Turn your passion
for the wild
into a creative career
Bushwise
Wildlife Marketing Short Course - 1 month
The foundation of your future in wildlife content, media, and marketing.
DURATIONS: 27 DAYS
NEXT START DATE: 14 SEPT 2026
FORMAT: ON-CAMPUS
ACCREDITATION: BUSHWISE
AGE: 18+
Build creative skills in the wild
Learn to capture and share wildlife stories with hands-on experience in the field
Our 27-day Wildlife Marketing Short Course is ideal for creatives, nature lovers, and anyone curious about wildlife storytelling and lodge marketing. It’s also a great option if you’re considering a career shift into the wildlife, tourism, or safari and hospitality space, or if you already work in the industry and want to add creative or digital marketing skills to your toolkit, to expand your career options.
Over about four weeks (27 days), you’ll spend time in the bush practising content creation, learning how to craft a story, and exploring the digital tools that bring wildlife and lodge media to life.
You’ll get guided sessions in wildlife photography, videography, social media, digital marketing, and basic PR – all designed to give you a solid starting point. By the end, you’ll walk away with a portfolio of work, a clear understanding of the roles and opportunities within the industry, and practical skills you can continue building on, whether in your current role or a new one.
The start of your creative toolkit
Throughout the 27-day course, you’ll dive into the key skills that make wildlife media and marketing effective. Each module combines hands-on practice with practical guidance, so you’ll walk away with both experience and confidence.
By the end of these modules, you’ll have a well-rounded skill set and a clear understanding of how to create, share, and promote wildlife content in professional contexts.
Here’s a look at what you’ll cover:
Wildlife Photography Fieldcraft
Learn how to capture striking images of animals and landscapes, and get comfortable shooting in natural environments.
Wildlife videography & storytelling
Shoot and edit videos that tell engaging stories, bringing wildlife moments to life.
Post-production & workflow management
Get organised and efficient with editing, file management, and producing polished content.
Luxury housekeeping & lodge presentation
Explore how to grow audiences, engage your followers, and build an online presence that resonates.
Digital marketing & paid advertising
Learn the basics of promoting your content, reaching the right people, and making an impact online.
Public relations & strategic partnerships
Discover how to collaborate, network, and get your work seen by the right people.
Revenue, sales, & direct-to-consumer marketing
nderstand how to monetise content and connect directly with your audience.
Trade relations & industry events
Gain insight into presenting your work professionally and navigating the wildlife, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
_edited.jpg)
Itinerary
This is an example of what you might cover over 4 days. Activities and modules may be adjusted, or a single module could take up a full day, depending on focus, weather, and other factors. Each day begins with a cup of coffee and snacks, and ends with a dinner around the fire, surrounded by nature.
Day 1 - Orientation and photography basics
You’ll kick off the course with a warm welcome and orientation, get an overview of the modules and expectations, then dive into wildlife photography basics, practising camera handling, framing, and composition, before reviewing your first shots with the group and setting personal creative goals for the week.
.jpg)
Day 2 - Videography and storytelling
The focus is on wildlife videography and storytelling, where you’ll capture real footage in the field under guidance, learn narrative techniques, practise editing and post-production skills, and share your clips with the group for constructive feedback to refine your creative approach.
Day 3 - Digital marketing and social media
You’ll explore social media content planning, digital marketing principles, and paid advertising, learning how to create posts and short videos that engage audiences, track metrics, and develop workflows that connect your creative content to practical marketing strategies.
Day 4 - PR and partnerships
The final day covers public relations and strategic partnerships, completing a mini project that combines photography, videography, and digital marketing skills, with an optional game drive to capture content in action, followed by a portfolio review, constructive feedback, and reflection on next steps.
Location
During this course, you’ll be staying at our Mahlahla Campus located on the border of the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve, about 60 km from Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province.
The Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve spans 25,000 hectares and is home to the Big Five, cheetah, and critically endangered species such as the African Wild Dog and the Southern Ground Hornbill.
To help you settle in quickly, you’ll be added to a pre-departure WhatsApp group where you can meet the trainers and your fellow students, familiarise yourself with the team, and ask any questions you might have.
Mahlahla Campus
Accommodation on the Bushwise Mahlahla campus is within an eight-hectare, fenced lodge-style campus.
It’s safe from predators, so you are free to go for a walk or run anywhere on campus. We have a large variety of bird species that are regular visitors to the campus dam, as well as secretive species such as honey badgers and porcupines that are seen almost every night. We also have the occasional visit from porcupines and leopards.
In these surroundings, you can sharpen your practical skills by going on bushwalks, spending time birding, and encountering the animals that roam the campus.
Students will share a chalet (known as a rondavel) that accommodates two students. A weekly laundry service is provided for uniforms and bedding, free of charge, and students also have full access to the campus facilities for personal use.
