Begin your

wild career

Our #1 online course

Join this online course to attend live lectures delivered by leaders in their field who have over 50 years of combined experience. See the African wild through their eyes, informed by in-depth knowledge developed over many years. Listen to their stories and learn from their successes and missteps. Ask them questions and receive personal feedback.

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Course overview

Your online field guide course will include weekly live sessions over 12 weeks. These sessions include lectures from industry leaders in conservation and safari guiding, who will give you expert insight into real-life situations you might encounter. You’ll also learn about the types of challenges that exist in the industry and get insider knowledge on how these situations are addressed.

Our online learning platform also allows you to work and interact with like-minded students from all over the world. You can participate in video study groups or create a social space outside of the curriculum and make lifelong international friendships.

Course specifics

12 weeks online (excluding orientation)

10 hours per week

Self-paced, guided learning

16 years and above

English

On completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

Create a guided experience for guests on safari
Ensure the health and safety of your guests when on a guided experience
Identify, understand and explain animal behaviour
Identify different African species and ecosystems
Identify and interpret African animal tracks
Identify African bird species by song and appearance
Lead and engage large groups of diverse people from around the world
Understand the recommended ethical guiding practices and carry out an ethical guided experience in the natural environment
Understand the role and responsibilities of a professional field guide.

Why study with Bushwise?

What sets Bushwise apart

Since the first Bushwise course was held in 2006, we’ve provided world-class field guide training to students from around the globe. Bushwise online delivers the highest standard in theoretical knowledge for field guides, driven by the curriculum of the International Field Guides Association (IFGA). It’s our passion, respect and dedication to nature and our students that drives us to keep on improving our courses.

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. Students love how interactive, flexible, eye-opening and educational our online courses are.

More than the fundamentals

Our courses follow IFGA and Bushwise curriculum, to ensure you get the highest quality education. But we don’t stop there! By attending our masterclasses, you’ll gain insight into various aspects of conservation including anti-poaching initiatives and innovative conservation strategies.

Flexibility for all lifestyles

Join us for 4 to 12 weeks while continuing your normal daily life. Classes are designed to be flexible, with pre-recorded segments and live lectures. Study in your own time. Our online courses are designed for everyone from students to nature enthusiasts, bush-lovers, career seekers, future guides and people with a little extra time who just want to learn!

Award winning trainers

The Bushwise online courses are led by award-winning staff — including Nico Brits, category winner from Safari Guide of the Year competition 2022. 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.

Soft skills

Guiding isn’t just about the knowledge you share, it’s about the way you guide and how you connect with your guests. It’s the soft skills that make a world-class guide stand apart from the rest: communication, leadership, empathy, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making and more. We believe in the importance of training students on these aspects to make them the best guides possible.

Support at every step

Feel supported throughout your time with us. Bushwise’s online courses are unique due to the amount of learning support we give students, including interactive online platforms and proactive communication. When you need extra guidance on a topic, our trainers will be there to give you the support you need.

Syllabus

This course offers full CATHSSETA NQF2 theory training, combining our Nature Enthusiast and Intro to Field Guiding online courses. It comprises 22 modules for a complete and thorough education.

Download the full course syllabus for Bushwise Nature Enthusiast Online course and Introduction to Field Guiding Online course here.

Week 1

Module 1: Introduction to the Skills of Guiding

Aims and principles of nature guiding
What makes a nature guide ethical

Week 1

Module 2: Developing a Guided Experience

Outcomes and best practices of interpretation
Important skills and tools for guiding

Week 2

Module 3: Conducting the Guided Experience

Practical guiding competence: from pre-briefing to debriefing and everything in between
The qualifications and legal requirements to guide

Week 2

Module 4: Radio Procedures

How to operate a two-way radio
Sighting procedures and common radio protocols in the field

Week 3

Module 5: Viewing Potentially Dangerous Animals

The role and responsibilities of an apprentice trails guide
How to interpret potentially dangerous animals’ behaviour and conduct a safe and ethical animal encounter

Week 4

Module 6: Rifles and Advanced Rifle Handling

Rifle safety and shot placement
Protocol for advanced handling of a bolt action rifle

Week 4

Module 7: Becoming a Field Guide

Tips on preparing for your CATHSSETA theory examination
Next steps for pursuing a career as a professional field guide

Week 5

Module 8: Geology

Understand the meaning of geology
Provide explanations for the types of plant life and associated animal life that occurs in an area based on soil and rock types

Week 5

Module 9: Weather and climate

Describe the influences on the Southern Africa climate
Explain weather conditions that apply to the area where you are guiding

Week 6

Module 10: Astronomy

Understand the main interesting features of the night sky, season by season
Learn how to include this in enhancing your clients’ experience

