This course is run in reserves which contain many large and dangerous animals (e.g. rhino, buffalo, hippo, elephant, lion, etc.). One of the objectives of the course is to orientate new volunteers in the African bush and to develop the skills and confidence necessary to participate in the surveys on foot in the reserve. Important rules and etiquette concerning safety procedures on how to conduct yourself in a dangerous game area and what to do if the group walks into dangerous animals such as buffalo, elephant and lion are covered. Training is also given in animal behaviour, how to track animals and to identify safe and danger zones around large game species when encountered and navigation using GPS and other techniques. Identification training is given for large mammals from sightings, spoor (tracks) and scat (droppings), common birds and their calls, major vegetation types and trees. An additional objective of this course though is to gain an understanding of savannah ecology and management through a series of lectures on Park management, game management practices, invasive species and other issues relevant to wildlife conservation. A qualified and experienced Trails Guide and Armed Ranger lead each group of participants in the field. The course includes daily field visits together with in-camp lectures and practicals.

MM004 PADI Open Water Dive Training (Weeks 3, 5, 7, 8 & 9)

This one-week dive training course in Mozambique is free to Operation Wallacea Research Assistants or Dissertation students except for the costs of the PADI registration card ($30) and the Open Water Crew Pack (approx $50). The course comprises theory lectures, confined water training skills in a pool and 4 open water dives on the reefs to a maximum depth of 18m. Completion of this course will give you an internationally recognised diving qualification and is an ideal way to wind down after a few weeks in the bush, whilst joining some of the most exciting diving in the Southern Indian Ocean.

MM005 Southern Indian Ocean Reef Ecology Course (Weeks 3 - 9: Training - need to be dive qualified or have completed MM004 if doing the practicals by diving)

This course in Mozambique is designed to teach participants how to identify the main species of fish, macro-invertebrates and corals likely to be encountered and concentrates particularly in giving skills in data analysis of the video and photographic footage. The course comprises 8 lectures and practicals each day either by diving or snorkelling or in the computer lab. At the end of the course you should be able to identify hard and soft corals and sponges to genera level, identify coral growth forms, common macro-invertebrates, most of the common species of reef fish and to complete video and photographic data analysis with a reasonable levl of accuracy. In addition if you are diving for the practicals then your buoyancy skills should have improved to a level where you should be able to participate in dive based biological surveys.