The Course
Train as a professional safari field guide in South Africa

Please note: Bushwise Field Guides Campus is a school, with rules, structure, long hours and a strict studying regime. We expect all students to be committed and dedicated, and you to be prepared for hard training and study. Be aware of this and be prepared to abide by these conditions.

For the 1 year course, all students must be between the ages of 21 and 39 years old when they start the course and hold a full manual driving licence. Older and younger applicants are welcome on the six month course, however placements cannot be guaranteed for the 1 year course.

Course Itinerary

An average day may be as follows:

• 05h30 - Meet in the kitchen for coffee, then depart for the morning game activity (either a walk or a drive)
• 08h00 - Return for breakfast
• 09h00 - Have lectures
• 11h00 - Enjoy brunch / free time
• 15h30 - Depart for the afternoon game activity.

Bushwise has traversing rights to reserves in the area containing dangerous game, which will be visited regularly as part of the practical training and skill development. The training also includes exposure to research activities, specialist guest speakers and day-trips into the famous Kruger National Park for additional practical exercises. Students are at the campus for four weeks at a time and then have seven days off. NB: During time off, students are welcome to stay on campus but food, laundry, etc is not included during this time.

Course Curriculum

The Bushwise follows the FGASA and THETA curriculums, and qualifies students with certification from both. We provide ideal training to enable people with skill and dedication to make a success of a challenging career in the game lodge industry. The focus is on outcome-based training, with six months academic and practical training at the campus and six months work experience at a game lodge. Content is both theoretical and practical, with a six-month work experience placement programme at a variety of game lodges around South Africa.

The curriculum includes the following:

• Introduction to guiding in the natural environment
• Creating a guided nature experience
• Geology
• Astronomy
• Weather and climate
• Ecology
• Taxonomy
• Introduction to the biomes of Southern Africa
• Botany and grasses
• Arthropods
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Fish
• Birds
• Mammals
• Animal behaviour
• Conservation management and historical habitation.

Additional topics included in the course:

• First Aid
• General knowledge of South Africa
• Reserve management and Ecotourism
• Lodge management - food and beverage, front of house and house keeping, hospitality skills, supervisory skills.