• 28-day safari guide training courses in 2012 are for the experience and learning only.
• No accreditation will be awarded for 28 days courses in South Africa from now on. This is due to a change that FGASA have made compulsory.
• FGASA Level 1 courses are now 55 days in length. Click here for 55 day course dates.
  
• Non-South Africans can take the 28 day courses in Kenya with accreditation. Click here for further details.

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 If you are 17 years of age or older (with a driving license, although not essential) and you want to learn more about the bush, we would love to host you at one of our camps. These courses are not only available to people wishing to enter the industry as field guides, but for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of the African bush. So whether you've just finished school and are on your gap year, or if you've possibly taken a career break or are retired, this course is for you!

People who have attended these courses have returned to the "real world" with a different outlook on life. Some have taken this new outlook into their day-to-day lives and others, inspired by their time with us, have completely changed their lives and careers.

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The emphasis is on practical day-to-day experiences in the bush.

The daily outings are flexible and may focus on specific subjects such as animal tracks and tracking, birds, plant identification or animal behaviour. It might involve game viewing and learning about the ecosystem in general. 

The level 1 course is structured to maximize the practical experience of the students in the bush. Each day allows for hours of time spent in the field interpreting the ecology and enjoying a wildlife experience. Activities alternate between walks and driving.

Here are the subjects and activities covered during the Level 1, 28-day course:

Please note: Our suppliers recommend that international students do not concern themselves with the FGASA element of the course certification, as it means becoming a paid-up annual member of a southern African association, that will in most cases not be relevant to them once back in their home countries.

• Welcome and introduction
• Introduction to guiding in the natural environment
• Creating a guided nature experience
• Geology
• Astronomy
• Weather and climate
• Basic ecology
• Basic Taxonomy
• Introduction to the Biomes of Southern Africa
• Botany and Grasses
• Arthropods (Insects and relatives)
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Fish
• Birds
• Mammals
• Animal behaviour
• Conservation management and historical human habitation

Additional activities:

• Basic 4x4 driving
• Sleep out in the bush
• Basic rifle handling
• Tests, presentations and evaluations

Tests and evaluations:

The following tests and evaluations are undertaken on this course:

• 3 x Written tests
• 2 x Oral presentations
• 2 x Practical evaluations: Walk evaluation & Game drive evaluation

Accommodation & location

For Makuleke Camp (please ask for information documents)

In compliance with the UK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Company plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, to protect customers’ prepayments in the unlikely event of our financial failure and paid in respect of:

• non-flight inclusive packages commencing and returning to the UK
• the ground handling aspects of packages where the customer is responsible for arranging travel to the destination
offered in this brochure/literature/document/on this website (subject to the terms of the insurance policy), for:

• a refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled, or
• making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled
 

Customers’ prepayments are protected by a topp policy. In the unlikely event of financial failure please contact the claims helpline on 0870 0137 965. A copy of the policy is available on request.