Projects
    and
Initiatives



    Career training for the local community

    Conservation in Southern Africa presents many complex problems.  Bhejane Nature Training operates in one of Southern
    Africa's most biologically diverse hotspots. Few areas can compete with the range of habitats and biological diversity of the
    Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park, a World Heritage Site and its surrounding parks and reserves.  One of the most
    challenging aspects of conservation in Zululand and Maputaland has been the conflict of interest of local communities
    living adjacent to these conservation areas.  Their dilemma is an understandable one - they have a simple need to survive
    amongst large-scale poverty and unemployment, partly due to past displacement to make way for these conservation
    areas. In addition, aspects of the local landscape hold much sentiment and spiritual significance - areas that are otherwise
    simply labeled as tourism attractions.

    Whilst Bhejane Nature Training is committed to the conservation of the environment and specifically this unique landscape,
    we also recognise that no conservation here will be possible without a dual commitment to these communities.  To this
    effect, Bhejane Nature Training, as an Associate Member of the Space for Elephants Foundation , has committed
    to undertaking several projects that will enable us to not only train some of the members of these communities as
    competent and specialist guides, but also to assist them in putting their new skills to use, through networking with local
    tourism authorities and business and creating sustainable employment opportunities for them in Wildlife Tourism.

    Guiding tourists in their own environments provides  a good opportunity for these local guides to improve their own
    circumstances and simultaneously contribute to a greater desire amongst local communities to support conservation efforts.

    Specialist guide training is currently being developed in the following fields:

    •        Birding Guides
    •        Marine Guides
    •        Butterflying
    •        Dangerous Game Trails Guides
    •        Specialist guides for Rhinoing and Elephanting  
    •        Nguni  Culture Guides  
    •        Fishing Guides

    Together,  Bhejane Nature Training and Space for Elephants, are always looking for new opportunities to enable local
    guides to develop pride in their natural and cultural heritage, by promoting specialist activities within these fields.

    Go to Programmes to learn more about the professional guiding programmes that are available for local students.
    Alternatively, you can support these education and training initiatives by taking part in the Ubuntu Wild 7 day or 14 day
    experience.  All participants on these programmes contribute to the training of local specialist field guides.


            To learn more about sponsoring a local student for career training, please contact Christa at


                                                                              Space for Elephants Foundation


    In the past, elephants had migratory routes. Man interfered.  Fenced Game Reserves. Human encroachment! Elephants
    were left in small islands (pockets) cut off from their extended families.

    Space for Elephants as a national organization, endeavours to create more space through a network of corridors
    throughout the country to give back to the elephants their SPACE and to create a sound economic base to the people
    living along these corridors.  Elephants need to be included in the economic equation to become an asset to the people of
    Africa.  We will incorporate the people and wildlife in a vast network of conservation and economic partnership. Protecting
    our natural and cultural heritage for our future.

     Space for Elephants also offers alternative tourism options.  Go to www.space4elephants.org to learn more.


                                                                 WildlifeCampus offers the following Online courses:



    Game Ranging, Field Guiding, Trails Guiding, Marine Guiding,  Game Lodge Management, Wildlife  Management,  
    Capture, Care and Management of Wildlife, Human-Wildlife Conflicts, Palaeontology and Evolution, Animal Tracks &
    Signs,  Introduction to Photography, Wildlife Photography, FGASA Exam Preparation, Snakes & Reptiles,  Game Ranch
    Economics,  Behaviour Guide to African Carnivores Herbivores & Primates, Birding by Habitat, Astronomy, The Hunting
    Debate, Survival,  African Folklore, The Guides Guide to Guiding and a FREE Big "5" Course.

      Go to: www.WildlifeCampus.com for more information.


    Getting involved!  If you are a Tourism, Conservation, or Training and Education organization and would
    like to get involved in our initiatives, please contact us.