School Field Trips to South Africa
There’s nothing quite like an authentic African experience to inspire, educate and empower the hearts and minds of our youth. Combining wildlife, conservation, traditional culture and adventure, our field trips for schools provide life-changing experiences for young people.
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes
– Oliver Wendell Holmes
Watch the video above to find out more about African Insight Academy’s Wildlife and Conservation Field Trip for Schools.
What students will experience on their field trip with us:
Educational Bushwalks
Learning about geology, geography, biology, ecology and the importance of biodiversity and eco-systems.
Bush Skills
Covering safety, survival, tracking, medicinal and traditional uses of plants.
Wildlife Monitoring
The use of radio tracking devices and trail cameras.
Game Drives
Both during the day and at night to observe and learn about animal behavior.
Hands-on practical learning
Getting practical with some physical hands-on projects that will assist the conservation or wildlife management of the reserve.
Traditional Culture
There is no better way to learn about a foreign culture than to live and work alongside them.
Community Service
Giving back to the community is one of the rewards of responsible educational travel.
Forest, Mangrove & Estuary Hike
An educational hike through different eco-systems.
Three Lakes Tour
An educational boat trip covering three interconnected lakes ranging from fresh water to salt water
Features and benefits of our field trips:
School trips are the one thing all students look forward to during their school careers and the experiences and memories from these trips are life changing
The dynamic environment provides a learning venue that matches one’s natural inclination to know more about things, engages even those with short attention spans and puts the learning subject in context.
Create a hands-on learning experience that addresses social, global and personal leadership
Our trips are designed for high school aged students (14 - 18 years). Our Youth Development guides have been handpicked and trained in Experiential learning practices (learning through reflection on doing).
Provide a complete field trip planning and facilitation service
Our experienced programme coordinators work closely with your school when planning out every stage of the trip to South Africa. This includes comprehensive safety, security and risk protocols.
Students learn from and work alongside some of South Africa’s most experienced wildlife and conservation guides
Our field trip guides are true pioneers of conservation in South Africa. To learn from them is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students who are passionate about the environment.
Give students an authentic and educational African safari experience
During their trip, students stay in our purpose-built tented safari camp, with all the mod-cons of comfortable beds, hot showers, well-appointed dining facilities and “boma” area.
Experience is the best teacher
Educational travel offers students the opportunity to question their preconceived ideas of every aspect of life including their sense of purpose and place on the global landscape in ways that books, television, YouTube and any form of social media can never do.
Why work with African Insight Academy?
- We have been working with some of our university, college, and school clients for 24 years, providing safe, well organized and bespoke educational experiences for students from all over the world.
- To date, we’ve hosted over 12 000 students.
- Health and Safety is our priority - We hold global BS8848 safety accreditation from the British Standards Institute. Find out more here.
- Our field trip leaders include some of South Africa’s most experienced conservationists and guides.
Why go on a school field trip to South Africa?
South Africa is a meeting point of the first and third world. It boasts a first world economy with educational institutions, communication networks, medical facilities and a road infrastructure to rival the best in the west. With access to extensive wilderness, wildlife, authentic traditional culture and outdoor adventure resources on its doorstep, South Africa is the perfect destination for those looking to learn more about conservation in a safe, practical and supportive environment, guided by experienced mentors.
Health and Safety First
African Insight Academy holds international health and safety accreditation from the British Standards Institute. We also adhere to the highest possible standard of liability insurance and hold a two-decade incident-free record.
Get the Wildlife and Conservation Field Trip Brochure
Leave your details in the form below to access the brochure PDF for our 2021 Wildlife and Conservation Academic Enrichment Field Trip for schools. The brochure will automatically be sent to the email address you provide, so please check your inbox a minute or two after submitting the form.
A collection of testimonials from students:
Hannah Donkin, Grade 10, 2019:
“On our third day my group and I were at the main camp when we were called to the entrance as an elephant was eating close to the gate. I grabbed my camera and walked quietly with the rest of my group to the fence. My friend Lexine was so excited as she had never been to a game reserve before and was so overcome with emotion that she started to cry at the sight of the elephant. I became emotional seeing how excited she became and realized in that moment how little I truly appreciated every animal I had seen on previous game reserve trips. This trip opened my eyes to the world around us. Experiencing life through the eyes of the inexperienced gives a real perspective to the life that we live. I will never forget this experience and how it made me feel and I will forever carry the insight I gained with me.”
Jessica Deeb, Grade 10, 2019:
“We spent a day in the community working on a painting project at a local primary school. As we started painting the walls, I felt very joyful and full of happiness. I think this was because I was surrounded by people that are underprivileged and it made me realise how lucky and blessed I am. Whilst I was painting the walls I was thinking about the children and how they are always the ones that are so happy and cheerful, even in their difficult living conditions. Compared to my experience, where most of us come to school with food in our lunch boxes, ice cold water, shining clean shoes and our stunning buildings. We are on opposite sides of the spectrum, yet we were able to come together and celebrate one another as a group, my heart was full, and I felt real joy. Overall, I am truly grateful for this experience and it has taught me to be open to new situations. I have learnt that we should not have any preconceived ideas about anything. I feel humbled by this wonderful experience and I have a new appreciation for all my blessings.”
