Learn the work
behind the wild places
Bushwise
Conservation Short Course 2-24 weeks
Whether you're following your passion or upskilling fast, this short course gives you the best of both worlds: practical skills and the boots-on-the-ground experience you need to truly understand conservation in practice.
DURATIONS: 2-24 WEEKS
NEXT START DATE: 23 MAY 2026
FORMAT: ON-CAMPUS
ACCREDITATION: BUSHWISE
AGE: 18+
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Where research meets real-world wildlife conservation
Hands-on training for people who are passionate about protecting the natural world.
Step into the world of conservation in the heart of the savanna biome in Limpopo, South Africa. Learn about conservation research, get hands-on experience in the bush, and gain the skills needed to successfully run field operations.
This course is modular, so you get the freedom to join us from 2 to 24 weeks, extend your stay or return to build your expertise through additional modules later.
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Build practical conservation skills in the field
Transform your passion for the wild into a career that makes a measurable impact. Guided by conservation experts, you’ll develop a new set of skills during each two-week Conservation Research Module (CRM), balancing theory with hands-on practice in areas like wildlife data analysis, species monitoring and more. Since each module includes a project and assessment, your learning stays closely linked to what’s happening on the ground.
You’ll also join our team in the field, contributing directly to biodiversity surveys and active conservation initiatives. Spend your days observing herd behaviour, following cheetahs using radio telemetry, and setting up camera traps to collect real-world data.
Beyond these core modules, you’ll complete Professional Field Operations training and receive mentoring sessions, which bridge the gap between being a student and a conservation leader.
Combined, all these course elements provide the technical foundation, hands-on experience, and operational expertise you need to manage conservation projects with confidence. And of course, you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime in a Big 5 reserve!
Here’s a snapshot of the 12 CRMs that make up the full six months and some of the activities in them:
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how a reserve really runs, from walking fence lines and checking for gaps to mapping routes and managing how wildlife and tourism share a space. It’s where the bigger picture starts to make sense, seeing how decisions on the ground shape the entire landscape.
Spend time helping the land recover by clearing invasive plants, managing erosion, and tracking key species like elephants and rhinos. It’s a hands-on way to see how ecosystems rebuild over time, and how small, consistent actions contribute to something much bigger.
Follow the movement of predators using radio telemetry, learn to identify individual animals by their markings, and start reading tracks and signs left overnight. The bush begins to feel more detailed and alive as patterns start to reveal themselves.
Work on one of conservation’s most complex challenges by monitoring predator activity near boundaries and spotting early signs of conflict. It’s about understanding both sides of the story and being part of practical, on-the-ground solutions.
Head out on snare sweeps to help protect wildlife, while also looking at how waste and pollution impact the environment in less obvious ways. This is a closer look at the quieter threats that still have a big effect on the ecosystem.
Set up camera traps, take part in early morning bird counts, and explore how different species use the same space. Over time, a clearer picture forms of how everything connects and what a healthy ecosystem really looks like.
Spend time working with local communities, sharing knowledge through environmental education and learning from people who live alongside wildlife every day. This module adds a completely different layer to conservation, one that goes beyond the reserve itself.
Track weather patterns and watch how animals and habitats respond to changing conditions for a practical, on-the-ground look at climate change.
Use radio antennas and GPS units, troubleshoot camera trap hardware, and learn how to maintain professional field gear to build confidence with the equipment that supports modern conservation work, even in tough conditions.
Observe how animals move, hunt, rest, and interact, both in real time and through camera trap footage. Animal behaviour starts to make sense, especially when you begin to notice patterns you wouldn’t have seen before.
Turn what’s happening in the field into stories that people can understand and connect with. Whether it’s creating content or leading walks, it’s about making conservation more accessible and engaging.
Step back and look at the bigger picture of what conservation is actually achieving. Work with data to track population trends, review operational results like snare removals, and assess how different interventions are influencing wildlife and habitats over time. This is where fieldwork turns into measurable outcomes, helping connect everyday activities to long-term conservation goals and showing what real impact looks like on the ground.
Beyond the core modules, your training also includes a range of practical, real-world activities that run alongside your fieldwork. You might get involved in field data collection, survey work, wildlife monitoring, and supporting day-to-day reserve operations.
You’ll also receive ongoing mentorship (both group and one-on-one) and develop your leadership skills throughout the course.
Each module includes its own project and assessment, which you’ll work on as you go. This could be something like a short report or a presentation linked to what you’re learning in that module.
Alongside the core modules, you’ll also complete a series of professional training modules designed to prepare you for real-world work in conservation. These sessions focus on building the skills needed to plan, manage, and run conservation or community projects safely and effectively in the field.
One of the following is completed every two weeks alongside a core module:
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Self-leadership and wellbeing
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Project management
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Ethical engagement
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Measuring impact
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Intercultural competence
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Communication (storytelling and social media)
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Team management
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Participant journey
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Off-site safety management
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Safety management in practice
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Standards, policies and procedures
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Emergency First Response (EFR)
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Itinerary
This is an example of what a typical day might look like. Modules and activities can be adjusted depending on focus, weather, and operational needs.
During your course, you will have weekends off where you can rest, study, or go sightseeing.
Morning: Field research and data collection
Start by exploring Southern Africa’s major ecosystems. You’ll learn how these habitats function, the key ecological processes that keep them balanced, and how species interact. Expect hands-on activities that bring these concepts to life in the field.
