Guide Courses - Botswana

Experiential tourism is on the rise: People no longer want to go on holiday and sit on the beach for 12 hours a day. They are looking for an experience; something with true meaning and a sense of achievement; something to better themselves. What better way to feed the soul than by reconnecting with nature and learning how the natural world achieves all its glory?Botswana is a wildlife Mecca thanks to its varied habitats, dedication to conservation, and rich species diversity.

But Botswana offers more than just photographic safaris. More and more people are leaving the hectic-paced world behind and immersing themselves in Mother Nature. There are a variety of nature guide training courses in Botswana to choose from, each with its focus and charm, that are designed to inspire and teach people a new way of seeing the world.

Botswana Guide Training - Courses in the Okavango Delta

Botswana’s ethos has always been quality over quantity. This conservation-orientated thinking means that the country is awash with amazing areas of natural beauty, each holding its unique charm. However, the fabled Okavango Delta is perhaps its most prized possession. The periodic flooding of this ancient river system lends itself to such a staggering wildlife spectacle, that it has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.

It is no surprise then that the majority of field guide training in Botswana is conducted from within its boundaries. It is the ultimate classroom. Ranger courses in Botswana are basic and intense. Do not expect luxurious accommodation and gourmet food. Bush training in Botswana is about the experience; it is about going back to your roots and experiencing nature in its rawest, organic form. Game ranger training courses in Botswana will take you back to basics so that you can truly appreciate your surroundings.

And what surroundings they are. During the dry season (June – Aug) the delta floods, saturating the area with nature’s life-blood and attracting a plethora of animal life. Ranger courses in Botswana will no doubt include iconic sightings of Lechwe antelope bounding through the reeds, and great herds of buffalo cutting swathes through the landscape as they meander from island to island, enjoying the nutritious fodder. Predators such as lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and wild dogs benefit from this concentration of prey and offer tremendous species interactions. Elephants abound and both rhino species can also be found roaming the floodplains. Attending a field guide course in Botswana is an experience of a lifetime.

Field Guide Training Courses, Botswana

There are various types of bush training in Botswana that you can attend, depending on your interests and whether you want to attain a recognised qualification in the end.

Like many countries, official nature guide training courses in Botswana are regulated by the government and must be approved by the DWNP (Department of Wildlife and National Parks) and the BQA (Botswanan Qualification Authority). If you are looking to work as a guide, it is imperative to check that the provider is registered with these organisations. Full ranger training in Botswana includes a whole host of modules, covering both biotic and abiotic aspects of the ecosystem. Mammals, birds, botany, arthropods, weather and climate, astronomy, and geology are just some of the topics covered in Botswana’s field guide training.

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What other Botswana Guide Training Courses can I attend?

There are also short ranger courses in Botswana that are more specific. It is advisable to check whether they come with a recognised qualification, but even if they do not, it is still a great opportunity to learn from an experienced professional.

Birding courses are normally conducted over one week and will help you get to grips with some of the 600 species that call Botswana home. Tracking courses offer a unique perspective on how to interpret the bush. This ancient discipline is nothing short of fascinating and is an experience not to miss, regardless of your interests.

Tracking and birding short courses are usually amalgamated into registered field guide courses in Botswana, but both are great stand-alone programs if your time and budget are a limiting factor. For the more adventurous, trails courses are also available. These mentored walking experiences offer some of the most intensive bush training in Botswana, and possible sightings of Big 5 animals on foot are more common. It is worth noting that accredited field guide courses in Botswana require a lengthy time commitment, with a minimum of 32 days of practical experience on top of some correspondence learning before the onset of the course.

What should I expect on a Field Guide Course in Botswana?

Nature guide training courses in Botswana are intense and should not be untaken lightly. The accommodation is basic, usually with shared dome tents, bucket showers and bush toilets. Electricity is often harnessed from solar power or by the sporadic use of generators so do not expect to while away the evening hours playing on cellphones. Botswana’s ranger training is about reconnecting with nature and that means living amongst her, not alongside her. Depending on the time of year, be prepared to be warm. Summer months in Botswana can reach the mid 40’s (°C) and the humidity level is high – sunscreen is a must!

A typical day on a field guide course in Botswana involves an early start, often before sunrise, and a 3 or 4 hour activity in the bush, followed by a hearty brunch. There will often be lectures given during the day, as well as some time to rest or study. The afternoon follows a similar pattern with another practical activity before returning to camp after dark for dinner and a well-earned rest!

Nature speaks to us all. It is entwined into every cell in our body like DNA and it calls to us on a daily basis. Whether we chose to listen is another story. For those of you that sit in your concrete jungles dreaming of an opportunity to escape life’s rat race, attending a nature guide training course in Botswana may be the perfect remedy.

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