Week 6

Module 11: Ecology

Acquire a knowledge of how the various components fit into the larger ecosystems
Learn its importance in safari guiding

Week 7

Module 12: Biomes

Understand how the dynamics of a particular area interact and the role of each element in the functioning of that area

Week 7

Module 13: Taxonomy

Gain an understanding of how the structures of taxonomy interrelate with the plants and animals in an area

Week 8

Module 14: Plants

Understand basic botany related topics such as plant processes
Identify various plants
Learn interesting facts related to traditional beliefs associated with specific species

Week 8

Module 15: Arthropods

Acquire skill in how to identify arthropods at a basic level
Be able to provide basic information that relates to interesting facts in respect of amongst other things, feeding habits and behaviour

Week 9

Module 16: Fish

Know and understand how to identify common species of fish
Learn the ecological importance of fish

Week 9

Module 17: Amphibians

Grasp how to identify common species of frogs and toads
Master identifying them by means of their calls as well as understanding their ecological role

Week 10

Module 18: Reptiles

Learn how to identify the different species based on their features, interesting facts relating to survival strategies and reproduction in the various different species

Week 10

Module 19: Birds

Understand how to identify the different species based on their features, interesting facts relating to survival strategies and reproduction in the various different species

Week 11

Module 20: Mammals

Discover how to identify the different species seen on safari in the African bush based on their features, interesting facts relating to survival strategies and reproduction in the various different species

Week 11

Module 21: Ethology

Acquire knowledge of wild animal behaviour as individuals, but also group behaviour
Be able to explain different communication methods, territories and interpret the signs and sounds of animals

Week 12

Module 22: Conservation management

Become proficient in what conservation practices are used in the natural environment and why these are carried out
Learn how field guides can play a role in conservation alongside their safari guiding duties

Week 12

Module 23: Historical human habitation

Gain an understanding of interesting facts about early human history, and the distribution of traditional southern African cultures

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Curriculum

The Bushwise Field Guiding online course is twelve weeks long and is made up of 120 hours of learning. Students typically spend 10 hours per week completing the material required to gain the certificate. The online course comprises 22 modules, delivered by our experienced trainers in South Africa. Lectures include discussions on safari guiding, wildlife and conservation topics.

Each week, there are live webinars and masterclasses, which help to ensure you are on track, and allow you to engage in question and answer sessions. There are also compulsory weekly quiz-based assignments to complete and pass in order to receive a certificate for the course.

Expert masterclasses and live lectures

This course includes access to leading experts in the field through a series of weekly masterclasses and webinars. Each of the live sessions will give you the opportunity to interact with industry professionals and ask questions.

Plan your career in the safari industry with Bushwise and grow your knowledge about the biodiversity in Southern Africa. You will engage in this online course through a variety of mediums and platforms.

The learning experience

Self-paced Lectures

All lectures are compiled by subject matter experts with over 50 years of combined experience in the field, including conservation, field guiding, wildlife research, lodge management, and more.

Readings

Recommended readings are provided to encourage you to delve deeper into each topic.

Quizzes

Each module includes a short 5–10 question quiz from the required readings.

Assignments

Each module has an assignment based on the FGASA workbook manual. The assignments will also be discussed in the weekly webinars.

Discussions

Bushwise encourages discussions on the student forums. Share your thoughts, receive answers to your questions and get to know the fellow students.

Live classes

Live webinars are held weekly to discuss that week’s module and assignment.

Student support

A dedicated student support manager will also be on hand to answer any questions regarding technical support.

Reviews

Hear directly from Bushwise alumni. Our reviews are posted here and also shared across other platforms, like TrustPilot, Google, Facebook, Go Overseas and GoAbroad.

Alex Denney,
July 2023

This online course was great and has provided a solid foundation of knowledge that should give me a good head start when I come out to South Africa to do the FGASA course in person with Bushwise.

Steven Maritz,

November 2022

This program is the best thing I have ever done in my life. Bushwise was the best option to choose, on my behalf I would like to thank Bushwise for fulfilling people's passion for nature and also giving them the experience to become what they want and giving them so much knowledge of nature. I'm not going to lie it is a lot of work to study but its very interesting to you want to learn more, everything is almost served on a platter for you all you need to do is put your time to study the work trust me it will benefit you at the end of the day.

Zoe Zietsman-Brits,
March 2021

To future students, from all the places I could've chosen, I am ecstatic that I ended up choosing Bushwise as they are exactly what is looked for and needed. When it not only comes to the materials given to better your knowledge and other skills but when it comes to the support and teachers.

Christie Janse van Rensburg,

March 2021

Thank you for the most amazing, engaging and interesting courses provided. The live Webinars has been great, hearing other peoples journeys in this industry and getting the word out there. It was so interesting to learn everything it never got boring!

