Info

Aimed at those people passionate about nature who would like a more in-depth experience and understanding of it? This is the ultimate way to experience Africa!

28 days of living and learning in nature at our wilderness camps provides you with the practical and theoretical knowledge of the natural environment. Upon completion of the course, you will be capable of conducting game drives and interpreting the natural environment around you.

Our Field Guide course consists of walks; one or two-daily lectures in our bush classrooms; game drives, as well as sleep-outs in the bush. Every minute of the day and night on this course is a learning experience, being constantly exposed to the bush. Our highly experienced instructors provide unique access to their vast knowledge and insight, making every lecture an inspiring experience.

You will stay on a remote open African bush camp in large walkin safari tents with two people sharing.

Subjects covered in this course include

* Welcome and Introduction
* The game drive vehicle
* Ecotourism and Guiding
* Spotlighting
* Field guiding as a profession
* Basic 4x4 driving
* Attributes, skills and duties of a field guide
* Planning of game drives and walks
* Bush navigation and orientation
* Radio procedures
* Ecology
* Reptiles
* Geology
* Amphibians
* Soils
* Sensitivity
* Weather
* Anticipating animal behaviour
* Plant communities
* Career opportunities
* Plant identification and uses
* Identification and ecology of invertebrates
* Grasses
* Bush habitat management principles
* Presentation skills
* Creating photographic opportunities for guests
* Animal tracks and tracking
* Communication and facilitation skills
* Bird identification and behaviour
* Dealing with guests
* Animal behaviour
* Sustainable development and the wise use of natural resources
* Approaching dangerous game
* Ecotourism and local communities
* Setting up a bush camp
* Taxonomy
* Sleep out in the bush
* Working in the industry
* Bush skills and survival
* Testing and evaluations
* Dangerous game / Basic rifle handling
* Using binoculars

The course is endorsed by FGASA who have THETA accreditation. FGASA is the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa and THETA is the Tourism and Hospitality and Sport Education Training Authority of the South African government. These are the two bodies responsible for regulating standards within the guide training industry in southern Africa

Duration

28 Days

Start Dates

14 January - 10 February - Full

18 February - 17 March - Full

25 March - 21 April

29 April - 26 May

03 June - 30 June

08 July - 04 August - Full

12 August - 08 September

16 September - 13 October

21 October - 17 November

25 November - 22 December

Costs / Benefits

You will get to see the African bush in a way like no other person will experience it, and to top it all off you come away with a qualification having learned an incredible amount!

Requirements

18 years or older.
Must be fit and healthy
Driving license if you are taking the official exams (not required if your just coming for the experience)
Be comfortable with the fact that you are in the open bush