Guide Course South Africa: Eastern Cape Trails Guide

The day before the course starts you will arrive in Port Elizabeth. Please make sure to arrive not later than noon as our partner’s transfer service will pick you up at 01:00 PM to take you to Camp Ulovane. Here you will have time to settle in, get to know the entire team and become familiar with the camp, important rules and the upcoming course schedule. The first afternoon and evening will be spent getting to know your fellow team members around a traditional South African braai.

The first two weeks of the Trails Guide programme are an exception as the focus is not on bush walks and spending time in the South African wilderness but rather on teaching you how to safely handle a rifle. This time will be a mix between theoretical lessons and practical training – this means on some days you will listen to lectures and complete your workbooks, on other days you will practise shooting and undergo practical shooting evaluations. During these two weeks you will also go to Port Elizabeth to complete your PFTC qualification (PFTC = Professional Fire Arm Trainers Council).

As numerous animals are most active in the early hours of the day, your day as a guide student will start around 05:00 AM with a light breakfast followed by a bush walk to explore the wild flora and fauna of South Africa. These excursions serve to teach you important tracking and guiding skills as well as crucial situational awareness.

Usually you will return to camp around noon and will be provided with a strengthening lunch. Afterwards, there will be a siesta of about 2 hours which you can use for own activities. The afternoon will usually be spent debriefing from the mornings walk and then planning for the next day plus catching up with lectures and workbooks. After a hot dinner, you can relax in camp or use the remainder of the day to study before finally going to bed.

Note: On many days, either the morning or the afternoon bush walk will be a theoretical lecture teaching you valuable additional knowledge. Furthermore, oftentimes you might spend entire days in the bush which means that you will enjoy lunch while being out in the wilderness and even spend the night under Africa’s breathtaking night sky.

When you take part in the 4 ½-months training, you will take assessments and tests according to the Apprentice Field Guide programme [link] for the first 10 weeks.

During the Trails Guide programme you will take regular theoretical and practical tests on the different subjects (rifle handling, walking safaris, tracking) which usually take place once a week. Completing your workbook throughout the course is also an important component.

The final Trails Guide assessment consists of a practical as well as of a theoretical test. To receive your FGASA certificate you have to succeed during all (final) tests.

On your last evening in camp you and your team will enjoy another last game drive or walk as well as a delicious farewell dinner. Afterwards, you can gather around the campfire, have a goodbye drink with your group mates and discuss your unforgettable field guide adventure. On the next day our partner’s transfer service will take you back to Port Elizabeth in the morning hours – please make sure to schedule your flight or connecting transfer for noon or later.

What used to be the Back-Up Trails Guide is now called Apprentice Trails Guide. This is just a name change, qualification remains the same.

The course is always subject to fluctuations and cannot be precisely determined. Furthermore, lectures and bush excursions as well as additional activities – especially events like night drives or wilderness sleep-outs – always depend on the day/week, the season, weather and the start date of the course. Participants must also assume that significantly less activities take place during the exam period.