Guide Course Southern Africa: Field Guide Level 1

Being interested in nature and eager to learn more about the flora and fauna of Southern Africa is essential when you want to join this course. Moreover, you need to be at least 18 years old and have sufficient English skills to be able to communicate with others and to understand the instructions of your guide. You also need to complete a first aid training before taking part in the course. Furthermore, you should be physically fit (due to the sometimes extraordinary climate and daily activities) – therefore, we ask you to hand in a doctor’s certificate about your state of health and your vaccination record. You might also need a visa for your journey. Depending on the duration of your stay and your destination the requirements might vary. You should check out the foreign department’s website for the visa standards or contact our team at Natucate.

Before your departure we will support you during your preparation: we’ll help you find suitable travel insurance, assist with finding a good flight and how to deal with your visa application. Furthermore, there will be professional instructors supporting you and guiding the team. Transportation within the course (if camp change takes place) as well as the pick-up from the meeting point to camp is also included. Moreover, your accommodation and food will be provided. Furthermore, can always contact the Natucate team during your stay.

In general, it is advisable to get vaccinated against Diphtheria, Morbilli, Mumps and Rubella (MMR). In case of injuries you should also be vaccinated against Tetanus. For current information and warnings regarding your destination you should check out the homepage of your country’s foreign department. Please talk to your doctor and check what vaccinations he/she suggests. Moreover, we recommend taking a small “travel” pharmacy with you which includes items like painkillers, plasters and antihistamines. Before starting your journey with us it is obligatory to get travel health insurance – we are happy to assist you. Last but not least, please let us know if you have any kind of allergies, so we can inform our partner.

You need to pack outdoor clothing like hiking boots, long light pants and something to cover your head to protect it from the sun. Please make sure that your clothes fit the colours of the environment (khaki, brown, grey, green). It is also advisable to pack some warmer clothes for the nights/for temperature variations. Don’t forget to take sunscreen, insect repellent, a water bottle and a sketch pad with you. You shouldn’t bring too many valuables with you – on the one hand because of the risk of damage, on the other hand because of the risk of theft at the airport or in large cities.

In order to get well prepared for your course we recommend taking a closer look at the following books (in English):

• Emmet, Megan; Patrick, Sean: Game Ranger in your Backpack
• Sinclair, Ian; Hockey, Phil; Tarboton, Warwick: Sasol Birds of Southern Africa
• Estes, Richard: The Behaviour Guide to African Mammals
• van Wyk, Braam; van Wyk, Piet: Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa
• Liebenberg, Louis: Photographic guide to Tracks and Tracking of Southern Africa

Please also ask for the so called "Learner support".

We recommend you booking travel cancellation insurance, in case you can’t attend the course. There are also options for insurances if you have to quit your stay earlier.

We suggest you to arrange flights to Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport). We will support you in finding a good flight, but you need to take care of the actual booking yourself. It is advised to arrive in Johannesburg one day prior to the official start of the course, spend one night in the city and get to the official meeting point the next morning from where you and the other course participants are picked up and taken to your camp. Alternatively, you can also choose to book a connecting flight to smaller airports near to our camps (Hoedspruit Airport for Karongwe and Selati Camp/Polokwane Airport for Mashatu or Makuleke Camp) and get with private transfer to the camp meeting point.

Nature determines the daily routine. You will get up in the sun to go on your first excursion of the day (game drive or bush walk). For lunch, you return to camp, eat together with your group, and join classroom lessons. Afterwards, you will have some time off to discuss learn material and relax. In the afternoon, after lunch, you will get some coffee and tea before you will go on your second bush excursion. You will retreat to your camp at sunset. Depending on the course you will deal with all kinds of topics regarding a guided experience, conservation, animal protection, trailing, and tracking.

Note: The course is always subject to fluctuations and cannot be precisely determined. The time that a camp change takes place is dependent on many different factors like the start date of the course or other spontaneous reasons. Furthermore, activities – especially additional activities like night drives or sleep outs in the wilderness – always depend on the area of operation, the season, the weather, and the start point of the course. Participants must also assume that significantly fewer activities take place during exams.

Usually, up to 20 participants plus staff members will be accommodated in the camps. Course activities will be conducted in groups of 9 participants plus staff members.

