Celebrating Graduates
On 6 December 2024, the first 23 young Mozambicans trained through Karingani’s partnership with the SA College for Tourism (SACT) graduated in Graaff-Reinet, South Africa. The year-long programme in hospitality, conservation and wildlife tracking was funded by Karingani’s founding partners and Stephen and Maggie Lansdown, and drew students from Magude and Massingir.
Who attended
- Students’ families, whose travel from Massingir and Magude was sponsored by Karingani
- Margarida Mapanzene Chongo and Manuel Tule, Governors of Gaza and Maputo Provinces
- Ludgero Gêmo, Director of Culture and Tourism for Maputo Province
- Lázaro Manuel Bambamba and Esmeralda Mutemba, Administrators of Magude and Massingir Districts
- Investors, conservation leaders and philanthropist Johan Rupert
Why it matters
Graduates are now qualified for roles in food and beverage, front of house, culinary arts, accommodation, tourism guiding, wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching and environmental education. All graduates from this group will be placed at Karingani Game Reserve, Gorongosa National Park and the Drostdy Hotel in South Africa.
This graduation marks the beginning of a transformative era for Mozambique’s tourism and conservation sectors. These young people represent the future of our country in this sector.
Mateus Mutemba, Executive Director, Karingani Game Reserve
This event demonstrates a firm commitment to enhancing human capital for the tourism industry, which currently employs 19,932 professionals in our province.
Manuel Tule, Governor of Maputo Province
With training of international caliber, we are enhancing service delivery in the tourism sector while ensuring greater economic empowerment by creating more job opportunities for our youth.
Margarida Mapanzene Chongo, Governor of Gaza Province
In the graduates’ words
Initially, learning was very challenging due to the English language barrier. Now, we are proficient in English and ready to enter the job market.
Deolinda Ngovene, graduate
I gained critical knowledge about animal behavior and their names. I plan to apply my skills in Mozambique to educate and raise awareness about wildlife preservation.
Aldo Valói, wildlife tracking graduate
Awards
The governors placed graduation sashes on the students. Abednigno Ananias Mongoé received the Hyena Award as top student in Wildlife Tracking, and Rute Francisco Mongoé received the Department of Wellness Academic Award. The ceremony closed with the Mozambican National Anthem. A second group of 23 students began training at SACT in January 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How many students graduated?
Twenty-three young Mozambicans from Magude and Massingir, the first group trained through the Karingani–SACT partnership.
Where are the graduates working?
All were placed at Karingani Game Reserve, Gorongosa National Park and the Drostdy Hotel in South Africa.
Is the programme continuing?
Yes. A second group of 23 students began training at SACT in January 2025.
Sources
About SACT
The SA College for Tourism (SACT) was founded in 2001 by Dr Anton Rupert to build hospitality skills among young people from marginalised communities in South Africa and other SADC countries. In 2010 it added tracker training, to preserve the indigenous Southern African art of tracking.
About Karingani Game Reserve
Karingani Game Reserve is a private reserve in southern Mozambique. It borders Limpopo National Park and South Africa’s Kruger National Park, and combines conservation, tourism and community development. “Karingani” means “storytelling” in Changana, after a tradition of the local people.