Guide Courses – Southern Africa

Guide courses can be conducted in many African countries, each with its own appeal. Botswana is known for its elephants and predators while Kenya is famous for its expansive fertile plains that harbour countless animals, especially during the fabled ‘Great Migration’.

Field guide courses in Southern Africa offer a perfect mix of diverse fauna and flora, coupled with a well-rounded experience that focuses just as much on communication and hospitality skills as it does on animal knowledge. Thanks to Southern African’s varied offerings, the tourist industry is highly diversified and therefore it is essential that field guide training is conducted accordingly. The various Field Guide courses in Southern Africa and their special features are explained below.

Field Guide Training in Southern Africa

One of the major draw cards of attending a ranger course in Southern Africa is the infrastructure of the country. Other safari destinations can offer a wonderful opportunity to learn about the native flora and fauna but they struggle to hold a torch to the additional skills and experiences that can be found among professional field guide courses in SA. Not only that, but there are periods of downtime during ranger training and this offers a great chance to explore some of the culture and areas of natural beauty in the country. Cape Town, the Garden Route and wine farms are popular destinations but Southern Africa offers so much more: the clear skies of Sutherland (home to various astronomical research and observatories), the rich culture of Soweto, Johannesburg’s apartheid museum and the balmy waters of the east coast are all well worth visiting.

Professional Field Guide Courses in Southern Africa and FGASA

Field guide training in South African is regulated by FGASA (Field Guide Association of southern Africa). They design the syllabus you will be studying from, as well as implement a standard to which all ranger training providers in South Africa must abide. All professional field guide courses in South Africa are obliged to meet this standard and must be approved on a yearly basis by FGASA. The upshot of this is that, regardless of which ranger course you attend, it will have been well vetted and, assuming you pass the course, will provide you with the basic legal qualifications required to seek employment.

It is important to note that ranger training qualifications are restricted to the country in which they are attained. In other words, if you pass a field guide training course in South Africa, you cannot then look for work in neighbouring countries such as Botswana or Zimbabwe.

Although the costs of these courses may seem high, you certainly get bang for your buck. Some ranger courses are conducted across multiple reserves which allows for unprecedented exposure to a variety of habitats and guiding techniques. Not only that, but all accommodation and food, at least during the course semesters, are included. A field guide course is a wonderful way to lose yourself in nature and find yourself at the same time. There is something special about understanding your surroundings. It gives you a sense of belonging and tranquillity. That things are the way they are supposed to be. Attending, and completing, a field guide course is a life changing experience, regardless of what you intend to do with the knowledge gained.

Apprentice Trails Guide

On the Apprentice Trails Guide Course, candidates are personally mentored by their course instructor and gain as much first-hand experience as possible. 28 wonderful days are spent in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve in South Africa (open to Kruger National Park), a paradise on earth for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.

The course is accredited by FGASA and offers extensive experience through small groups of max. 8 people. This course is aimed at anyone looking to start their career as a walking guide and nature lovers looking for an exceptional experience. Take the next step in your adventure and become an Apprentice Trails Guide in Southern Africa.

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Guide Courses Southern Africa – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a Field Guide in Southern Africa?

Assuming your goal is to find employment in the safari industry, prospective guides must attain the following:

- A guiding qualification recognised by the South African government. Safari field guide courses that are approved by FGASA offer this as standard, but the full qualification can only be attained by passing a theory exam and then completing a practical assessment. 

- A PdP. This is a public driver’s permit issued by the traffic department that legally allows you to carry passengers. Many field guide courses in SA include this as part of the package although it should be noted that it is a long and arduous process to complete.

- 1st Aid Certificate. Due to the essential need for guides to look after their guests, a First Aid certificate is mandatory. Every ranger course in Southern Africa should offer this, usually as the first module of the ranger training.

- Registration with the National Department of Tourism. This can only be achieved by supplying NDT with proof of your guiding certificate, PdP, and valid First Aid certificate.

Once you have these items in place, you are legally eligible to guide in South Africa (depending on the status of your visa of course).

Why should I do a Professional Field Guide Course?

There are too many reasons to list here! Everyone is different and is aiming for different goals in their lives. Attending a safari field guide course in Southern Africa is an experience that will last a lifetime, whether you use it everyday or not. Not only is it imperative should you wish to seek gainful employment in this area, but to simply be a part of the ranger course will give you more life experience that you can possibly imagine!

Everything on this planet is interconnected and a guide training course in Southern Africa will teach you to appreciate, understand and predict these relationships. If you have a passion for wildlife and conservation, a ranger training course is the perfect way to spend a few months. Or even a lifetime!

Where will my FGASA Certificates allow me to work?

This is a tough question to answer. As previously stated, attaining a qualification from a guide course in South Africa will give you the base qualifications required to legally work, but you will be restricted to South Africa. Not only that, but because South Africa is so diversified in its habitats, officially, you will be restricted to areas that have similar flora and fauna.

The majority of field guide courses in South Africa are conducted in the Kruger region, which also offers the most job opportunities. But there are ranger courses conducted in most of SA’s 9 provinces, including Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Successful candidates are then eligible to apply for guiding positions in game reserves and wildlife parks in the country. 

Which course will make participants the most employable?

All FGASA accredited professional field guide courses in South Africa must deliver the same basic qualifications, but some do offer additional qualifications depending on time constraints, and of course, budget.  Other qualifications to look out for include:

- Trails Guide (walking qualification)

- Advanced rifle Handling

- Tracking

- Snake Handling

- Orientation and Navigation

- Specialist Birding & Astronomy

Whilst all of the above are worth doing, the most important is the Trails Guide and ARH. There has been a shift of late to experiencing the African wilderness, and its wildlife, on foot, and FGASA dictates that you must obtain a special set of qualifications to do so legally. Trails Guide and ARH ranger training in Southern Africa can only be attained once the base qualifications are met, and both have their own exams and assessments attached. They are not easy, due to the emphasis put on safety in today’s world, but having these under your belt will make you infinitely more employable than someone without.

Another bonus to look out for is the offer of unpaid work experience as part of safari field guide courses in Southern Africa. Some bush training provides this opportunity to successful and capable students and this is the best way to get your foot in the door of the industry, especially for international students. Make yourself indispensable for a 6-months apprenticeship and you will be hard to replace!

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