Sichtung eines grasenden Elefanten im Busch in direkter Naehe

Guide Course Southern Africa: Wilderness Trails

South Africa 6 days From 650 € Enquire now

This course will provide you with unique experiences in a largely untouched natural environment and will allow you to enjoy your time at the heart of the African wilderness away from the hectic pace of everyday life.

Some of the most experienced guides in Africa will provide you with essential information about how to survive in the African wilderness. This course will also help you to have a better understanding of the landscape and the natural environment. During the day, you and the group will hike through untouched landscapes under the guidance of the professional course leader, where you will learn how to get your bearings and deal with the natural environment. This unique week in the open air will give you an opportunity to get to know the unique range of species native to Africa.

Your EcoTraining Adventure – Why book with Natucate

As long-term partners of EcoTraining, we have a trusting relationship with the team on site and visit the camps ourselves each year. When booking your EcoTraining adventure with Natucate, you will benefit from expert advice, comprehensive travel preparation, 24/7 support and German travel law advantages. When booking with Natucate, you won’t have any extra costs.

On our EcoTraining info page you can learn more about why to book your field course with Natucate.

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

Experience a real outdoor adventure in the wilderness of South Africa
Roam Kruger National Park by foot
Discover the fascinating fauna of South Africa
Spend the nights under Africa’s incomparable star-spangled sky
Meet people from all over the world
Broaden your knowledge about wildlife and nature conservation

Locations

Camp Makuleke

Plan your trip

Included in the programme fee
- Placement in the programme
- Assistance with travel arrangements
- Assistance with selecting travel insurance
- Assistance with booking flights
- Risk coverage certificate
- Pre-departure information pack
- Outdoor sleepovers during the programme
- Game walks
- Excursions
- English-speaking support by long-term experienced staff
- Certificate
- 24/7 support throughout the programme

- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Airport pick up and drop off
- All meals during the programme
- Drinks
- Entrance to national park(s)
- Personal expenses and optional excursions

Write An Email

Terry, your travel agent for Southern Africa

You would like to learn more about this trip? Don't hesitate to contact me! Our service doesn't end with your departure: I answer all of your questions and support you before, during and after your stay abroad.

Note: The price stated above is an approximate value. Due to sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate of the South African Rand, the final price for this trip will be calculated at the time of enquiry based on the latest exchange rate.

Ein kleiner Elefant ueberquert einen Weg im afrikanischen Busch

Spurenlesen-Training anhand eines Abdrucks einer Tatze im Sand als Teil der Rangerausbildung

Ein Guide und seine Rangerauszubildenden wandern bei einer Pirschwanderung durch den Busch

Die angehenden Ranger wandern im Rahmen einer Pirschwanderung durch die trockene Naturlandschaft Afrikas

Aufnahme des afrikanischen Buschs waehrend einer Pirschwanderung des Natur- und Rangerkurses

Sichtung einer Bueffelherde in Afrikas Wildnis bei einem Ausflug des Rangerkurses

Ein Nashorn trabt ueber eine Strasse im afrikanischen Busch

Wilderness Trails adventure in Africa

In this course you can enjoy a fascinating outdoor training surrounded by South Africa’s pristine wilderness and broaden your knowledge about wildlife and nature conservation.

Der Natur- und Rangerkurs macht in der Abendsonne eine Pirschwanderung durch den afrikanischen Busch

Arrival and orientation in South Africa

You will arrive in Johannesburg one day before the course starts and spend one night in a hotel in the city. On the next morning you will be picked up and taken to the course site. At the end of the course you will be taken back to Johannesburg to continue your journey or to travel back home.

Sichtung von Wildtieren bei einem Ausflug des Natur- und Rangerkurses in Afrika

Topics of the outdoor adventure in Southern Africa

Over the course of the Wilderness trails skills course you will experience new things, expand on what you already know about the bush and learn how to live and get your bearings in an African natural environment. A professional experience to guide will take you and your group on a hike through the African wilderness, where you will be face-to-face with nature in a way that no book can teach. You will learn how to have as little impact on your environment as possible when setting up camp for the night and building a fire.

Ein Loewe liegt entspannt im Schatten des afrikanischen Buschs

In addition to setting up camp, preparing drinking water will also be one of your regular tasks during the course. You will learn how to get your bearings in a natural environment as a group, along with getting some hands-on experience with navigational tools and equipment for tracking animals. You may even track down the animal which you detected using the equipment. You will also learn how to make a quick assessment of the various situations which you can find yourself in in the wilderness.

