Here in Hoedspruit, South Africa, is one of the most exciting new educational concepts this country, indeed the world, has ever seen. This is the birth of a revolutionary educational ethos; a 'Nature-Based Education System'. Combining elements of the government's new Outcomes Based Education and President Thabo Mbeki's vision of an African Renaissance - Southern Cross Schools represents the exciting, diverse and dynamic country we live in. The architectural theme has ensured that the buildings blend naturally with the environment.

The design includes aspects of traditional African architecture. Nature is brought right into the school environs, thus incorporating the buildings as an integral part of the school concept. Extramural activities are available to serve the needs and interest of the children. These include both sporting and cultural, as well as environmental interests such as animal, bird, plant and tree identification. Additional hobbies off-site are also pursued. These include the likes of astronomy, mountaineering, hiking, fishing, river rafting, canoeing, sailing, field guiding and traditional artwork.

Southern Cross School is in Hoedspruit which offers all general and medical amenities including well stocked supermarkets and eateries. Situated on Raptor’s View Wildlife Estate. a secure, fenced-in reserve. It is the best of both worlds: the school is across the road from the town centre with all its shops and facilities (from concerts to art and craft markets to outdoor pursuits like hiking, horse-riding etc), behind it stretches a huge game reserve towards the mountains.

Statistics show that nature-based tourism has the potential to become the most significant route to economic growth in Africa. From a broader perspective, tourism has become the world’s largest industry creating employment for over 180 million people world-wide. We can prepare our children for a future where they will be able to make a meaningful contribution towards integrated sustainable development and environmental protection, whilst securing gainful employment. Globally mankind needs to analyze environmental issues. The generations of the future have to be environmentally aware if they are to survive. It is vital that concepts such as sustainable development, bio-diversity and how to achieve environmental awareness are grasped. Through the medium of the natural environment, learners  can be exposed to the these challenges, where they test themselves in a variety of appropriate activities so promoting a deeper understanding of themselves.

Wherever possible, learners get the opportunity to become involved in activities directly linked to specific career paths. These may include participation (observation or active) in service provision, front line management, leadership and business skills, marketing, veterinary procedures, game capture, hunting, tracking, agricultural studies etc. at nearby farms, game lodges, game farms and reserves.

The Southern Cross is a very prominent constellation in the southern hemisphere and has long been used as a navigational aid. It consists of four stars (a fifth, very faint star can be ignored) arranged in cross formation with the two bright "Pointers" (Centauri alpha - third brightest star in the entire night sky - and Centauri beta) close by. The two stars on the long arm of the cross are used to determine south: follow the line defined by these two stars for approximately 4.5 times the distance between them leads to a point close to the Southern Celestial Pole. Alternatively, if a line is constructed perpendicularly between the "Pointers", the point where the above line and this line intersect marks the Southern Celestial Pole. For the San people of Africa the six stars in question signifies a giraffe.

Click here to read an article on the school published in SA Country Life Magazine

East of the Transvaal Drakensberg Mountains, where the Blyde, Olifants, Klaserie and Timbavati Rivers run, lies a region known as the Central Lowveld.

Within the Valley of the Olifants, the small town of Hoedspruit supports a very large network of expanding communities, farms, businesses, game reserves, lodges and game farms as well as valuable training institutions.

This is a place where changes are beginning to happen.

The Central Lowveld is big game country and as such is one of South Africa's major tourist destinations. Apart from hosting some of South Africa's premier game reserves including the Kruger National Park, the area also comprises magnificent scenery covering two biomes namely Savanna Woodland and Afro-Montane forest. The area has proudly been registered in recent months as the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere with (UNESCO). Many natural, historical and cultural sites add to the uniqueness of the area.

With various Community Tourism Projects, Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center, the Southern African Wildlife College, the Hoedspruit Cheetah Project, Ilkley Environmental School and now Southern Cross Schools, already located here; the area has been identified as the hub for environmental training and education. In fact in a development planning survey carried out over two years in conjunction with DEAT (department of environment and tourism) Hoedspruit has been named "The wildlife education centre of South Africa".

• Proactive pupils, who are academically, culturally, socially and environmentally balanced and who are capable of taking their place anywhere on this diverse planet.

