WILDTRUST and ECOStudy Trust Partner to Pioneer Hands-On Environmental Education in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - WILDTRUST, one of South Africa’s foremost conservation organisations, has partnered with ECOStudy Trust to launch the ECOStudy Environmental Education programme - a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the growing threats to the country’s protected areas.

Through this partnership, ECOStudy will facilitate free educational excursions to the Sontuli Environmental Education Centre, located in the heart of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.  The Park was proclaimed in 1895, making it Africa’s oldest game reserve.  Spanning 96,000 hectares within the Maputaland–Pondoland biodiversity hotspot, the Park is internationally recognised as a critical stronghold for biodiversity conservation.

Grounded in the belief that meaningful, hands-on education is key to long-term conservation, the programme is designed to reconnect young people and local communities with their natural heritage. The initiative responds to a range of pressing threats to the Park, including encroaching land development, mining prospecting, escalating poaching, climate change, and socio-economic pressures.

ECOStudy is currently renovating Sontuli and will commence operations in January 2026. The programme aims to reach 20,000 learners and community members each year through immersive, overnight environmental education experiences. These excursions offer participants - many of whom would otherwise never have access to the Park - a rare opportunity to explore and learn in a game reserve. Through this experience, they gain a deeper understanding of biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability, while building a sense of ownership and responsibility toward protecting this globally significant ecosystem.

ECOStudy’s core programme is aligned to the Grade 6 Natural Sciences curriculum and takes Grade 6 learners (12 years old) from the non-fee-paying schools, in the neighbouring communities, on a two-day, one-night educational excursion to Sontuli. Importantly, this is at no cost to the participants or the schools.  Each learner is provided with an activity book that enhances their learning and helps connect what they’ve learned in the classroom with their experience in the field.

Beyond school learners, ECOStudy extends its reach to include diverse community groups, including traditional healers, youth organisations, community leaders, and local environmental groups. Pressing local issues, such as poaching, invasive plant management, human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and sustainable resource use are discussed and debated. These interactions help build lasting connections between the neighbouring communities and the Park, strengthening their involvement in conservation efforts.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with WILDTRUST in the delivery of this critically important programme,” says Susan Pyne-James, co-founder and CEO of the ECOStudy Trust. “Their expertise and shared commitment to environmental education and community upliftment make them an ideal partner.

We are also deeply grateful to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for the opportunity to implement the programme within the extraordinary iMfolozi Game Reserve — a place of immense natural and cultural significance. It is a privilege to bring young people and communities into this landscape to learn, connect, and be inspired to protect their natural heritage.

We are also profoundly thankful to the many companies and foundations that have supported the renovations at Sontuli. Without their generosity, this life-changing programme would not be possible.

ECOStudy is more than just an environmental education programme - it's a movement that seeks to transform the way future generations understand and interact with the natural world.”

“The partnership is a significant step toward inspiring a new generation of ‘ECOWarriors’ who value biodiversity and sustainable development in one of South Africa’s most important conservation areas. Through our formidable reputation for ecosystem restoration and environmental education, WILDTRUST believes it can leverage its expertise (and partnerships) to amplify educational impact and reinforce its vision of creating a thriving, resilient world. We fully support this programme and are committed to its success,” said WILDTRUST CEO, Dr Roelie Kloppers.

Members of the public and potential funders are invited to learn more and get involved.

Visit www.ecostudytrust.org or contact Susan Pyne-James at susan@ecostudytrust.org  for more information.

Your support can help ensure that future generations grow up connected to - and committed to protecting - our shared natural heritage.