The foundation for a wild career
Is your goal to become a safari guide, wilderness guide, wildlife guide or conservationist? The Bushwise International Field Guide course is the most comprehensive and immersive course available. Train with the industry’s award-winning instructors and wildlife experts, using the International Field Guide Association (IFGA) curriculum.
Course overview
Imagine driving a 4x4 game viewer across a riverbed, pointing out rare bird species to your guests. You slow to a stop – is that a leopard you see? Later, you serve sundowners and take in another vibrant African sunset. An afternoon spent sharing wildlife knowledge, nothing’s better!
The Bushwise International Field Guide course develops highly skilled professionals in the field guiding industry. It is specifically developed to provide vocational skills and qualifications required by employers in Southern Africa. In addition, our top-performing students can also qualify for the IFGA qualification at no extra cost to their training.
Training is held in Big Five territory, where you’ll observe animals in their natural habitat. Your home away from home could be in our Sabi Sabi or SAWC campuses in the Greater Kruger National Park, or at our Mahlahla Campus in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve. Days are spent studying, going on game drives, observing wildlife, learning new skills and putting knowledge into practice. Train with expert and award-winning instructors as you learn wildlife theory, hospitality, storytelling, conservation, lodge management, animal behaviour and much more.
Students also have the opportunity to do a 6-month work placement with a selection of lodges and game reserves in South Africa: Thornybush, Timbavati, Makalali Private Game Reserve and Kapama to name a few; or further abroad in destinations like Thailand, Madagascar and Costa Rica. Our graduates have worked around the world, in places like Patagonia, USA, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda. By getting experience in a luxury game lodge, animal rehab centre or at a wildlife research and monitoring centre, you can secure a permanent position as a safari guide, reserve management or conservationist around the globe.
Qualifications
On this course you’ll earn your CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide (NQF2) qualification, the main qualification required to guide in South Africa. Bushwise is directly accredited by CATHSSETA and we will register you for this certification when you pass your assessments. You’ll also earn many other certificates, including IFGA guide, Track & Sign, Advanced Rifle Handling, First Aid, Reptile Handling and more. Learn more in the qualifications tab above.
Why study with Bushwise?
Bushwise Field Guides was founded by a passionate conservationist. After her long and fruitful career in conservation, she realised there is a need for professional, qualified field guides to help ethically sustain our natural environment. This passion gave birth to Bushwise in 2006, and since then, we’ve delivered the cream of the crop to the safari industry. It’s our passion, respect and dedication to nature that drives us to keep on improving our courses.
92% of lodges prefer Bushwise grads
When lodges see the Bushwise and IFGA name, they know you’ve received the top-tier field guiding education. In fact, lodges regularly request Bushwise grads for open positions. That’s because we understand what employers are looking for, and prepare you in the best way possible to enter the industry. We also work closely with key players in the wildlife sector to align our curriculum with the latest industry requirements.
No.1 rated on TrustPilot
Our courses consistently rank highest on multiple review platforms, from No.1 on TrustPilot to our top ratings on Google, Facebook, GoAbroad, and GoOverseas. We produce the best field guides entering the industry, and lodges regularly contact us to request alumni for their job openings.
Exclusive IFGA training provider
We are the sole Southern African training provider for the International Field Guide Association (IFGA) qualification. When a wildlife guide has the letters IFGA after their name, it means they were successfully admitted to and passed the most selective field guide training program in the world. They are are prepared to exceed guest expectations, every step of the way.
Global opportunities
Through the IFGA curriculum, there are also unique work placement opportunities in remote destinations like Costa Rica, Thailand, Madagascar and more. Bushwise students use their training to advance their careers, all over the world. Our graduates have gotten jobs in places like Patagonia, USA, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda.
Award winning trainers
The Bushwise team includes award-winning staff, including Pioneer Moyo and Nico Brits, category winners from the Safari Guide of the Year competition 2022 and 2023. Our trainers are experts in their field, and are constantly gaining experience and knowledge themselves. We are a specialised and committed team, with nearly a century of experience combined. We have experts in entomology, ornithology, conservation, rifle handling, botany and more.
Career guarantee
Bushwise offers an exclusive career guarantee – the only in the industry. We are so confident in our training programs that we guarantee to South African students of our 12 month course that they will receive a job offer within 6 months of graduating.
100% Employment rate
Since 2012, Bushwise has seen a 100% employment rate for South African graduates of our International Field Guide course (not including COVID-19 period when many companies had hiring freezes). This is due to the fact that our graduates are well-prepared for the job market, with skills and experience that goes beyond the books and beyond expectations.
Recruitment services
We offer comprehensive career counselling and recruitment services to all of our students, helping them reach their dream career and excel in their goals. This includes access to a vast alumni network, job posts and notifications, personalised job-search assistance, connections with hiring managers, and much more.
Support at every step
Feel safe and supported throughout your time with us. Safety and first aid training are a priority that we take seriously. Bushwise’s practical courses are unique due to the amount of learning support we give students. When you need extra guidance on a topic, our trainers will be there to give you the support you need.
