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In South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, close to some of the most celebrated safari businesses in the world, there is a shortage of hospitality training programmes for young adults. This gap is even more surprising when you consider that in the Bushbuckridge municipality, adjacent to the Greater Kruger National Park, there is a 65% youth unemployment rate. For this reason, GWF has built on our existing digital learning programme foundation, adding registered Hospitality & Conservation courses – making up the GWF Travel & Tourism Academy (TTA). The intention is to connect young rural South Africans to the opportunities in the growing economy of wildlife. Considering the geographic location of the Hazyview Cluster and potential growth for campuses into the northern part of the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, there is an opportunity to supply skills to some of South Africa’s most upmarket hospitality establishments.

There are currently just short of 40 operating lodges (ranging from 3-5 star) in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin alone. There are a further 100 smaller establishments between Hoedspruit and Hazyview. A major concern expressed by business managers and owners is that the level of service skill they require currently far outweighs the level of skill available in local communities. While many of these businesses would like to employ local labour, and are even willing to train and develop staff, they often don’t have the capacity to do so given their primary objectives in business operations. Driven by needs and expertise, GWF aims to train students that can meet the standard that is needed in hospitality establishments, reducing the training and development needed once graduates are placed. The GWF Hospitality Programme is presented in partnership with the South African College of Tourism or SACT from 2019 which has enabled us to offer students the SACT accreditation. SACT enjoys full accreditation as a training provider with the Culture Art Tourism Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) of South Africa in accordance with regulation 16 of the SAQA Act 58 of 1995 under reference No. 613/P/000041/2005. The college is officially recognized by CATHSSETA as an Institute of Sectoral or Occupational Excellence.