iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority

About the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority

iSimangaliso Wetland Park lies on the Elephant Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It became South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999. The park stretches along about 220 kilometres of coastline, from Maphelane in the south to Kosi Bay in the north. It was once called the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

The park protects three major lake systems, coral reefs, coastal dunes, forests and Africa's largest estuarine system. More than 530 bird species live there. Popular areas include Lake St Lucia, uMkhuze, Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority manages the park. It is a statutory body created under the World Heritage Convention Act of 1999. The Authority works with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, local municipalities and traditional authorities.

How the Authority supports students

Looking after a World Heritage Site means working with the people who live beside it. For this reason, the Authority runs a Tertiary Education Support Programme for young people from communities in and next to the park. The programme began in 2010. According to the Authority's earlier figures, it has helped around 140 students so far.

The bursary backs study in fields that match the park's needs and the region's economy. These include conservation and environmental science, tourism and hospitality, finance, engineering and education. As a result, graduates can find work in the park, in nearby businesses or elsewhere in the country.

The exact amount of support, and the costs it covers, are not listed publicly. Applicants should therefore read the current bursary advertisement carefully.

Study choices at the park's doorstep make sense. Tourism and conservation are the main local employers, and the park needs trained people in finance, engineering and teaching as well. A learner from a nearby village who qualifies in one of these fields can return to help manage the very landscape they grew up beside. That link between education and community benefit is central to the programme.

What to know before applying

The programme targets young people from the surrounding communities. If you live far from the park, you are unlikely to qualify. Check the official website to see whether your area is included.

You can apply online through the bursary portal on the iSimangaliso website, or you can download the annual application form. The Authority says it cannot assess applications that lack certified documents. Prepare certified copies of your ID, your results and your proof of registration or acceptance in good time.

Closing dates are set each year in the bursary advertisement. They are not fixed, so confirm the current date before you start. Late or incomplete applications are likely to be rejected, which is why an early start matters.