Take six months to train in the African bush to then have the option to work full time on a game reserve
Program Overview
Take part in this exciting field guide course located in South Africa’s Lowveld region where you’ll have the chance to see some of the world’s best big game and experience the best of the African bush. If you are searching for a career in the game lodge industry or just for an amazing, life changing experience then this is the ideal stepping stone to begin your journey!
Subjects included are feild guiding skills like shooting and 4x4 driving and bush knowledge concerning conservation, geology, reserve management and animal behaviour. The course has been developed to turn applicants into highly skilled professionals in the exciting area of field guiding and lodge management. The course provides a well-rounded, specialized education which focuses not only on the theory but also the practical aspects of field guiding in Africa. In order to achieve this, the one-year course has been structured to allow the student to spend 6 months on practical and academic training on campus and 6 months work experience at a 3 - 5 star rated lodge or research program.
Bushwise (the course provider) gives students regular exposure to working and guiding around dangerous game, such as Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard, Cheetah and Hippo. This invaluable experience gives students an excellent platform for placements and possible future employment in ‘Big Five’ game reserves in Africa.
Your trainers are from FGASA, The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa and they provide both a theoretical and practical course. Students who choose to take the six month course and not the work placement will still be professionally qualified if they pass their exams.
Life on the Program
The classroom for this course extends beyond the traditional four walls, taking you out in the bush for hands-on experience by doing guided walks and game drives. Your primary focus each week will shift from subjects such as birds, mammals, 4x4 skills etc. and you’ll be tested on each before moving on to the next topic.
The course runs for 4 weeks and then you will have 1 week off to relax, either at camp or you are welcome to go off exploring. This might change at certain times but will basically follow this timeline. There is plenty to do here with Kruger National Park on our doorstep, visits to the Blyde River canyon, whitewater rafting, microlighting, horse back safaris - the list is endless! Please note that during time off, students are welcome to stay at the campus but please note that food, laundry, transport etc is NOT included during this time as the kitchen and cleaning staff will also be having time off.
The provided accommodation is on a campus, in the bush, in shared rooms that provide electricity, running water, laundry units, with all meals provided while you’re on the course.
While you will have a great time on this course it is not meant to be a vacation. Days are long and you must be extremely dedicated and focused to reach the standard required to pass and stay on for the work placement if you have chosen the one year option.
Project Details
Bushwise Field Guides, the course administrator, is known for producing the highest qualified graduates for this demanding hospitality industry.
Developed by accomplished industry experts, the curriculum 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 modules 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’.
How this program makes a difference:
Those staying for 50 weeks will have the opportunity to gain 6 months work experience. Placements are allocated based on performance, interest and personality (as determined by the head trainer). All students MUST pass the FGASA and Bushwise course requirements before being allocated a work placement which may involve working at a game lodge as a guide or assisting a wildlife research team.
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
- 2 x sets of uniforms
- Limited internet access at no extra cost
- All compulsory books
- 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
