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How to become a Game Ranger / Nature Conservator

Manages game reserves and protected areas - wildlife, anti-poaching, tourism and fieldwork.

What does a Game Ranger / Nature Conservator actually do?

More about this career

A hands-on, fieldwork-heavy qualification, distinct from the more research- and lab-based Environmental Scientist degree - diploma students typically spend a year of work-integrated learning with a real conservation body before graduating. The work ranges from reserve and wildlife-population management to anti-poaching, environmental education and guiding, mostly for provincial conservation bodies, national parks and private game reserves.

Where this degree can take you

  • Field Ranger
  • Reserve Manager
  • Wildlife Monitoring Officer
  • Anti-Poaching Unit Officer

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Life Sciences
  • Geography (helpful)
  • Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the degrees we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 2 of 4 degrees
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 2 of 4 degrees
  • Life Sciences – asked for by 2 of 4 degrees

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each degree links to the page it came from.

Degrees that lead here

4 degrees at 3 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Mangosuthu University of Technology

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

Diploma in Nature Conservation

Applied and Health Sciences · 3 years

MUT APS 28

  • Life Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)
  • English: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Two further NSC 20-credit subjects at level 3 or better.

Read directly (pdftotext) from MUT’s own Applied and Health Sciences Handbook. Selection also weighs field/conservation experience and a CV alongside academics. Includes one year of work-integrated learning with a recognised conservation body. Source PDF labelled "2026", not yet confirmed for 2027.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

Bachelor of Applied Science in Nature Conservation

Applied and Health Sciences · 3 years

MUT APS 32

  • Life Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)
  • English: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Mathematics – A pass mark (no specific level stated) is required.

Read directly (pdftotext) from MUT’s own Applied and Health Sciences Handbook - the degree-level sibling to the Diploma in Nature Conservation above. Source PDF labelled "2026", not yet confirmed for 2027.

Source: View the official page (mut.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Tshwane University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Nature Conservation

Science · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)

APS 24 on the Mathematics route, 25 on the Mathematical Literacy route. Recommended: Agricultural Sciences, Geography, Life/Physical/Technical Sciences. Closes 31 July 2026. From TUT’s 2027 First-Year Course Information and General Information PDFs. Applications opened 1 April 2026 (fee R240).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Mpumalanga

Partly verified

Diploma in Nature Conservation

Agriculture and Natural Sciences · 3 years

UMP APS 30

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 2 (30% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Recommended subjects – Life Sciences and Geography at level 4 are recommended, not required.

Selection happens monthly; applicants who meet or exceed the minimum are offered places as they apply. Read directly (pdftotext) from UMP’s own consolidated Undergraduate Programmes brochure. We could not confirm the 2027 application closing date on ump.ac.za itself (only unverified third-party claims).

Source: View the official page (ump.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every degree above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?