Our Vision for Conservation: People and Wildlife Thriving Together
At Wildlife ACT, we believe that long-term conservation success depends on building meaningful partnerships with the people who live alongside wildlife. Conservation is not something that happens to communities. It is something that must happen with them.
KwaZulu-Natal’s protected areas are surrounded by rural communities. These shared landscapes are where conservation can be most effective, or most fragile. When communities have agency, along with the tools and resources to care for both their own wellbeing and the natural world, both people and wildlife thrive.
Wildlife ACT works in these shared spaces, supporting and developing solutions that benefit biodiversity and communities alike. We do this through a combined effort: our Community Conservation Program, which focuses on environmental education and stewardship, and our Human-Wildlife Coexistence Program, which addresses conflict and collaboration around protected areas.
We do not work from a distance. Our staff live and operate within the communities they serve. Our model is rooted in respect, collaboration and long-term presence. We believe that conservation must be people-oriented, inclusive and driven by local knowledge and understanding.
Our Community Conservation Program
Inspiring Environmental Stewardship and Youth Leadership
Wildlife ACT’s Community Conservation Program was established to reconnect people with nature and build the foundation for a new generation of conservation ambassadors. The program is centred around engaging local youth and supporting community members to understand, protect and benefit from their natural heritage.
Our work is focused around key protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal, including Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Somkhanda Community Game Reserve and uMkhuze Game Reserve.
Our Tiered Approach to Community Conservation
1 - Inspire
Young learners are introduced to nature through immersive experiences inside protected areas
2 - Nurture
Teenagers and young adults are supported through structured clubs and mentorship
3 - Support
Promising individuals are connected to conservation career pathways and leadership opportunities
Key Community Conservation Initiatives
Wildlife ACTive Kids Bushcamps
Grade 6 learners from nearby schools experience overnight stays in a Big 5 protected area. These camps last three days and inspire a connection with nature and build an understanding of the importance of conservation.
Wildlife Ambassador Clubs
Youth clubs around three protected areas engage in field trips, environmental projects and awareness activities. They receive mentorship, resources and opportunities for growth.
Immersive Conservation Leadership
A twelve-month leadership development initiative where selected interns undergo training in conservation, wilderness navigation, field skills and teamwork.
School Conservation Lessons
Our Community Conservation Liaisons teach conservation-focused lessons in rural schools, covering biodiversity, ecosystems and sustainable practices.
Adult Conservation Seminars
Community engagement sessions are held with village heads and residents to address conservation issues, discuss local development needs and share knowledge.
This tiered program has already shaped the journeys of many young people. From bushcamp participants to scholarship recipients, Wildlife ACT’s approach has led to real change and long-term impact.
Human-Wildlife Coexistence Program
Building Understanding and Reducing Conflict Around Protected Areas
Human-wildlife conflict is a daily reality for many people living near reserves. Livestock losses, safety risks and crop damage all contribute to a sense of exclusion and resentment. These tensions, if left unaddressed, threaten both wildlife and community well-being.
Wildlife ACT’s Human-Wildlife Coexistence Program responds to these challenges through education, engagement and practical solutions. We work to build trust and understanding, while directly addressing the causes and consequences of conflict.
Key Human-Wildlife Coexistence Focus Areas
Boundary Support Program
Supporting protected area boundaries like Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park through fence maintenance, local employment and communication efforts to reduce breakouts and conflict.
Conflict Mitigation Workshops
We facilitate dialogue between livestock owners and reserve management, exploring topics such as kraal fencing, livestock guarding, animal husbandry, and conflict prevention strategies.
Emergency Response Teams
Wildlife ACT teams respond quickly to snaring incidents, poisoning events and wildlife emergencies. These interventions save lives and strengthen community trust.
Poison Awareness Training
Local rangers, conservation staff and communities are trained in identifying poisoning risks and response strategies, especially to protect vulture populations.
Coexistence Education and Support
Conservation education continues beyond the classroom, focusing on coexistence strategies, sustainable use of natural resources and long-term behavioural change.
Our Human-Wildlife Coexistence Program is built on the knowledge gained from years of species monitoring and community engagement. It addresses the root causes of conflict while offering practical tools and ongoing support.
Conservation That Supports Communities
Wildlife ACT recognises that conservation cannot succeed if it causes harm or hardship. We believe in local solutions led by local people. Our programs do not include foreign volunteers. Instead, we invest in local educators, mentors, field teams and suppliers. We support transformation by sourcing goods and services from the closest Black Economic Empowerment-compliant providers and encouraging ecotourists to buy local.
Our work includes:
When conservation is community-based and benefit-driven, the results are clear. Wildlife conflict decreases. Community members become conservation allies. Poachers lose local support. Young people step forward as the next generation of environmental leaders.
Your Support Makes This Possible
Each contribution directly supports youth education, community engagement and wildlife protection.
Building Understanding and Reducing Conflict Around Protected Areas
$20 – Feed a child at a bushcamp
$80 – Support a conservation educator for one month
$150 – Send a learner to a bushcamp
$500 – Fund a Wildlife Ambassador Club for a month
$2,500 – Fund a full bushcamp for 30 children