i AN INVESTIGATION OF PERCEPTIONS, PARTICIPATION, AND SOCIO- ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES: THE CASE OF BUFFELSDRAAI, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA by SIZWE SBONGAKONKE NKAMBULE 210528232 Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban DECEMBER 2017 SUPERVISOR: DR. S. MUNIEN As the candidate’s supervisor, I have/have not approved this thesis/dissertation for submission. Signed: _________________ Name: DR. S. MUNIEN Date: _________________