The Vision of Southern African Wildlife College is that the college remains a regionally recognised centre of excellence in conservation education and training. Their Mission is to provide natural heritage managers and particularly protected area managers from Africa with the motivation and relevant skills to manage, in co-operation with stakeholders, their areas and associated wildlife populations sustainable and in a culturally acceptable manner.

One of the fundamental strategies of the Southern African Wildlife College is to create a new generation of managers who are equipped to deal with the key challenges facing protected area management. Closely linked with the training of protected area managers is the role that nature-based tourism is set to play in socio-economic development of Southern Africa; and in turn bringing larger areas under protected area management.