Guide Course Southern Africa: Trails Guide

It is very important to be interested in nature and eager to learn more about the flora and fauna of Southern Africa. Furthermore, you need to be at least 18 years old and have solid English skills which allow you to communicate with others and understand the instructions of your guide.

You will need a PFTC certificate for this course to be able to use the rifles. If you are planning to obtain the official FGASA qualification, you must have completed the FGASA Apprentice Field Guide (formerly Field Guide Level 1) before. 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.

Prior to your departure we will support you during your preparation including finding suitable travel insurance, assisting with flight search and other planning steps. 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 is included in the course fee. Last but not least, you can always contact the Natucate team during your stay.

Getting vaccinated against Diphtheria, Morbilli, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) is always advisable during your stay. In case of injuries you should also be vaccinated against Tetanus. As southern Africa is one of the typical malaria regions, you should also obtain information on prophylactic measures and standby medication. Check out the homepage of your country’s foreign department for current information and warnings regarding your destination. Moreover, you should talk to your doctor and check what vaccinations he/she suggests. We always recommend taking a small “travel” pharmacy with you which includes items like painkillers, plasters and antihistamines. Before starting your journey with us you must 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.

Don’t forget to pack clothing like hiking boots, long light pants and a hat/beanie as sun protection. 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.

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

Feel free to contact us about "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.

It is best to book your flight to Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport). We are happy to 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 and then spend one night in the city. The next morning you need to get to the official meeting point 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 (arrival).

Your daily routine is determined by nature. At sunrise, you will go on your first excursion of the day (usually a bush walk) and return to camp for lunch. After you’ve eaten together with your group, you will join classroom lessons. Afterwards, you will have some time off to discuss learn material and relax. In the afternoon you will go on your second bush excursion. You will retreat to your camp at sunset.

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, weather and the start point of the course. Participants must also assume that significantly less 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.

Most of the time you will stay in shared tents or little cabins. Most camps have a common space for campfires 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 Karongwe (South Africa – usually not used in this course, though)

• 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 to four 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, tea and coffee. If you like, you can purchase soda drinks or candy extra on site.

A vegetarian diet is possible. However, a vegan or gluten-free diet is a bit more difficult to arrange. It would help if you informed us beforehand so our team on site has enough time for arrangements.

Your free time is dependent on the length of the course. During the Trails Guide course you will have some spare time on the weekend or in the afternoon. You can always ask us about the current time schedule of your course.

Use your free time to connect with other participants, to relax or to study. Some camps have volleyball courts, table tennis or a library. It is up to how to plan your free time.

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, you can contact the team at Natucate anytime.

As food, accommodation and transport is taken care of, you won’t have a lot of expenses for you during the project, since You might need extra money for external transfers, additional snacks and beverages or souvenirs. 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.

Check out our country destination pages to receive more detailed information about the weather conditions of your chosen location. 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 it is always essential to pay attention and to be aware of possible risks. You 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 poisonous 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 Apprentice Trails Guide NQF2 certificate.

Yes, this is possible. Participating in this course can “only” be used for personal enrichment and education; receiving a professional qualification is not obligatory.

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 Trails Guide course offers you the chance to immerse yourself into Southern Africa’s nature in a unique way and to experience unforgettable wilderness moments in utter isolation. The course trains participants to achieve the FGASA Apprentice Trails Guide NQF2 qualification (formerly called FGASA Back-Up Trails Guide qualification), as well as several specialized qualifications and modules such as Tracking, Navigation & Orientations and Advanced Rifle Handling. 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 successfully completing the training you need to be offered a job before you can apply for a work visa. 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. Moreover, you need to get an official Public Drivers Permit.

You will require a firearm proficiency certificate, issued by a PFTC-accredited training provider, in order to handle a rifle while on course. We request this certificate specifically for the Trails Guide. If you are an international participant, we suggest flying a couple of days prior to your course and arrange this while in Johannesburg, before your scheduled transfer brings you to the camp. We can put you in contact with a relevant contact provider.