Taetym Hockly, Grade 10, 2019:
“During our school visit and community project I sensed a feeling of security that nothing could take away the joy and happiness we were all experiencing. I felt like I was a part of something great, a family.”
Mpilo Zondi, Grade 10, 2019:
“I remember reading the Somkhanda camp slogan ‘Experience that makes a difference’ thinking about it then I knew that this would be one unique experience that would last a lifetime. I was right. Looking back at the four nights and five days at the camp I know that I am not the same girl that walked in. I changed. Not drastically but changed nonetheless. Sitting on the bus to go home and looking out the window I realized that I would miss everything about it, from the guides to the community to the animals.”
Tayla Crockett, Grade 10, 2019
“I learnt a very important lesson that day. I had been going through life thinking that everything remotely exciting that I did needed to be captured on an electronic device. I believed that if I didn’t get a physical visual of it then the whole experience was, in a way, a waste. I am so grateful that I came to the realization that the best way to get visuals of an experience, is to literally open your eyes and take in the experience by using all your senses, because a camera can capture an image but you, in the moment, experiencing the situation can do so much more by connecting with your surroundings. What do you see? What do you smell? What sounds do you hear? How do all these things make you feel? At the end of the day, the best cameras that life has to offer us is our mind and our senses because it doesn’t matter if you have a physical visual of the experience but a mental visual allows you to experience so much more. It tells a story so much greater than the images you take on your camera.”
Karmishta Moodley, Grade 10, 2019:
“Two moments stick out for me. The first was our 5km walk to Scotia camp. I wish I had absorbed and soaked up every detail rather than wanting to get to my destination as soon as possible. I stumbled so often on the trip even though my eyes were fixed on the ground, in turn missing most of the sunset, birdlife and plants along the journey. I tend to not be in the present. That hike made me realize that there is only a ‘now’. My second moment was sitting at the campfire that night. I have never felt more relaxed in all my life. Everything else faded away and a calmness washed over me. I crave that feeling now that I’m back home in a bustling ongoing noisy day. It is strange that you appreciate those moments now more than when you actually experience them. I often feel compelled to fill a silent moment because I feel the awkwardness of it. I was surprised that I felt at easy sitting around a fire with 2 others in complete silence for more than 2 hours. I discovered more about myself and what resonated with me on that night than any other time in my life.”
Rachael Daley, Grade 10, 2019:
“Looking back to the girl who sat in this chair last week to the girl who sits there now – my mind has become more down to earth and at peace. Since my return I have barely been on social media and I’ve spent more time with family and friends. Somkhanda was a pure treat and an awakening to a calmer, better mind.”
Hannah Oxenham, Grade 10, 2019:
“Our community service in a local school made me feel extremely humbled and more aware of the privileges that are handed to me at home. This sense of gratitude was further embedded in me when we were given the opportunity to help build a house in a local homestead. It gave me an experience to engage with the lives many South Africans lead, and the ability to truly appreciate the skill and innovation that is needed for it. Although many people would not consider traditional housing to be anything particularly remarkable, I gained a new sense of respect for the method of construction. It is impressive to be able to build houses that are environmentally friendly, fully functional, cheap and culturally significant. I knew that it requires a great amount of skill, time and talent to be able to build such homes. I felt privileged to have been allowed this opportunity, especially since we were put in control of somebody’s hard work. The trip into the homestead gave me a new appreciation for its people and their talents and instilled in me a greater sense of appreciation for the opportunities I receive at home. Somkhanda not only reinforced the sense of self-awareness that one receives when working in disadvantaged communities but allowed me to truly engage with the people and appreciate them for their ability to adapt, thrive and maintain an impressive sense of positivity throughout their day to day lives.”
Megan Ham (Educator), March 2020:
“Why do we encourage our girls to attend field trips like this? Because not every child has an opportunity to visit a game reserve in their lifetime. Because we are blessed to live in a country rich with wildlife, diversity, vegetation, bush sunrises and sunsets, bird and insect life. On these trips our girls are encouraged to switch off technology, disconnect from social media and plug into the environment. I have seen our girls embrace the opportunity each year to draw from the wisdom and passion of the guides about community service and conservation. This programme works because true education must be holistic. It must reach far beyond the walls of a classroom and because nature has so much to teach us. Our girls come back from this adventure a little muddier, wiser, humbled and braver. They are stretched and challenged by what they see and do, and they grow taller because of it. Being outside a classroom enables girls to work in teams they might not usually gravitate towards and therefore build new friendships, embrace new ideas, think creatively and gain a greater understanding of the role they play in nature and the future of our country. “
