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FIELD GUIDE ACADEMY
Have you always dreamt of roaming the bush like a true ranger, with the sun kissing your skin as you’re following a herd of elephants, using what the bush tells you – footprints, fresh droppings, a broken twig – to track them down? Do you want to be able to distinguish the calls of the numerous birds around, or to tell by the behaviour of the impala that there is a predator around? The Field Guide Academy gives you the opportunity to learn all this and much more! And what is even better, by joining the academy and following the course of a lifetime, you enable some of the many unemployed black people from the surrounding areas of Kruger National Park to become a trained field guide too.
The academy was set up by a tourist company doing game drives in Kruger Park. In order for the company to be allowed to use a part of the Park for these drives, the government demanded the foundation of this academy to help the people of the surrounding homelands where the unemployment rate is above 70%. To keep the academy going, paying students are also needed. And isn’t it a wonderful thought, that you doing this fantastic course enables a local person to be trained and get job opportunities he or she couldn’t otherwise even dream of?
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There are 2 different courses available – a month course and a year course – both of them take place in the class room as well as out in the bush. The one month course trains you to become a basic field guide (FGASA level 1, THETA NQF 2). The year course offers you, besides the qualification of basic field guide, the opportunity to gain experience working as a field guide in the concession in Kruger National Park. Also, you will be introduced to the community upliftment project and gain work experience as a ranger. You assist with maintenance work, maintaining the roads and fences, assist with anti-poaching patrols, etc. The year course consists of 5 months theory and 7 months work experience.
The one month course is a great way to find out if 'the life of a field guide' suits you. Even if you are not planning to actually become a field guide, this course offers you an 'in the bush' experience you are not likely to forget!
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The academy borders Kruger Park, and the practical training is done in a pristine 1,600 hectare reserve that is part of the Park but is only used by the academy and its owner’s game drive company. This means no tar but a truly ‘off the beaten track’ experience in the African bush, where you may encounter all the different game you can possibly imagine in their natural habitat.
Conservation and community work can meet and have to meet if we want to ensure the safeguarding of Kruger National Park and other nature reserves, not only for ourselves but also for future generations. So come to fulfill the African dream – the one you always had, but also one less privileged people have...
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The one month’s course includes subjects as:
- Introduction to nature guiding
- Guiding principles and techniques
- Animal Behaviour
- Tracking of animals
- Mammals
- Reptiles
- Birds
- Freshwater fish
- Insects and relatives
- Amphibians (Frogs and Toads)
- Basic geology
- Basic ecology
- Elementary taxonomy
- Plants
- Weather and climate
- Astronomy (Night Sky)
- Off road driver training
- First Aid course
The year course also includes the following:
- Basic weapons handling
- Advanced animal behaviour studies
- Eco tourism projects
- Community development in tourism
Accommodation:
The academy has its own village, with 42 little houses that can accommodate up to 4 persons each. There are two big ablution blocks with hot and cold running water, flushing toilets and showers. There is a swimming pool and several Jacuzzi's. Bedding and pillow provided, bring your sleeping bag for sleeping in the bush.
Wilderness tented camp inside the concession in Kruger National Park. This camp has 25 dome tents. There is a communal bar and lounge area, a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool. Bathrooms are communal and have hot and cold running water at all times. The camp does not have electricity, however a generator runs for a few hours during the day, and at night the paths are lit by paraffin lanterns, allowing students to enjoy the sounds and smells of the bush.
Students must be at least 21 years of age to participate in the year course!
Price includes:
*All training, both in the classroom and out in the bush
*All registration and exam fees
*Accommodation
*3 meals a day (breakfast self service, lunch and dinner provided)
*Tea, coffee, juice, fruit
*Transport to and from the project
Not included in price:
*Flight ticket and travel insurance
*Visa costs (year course)
*Laundry, which will be done for a nominal fee
*Excursions which can be done in your free time
*Uniforms (only applies to year course, during work experience months)
*Personal expenses (internet, telephone, toiletries etc)
Although all training material is provided, we can really recommend you to invest in some wildlife identification books. These will come in very handy while studying and are a great souvenir when back home.
Both books and field guide uniforms can be purchased during the course.
Group size: 6-12 students
Minimum stay: 1 month/12 months
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