BIG 5 EXPERIENCE
SOUTH AFRICA
THE DISCOVER EDEN Big 5 Experience
2026 BIG 5 COURSE DATES:
06 June to 22 June
18 July to 03 August
08 August to 24 August
BIG 5 COURSE COST: $3 650 – US Dollar / €3 250 – Euro
Please note: We use the US Dollar as our base currency as such the EUR price may change at any time due to exchange rate fluctuations.
Only 8 spaces are available in each group, to give you the best experience possible! We work on a first come first served basis, so book early to avoid disappointment! Complete the application form to register your interest for the Discover Eden Big 5 Experience.
The Discover Eden Big 5 Experience is designed for ecology and conservation students who want to get to grips with large mammal conservation and reserve management in Africa. Positioned in two of the top southern African destinations for conservation, with a focus on large mammals and predators, this course gets you up close and personal with some of the deadliest animals on the planet.
Our students get to interact with some of the top Big 5 professionals in South Africa, learning in a hands-on program that goes way beyond the tourist experience. The itinerary is multi-faceted to get you exposed to a range of skills that are essential tools for the modern-day conservationist. The course includes topics such as animal rehabilitation, animal capture, reserve management, ecology, ornithology, herpetology and more.
Food, accommodation, and ground transport are all included in this package.
Please note: Due to the unpredictability of nature and the weather, the days and activities stated below may be switched around or substituted to give you the best experience possible.
BIG 5 COURSE OUTLINE
Day 1
ARRIVE & ORIENTATION
Your friendly Discover Eden guide will fetch you from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg Airport). From there, we make our way to a Big 5 Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where our learning experience kicks off. Based in the bushveld, this is the perfect base to start the trip!
Day 2
TRACKING & CAMERA TRAPS
Today will be a field outing that will include learning about spoor identification, behavior, tracking, dung middens, feeding and home ranges of large mammals. Set up camera traps to observe animals remotely and finish the day with a vehicle-based game count.
Day 3
TELEMETRY & MONITORING
Spend the morning learning telemetry skills and then go track collared animals to test your ability. After lunch learn about analysing camera trap data, and cap off a busy day with a night drive to monitor nocturnal animals.
Day 4
MANAGING BIODIVERSITY
Enjoy a bush walk with trained ecologists in the Zululand bushveld to discover fine details about veld management. After a lecture from the reserve ecologist, discuss conservation management. Learn about the impact of soil erosion and assist in control measures to address it.
Day 5
BIRDS & ALIENS
Spend the morning learning about birds and how we study them. This could include a bird ringing session, tips on bird ID, and some atlasing. Learn about the ecological issues caused by rampant alien plants and assist in removing some of them from key biodiversity areas.
Day 6
LARGE MAMMAL CONSERVATION
The focus today will be to gain perspectives on large mammal conservation by spending time in the field with reserve ecologists and researchers. Contribute to some key Citizen Science projects and find out more about a career in wildlife management. Join the team for a practical session that makes a difference to the reserve.
Day 7
CONSERVATION INTERVENTION
Today is a special day, we get to participate in an active conservation intervention. This could take the form of collaring one of the cats, assisting with a rhino capture, or an animal translocation. Finish off the day with your last game drive in Africa!
Day 8
DEPART FOR KRUGER
Today, we travel to the world-famous Kruger National Park! Transition between provinces and see the habitat changes as you drive. The trip takes you through several towns and rural areas, giving you a glimpse into life in South Africa. Get ready to spend two days in one of the most successful game reserves in the world!
Day 9-10
THE KRUGER EXPERIENCE
Spend time interacting with top ecology and veterinary staff who live and work in this iconic game park. Learn, ask, absorb. Learn about the interactions of people and animals. What are the issues facing the park, and what threatens this conservation haven? Game drives will help us see if we can complete the Big 5 for your list!
Day11
DEPART FOR HOEDSPRUIT
We travel to Hoedspruit today, known as one of the wildlife conservation capitals of the world, where we will be based for the next few days. Do you have what it takes to dart from the sky? Test your skills – participate in a darting exercise from the chopper!
Day 12
ANIMAL REHABILITATION
Work alongside the team from a large animal rehabilitation centre, learning about the challenges and costs involved in getting animals back into the wild. Get behind the scenes, including the clinic work, quarantine facilities, and how to take care of baby animals coming into rehab. In the afternoon, visit the local vulture restaurant to see if you can identify exrehab birds by their patagial tags or rings.
Day 13
CONSERVATION NPO DAY
An impactful morning learning about how dogs are used in anti-poaching efforts to conserve Africa’s wildlife. Learn how the dogs are trained and deployed into key conservation areas. Spend the afternoon learning from a local NPO about how collected snares are turned into amazing jewellery to raise funds for conservation.
Day's 14
GAME CAPTURE
Learn about how conservation has changed in the last few decades. The focal point here is learning about game capture techniques, including predator traps, chemical immobilization, mass capture, and more. Get hands-on and learn about this essential conservation tool.
Day 15
REPTILE HUSBANDRY
Spend the day completing a reptile husbandry course – learning how to handle, identify, and work with reptiles. Learn about habitat use, animal handling, husbandry, reptile physiology, enclosure design and enrichment, and more.
Day 16
TRAVEL TO JOHANNESBURG
Sadly, it’s time to move on! Sit back and enjoy the scenic drive to Johannesburg, where you will be spending one more exciting day of conservation. We will spend our last night together at a quiet guest house near the airport, sharing our favourite moments and experiences from the trip.
Day 17
WILDLIFE HOSPITAL TOUR
Our last visit is to a dedicated wildlife hospital at the forefront of animal rehabilitation and illegal trade work in the country. Tour the animal hospital and see the patients in their care. After lunch, we will take you to OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg Airport), where you will make your way back home. We are sure this experience will benefit you throughout your career and will never be forgotten.