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 this is the ideal stepping stone to begin your journey!
Subjects included are reserve skills like shooting, 4x4 driving and bush knowledge concerning conservation, geology, reserve management and animal behaviour. The environment you will explore serves as the natural habitat for leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos and hippos.
Your trainers are all from The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and they provide both a theoretical and practical course, completed with an invitation to work for six months at one of the many game lodges throughout South Africa.
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.
Time to relax and the opportunity to explore outside the camp is provided every four weeks throughout your training.
The provided accommodation is on a campus or in shared rooms that provide electricity, running water, laundry units, with all meals provided while you’re in the course.
While you will have a great time on this course but it is not meant to be a holiday. 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.
Program 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’.
Volunteer Testimonials
There isn’t a day goes by without one of us uttering “Wow! That’s amazing…I didn’t know that.” We are all learning a lot. Everyone at home would be so proud of us all; gibbering away in Latin, Shangaan and Afrikaans and discussing the ecological importance of grasses over dinner. We’ve had some awesome sightings including Elephant, Hippo, and Hyena. If you are reading this, in two minds whether to sign up then my advice would be DO IT!
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.
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
