• Conservation & Wildlife Management,
   
• Countryside Management
   
• Biodiversity Conservation

• Identify and explain global patterns of biodiversity
• Describe a range of threats to biodiversity
• Discuss a range of issues prevalent to global conservation programmes
• Evaluate the role of conservation organisations and international policies/treaties in conserving biodiversity
• Conduct habitat surveys and interpret biological data.
• Produce a management plan for a site of conservation interest, which will include the use of grazing herbivores and more traditional methods of management.
• Compare relevant conservation and reintroduction projects within the UK with similar projects overseas.
• Evaluate a range of animal monitoring techniques including radio telemetry, satellite tracking, small mammal trapping, bird ringing and chipping and tagging.
• Participate in on-going conservation practical work at a range of sites and assess the management regime in terms of its effect on biodiversity or on specific targeted species.
• Describe the principles of conservation biology and explain the importance of maintaining biodiversity.
• Explain how the theory of continental drift has contributed to the dispersal of species and the current distribution and isolation of some animal populations.
• Study a range of habitats and ecosystems and explain how they are managed for both biodiversity and the conservation of individual species.
• Discuss the impact of man on the world’s biomes.
• Explain the role of captive breeding and re-introduction programmes in the conservation of endangered species.
• Summarise the motivational factors affecting behaviour.
• Compare and contrast the differing forms of learning seen in animals.
• Explain the adaptive value of behaviour in relation to reproductive success – selfish behaviour, natural behaviour and selection theory.
• Instinctive behaviour, learned behaviour, the role of memory and their interactions.
• Types of communication: visual, acoustic, chemical and tactile.
• Social living; advantages and disadvantages of different social structures. Altruistic behaviour, dominance hierarchies, social conflict and competition and avoidance mechanisms.
• Predator/prey relationships; capture and avoidance mechanisms.
• Explain the significance of effective breeding management in domestic, captive and wild animal populations
• Critically evaluate the requirements of good animal welfare for a range of animal species in a range of situations.
• Evaluate general techniques and indicators used in the diagnosis of disease.
• Analyse mechanisms of disease transmission and evaluate methods to treat and prevent diseases, both in wild and captive populations.
• Describe difference in disease between captive and wild populations
• Evaluate methods of population control of both captive and wild populations
   

