The Africademy is based on a private property that is surrounded by Addo Elephant National Park (AENP). Whilst the AENP is very well known both in South Africa and internationally, relatively few people have access to the southern most part of AENP, an area referred to as the Woody Cape Nature Reserve (Alexandria Forest) - a totally different biome to the bush thicket of the AENP main camp. This biome (Alexandria Forest) borders onto the ocean and is separated from the ocean by the largest most impressive and least degraded dunefield in South Africa, one that is arguably the most spectacular in the world.
The farm is called Elephants of Eden, a perfect environment for people from all over the world to gather and immerse themselves in conservation management discussion.
Elephants of Eden has always been designated as a place or home for elephants that have been defined or labelled as ‘problem elephants’. For this reason, the proprietors of this property have historically kept this space closed to the general public.
Today, a compromise has been reached through the Africademy, where people who have a deep love for Nature and an interest in conservation management, can gain insight into case studies and real issues and challenges pertaining to conservation management. Courses run at the Africademy aim to bring delegates in direct contact with real conservation management issues and in so doing meet the objectives of the institute by bridging the chasm between theory and what is happening at grass routes.
The concept gives nature lovers and conservationists access to a piece of Eden and in turn creates a sustainable business model and home for these elephants and a number of other wildlife species.
