Bridging science and safari: Making conservation more accessible in the Greater Kruger

The Royal Malewane Conservation & Research Centre (CRC) is the first facility of its kind to open in the Greater Kruger National Park. Opened in July 2023, it’s a dedicated space designed to bring science, education and wildlife protection into closer, more effective alignment.

While there are only a handful of research centres in the area, the CRC stands apart with its clear and purposeful mission: to support and connect. It serves as a collaborative hub for researchers to gather together to share ideas and exchange knowledge. It’s a place for academics, field guides, trackers and guests to learn – bridging the gap between research and hands-on conservation.

The centre offers accommodation for up to 22 people across five en-suite rooms and six tents, including communal areas, allowing researchers to base themselves in the reserve for short or extended periods.

With funding often limited for researchers and conservation non-profits, the centre was designed with accessibility in mind. From securing reserve permissions to providing logistical support and a safari vehicle with a dedicated Royal Malewane representative, the CRC ensures visiting researchers have everything they need to focus on what matters most: collecting data, analysing findings and safeguarding some of Africa’s most endangered species.

The idea to open the centre was envisioned by Ali McAdam, chairperson of The Royal Portfolio Foundation. She saw a need – and with the support of Phil Biden, owner and co-chair of The Royal Portfolio, they built the CRC. With Ali’s passion for education and outreach and Phil’s extensive conservation experience as a director of Thornybush Nature Reserve and a leader in rhino protection initiatives in the Greater Kruger, together they created a space for meaningful, solution-oriented research.

“To better conserve, we need to understand. Africa’s wilderness areas face many threats, some that we’re aware of and some that we’re only just discovering,” says McAdam. “That is the purpose of the CRC: not only to support NPOs in their protection of endangered species across the Greater Kruger but also to remove barriers to research and encourage collaboration across all sectors for the greater good. By making research and conservation education more accessible, we empower future generations to lead and continue the conservation strides in safeguarding wildlife that the CRC is making now.”

The CRC is managed by centre co-ordinator Lee-Anne Sonnekus, who lives on-site with her family. Lee-Anne oversees researcher stays, co-ordinates logistics and hosts monthly conservation talks, making her the driving force behind the centre’s day-to-day success.

“We believe in the power of sharing ideas and meaningful connections,” explains Lee-Anne. “Earlier this year, we hosted Birdlife, the Ground Hornbill Project and two vulture researchers, and through their interactions, they discovered they all faced one common issue: lead poisoning. This informal networking allows people to share what has worked for them and potentially collaborate on solutions.”

The CRC works closely with The Royal Portfolio Foundation to fund and support critical research projects, such as the Associated Private Nature Reserves Ground-Hornbill Research Project. These large black birds are highly endangered due to habitat loss, so they have designed artificial nests to help mitigate this. The European roller satellite tracking project, which is conducted each year by researchers from BirdLife South Africa, tracks the migratory patterns of these colourful summer visitors to South Africa, in the fight to protect them.

Other organisations that have worked with the CRC include the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Wild Dog Project, EWT Birds of Prey Programme, GKEPF, Panthera Wild Cat Conservation NPC, Ingwe Research Programme and seven universities including Nelson Mandela Bay and Pretoria. The centre may not be conducting research directly, but its role in hosting researchers at the centre is helping to safeguard the Greater Kruger’s biodiversity.

Monthly conservation talks, hosted in the Nature Lounge at the CRC, are open to field guides and trackers, with topics directly relevant to their daily work. Guests at Royal Malewane are also invited to attend, offering them an inside look at conservation efforts in real time.

Guests at Royal Malewane can also participate in curated, hands-on conservation activities such as helicopter patrol flights or the Tango K9 Unit demonstrations. These immersive encounters are designed to inspire and educate travellers on how they, too, can make a positive impact on the ecosystem they’ve come to experience.

The CRC puts a huge amount of energy and effort into educating the community and investing in long-term change by nurturing future conservationists. They’ve partnered with Lessons in Conservation, a youth-based NPO that has created a programme geared toward school-going children. The programme aims to create awareness and not only teaches the children how to protect their environment but also why protecting the wildlife and landscape is so important. They spend time in the bush and experience game drives, and they are taught the basic ecological principles and how everything works together. Without one component, the whole system collapses.

The CRC is also home to the Tracker Institute at Royal Malewane. The need to upskill trackers was identified because advancing in this profession can be elusive, but Juan Pinto, director of Conservation and Wildlife, and Master Tracker, has a passion to see trackers reach elite status. There are only 11 CyberTracker-qualified Master Trackers in the world, three of which come from Royal Malewane. Operating in conjunction with legendary tracker Louis Liebenberg (CyberTracker) and led by Juan, the Tracker Institute gives existing trackers access to mentoring and advanced training.

With conservation and protecting wildlife at the forefront of travel, there is an expectation from travellers that safari hospitality groups should be protecting the environment in which they operate. It is a vital aspect of hospitality as guests are starting to make their travel plans around sustainable tourism. However, the CRC is more than just a tool used to promote conservation. They provide researchers with the opportunity and the platform to advance their work, with a core focus on supporting NPOs and conservation professionals wherever possible.

It’s a model that has so much potential for growth as more researchers and conservationists utilise the centre. It’s a focal point for everyone who visits or lives at Royal Malewane, and it provides fertile soil for the ideas that could one day save the Greater Kruger ecosystem.