Spend six months training in the African bush with an optional six months working on a game reserve
Program Overview
Join us in South Africa’s Lowveld region, one of the world’s best big game territories, train to become a qualified field guide and experience the African bush at its best. This course is the ideal platform for a successful career in the challenging game lodge industry.
The curriculum includes bush skills such as shooting, 4x4 driving and bush knowledge such as conservation, reserve management, geology and animal behaviour. The reserves are home to predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as beautiful elephants, rhinos and hippos.
All the trainers are from The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and the course is both theoretical and practical, with an optional six-month work experience placement at a variety of game lodges around South Africa.
Life on the Program
Days will be spent in the classroom and outdoors gaining real hands-on experience on guided walks and game drives. Each week you will be focusing on a different module (such as birds, mammals, 4x4 skills etc) and you will be tested on it before starting the next one.
After every 4 weeks of training you will have 1 week off to relax, either at camp or you can explore the local area.
Accommodation at either campus is in shared rooms, there is electricity, running water, laundry facilities and all meals are provided during course times.
The course is fun but be warned this is no holiday - days are long and to reach the standard required to pass you need to be dedicated and focused.
Program Details
The course, run by Bushwise Field Guides, is known for producing the highest calibre graduates for the demanding hospitality industry.
The curriculum has been developed by accomplished industry experts and includes; introduction to guiding in the natural environment; creating a guided nature experience; geology; ecology; animal behaviour; conservation management; and, reserve management and ecotourism, among many other subjects and topics.
The academic curriculum is accredited by the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA); the ‘South Africa Qualifications Board’; and the ‘Hospitality, Education and Sports Training Authority’.
Volunteer Testimonials
Highlight of the week was an AWESOME sighting of Leopard eating in a tree, then collecting her 3 cubs to join her, before 2 hyenas’ came to the party and tried to catch the cubs, followed by a stand-off between mom and hyenas! It was an epic sighting, and we all left there with huge grins on our faces.
We had an exam on Saturday, on Game drive procedures, survival, navigation, radio, ethics and communication. Most of us left the camp straight after the exams, for our first week off, with people heading to Mozambique and the East Coast.
We have tests every Saturday, last week was basic mammals, this Saturday coming will be mammal behavior and geology. This upcoming week should be very exciting. We have rifle handling today, a 2 night sleep out in the game reserve on Wednesday till Friday, and then our week off next week. We might head to Kruger again to drive around. We are now conducting game drives on our own, having to identify and describe animals, birds and trees. Trees are particularly tough this time of year as they have dropped most of their leaves and all look very similar.
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Program Details
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What's Included
- Pre-departure support and discounted services
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- Arrival orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- All meals (unless otherwise stated in field manuals)
- Welcome meeting
- Location orientation
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- 24-hour in-country support
- Transfer from Oliver Tambo International airport
- Limited internet access at no extra cost
- All compulsory books
- 2 x sets of uniforms
- Other activities, such as sleep outs, Kruger trips, etc.
- Bushwise T-shirt, fleece jacket, cap and beanie
- FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) national certificate - Level 1 - practical and theory
- FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate
- SASSETA (Rifle handling, proficiency, maintaining of fire arms and shooting)
- THETA (The Hospitality, Sports, Education and Training Authority) National Qualification (Level 2) in Nature Guiding
- National First Aid Certificate
- Dangerous game experience
- 4x4 competency
- Ethical guiding principles
- 6 months work experience and testimonial from a 4-5 star lodge or a research program if included
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa costs
- Personal kit
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Professional drivers permit
- Transport costs to placement
- Laundry, food and transport during weeks off
- Recommended reference books
