Careers in wildlife industries
Wildlife jobs in Southern Africa, including positions working with animals and as game rangers, field guides, trails guides, ecologists, and nature conservationists, are in high demand. If you want to promote and protect wildlife and habitats, then you’re well-suited for a career in this industry.
Not all conservation careers involve direct interaction with animals. Roles like field guide (safari guide) or trails guide are vital, but focus more on interpretation and guest experience, though some game reserves offer the chance to be involved in wildlife conservation projects that happen on the reserve from time to time
If you're looking to work closely with animals, you might consider wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary care, or work at an animal shelter. Prefer to be behind the scenes in a more hands-on capacity, without pursuing a veterinary or rehab route? Game or reserve management could be your ideal path. Wherever your passion lies, Bushwise’s career-focused courses, short courses, and online programmes equip you with the skills to thrive in the conservation industry.
We’re the top-rated field guide training provider in the safari industry and have extremely high graduate success rates. We are also unique in the industry by offering an employment guarantee, so you can look confidently towards a career in the industry.
After graduating from a Bushwise course, you could step into roles like field guide, also known as a safari guide, trails guide, game ranger, entry-level conservationist, or even work directly with animals. Some hands-on career paths may require additional qualifications or degrees, so it's important to research your options. While many of these roles overlap, there are key differences between them, which we’ve explored in more detail on each of the dedicated career pages below.
Wildlife
jobs
Field Guide
Field guides, also referred to as safari guides, are the link between people and nature. As a field guide, you’ll lead guests on vehicle-based safaris or bush walks, sharing your knowledge of wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation. This role is perfect if you’re passionate about the natural world and enjoy meeting people from all walks of life. You may also be involved in hands-on wildlife conservation activities from time to time, depending on where you work. You’ll need strong communication skills and a love for learning.
Trails Guide
Trails guides take things a step further, literally. Trails guides are qualified field/safari guides, and while they also guide guests through wild areas, they’re specially qualified to lead walking safaris in areas with potentially dangerous game. Some may also guide on horseback or by bicycle. If you enjoy exploring on foot, tracking animals, and offering guests a deeper connection to nature, this could be your path. Extra training and certifications are required to obtain this status and can be completed through us.
Game Ranger
Game rangers focus on protecting the environment itself. They work behind the scenes across game reserves, ensuring the safety of wildlife and the integrity of habitats. This might involve anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, or enforcement of reserve rules. It's a physically demanding and highly specialised role, ideal if you want to be part of the operational side of conservation. Roles and responsibilities will differ slightly depending on where the game ranger is based.
International conservation
We provide insight into jobs you might find abroad after completing a Bushwise course. Depending on your experience and qualifications, you could explore conservation roles across the globe – from wildlife guide or tour leader to park ranger. While each role is unique, they all share a common foundation: a passion for the natural world, a strong understanding of ecosystems, and a commitment to conservation.
International students and careers
At Bushwise, we celebrate the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and ambitions our international students bring. While many graduates do step directly into traditional field guide roles, countless other exciting career paths are waiting beyond graduation.
For some, a Bushwise course is a rewarding alternative to a gap year. If you’ve recently finished school or university, gaining field guide certification equips you with valuable skills and knowledge that transfer internationally. For example, in the USA, world-renowned national parks are always seeking skilled professionals for roles like park rangers, tour guides, naturalists, and wildlife guides.
Others join Bushwise simply to deepen their passion for wildlife and nature. With our support for study visas, you can join a course for six months or a year, earn your certification, and then explore your next steps—whether that’s continuing in South Africa, returning home, or venturing elsewhere. We also assist international students in finding volunteer opportunities to enrich their experience.
If you’re coming to Bushwise from overseas, you might wonder, What career options await me? Many of our international alumni are thriving in South Africa, across Africa, and worldwide in roles such as field guides, nature guides, park rangers, and more. Your possibilities are wide open, and we’ve put together a list of potential pathways to help you explore your options here.
Park ranger
Park rangers are responsible for managing and protecting national parks, reserves, and other protected areas, often on behalf of the government or public agencies. Depending on the country or region, their duties may include visitor education, law enforcement, ecological monitoring, trail maintenance, or even fire management. It’s a broad, often public-facing role that blends conservation work with community engagement and safety enforcement. Unlike game rangers, who typically work behind the scenes in wildlife and habitat management, park rangers often have a dual focus on both protecting natural areas and serving the public. The role varies widely by location.
Terianne
from the UK, joined Bushwise in 2010. After finishing she went back to the UK and worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Tess
finished with Bushwise in 2011 and went home to Australia to work in bush regeneration in wild habitats.
Sophie
who is from Switzerland, joined Bushwise in 2011. She volunteered at a reserve in Botswana and then worked as conservation manager in Nepal.
Daniel
from the UK ran his own photography company and managed a wildlife concession in Botswana after Bushwise in 2013.
Francesca
is from the UK. After Bushwise, she worked on a research project with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Anna-Marie
graduated from Bushwise in 2013 and went back to Australia to work on wildlife documentaries and at a travel company back home.
Michael
returned to the UK in 2016 to finish his degree in Environmental Management, and went on to manage a lodge in Botswana.
Nathan
joined Bushwise from the UK in 2017, afterwards he went on to conduct elephant research in Malawi.
Ellie
graduated in 2018 and returned to the USA to work in wildlife rescue.
Bushwise international alumni working abroad
Animal Care
If you dream of working directly with animals, there are many career paths to explore beyond the bush. Animal care roles can be found in wildlife rehabilitation centres, zoos, veterinary clinics, farms, and animal shelters. Whether you want to support conservation efforts or care for domestic animals, these careers offer a meaningful way to turn your passion into a profession. Many of these roles, especially those involving veterinary work or wildlife rehabilitation, require specialised training, degrees, or additional qualifications, depending on the level of care and responsibility involved.
Game reserve manager
Park rangers are responsible for managing and protecting national parks, reserves, and other protected areas, often on behalf of the government or public agencies. Depending on the country or region, their duties may include visitor education, law enforcement, ecological monitoring, trail maintenance, or even fire management. It’s a broad, often public-facing role that blends conservation work with community engagement and safety enforcement. Unlike game rangers, who typically work behind the scenes in wildlife and habitat management, park rangers often have a dual focus on both protecting natural areas and serving the public. The role varies widely by location.