The chalets, dining area, and laundry facilities are all clustered together. But it’s just a short walk around the dam to get to the classroom. The classroom is only partly enclosed, so you’ll remain immersed in the bush during training. It’s topped off with a thatched roof and light shading on two sides. And for the hot summer months, there’s a swimming pool next to the classroom.
| Campus
Mahlahla Campus
Accommodation on the Bushwise Mahlahla campus is within an eight-hectare, fenced lodge-style campus.
It’s safe from predators, so you are free to go for a walk or run anywhere on campus. We have a large variety of bird species that are regular visitors to the campus dam, as well as secretive species such as honey badgers and porcupines that are seen almost every night. We also have the occasional visit from porcupines and leopards.
In these surroundings, you can sharpen your practical skills by going on bushwalks, spending time birding, and encountering the animals that roam the campus.
Students will share a chalet (known as a rondavel) that accommodates two students. A weekly laundry service is provided for uniforms and bedding, free of charge, and students also have full access to the campus facilities for personal use.
The chalets, dining area, and laundry facilities are all clustered together. But it’s just a short walk around the dam to get to the classroom. The classroom is only partly enclosed, so you’ll remain immersed in the bush during training. It’s topped off with a thatched roof and light shading on two sides. And for the hot summer months, there’s a swimming pool next to the classroom.
Day 1 - Orientation and photography basics
You’ll kick off the course with a warm welcome and orientation, get an overview of the modules and expectations, then dive into wildlife photography basics, practising camera handling, framing, and composition, before reviewing your first shots with the group and setting personal creative goals for the week.
Day 2 - Videography and storytelling
The focus is on wildlife videography and storytelling, where you’ll capture real footage in the field under guidance, learn narrative techniques, practise editing and post-production skills, and share your clips with the group for constructive feedback to refine your creative approach.
Day 3 - Digital marketing and social media
You’ll explore social media content planning, digital marketing principles, and paid advertising, learning how to create posts and short videos that engage audiences, track metrics, and develop workflows that connect your creative content to practical marketing strategies.
Day 4 - PR and partnerships
The final day covers public relations and strategic partnerships, completing a mini project that combines photography, videography, and digital marketing skills, with an optional game drive to capture content in action, followed by a portfolio review, constructive feedback, and reflection on next steps.
Dates & fees
Set start dates
27-day course | from R68,250
14 September - 10 October 2026
15 March - 10 April 2027
13 September - 9 October 2027
Payment plan
Plan 1
-
A deposit secures your booking
-
First instalment due 20 weeks before the course start date
-
Final instalment due 12 weeks before the course start date
Plan 2
-
A deposit secures your booking
-
The balance is split into six instalments leading up to the course start date
Plan 3
-
Custom deposit secures your booking
-
The balance is split into equal instalments, with the final instalment due 3 months into the course
You may be eligible for a Bushwise Foundation Grant of up to R40,000 towards your course fees!
A limited number of December grants are still available, so don’t wait! Grant applications are open to everyone.
.jpg)
What’s included
Learning resources & activities
-
Bushwise Marketing course information and certificate
-
Training conducted by experienced long-term staff
-
Lectures by qualified marketing professionals
-
Game drives
-
Entrance fees for excursions, where applicable
-
Assistance with booking other extracurricular activities
Living resources
-
All meals (except during off weeks)
-
Fleece jacket, cap, and beanie
-
Two sets of uniforms
-
Accommodation includes:
-
Shared room
-
Desk, cupboard, and fan
-
Boma and braai area
-
Space to exercise
-
Social area
-
Free Wi-Fi
-
Library of field guiding books
-
Communal or shared en-suite bathroom
-
Limited laundry services
-
Support services
-
Pre-departure support
-
Pre-departure WhatsApp group
-
Location orientation
-
24-hour in-country support
-
24-hour emergency phone
-
Emergency support from Bushwise on-site staff
-
Daily briefings
-
Final feedback session
-
Access to our alumni program
-
Access to our unique in-house recruitment program
What’s not included
-
Flights
-
Transfers to the campus on arrival and departure
-
Medical and travel insurance
-
Police clearance or background check fees
-
Personal workwear, such as hiking shoes and jackets
-
Bushwise uniform (can be purchased after arrival)
-
International and domestic airport taxes
-
Additional drinks and gratuities
-
Compulsory and recommended reference books
-
Transport costs to the work placement
-
Extra local excursions
Advance your wildlife career
This short course is part of a larger 6- or 12-month Practical Wildlife Tourism Course, covering wildlife marketing, hospitality, and safari guiding. This course includes an optional 6-month work placement and a career guarantee. To explore the full course, click here.