Mankwe has been facilitating university field courses since 2001, providing a safe and welcoming research facility, enabling students to develop a wide range of field skills. The majority of the students that come to the site as part of a university field course, are studying ecology based subjects. While on site students are taught all aspects of conservation and ecology through taught lectures and practical field work. Students are able to immerse themselves in the onsite research, university lead research and training as well as reserve management.

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Field courses are tailored to the needs of each university, however reserve staff teach a range of field techniques which lecturers have the opportunity to utilise as part of their course, gaining hands on experience in bird surveys, large mammal surveys, invertebrate surveys, camera trapping, behavioural studies, grass surveys as well as practical lectures into large mammal anatomy.

 

Students are also taken on game drives, night drives and bush walks to give them every opportunity to study and observe the abundant wildlife. The field course also includes a day trip to the Pilanesberg National park where the ‘Big Five’ may be spotted.

Other optional day trips can be arranged to local places of interest and hot air balloon rides may be arranged over the reserve.

 

An average field course is 14 days long and the group will be accommodated at Waterbuck Camp which sleeps 36 guests. 

The site is only 2 hours from OR Tambo international airport, all groups are met on arrival at the airport by a licensed company and transported directly to and from the reserve. Mankwe has good access to first world hospitals situated 45 minutes from the site. Groups are always accompanied by experienced and first aid trained staff which makes Mankwe a safe environment to host student groups.