Rooted in Research, Growing in Community

Letting Conservation Take the Lead

Since opening in 2023, Royal Malewane’s CRC has evolved from a meeting place for conservation minds into a hub of research, innovation and creativity. Whether it’s mapping buffalo movements with visiting scientists or hosting photography workshops for local youth, every initiative serves the same purpose: advancing conservation.

“It was a leap of faith in the beginning,” says Lee-Anne Sonnekus, who manages the CRC. “We knew there was a need for a multi-purpose centre in the reserve where we could host researchers as well as hold regular talks about nature and conservation, and we are so pleased to say that the centre has taken on a life of its own.”

The aim of the centre was always to bridge the gap between science and hands-on conservation and having a Nature Lounge to host talks and a residence for researchers, as well as hosting training sessions, have meant there is always something going on at the CRC.

Where curiosity meets conservation: inside the Nature Lounge at Royal Malewane’s Conservation and Research Centre

A Hub in the Heart of The Greater Kruger National Park

The Conservation & Research Centre’s location is one of its greatest assets. Situated centrally within The Greater Kruger National Park, it provides researchers working across multiple private nature reserves with a practical, well-equipped base from which to operate. With accommodation for up to 17 people (eight in tents), reliable Wi-Fi and space to both live and work, the centre has attracted a steady and growing stream of scientists over the past two years.

Lee-Anne notes that 2025 and 2026 have been particularly active years at the centre. A team from tech startup Terrasense has been in residence, working with AI and pangolins to develop a low-impact tracking system that is revolutionary in its approach to protecting the species. The centre has hosted researchers from multiple South African and international universities, including a team from the University of Pretoria, supporting a large-scale buffalo study across The Greater Kruger National Park landscape.

Left: the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s vulture research; Right: BirdLife South Africa’s study of the migratory European Roller

“What I love most about this work is the abundance of knowledge that is generated through these connections,” says Lee-Anne. “We are meeting so many interesting people and learning through building relationships with them. The researchers have access to the wealth and knowledge of the most qualified guiding team in Africa, and our guides in turn have access to cutting-edge research, which creates a win-win for conservation.”

Tomorrow’s Conservation Leaders

In addition to supporting scientists and ongoing research, the CRC is also used for Royal Malewane’s Lessons in Conservation (LiC) programmes for local schoolchildren, part of the work done by The Royal Portfolio Foundation to uplift local communities and foster a passion for conservation.

The programme runs in partnership with Lessons in Conservation and has been brought in-house since a pilot in 2024, with the Royal Malewane team delivering the LiC lesson plans and with their own personal stories and shared experiences making the content even more relatable.

“Seeing the joy on the learners’ faces and their enthusiasm to learn more about the wild is what truly inspires me,” says Ali McAdam, Founder of the CRC and Chairperson of the Foundation. “Empowering minds through education is essential to ensure that the next generation become devoted guardians of our natural world.”

Daniel Mongwe (Lodge Manager, Waterside), joined by members of the Waterside team, engaging with a Lessons in Conservation session

This year the Royal Malewane team is running workshops with 84 Grade 7 learners from the local Sihlekisi Primary School, including hands-on activities, time spent in the bush on game drives and exposure to careers in conservation.

“The results have been striking,” says Lee-Anne. “A number of participants have left the workshops expressing a genuine interest in pursuing careers in science and conservation – bringing the learners out of the classroom and into the bush completely changes the experience.”

Sihlekisi Primary School learners exploring the natural world through a Lessons in Conservation activity at the Conservation and Research Centre

Wild Shots Outreach: A Lens on the Future

The Wild Shots Outreach programme offers a different kind of opportunity. Run in a partnership between Royal Malewane and Wild Shots Outreach, this four-night, five-day course provides eight local high-school graduates with professional training in wildlife photography every year.

Left: Wild Shots participants capturing a rhino in its natural habitat; Right: a Wild Shots workshop in session at the Conservation and Research Centre

Participants sleep on site in tents, join guides on game drives and receive hands-on instruction in photography techniques – a fully immersive experience designed to open doors into a field that might otherwise feel inaccessible.
According to Lee-Anne, three Wild Shots Outreach sessions are planned for this year, with the latest one taking place in May.

“The sessions are interactive and creative, and many of the participants have never been into the reserve, so it’s a huge eye-opener for them. The opportunity to learn a skill and express themselves creatively generates a lot of excitement, and the unique images they produced make us all look at the landscape and wildlife a little differently.”

Perhaps one of these days the CRC will host an exhibition of the Wild Shots images over the years?

“Anything’s possible,” says Lee-Anne. “That’s the beauty of the space – it has so many uses. We love that an idea that was just on paper a few years ago has been built into an interactive centre being used for so many purposes. Knowing it’s all for the good of conservation is very rewarding.”

A leopard captured through the lens of student photographer, Sacrifice

“Anything’s possible,” says Lee-Anne. “That’s the beauty of the space – it has so many uses. We love that an idea that was just on paper a few years ago has been built into an interactive centre being used for so many purposes. Knowing it’s all for the good of conservation is very rewarding.”