Within 55 days experienced and highly qualified instructors teach you the essentials about the Southern African flora and fauna, providing you with the necessary know-how and knowledge a field guide needs to have.

 

Details

The Apprentice Field Guide course, taking place in South Africa and Botswana, will equip you with valuable nature knowledge. Long walks and expeditions will provide you with long-lasting impressions – whilst acquiring in-depth knowledge from your professionally qualified instructor. During fascinating 55 days you will learn all about plants and animals such as mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles and mammals and their relationship with each other within the Southern African ecosystem.

There are many facets to the guide course. You will learn various methods for orientation and navigation in open country, including aspects of astronomy, so that you can determine your geographical position using the constellations. During hands-on lessons you will learn how to handle an open cross-country vehicle and how to reach your destination safely even in rough terrain. Your training as a field guide also includes basic instruction on the geological and climatological conditions in South Africa, tracking, animal behaviour analysis and how to identify native animal, plant and tree species.

Slowly but surely you will be able to identify many birds and animals just from their calls in the heart of this wild and fascinating countryside. You will also gain insights into the tourism industry and the history of Africa, which will give you a better understanding of their significance with respect to the continent’s problems and options.

The major challenges for nature conservation today include conserving species and preserving the natural dynamics of their habitats while at the same time keeping global environmental change at bay. During your time in Southern Africa you will discover how nature conservation really works, what measures are used and what factors can have a positive or negative influence on the development of an ecosystem.

There will be a theory test and a practical test at the end of the course. After successful course completion you will be given a FGASA recognized FGASA Apprentice Field Guide NQF2 certificate.

 

Accommodation

You will either live in a shared stilt house plus own bathroom (Makuleke) or in a two-man tent with access to shared bathrooms (Selati, Karongwe, Pridelands, Pongola, Mashatu). All camps have a large common room for classroom hours, meals and relaxing together with the group. None of the camps is fenced or allows tourists to access the site.

You will be provided with four daily meals. Tap water, coffee and tea are available throughout the day; fruit juice is provided at mealtimes. The camps get their power from generators. A laundry service is also available for a small fee. Mobile reception is generally quite poor.

 

Service and Cost

Services

  • Placement in the course
  • Assistance with travel arrangements
  • Assistance with selecting travel insurance
  • Assistance with booking flights
  • Pre-departure information pack
  • Accommodation during the course
  • All meals during the course
  • Drinking water
  • Training manual
  • Game walks
  • Game drives
  • Classroom hours
  • Transport between campsites
  • FGASA registration, exam fees and workbooks
  • SASSETA Competency Certification
  • DEAT registration
  • English speaking support by long-term experienced staff
  • Certificate
  • 24/7 support throughout the course

 

Fees

55 days: starting from 6300 EUR

The price listed above is calculated on the basis of a 17 Rand exchange rate (1 EUR = 17 ZAR).

The price stated in euros are approximate values. Due to sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate of the rand, all prices will be calculated at the time of enquiry.