Your accommodation is dependent on the location. Most of the time you will stay in shared tents or little cabins. The accommodation is simple but comfortable. Most of them have a common space for bonfires and spare time activities. You can find more information about the housing by visiting the camp information site on our webpage:

• Camp Mashatu (Botswana)

• Camp Borana (Kenya)

• Camp Mara (Kenya)

• Camp Karongwe (South Africa)

• Camp Makuleke (South Africa)

• Camp Pridelands (South Africa)

• Camp Selati (South Africa)

Yes, in general it is possible to get accommodated with a travel partner. Please make sure to inform us on time.

You will be provided with three balanced meals per day. You will enjoy meals together with the other participants in the camp’s dining hall. You will also receive snacks, water, coffee and tea. If you like, you can purchase soda drinks or some snacks extra on site.

The food is balanced enough to make a vegetarian diet possible. However, a vegan or gluten free diet is a bit more difficult to arrange. You should inform us beforehand so our team on site has enough time for arrangements. Please be aware that the choice of vegetarian meals can be limited and might be repetitive.

Your free time is dependent on the length of the course. You can always ask us about the current schedule of your course.

You can use your free time to connect with other participants, to relax or to study. Some camps have a library, table tennis or volleyball courts. It is up to how to plan your free time. On longer terms you can also undertake field trips or visit cities nearby the camp.

The team on site will always support you answer your questions. They will be responsible for you and help you with any kind of problem. Furthermore, Natucate offers a 24/7 emergency service.

As food, accommodation, and transport are taken care of, you won’t have a lot of expenses during the project, since you might need extra money for external transfers, additional snacks and beverages, or souvenirs. You can exchange and withdraw cash easily in cities or at the airport (look for ATMs). You should make sure you can withdraw money with your bank card in foreign countries before coming to Southern Africa. For emergencies, we advise you to take some cash with you, although especially in cities you shouldn’t carry around too much money with you.

In general, the camps are located quite isolated and therefore only have limited telephone reception. Smaller trips to other small towns allow you to use the internet or make a phone call. Let your family and friends know that you won’t be within reach for some time. For emergencies the camps are equipped with a satellite phone.

For detailed information about the weather conditions of your chosen location check out our country information page. The weather in Botswana and South Africa is usually quite warm with temperatures above 28°C. Still, the nights can get very cold and you can also be surprise by a great amount of precipitation.

In the wilderness, you always have to pay attention and be aware of possible risks. Your guide knows exactly what to do and will explain to you when you need to be extra cautious. In general, you don’t have to worry too much. Dangerous or venomous animals don’t often come too close to humans and only react aggressively when they are being attacked and feel threatened. In any case: It is highly important that you listen to your guide’s instructions and follow the rules.

Yes, you will always get a confirmation of participation for the course and after successfully completing the exam at the end you will also receive an approved FGASA certificate (Apprentice Field Guide / FGASA NQF2).

Yes, this is possible. Participating in this course is for personal enrichment and education and does not obligate you to receive a professional qualification.

FGASA is short for “Field Guides Association of Southern Africa”. Together with CATHSSETA (Culture, Arts, Tourism and Hospitality Sector Education Training Authority) it is the body for regulating the standard of guiding in South Africa. This course is a FGASA-endorsed training programme.

The Apprentice Field Guide course offers you a quick and concise nature training. The course trains participants to achieve the FGASA Apprentice Field Guide NQF2 qualification (formerly called FGASA Level 1 qualification). The official FGASA certificate allows you to work as a guide in Southern Africa.

Many countries throughout Africa do not have guiding authorities of their own (such as FGASA in South Africa, BOTA in Botswana and KPSGA in Kenya). As a result, FGASA qualifications will hold some merit. In general, finding a job as a safari guide/ranger can be quite difficult for non-natives, but not impossible. After completing the training you need to be offered a job before you can apply for a work visa. You also need a Public driver's license to guide guests. You will need to approach the relevant country's department of tourism/wildlife to determine the exact requirements to legally guide in a specific region. A guiding license may be required and this will need to be applied for.

During the Field Guide Course you won't need to handle a rifle. If you continue doing the Trails Guide, you will be required to have a firearm proficiency certificate, issued by a PFTC-accredited training provider, to handle a rifle while on course. We request this certificate specifically for the Trails Guide. Handling a rifle won’t be part of your Apprentice Field Guide course, though.