Untamed, unfiltered,
and into the wild!
Bushwise
Primitive Trails Course - 6 days
Experience the raw magic of the African bush – on foot, off the grid, and in your element. Navigate a Big 5 reserve under the expert guidance of a senior trails guide to fully immerse yourself in the sights, smells and sounds of nature. Whether you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure or logging essential hours toward your trail guide certification, this short course is the perfect blend of grit and wonder.
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Experience the wild from a new perspective
Step into the African bush on foot with an expert trails guide, traversing a new corner of a pristine private game reserve each day.
You’ll learn to read tracks, interpret animal behaviour, and experience the thrill of tracking wildlife whenever the moment is right. You’ll build confidence moving safely and responsibly through a Big Five environment, with a deeper understanding of how the ecosystem works as a whole. As the landscape changes, so does your experience, with each day bringing new terrain, new tracks and new possibilities.
From the snort of an impala to vultures circling above, or a dung beetle crossing your path – every element tells a story. Keep your senses dialled in, and that story could lead you to elephants, lions and other iconic species.
As the sun begins to set at the end of each day, you’ll set up camp in a new, wild location – your home under the stars for the night. Since you’re constantly on the move, you’ll wake up to a different horizon every morning of your six-day trek.
This isn’t an ordinary trail experience; it’s a hands-on wilderness expedition where you’ll be part of the action. You’ll carry your own backpack with sleeping gear and food, help set up camp each afternoon, and take turns keeping watch under the vast African sky at night – an authentic experience of life on the trail.
Doing the Primitive Trails Course with Bushwise is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to disconnect from the noise, step out of your comfort zone, and reconnect with nature like never before.
*Due to the nature of this course, participants must be able to walk +/- 15km per day, while carrying a loaded backpack of about 10-15kg.
Why choose Bushwise?
Minimal impact
Respect for the environment sits at the core of the experience. You learn how to live in the wild without damaging it, from how you set up camp to how you move through the bush. Each site is left as it was found, with no signs you were ever there.
Experience that counts in your career
If you’re working towards becoming an advanced trails guide, the Primite Trails course goes beyond experience. The time spent on foot and the wildlife you encounter can be logged towards your Trails Guide certification.
Ethical guiding specialists
We’re aware of the harmful practices that still exist in parts of the industry, from crowding wildlife to restricting natural movement and causing unnecessary disturbance to vegetation. At Bushwise, training and fieldwork are carried out with a strong focus on respect for the environment, building the kind of responsible field practices that are essential in today’s conservation industry.
Award-winning trainers
The Bushwise team includes award-winning guides such as Nico Brits, a category winner at the Safari Guide of the Year competition in 2022. Our trainers are experts dedicated to continually expanding their knowledge and skills. Together, they bring over 150 years of combined experience across specialities like wildlife behaviour, conservation, rifle handling, botany, and more, making us a specialised and committed team.
Trusted for over 20 years
For more than two decades, Bushwise has been a trusted name in the wildlife, hospitality and conservation industries. Our long-standing commitment to quality education and industry partnerships means generations of wildlife professionals have launched successful careers with our support, making us a reliable foundation.
No.1 rated on TrustPilot
We’re proud to be the top-rated wildlife training provider on TrustPilot, with consistently high ratings across other review platforms like Google, Facebook, GoAbroad, and GoOverseas. Our graduates leave well-prepared, professional, and confident, and their reviews speak volumes about the quality of our training and support.
Fund your Bushwise course!
- Discounts of up to R50000.
- Grants & scholarships of up to R100000.
- Student loans available.