Midday: Brunch and theory
Head back to camp at 11:00 am. The middle of the day is your time for a bit of downtime, self-study, or heading into the classroom for a theory session. You might spend time in the education room looking at textbooks or scientific papers linked to your current module.
Afternoon: Practical workshops and tech
Afternoons are for practical exercises and workshops. You could be setting up camera traps at waterholes, entering research data in the lab, or practicing with conservation gear like drones or GPS units. It’s all about applying the science you learned in the morning.
Evening: Campfire and reflection
Wrap up the day around 6:00 pm with an evening meal at the hub or around a campfire. It’s a chance to unwind, share findings from the day, and prep your gear for the next morning.
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Weekends
Saturday and Sunday are your time to rest and recharge. You can use these days to catch up on studying at the hub, relax in a hammock, or head out to explore nearby highlights like Kruger National Park or the Blyde River Canyon.
Location
Your training takes place at a research station in Karongwe Game Reserve, Limpopo. You’ll be fully immersed in nature while staying inside a Big Five Game Reserve.
Living here gives you direct access to a complex, fenced ecosystem. You’ll be training right where the action is, surrounded by diverse bushveld habitats and bordering local community lands. It’s a setting that allows you to see exactly how conservation management, wildlife protection and community coexistence work in the real world.
The base gives you direct access to the natural environment. You’ll train in an outdoor classroom surrounded by game, bushveld habitats, and nearby agricultural and community trust lands – an unbeatable setting for learning the ropes of conservation work.
To help you settle in, you’ll join our pre-departure WhatsApp group before your course begins. Here, you can meet your fellow students, ask questions, and get guidance from our team, so you’ll already feel part of the Bushwise community before your first day.
Karongwe
Your home at Karongwe is a large, renovated farmhouse that you’ll share with our staff and other participants from all over the world.
The campus is solar-powered to keep our footprint light. Accommodation is in dorm-style rooms with shared bathrooms. You’ll have full access to everything at Karongwe, including the data and research rooms and an education room packed with textbooks, scientific papers, and preserved bones. If you need to focus on your assignments, there’s a dedicated intern corner with desk space and charging stations.
When you’re relax, the social and work spaces are all close together, making it easy to connect with the team. You can relax in a hammock or swing chair, or catch a documentary on the projector. There’s also a volleyball court, weights, and yoga mats for those who want to be active!
| Karongwe
Karongwe Research Station
Your home at Karongwe is a large, renovated farmhouse that you’ll share with our staff and other participants from all over the world.
The research station is solar-powered to keep our footprint light. Accommodation is in dorm-style rooms with shared bathrooms. You’ll have full access to everything at Karongwe, including the data and research rooms and an education room packed with textbooks, scientific papers, and preserved bones. If you need to focus on your assignments, there’s a dedicated intern corner with desk space and charging stations.
When you want to relax, the social and work spaces are all close together, making it easy to connect with the team. You can relax in a hammock or swing chair, or catch a documentary on the projector. There’s also a volleyball court, weights, and yoga mats for those who want to be active!
Dates & fees
Set start dates
2-24 week course | from R62,595
2026
23 May, 6 Jun, 20 Jun, 4 Jul, 18 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 7 Nov, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec
Payment plan
Plan 1
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A deposit secures your booking
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First instalment due 20 weeks before the course start date
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Final instalment due 12 weeks before the course start date
Plan 2
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A deposit secures your booking
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The balance is split into six instalments leading up to the course start date
Plan 3
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Custom deposit secures your booking
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The balance is split into equal instalments, with the final instalment due 3 months into the course
Fund your Bushwise course!
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Discounts of up to R50,000
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Grants & scholarships of up to R100,000
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Student loans available
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What’s included
Learning resources & activities
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Bushwise Conservation Short Course Information
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Bushwise Conservation Short Course certificate (upon completion)
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Course led by a Conservation Director and experienced long-term staff
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All 12 Conservation Research Modules (CRMs) if completing the 6-month course
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Weekly 1:1 and group mentoring sessions
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Professional Field Operations Training (one module completed alongside each CRM. There are 12 modules in total, covering project management and safety.)
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All CRM-related activities
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Expert-led lectures
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Entrance fees for excursions, if applicable
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Assistance with booking other extracurricular activities
Living resources
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Accommodation includes:
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Shared room
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Desk, cupboard, and fan
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Boma and braai area
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Space to exercise
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Social area
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Free Wi-Fi
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Library of books
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Communal or shared en-suite bathroom
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Limited laundry services
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Support services
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Pre-departure support
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Pre-departure WhatsApp group
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Location orientation
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24-hour in-country support
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24-hour emergency phone
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Emergency support from Bushwise on-site staff
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Daily briefings
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Final feedback session
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Access to our alumni program
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Access to our unique in-house recruitment program
What’s not included
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Flights
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Transfers to the campus on arrival and departure
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Medical and travel insurance
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Police clearance or background check fees
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Personal workwear, such as hiking shoes and jackets
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Bushwise uniform (can be purchased after arrival)
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International and domestic airport taxes
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Additional drinks and gratuities
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Compulsory and recommended reference books
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Extra local excursions
Advance your conservation career
This short course is part of the larger 12-month Practical Conservation Course. This course includes an optional 6-month work placement and a career guarantee. To explore the full course, click here.