Andrea Sabatta,
June 2020

I really enjoyed the course. It was interesting and nice to interact with others who have a similar interest.

Matthew Franklin,
June 2020

Overall this course was amazing I have learned so much and gained so much knowledge, the only thing I would like is one lesson on each subject per week so people can fully understand the subject matter. It would also be amazing if a live game drive or walk would be possible so we can start putting what we have learned through the weeks into practice, especially with animal and plant identification.

Anja Ellis,
June 2020

It’s been an absolutely great time and a super introduction to all the different aspects of becoming a field guide. Although it was “only” an online course it’s been fun to interact with the trainers and students via Zoom and the discussions in Canvas.

Daniella Richardson,
June 2020

A wonderful course filled with loads of information, all set out in an easy to follow sequence. It built on my already existing knowledge and taught me many new things. The discussion topics were interesting and insightful and left one feeling as if we understood the world at a greater level.

Meet the team

With nearly a century of experience combined, we are a specialised team with experts in entomology, ornithology, conservation, rifle handling, botany and more. Join us and work with award-winning staff, including Pioneer Moyo and Nico Brits, category winners from the Safari Guide of the Year competition 2022 and 2023. Get to know these amazing individuals:

Best trainers in the industry

Nico - Bushwise Online

I was exposed to the bush early on. My grandfather played a massive role in my life, sharing his passion, knowledge and stories of the African bush with me. I have been in the tourism industry for 11 years and actively guiding for 9 years. My current qualifications are Professional Field Guide, Professional Track & Sign, Trailing Level 3, Tracker 3, Regional Birding, and Trails guide. I am working towards SKS qualifications such as birding and walking.

Watch Nico's Video

Holding down head office

Eugene Relling - Director

I was born and bred in Durban but have called various parts of South Africa home. I’ve always had a passion for wildlife. I studied operations management and over the past 15 years I’ve been in roles that range from restaurant owner, project and operations management as well as sales manager for various leading tourism and safari organisations. I joined Bushwise in 2021 with a mission to ensure we train the next generation of ethical ambassadors of the natural world by providing unmatched skills and experience.

Watch Eugene's Video

Sharin Myburgh - Operations Manager

My passion for the bush came from growing up on a farm and spending most holidays in Kruger National Park. I have worked for many years in the corporate industry and gave it all up for the bush. From working as a leopard researcher to managing 5-star lodges all over South Africa, with a bit of overlanding in between, I realised my passion is definitely people and conservation.

Rohandi Relling - Administrator

I grew up in Cape Town, where I wanted to become a marine biologist growing up. I am now based in a beautiful town called Hoedspruit where my love for the African bushveld grows every day. After 10 years in the real estate industry, I finally decided to follow my passion and joined the amazing team at Bushwise. I am a mother of three beautiful children, and I love teaching them about nature.

Annie DuPre - Communications

Originally from the USA, I’ve lived in South Africa since 2014. I have a masters in global policy studies and my career has slowly shifted from international relations to conservation. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and after I completed my FGASA course in 2019, I pursued work that combined all of my interests. In addition to managing communications for Bushwise, I’m studying endangered wild dogs in my free time.

Included

CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide NQF2 and NQF4 knowledge
Trails Guide theoretical knowledge

If you pass the online courses, you will receive the following certificates:

The Bushwise Field Guiding online course certificate
The Bushwise Nature Enthusiast online course certificate

You will be provided with online access to the following compulsory learning materials:

The Nature Guide Learner Manual
The Art of Nature Guiding manual
Bushwise (NQF2) Study Guide & Learner Workbook
Advanced Rifle Handling Protocols and Learner Manual

Note that you must pass the practical field program assessment in order to gain the full CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide (NQF2) qualification and certificate. If you wish to write the NQF2 exam without completing the practical component, you will only be registered on the CATHSSETA database to show you have passed the theory.

Note that should you also wish to have a hard copy, additional costs are applicable.

Excluded

Internet access
A device (laptop preferably) and earphones
Recommended supplementary reading material

Course details

APPLY NOW

Bushwise
Field Guiding Online Course

Become an African safari, nature and wildlife expert. Attend expert-led masterclasses, gain CATHSSETA NQF2 and NQF4 knowledge, learn through engaging discussions and earn a certificate from the top-rated provider of field guide qualifications.

DURATIONS: 12 WEEKS

NEXT START DATE: 24 JUN 2024

FORMAT: SELF-PACED, ONLINE

ACCREDITATION: CATHSSETA & IFGA

AGE: 16+

Begin your

wild career

Our #1 online course

Course details

Bushwise Field Guiding Online Course

Bushwise
Field Guiding Online Course