to use digital and hard-copy maps to apply sampling techniques and record species’ presence. And practice real-world scientific data collection skills while observing a diverse range of species at a watering hole.

Throughout this field trip, students will engage in talks and debates about important conservation topics. From the ecology of the Greater Kruger area and how it connects with protected ecosystems in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, to ethical questions around elephant overpopulation and whether hunting still has a place in modern-day conservation.

Embark on a thrilling night drive to search for nocturnal species such as bushbabies, leopards and hyenas. Learn how to use a spotlight to find these species while ensuring no negative impact on the animals. Then enjoy an astronomy lesson under the vast African sky where students will learn to identify constellations visible in the southern hemisphere.

Students can undertake their own research projects to get a feel for every step of the scientific process, from planning their study, collecting data, to presenting their findings to their peers. The location presents a multitude of possible research topics. Some recent examples include the degrees to which elephants strip bark from different trees, how vegetation density affects wildlife distribution, and the correlation between wind speed and the size of impala herds. 

Spend the morning at a local NGO which offers a crèche to support children while their parents work on nearby farms. Students will get to help in the food garden, assist with the upkeep of the centre, and support educational playtime with the children. The time they spend at the creche is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about different cultures and engage in meaningful exchange.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour at one of Africa's largest wildlife rehabilitation centres. The experienced team at Moholoholo will introduce students to their resident birds of prey, big cats, honey badgers, bushbabies, hippos and other species - and explain the vital role animal care and rehabilitation plays in wildlife conservation. Returning to camp in the evening, they will have a fireside debate about the pros and cons of wildlife sanctuaries.

Exploring the public areas of the National Park in open-sided safari vehicles with expert guides, students will have an incredible opportunity to see some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife up close. This excursion offers students the chance to encounter wildlife species they haven’t yet seen, deepen their understanding of the national park’s rich biodiversity, as well as learning about public and private land management in African conservation.