• Community minded citizens who, irrespective of their locality on the globe will be capable of making a positive contribution in their immediate environment and community.

• Young citizens, who will be champions for the environmental cause on our planet and play a positive role in the wise use of our natural resources and Man's ultimate survival.

• Develop life skills through practical, hands-on and 'real world' experiences.

• The concept of empowerment and that making responsible decisions environmentally is both vital and critical.
  
  
  

• Qualities such as leadership and innovation, which need to be fostered and developed.

• An understanding that educating for survival means more than facing the facts beyond the shelter of our classroom walls and that we need to develop flexibility and the ability to adapt to the needs of our times.

• An educational programme, that focuses too, on the reality of our global village and more specifically at Southern Africa.

• Generations of children, who will have developed a sense of personal responsibility for the environment. Understanding that revised attitudes will impact positively on the resultant behaviour of the learners.

• A programme that promotes concern, caring and above all commitment. A programme that promotes an analysis of environmental issues through data gathering and an interpretation which leads to problem identification and ultimately a problem solution.

• Offer children in our region an education which will prepare them for an active role in all spheres of economic development whilst living in harmony with one another and the environment.

• We will strive to eliminate poverty from our area, from our country and from our continent.

To achieve our vision we have established an accredited independent school that draws pupils from all corners of southern Africa because of its unique environmental approach. Southern Cross School is an affordable, co-educational facility, where emphasis is placed on the natural environment and resources whilst fostering a practical hands-on, life skills educational experience. We prepare our children for the future by coupling internationally accepted academic and sporting standards with additional skills in the fields of leadership, business, service, hospitality and eco-tourism so that this educational experience will stand them in good stead no matter what career they may follow.
To make a difference to the region we have implemented an outreach program which focuses on schools, teachers and communities living in environmentally sensitive areas. The program centres around 'Nature Based' education, simultaneously aiming to enable and empower communities to access knowledge, skills and marketing opportunities. Furthermore, we endeavour to raise bursary funding for children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to attend our school.

Our Philosophy is that Education and physical training plays a pivotal role in preparing our children for the future. Education is not simply about imparting information; it is about providing children with problem solving skills, on an academic, sporting and practical level, which will enable them to apply themselves to the challenges they will face.
It is the aim of the school not only to provide a caring, high quality, sound learning experience that will open up various career opportunities for as many children as possible, but also to go a step further and share this vision with the broader community of the Limpopo Province. Children will be encouraged to embrace a different way of learning, a way of learning that will provide the necessary education in a stimulating, exciting and thought-provoking manner whilst promoting a love for the outdoors and a commitment to the environment, and our country.
Honesty, integrity, freedom of belief, mutual respect and sound values, as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit are the principles that form the basis of the school's education, training and outreach philosophy.
Above all, the school hopes to be able to instill in all who pass through its doors, or encounter it's nature based learning system, a firm understanding and belief in who they are and what they stand for in terms of the environment and the world around them.

Hoedspruit is in the eastern Lowveld region of the Limpopo province, just north of the provincial boundary with Mpumalanga.

It is located halfway between the Blyde River Canyon (fourth largest canyon in the world; shown in photograph) and the Kruger National Park's Orpen Gate.

There are several routes for the motorist from Johannesburg.

The simplest way to get to Southern Cross School is on the N4 (a toll road)
East from Johannesburg / Pretoria to just past Mashadodorp;
turn North (left) onto the R36, which will take you through Lydenburg, Ohrigstad and the Abel Erasmus Pass.
Once through the pass you descend into the Lowveld - a magnificent drive - and the R36 now becomes the R527, 15 km to Hoedspruit.
This route is about 440 km, about four and half hours driving from Johannesburg.

Another route is the N4 all the way to Nelspruit and then the R40 north all the way to Hoedspruit, but this is a longer (500 km) and busier route.

As you approach Hoedspruit on the R527 you pass the turn off to Drakensig - the Air Force Base - and on your right you will see the entrance gate of the Raptors' View estate.
Enter this gate and follow the short dirt road - 100 m - to the school.
Please present yourself to the headmaster in the administrative building.

Eastgate Airport, 15 km from town, has daily connecting flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town. There are also car rental companies at the airport.