Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy
Milites Dei Academy (MDA) – specializes in full-time residency programs designed to cultivate discipline, rules, and structure through an intensive military-style foundation. Our overall goal is human transformation into leadership using fitness, nature, the protection of species, and fostering responsible tactical weapon ownership and firearm training. We focus entirely on tactical firearms mastery, wilderness tracking, and anti-poaching field craft. Operating on a private, full-time residential framework within a nature conservancy, Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy, outside White River and Hazyview, Mpumalanga. MDA provides an authentic, high-stress, real-life practical environment. Our campus is situated close to the Kruger National Park in the historic Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy. Students choose their specific track and pay privately for the curriculum.
The Mpumalanga Conservancy Association (MCA) was established on the 28 February 2004, with 30 conservancies and private conservation areas more than 1 million ha. The MCA formed part of The National Association of Conservancies / Stewardship of South Africa (NACSSA) and was established in August 2003.
The MCA explains that Peebles Valley is a unique community. The conservancy is spread over 1000s of hectares area and about 15 kilometres from the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park. In 2004, it boasts a Bible College, an Aids Clinic, and orphan care project, a schools enrichment facility and viable productive farms, as well as many historic sites and wagon routes and some newly established nature trails and an eco-tourism programme.
The Mountain – The Legogote Mountain is visible wherever students from Milites Dei Academy walk and explore Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy. On Google AI Overview (3 November 2026) it is explained that Peebles is a fascinating piece of local history connecting the Lowveld of South Africa (near White River and Nelspruit, Mpumalanga) to the Scottish Borders! Bill Sanderson was a prominent Scottish pioneer who settled in this area, which sits near the distinctive monolithic rock formation known as Legogote (often called the “Lion Head” or “The Captain”). The mountain 1 194m high, situated just South-East of eLundi and 12m North-East of White River. The name is said to be Swazi for “the large one’ or ‘eternal one’. Also recorded as ‘Lugogodo’. The Mountain was also known to the Boers as ‘LogiesKop’, from Dutch-logies, which means boarding or lodging, as this was provided here for travellers, travelling to the Gold Rush in the Lowveld.
The Jock of the Bushveld Connection – According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White), it appears as if Bill Sanderson was the first settler that settled full-time into the area in 1873. Bill Sanderson and his brothers (Bob and Tom) played a massive role in Sir Percy Fitzpatrick’s famous book, Jock of the Bushveld. See Bill Sanderson at the bottom of the next historical illustration and Bob Sanderson and LogiesKop on the historical map.
- Firearm Classes and Firearm Portfolios of Students
The Sanderson House – The homestead built by the Sandersons, located in what became the Peebles area, served as an important stopover for transport riders and hunters moving between the goldfields of Pilgrims Rest and the Mozambican coast. The main firearm assessment centre of Milites Dei Academy is housed in the Sanderson House.
The Sanderson House is the Main Firearm Assessment Centre of Milites Dei Academy Since 2015 –
Scotsman Bill Sanderson settled at the foot of Legogote in 1875, on the transport riders’ road to Delagoa Bay. Harry Wolhutter, in his book “Memories of a Game Ranger,” wrote: “I often visited my nearest neighbour – Bill Sanderson.” Bill Sanderson had two brothers, Bob and Tom. The Sanderson brothers regularly went on shooting trips. Bob at one time was also a transport rider. The Sandersons were hunters, people who knew rifles, the bush and the land. Bill Sanderson is famous in early conservation and hunting history for his interactions with Harry Wolhutter. Harry Wolhutter served as the first game ranger in the Kruger National Park from 1902 to 1946. Wolhuter tells of his days in the bush, when rangers went on horseback and lions considered them as fair game. Today that history meets modern training at Milites Dei Academy, a military-style training academy, in the same house. Here you can complete your PFTC firearm accredited firearm unit standards, amongst others also the manually operated rifle or hunters’ rifle and earn your competency with the same discipline as the first settlers. History built the house. Firearm skills fill it.
