About
BushWise and Bonamanzi
1. Programme Overview
Bonamanzi Game Reserve is establishing a long term Wildlife Research & Conservation Initiative with BushWise designed to provide students, interns, emerging conservationists and individuals from around the
world with meaningful, hands on experience in a functioning African wildlife reserve.
The programme provides opportunities for participants to spend extended periods living and working within the reserve while contributing to wildlife research, conservation, field operations and environmental education.
Placements can range from several weeks to several months and potentially a year or longer, depending on the participant's objectives and the nature of the programme.
The initiative is particularly focused on elephants, wildlife monitoring, biodiversity, habitat research, conservation technology and developing practical field skills.
2. The Bonamanzi Field Environment
Bonamanzi is situated in northern KwaZulu Natal within the Zululand wildlife landscape. Participants will live within the reserve and experience a genuine African field environment rather than a conventional classroom or tourism setting.
Accommodation is relatively basic and designed to encourage an immersive field experience. Participants should be comfortable with bush living, basic amenities and spending substantial amounts of time outdoors.
The reserve provides the wildlife, field environment and practical infrastructure necessary for long term observation, learning and research.
3. The Elephant Research Programme
Elephants are one of the primary areas of focus. The programme aims to develop a long term individual identification and monitoring database for
the Bonamanzi elephant population.
Participants may participate in:
• Individual elephant identification
• Photographic identification records
• Age and sex classification
• Recording scars, wounds and physical characteristics
• Behavioural observations
• Personality characteristics
• Herd structure and social relationships
• Mother and calf relationships
• Movement and ranging observations
• Population and demographic monitoring
• Elephant habituation observations
• Habitat interaction and ecological impact
4. Habituation Programme
An important component of the programme is the controlled habituation of elephants to the predictable presence of humans.
Participants will be introduced to established field protocols and will initially work alongside experienced guides and field personnel.
The objective is to create a consistent and responsible human presence that allows elephants to become accustomed to researchers, students and vehicles while minimising disturbance.
The habituation process itself provides opportunities for observing and documenting individual
behavioural responses and changes over time.
5. Wider Research and Conservation Opportunities
Although elephants are a primary focus, participants may also become involved in other areas,
including:
• Wildlife behaviour
• Biodiversity monitoring
• Habitat and vegetation research
• Wildlife health
• Camera trap monitoring
• Drone based wildlife observation
• Invasive species control
• Wildlife movement
• Conservation technology
• Human wildlife interaction
• Conservation tourism and education
• Photography and filmmaking
Projects and activities can be adapted according to the participant's background, experience,
interests and objectives.
6. Individual Research Projects
For participants undertaking formal research, the programme can support the development of an
individual research project.
Participants may:
1. Develop a research question
2. Establish an appropriate methodology
3. Conduct field observations and collect data
4. Maintain structured field records
5. Analyse their findings
6. Prepare a written research report
7. Present their findings at the conclusion of the placement
Where academic credit or formal qualifications are involved, the participant's university or
academic institution would retain responsibility for academic supervision and assessment.
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