Preserving indigenous wisdom, while contributing to modern conservation efforts and eco-tourism.
Made possible by Mrs Gaynor Rupert in 2010, and led by Alex van den Heever and Renias Mhlongo, the Tracker Academy is a bold and visionary action that has benefitted hundreds of wildlife trackers and made a significant impact on conservation, eco-tourism and biodiversity protection efforts.
Tracker Academy is the only formally accredited specialist tracker training school in Southern Africa and stands as a training division of the SA College for Tourism (SACT) which operates under the auspices of the Peace Parks Foundation.
TRADITIONAL TRACKING SKILLS EVOLVED IN AFRICA TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO FOR REASONS OF HUMAN SURVIVAL.
At its essence, tracking is the knowledge and skill required to recognize, interpret and follow animal signs. It enables one to know what animals are doing without having to see them. Due to rapid urbanisation and the legacy of apartheid’s of forced removals, tracking skills risk extinction in the near future. The San people living in the Kalahari as well as the Tsonga and Shangaan people living in southern Mozambique, North-Eastern Mpumalanga and Limpopo represent the last strongholds of genuine tracking skills in southern Africa.
The Tracker Academy demonstrates that traditional skills of tracking have relevance in modern conservation efforts and is working to restore indigenous tracking knowledge across the continent.
Tracker Academy Rhino Guardians
At the current rate of rhino loses in Kruger National Park the species faces local extinction by 2028. Existing anti-poaching forces are deficient in their ability to reverse this trend and there exists a lack of trained bushcraft and traditional tracking skills within the ranks of the anti-poaching personnel.
Tracker Academy’s Rhino Guardian programme is an integrated Rhino protection strategy promoted by the Tracker Academy and Londolozi Game Reserve, that seeks to use the ancient African craft of animal tracking to create safe havens for endangered species, particularly rhino and elephant.
The Tracker Academy is on a mission to train and deploy highly specialised expert trackers as Rhino Guardians – able to bolster wildlife protection efforts by bringing enhanced bushcraft skills to counter-poaching units. Learn more about how they are doing this:
The Tracker Academy is making a significantly positive impact on several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Read more in their recent Impact Report:
Tracker Academy 2024 Impact Report
Support the Tracker Academy
The Tracker Academy trains 16 recruits on a yearlong formally accredited Conservation Guardianship programme incorporating both specialist tracking skills (bushcraft) and combat training, and deploys graduates to create safe havens for rhino populations in reserves where management has demonstrated competence and trustworthiness.
Tracker Academy is seeking funding to double their reach – from 16 to 32 Rhino Guardians per annum. The cost per student is R150,000 (i.e., £7,500 or $8,800 – per candidate rhino guardian).
You can support the SACT Tracker Academy by making a donation through their secure online payment gateway. The SACT is a non-profit organisation (PBO 18/11/13/349; 080-778-NPO)