Ein Teilnehmer des Natur- und Rangerkurses fotografiert ein Flussbett in Afrikas Wildnis

Accommodation during your stay abroad in Africa

This course is about having a unique experience in a natural environment. This course will take you and your group on foot through the African wilderness, where you will spend the night under the stars. Every evening you will work together to find a suitable location to camp down for the night. You can spend the night at the campfire and will sleep in a sleeping bag on a mat which you will bring yourself. Members of the group will take turns keeping watch at night.

Leisure time as a participant of the wilderness course

While the day is filled with activities in the wilderness, the evening hours are free. You can use this time to relax around the campfire and to spend time with your fellow course participants.

Arrival

Arrival in Southern Africa

One day prior to the official start day of the course you’ll arrive at Johannesburg Airport.

You will spend the following night in a guest accommodation in town (which you need to book beforehand) and meet the other course participants at a specific meeting location in Johannesburg the next morning. A driver will pick you up at 07:00 AM and take you to the gate of the reserve where the Wilderness Trails course will take place.

You will be welcomed by the professional guide trainers at the Makuleke/Pafuri gate where you will then be dropped off at a starting location within the Pafuri Concession. From now on, you and the group will be led by a lead instructor and backup guide on a 5-night experience focusing on the raw African wilderness and the smaller and larger inhabitants of the bush that arise while on foot.
Course
Wilderness Trails in Africa: A typical day
A typical course day starts in the early morning hours. After breakfast, you'll pack your backpack and camping utensils to trail out deeper into the wilderness together with your guide. Each day is dynamic and allows for many topics to come up as your group allows nature to conduct the experience. Throughout each day, your instructor will expand on various topics such as:
- how to make an eco-friendly fire
- minimal footprint – how to guide in the bush leaving little or no evidence of your presence
- minimization is maximization.
- wilderness and the importance thereof
- night watch
- planning for and collection of water replenishment
- mastering 'time'
- sounds of Silences – facilitating a wilderness experience and being present in nature
Shortly before noon, you look for a suitable place to have a little lunch break followed by a short siesta.

After that, you'll continue your walk, immersing yourself deeper in the African flora and fauna and acquiring more knowledge on tracks and tracking, navigation and orientation, bird and animal identification or dangerous game and how to approach them on foot.

In the late afternoon/early evening, you set up your camp for the night, gather around the campfire to have a cozy bush dinner, and fall asleep under the open night sky, before embarking on another trail section the next morning.
Departure

Last day in the course and departure

1. Camp Makuleke

Camp Makuleke is located in the Pafuri region in the northern part of South Africa's Kruger National Park. A multitude of fascinating wild animals can be observed in this area and impressive areas can be admired.

If you opt for nature-oriented further education with a stay in Makuleke, you will gain insights into the breathtaking nature of Kruger National Park and if you are lucky you can maybe spot the "Big Five": African elephant, rhino, African buffalo, lion and leopard. Hikes and game drives in open off-road vehicles enable you to experience a superb diversity of flora and fauna – a true enrichment.

Learn more

Camp Makuleke is located in the Pafuri region in the northern part of South Africa's Kruger National Park. A multitude of fascinating wild animals can be observed in this area and impressive areas can be admired.

If you opt for nature-oriented further education with a stay in Makuleke, you will gain insights into the breathtaking nature of Kruger National Park and if you are lucky you can maybe spot the "Big Five": African elephant, rhino, African buffalo, lion and leopard. Hikes and game drives in open off-road vehicles enable you to experience a superb diversity of flora and fauna – a true enrichment.

Learn more

Background of the Wilderness Trails course

The course aims at getting you out of your comfort zone and to familiarize you with the secrets of the African wilderness and with a life in the rhythm of nature through wilderness sleepouts and bush walks. No matter if you are a qualified guide or simply a true nature lover: Equipped with everything you need on your back and accompanied by some of the most experienced guides, you explore the region’s diverse animal and plant life within six days and learn more about the art of tracking, low-impact guiding skills and valuable bush skills. This way, you can experience a unique outdoor adventure and are taught about the importance of our natural resources in a fascinating way.