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The knowledge 

     you need to be

    an ultimate guide

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.

Course overview

There’s a reason we’re the top-rated FGASA provider. More than 90% of our graduates get a job upon earning their FGASA NQF4 qualification, formerly known as the FGASA Level 2. This is due to our strong connections with ecotourism employers across the African continent and our ability to develop new field guides of the highest calibre using our superior learning experiences. Unlike other FGASA courses of its kind, where learners self-study all training materials, we provide an engaging, experiential experience delivered by experts with over 50 years of combined experience in the field.

 

Join our online FGASA course to attend masterclasses led by directors of conservation organisations, managers of private nature reserves and professional field guides who have led thousands of safari drives and walks. Along with your classmates, fellow rising stars in African ecotourism, ask our experts questions and receive answers informed by many years of experience. These discussions are designed to not only allow you to master the subject matter, but to create meaningful connections with leaders in the field. This allows you to kickstart your professional network, an essential aspect of modern-day employment as most vacancies today are filled through referral.

In addition to providing tons of opportunities for social learning, our course is designed to keep you motivated throughout by providing regular progress milestones in the form of quizzes. Learning is also facilitated through the discussion of real-world case studies to ground the theory in the practical application of field guiding.

 

We want you to become the kind of field guide lodges reserve for their top clientele and who garners recommendations wherever you go. Four modules in this course cover Special Knowledge and Skills, training which will be crucial as you develop as a field guide. For example, completing the Viewing Potentially Dangerous Animals (VPDA) and Advanced Rifle Handling (ARH) modules will allow you to develop the advanced safety skills required to give clients the up-close-and-personal wildlife interactions they’re looking for. 

 

Once you have successfully passed both of our online courses and your FGASA Apprentice Field Guide theory examination, your next step to becoming a qualified field guide is to apply this knowledge on-site in the African wild. You can do this by joining us at the Bushwise campus in South Africa’s Limpopo region, not far from Kruger National Park.

Course specifics

4 weeks

7 - 10 hours per week

Self-paced

18 and above (We welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels.)

English

 

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

  • Understand the role and responsibilities of the professional field guide

  • 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

  • Carry out research on suitable sites in preparation for your guests

  • Ensure the health and safety of your clients on a guided experience.

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 FGASA curriculum and beyond. 

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 FGASA 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.

Course details

Introduction to Field Guiding Online Course

Learn with the top-rated FGASA provider. Engage in personal, interactive learning experiences delivered by our academy of experts. Make connections, start your dream career.

DURATIONS: 4 WEEKS

NEXT START DATE: 4 MAR 2024

FORMAT: SELF-PACED, ONLINE

ACCREDITATION: FGASA

AGE: 18+

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