6 Month or One Year Professional Safari Field Guide Certification

Spend six months training in the African bush and an optional six months working on a game reserve or a predator research program.

“This was a fantastic year and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in wildlife and nature’ Susan Robertson, 2006 student”

Overview:

If you are looking for a career that will be an adventure, or a hands on experience in the bush that you will never forget, this course is for you. This six or one year course is the ideal platform for a successful career in the challenging game lodge industry. All the trainers are from The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA).

Content is both theoretical and practical, with an optional six-month work experience placement program at a variety of game lodges and Large mammal research programs around South Africa. The curriculum includes bush skills such as shooting, 4x4 driving and bush knowledge such as conservation, reserve management, geology and animal behavior.

Unlike many other training providers, Bushwise gives students a regular exposure to working and guiding around dangerous game, such as Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard, Cheetah and Hippo... This is invaluable experience and gives students excellent grounding for placements and possible future employment in ‘Big Five’ reserves

Duration / Cost 

A budget option is available and for information regarding resident prices please contact office@bushwise.co.za or click here.

Course Dates:

Highlights: Apart from living and working in the bush alongside passionate professionals, viewing wildlife, living in an African lodge for 6 months and experiencing a beautiful part of Africa you should gain the following qualifications on the Bushwise Course:

• FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) national certificate - Level 1 - practical and theory.
• FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) level 2 or Trails Guide theory certificate (practical must be taken at a later date)
• FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling Certificate
• SASSETA (Rifle handling, proficiency, maintaining of fire arms and shooting)
• THETA (The Hospitality, Sports, Education and Training Authority) National Qualification (Level 2) in Nature Guiding
• Primary and Secondary Emergency First response first Aid certificate
• Dangerous game experience
• 4x4 competency
• Ethical guiding principles
• 6 months work experience (One year course only) and testimonial from a 4-5 star lodge or a predator research program.

*Subject to government changes regarding non-South Africans residents.

Field Conditions: The two campuses are located in the Lowveld, approx 500km northeast of Johannesburg. The areas that the course traverses for practical training are areas of true big game territories, to show you the African bush at its best. The reserves are home to predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as beautiful elephants, rhinos and hippos.

Accommodation at either campus is comfortable, in an idyllic bush setting. The rooms are shared and students have access to all basic facilities, a social area and swimming pool and lecture facilities. All meals are provided during the course and there are laundry facilities available. Uniforms and linen are washed and ironed for you weekly. The campus also has electricity.

Location: The courses are run from two campuses in the Limpopo province, in the north-eastern region of South Africa. Both are located in areas famous for their big game and dramatic scenery of beautiful African bush, and have the mysterious Drakensberg Mountains as a stunning backdrop. Students spend six months having practical and academic training on campus, and then if completing the One year course you spend your final six months doing work experience at one of a number of lodges or predator research placements located in the Lowveld of South Africa.

Group Size: 16 students with approximately 1 staff member to every 5-8 students

Course requirements: If interested in the One year course, all students must be between the ages of 21 and 39 years old when they start the course and hold a full manual driving license. Older and younger applicants are welcome on the six month course, however placements cannot be guaranteed for the 1 year course.