ITINERARY

DAY 1:  Johannesburg - Panorama Route Met on arrival at Johannesburg International airport and transfer to Sabie. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and recover from the flight.  In the evening the group leader/s will give an overview of the itinerary, the objectives and the learning outcomes expected. Overnight:   Meals:  D DAY 2:  Blyde River Canyon Today we visit many of the attractions of this area such as Pilgrim’s Rest village, which is a living national monument preserved in the style of the 1870 when this are experienced the biggest gold rush the world had known at the time.  We then wind our way along the edge of the Blyde River Canyon, which cuts through the Drakensberg Mountains on it way to the lowveld.  This is reputed to be the 3rd largest canyon in the world.   The drive from the escarpment to the lowveld is via a series of spectacular mountain passes.  We arrive at Moholoholo Mountain View in the late afternoon. This evening we will have a presentation / discussion on the impact of man on the world’s biomes and a range of threats to biodiversity within the South African context. Overnight:   Meals:  B & D DAY 3:   A full day starts off with an early morning bush walk before breakfast.  On the walk we will focus our attention of the following Learning Outcomes (LO’s): Instinctive behaviour, learned behaviour, the role of memory and their interactions. Types of communication: visual, acoustic, chemical and tactile. This is followed by an extended tour of the Rehabilitation Centre.  Kicking off with an introduction by one of the facilitators about the rehab centre its aims and objectives, followed a tour of the facility covering general aspects of wildlife rehabilitations as well as covering the following LO’s as they pertain to the specific conditions encountered in a rehabilitation environment: The requirements of good animal welfare for a range of animal species in a range of situations. General techniques and indicators used in the diagnosis of diseases. Mechanisms of disease transmission and evaluate methods to treat and prevent diseases, in captive populations. Difference in disease between captive and wild populations. Methods of population control of captive populations used at Moholoholo. After lunch we do a behind the scenes tour of the rest of Rehab. Centre, which is not open to the public. After dinner half the group will go out for a night drive Overnight:   Meals:  B, L & D  DAY 4:   After breakfast we visit the nearby Endangered Species Breeding Centre.  After an audiovisual presentation introducing the centre we take an extended tour of the facility where the following LO’s are discussed: The role of captive breeding and re-introduction programmes in the conservation of endangered species. The significance of effective breeding management in, captive populations. Methods of population control of captive populations used at Hoedspruit Endangered Species Breeding Centre (if at all).   We return for lunch.  The afternoon is spent at the reptile park, which provides an important rehabilitation and education function.  After dinner the other half the group will go out for a night drive. Overnight:   Meals:  B, L & D DAYS 5 & 6:   Drive into Kruger Park for 2 full days of game viewing. This is a valuable opportunity to do field observations in terms of the following LO’s: Principles of conservation biology and explain the importance of maintaining biodiversity. Differing forms of learning seen in animals. Types of communication: visual, acoustic, chemical and tactile. Social living; advantages and disadvantages of different social structures. Altruistic behaviour, dominance hierarchies, social conflict and competition and avoidance mechanisms Predator/prey relationships; capture and avoidance mechanisms. This is an opportunity to get laundry done, relax at the pool and in the late afternoon early evening of day 6 a sunset drive with a park ranger is included.  Overnight:   Meals:  B & D DAY 7:   The day will be divided in to a morning and an afternoon learning session.  The time before can be used for an early morning game drive.  The each session will comprise of 2 presentations by professional staff of Kruger National Park’s Management and Research team.  Proposed topics are aimed at the following Learning Outcomes: Presentation 1:How a range of habitats and ecosystems are managed for both biodiversity and the conservation of individual species. The principles of conservation biology and explain the importance of maintaining biodiversity. Current threats to biodiversity.  With specific reference to the elephant population management discuss the implications / threats to biodiversity. Presentation 2: Methods of population control of wild populations. General techniques and indicators used in the diagnosis of disease. With specific to Notifiable diseases. Mechanisms of disease transmission and methods to treat and prevent diseases, in wild populations. Overnight:  Meals:  B & D DAY 8:   The morning is spent travelling through the park and is once again a valuable opportunity to undertake observations of wildlife in their natural habit with a view to achieving the same LO’s as identified on Day 6.  Once in Swaziland we make our way to Mlilwane where we have free time on arrival.  Overnight:  Meals:  B, L & D DAY 9:   A full day at leisure.  Horse rides can be arranged in advance and mountain bikes can be hired on arrival.  These are at own expense.  There will be an opportunity to visit the local market. Overnight:  Meals:  B & D DAY 10:  Today we set out early and travel through Swaziland and back into South Africa’s Zululand region.  We will make a stop for lunch before making our way to the Umfolozi Section of the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Park.  We will enter the park in the northern entrance after lunch and enjoy a 3-hour game drive before reaching our overnight accommodation.   Overnight:   Meals:  B, L & D DAY 11:  The group will be divided into smaller groups and some will go game viewing in vehicles whilst others will go out on foot.  The walks will be in small groups of 8 and provides an opportunity for the students to give feedback on and discuss what they have learned in terms of the following LO’s:Principles of conservation biology and explain the importance of maintaining biodiversity. A range of habitats and ecosystems and explain how they are managed for both biodiversity and the conservation of individual species. We return to camp for a late breakfast, which is followed by a presentation on: Methods of population control of wild populations in Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Park Overnight:   Meals:  B, L & D DAY 12:  The groups will swap around on this day so everyone has the opportunity for a bush walk. After breakfast we depart for the Centenary Game Capture Centre where we will have an audiovisual presentation and visit the museum which records the development of game capture techniques which has become a specialised area of wildlife management.  This will be followed by a presentation aimed at the following LO’s: Evaluate general techniques and indicators used in the diagnosis of disease. Analyze mechanisms of disease transmission and evaluate methods to treat and prevent diseases, both in wild and captive populations. Describe difference in disease between captive and wild populations. Leaving Umfolozi we drive across to St. Lucia. The rest of the afternoon is free to have lunch, shop and relax.  This evening we will all go out as a group to the local Pizza restaurant. Overnight:   Meals:  B DAY 13:  This morning is set aside for whale watching.  There are only 2 boats available with a carrying capacity of 10 per boat so we will have to go out in 2 groups.  The skipper and guide will comprehensively cover the conservation and ecology of the Humpbacked whale. After lunch we will take a launch trip up the estuary of lake St. Lucia with a resident ecologist who will cover the following LO’s in respect of Greater Lake St. Lucia Wetland Park: Study a range of habitats and ecosystems and explain how they are managed for both biodiversity and the conservation of individual species. Describe the principles of conservation biology and explain the importance of maintaining biodiversity. This evening we arrange a final farewell dinner.  Overnight:  Meals:  B & D DAY 14:  A final opportunity to go whale watching if the due to weather or some other reason this was not possible yesterday.  A final opportunity to do shopping before packing up and making your way to Durban to connec INCLUDES: Accommodation Two Guides / facilitators Transport in Air-conditioned vehicle Meals as per itinerary Entrance fees Activities as per itinerary   EXCLUDES: All flights Drinks not provided Additional / optional activities Meals not specified Tips, gratuities and porterage Items of a personal nature incl. Laundry, telephone and curios