About Bushwise
Bushwise specializes in running professional FGASA's (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) accredited courses and Hospitality internship programmes. Both the organisation, as well as our graduates, are highly recognized in the hospitality industry due to our high standards and excellent reputation.
Field Guide Courses:
Bushwise runs FGASA's (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) accredited professional field guide courses, during these courses, we do not loose focus on our goal of producing guides of excellence by diversifying into other areas…we do what we do best and to uphold our excellent reputation… long courses that produce high quality and well sought after guides.
We focus on training students to the highest standard possible in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to enable them to get the best jobs in the future. We include additional qualifications in the course, which are carefully chosen to ensure there is no compromise on core foundation subjects needed as a guide, to promote our students in the industry and the field they are striving to start a career in.
It is important to note that Bushwise is not ‘just a Level 1 course’, students are taught up to a Level 2 standard to ensure they are highly knowledgeable and immediately prepared from the moment they start their guiding career.
If you are looking to work within big 5 reserves then you need to sign up with Bushwise , as our course provides a focus on working around dangerous game and all practical training is carried out in a 26,000hectare wilderness reserve with dangerous animals including elephant, lion, hippo, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
Our course structure and syllabus is specifically developed to ensure that you, the student, become a competent field guide, gain a work placement and give students a foot in the door for future employment on a big 5 reserve or wildlife research programs. We have a strong emphasis on producing high quality guides with excellent practical skills and not solely theoretical knowledge.
Bushwise has gained an excellent reputation in the field guide industry by producing high achieving students with outstanding pass rates, both practically and academically, and as a result our graduates are highly sought after. Bushwise has consistently attained some of the highest FGASA Level 1 exam results compared to other longterm training providers.
‘Over six years, from 2007 to 2012, 94% of Bushwise students have passed their FGASA Level 1 exam’
In 2012 Bushwise had the highest national average FGASA level 1 results, of all accredited training providers of long courses (6 month and longer)
Bushwise has been set up by experienced personnel who have been working extensively in training, program logistics, field guiding, and the eco-tourism industry.
Hospitality Internship Programme:
This internship programme was born out of Bushwise’s extensive contacts and excellent reputation in the Hospitality industry. Over the years, through our dealings with lodges for placements for Field Guides, we saw the opportunity for professional interns to assist in luxury Game lodges across Africa, while gaining invaluable international work experiences in many of the hospitality areas. Currently interns with previous skills and/or experience are being given this unique and life changing experience to be involved in skills exchange, in some of the top lodges in Southern Africa.
Bushwise and its staff are directly linked with Global Vision International (GVI) an internationally recognised organisation which assists with marketing, recruitment, pre-country and in-county support. GVI has a wealth of experience in volunteer and student placements as well as training and course development. Every year they currently send over 3,000 people into the field worldwide. Together GVI and Bushwise have combined their experience and skills to develop a training program of excellence.