The Jock Plaques –The plaque on Milites Dei Academy premises as depicted in the previous photograph is one of many that forms part of the official Jock Trek 1885 heritage trail. These bronze plaques were placed by the South African National Parks and historical societies to mark the actual routes and outspans used by Fitzpatrick and his dog, Jock. Gerrit Haarhof (2018) elaborates that on May 23, 1949, The Transvaal Provincial Administration undertook to erect six cairns along the road, (1) Four Miles from Lydenburg, (2) On the top of Pilgrims Hill, (3) At Macmac, (4) At Spitzkop East of Sabie, (5) At Peebles (Bill Sanderson Store), and (6) At Pretoriuskop Gate.
Today, 2026, Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy boasts with various attractions such as umSisi Country House and Villa, The Seed of Hope, La’ Dukes Resort, ASM Clinic, Hands at Work, Citadel of Peace, Khuvuka Max, JWM Shooting Range, Farming Land of Mbayane Community Trust and Milites Dei Academy. Peebles Road turns off from the R538 / Numbi Road. Peebles road turns and swirls uphill and downhill for about 12 kilometres to its deepest part. On route, visitors will see the following businesses and farms. Visitors from all over South Africa and all over the world regularly visit and enjoy the area.
Citadel of Peace – the goal is to offer a place of peace. For retreats, holidays, research and writing, team building and conference facility. Citadel of Peace is therefore a place you come to for when you need time for prayer, rest, focus, strategic meetings and celebrations. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (https://za.linkedin.com/company/citadel-of-peace).
The Seed of Hope – guide and assist Adolescents and Young People (AYP) Program by targeting AYP aged 10 – 24 years old in- and out-of-school to reduce new HIV, STI, TB infections and gender based violence (GBV), through a comprehensive core package of services, with strong emphasis on layering and linkages to treatment, care and support (https://theseedofhope.org.za/).
La’ Dukes Resort – Set against the backdrop of the iconic Legogote Mountain, La’ Dukes Resort offers a refined escape where nature and luxury meet. With private luxury accommodation, immersive experiences, and breathtaking surroundings, we don’t just host guests — we create moments that stay with you long after you leave (https://ladukes.co.za/).
ASM Clinic – Since 1990, the clinic has been providing compassionate, quality primary health care to rural and under-resourced communities in Mpumalanga. Based near White River, the Clinic serves people who often have limited access to public health services, complementing existing government healthcare in local communities (https://asmclinic.org.za/).
Hands at Work – is striving to reach the most vulnerable children in communities across Africa where HIV/AIDS, orphans and poverty are at overwhelming levels and support structures are very low. Institutional models of care are overwhelmed and unable to respond to the need, while communities need to be mobilised and equipped to respond (https://www.handsatwork.org/).
The owners of umSisi write on their website (www.umsisihouse.com/about/), The Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy is a private slice of the Greater Kruger Park (60 hectares) and well placed for access to all that this area has to offer. Paddy and Amanda Bond Gunning opened umSisi House on 1 March 2010. Sixteen years later umSisi remains an exquisite five-star lodge.
Khuvuka Max – is an on-farm Macadamia Processing Facility in the well-developed macadamia production region of South Africa: Mpumalanga. Khuvuka translated from SiSwati means “awakening” or “rising up”. Macs is a household abbreviation for macadamias, and we chose to attach to our brand the homophone abbreviation; Max (pushing the limits), to indicate the energy and effort we muster in bringing about something new and exciting to the market of macadamias, and the development thereof (https://za.linkedin.com/company/khuvuka).
Mbayane Community Trust – is a land restitution community trust located in Peebles in-between privately owned farms and lodges.
JWM Shooting Range – boasts with dedicated 20 m, 100 m and 200 m outdoor ranges for licensed firearm owners using their own valid, registered firearms (https://www.jwshootingrange.co.za/).
From 2015 Milites Dei Academy Students Continue to Explore Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy
See more about the rich history of Peebles and Jock of the Bushveld Conservancy, as well as the various other authors that were consulted to compile this article on the next links:
https://youtube.com/shorts/_eRnpMM_PPk?si=U58Qn2bIUgnoF6N5
https://youtube.com/shorts/1CtBKg2-b_o?si=BWBYRQTlYr1IkUZT
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