Always dreamed of working as a Field Guide in the African Bush whilst getting paid for it? Then we can help to make your dream a reality, with our 4 week FGASA Level 1 Certification. Live, learn and become a qualified Level 1 Field Guide in South Africa’s Great Kei Kubusi Wilderness. As Field Guiding is becoming more and more specialised and advanced, there is a greater call for qualified FGASA standard guides, and where better to start then with training from one of the best guides in South Africa, Dennis Taylor. You’ll have the opportunity to experience life as a guide whilst learning about conservation, biodiversity, animal habitats and environmental management. We will provide you with ongoing support to help you become FGASA accredited.

Key Course Features

• Cost: £2895 for 60 days
• Africa wide recognised Level 1 FGASA Certification
• High practical and theory content including written tests, oral presentations and practical game walks and drives
• Learn basic 4x4 skills
• Highly skilled tutor in the form of Dennis Taylor (15 years of conservation management, BSc Botany & Zoology, Dip Agricultural Mgt, FGASA Field Guild Level 3 Special Knowledge and Dangerous Animals Skills)
• High quality course materials provided
• Course start dates every month

What is included

• Airport pick up and drop off from East London Airport, South Africa
• Accommodation for the duration of your stay as well as 3 meals a day
• Receive lectures and training from the registered FGASA syllabus
• On site weekly course feedback sessions

What is not included

• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas

The Field Guide course runs out of the great Kei Kubusi Wilderness, which is located near East London in South Africa.

The southern tip of Africa is known for its beauty, vast stretches of coastline and diverse landscapes. The Kei Kubusi Wilderness where your field guide course will be based, is home to wild beauty, diverse wildlife and stunning scenery. There are a huge number of animal species to be seen, including leopards, buffalos, rhinos, antelope, raptors and an insurmountable number of bird species. For all of South Africa’s magnificence however, comes little acknowledgment and support from the local government, and social and political challenges are rife. As a result, conservation is often a low priority, but with the help and enthusiasm of volunteers wishing to learn and become FGASA accredited, we can little by little, help to encourage sustainability and rehabilitation.

The closest cosmopolitan town to the Wild Coast game reserve is East London, and the town does not disappoint. It has managed to retain its old fashioned values and mix it with a helping of laidback charm, making East London the gateway to the Sunshine Coast and the Wild Coast. Boasting one of South Africa’s only river ports, East London provides volunteers with a great weekend escape. On the coast there are great stretches of sandy beaches for surfers, swimmers and sun seekers and inland there are the stunning Amatola Mountains. There’s a Natural History Museum waiting to be explored, sand boarding ready for some adventure enthusiasts, lions parks, botanical gardens, aquariums and a whole load of water-sports ready to take up your spare weekends.

The climate in this region of South Africa tends to stay relatively stable year round, with temperatures averaging between 10°C to 26°C year round.

Our Field Guide Training Course has a practical and theory based scheme of work, ensuring that you are trained up to pass the Level 1 exam to become accredited to FGASA standard. The course topics below follow the FGASA manual for Level 1 and as a result, the course has been divided into theory and practical activities as follows:

The course theory is divided into 15 difference areas:

1. Understanding what guiding means in nature
2. Learning how to create a guided nature experience
3. South African Biomes
4. Botany
5. Grasses
6. Weather and climate
7. Ecology
8. Geology and soils
9. Astronomy
10. Taxonomy
11. Vegetation identification
12. Biodiversity in relation to Anthropods, Amphibians, Reptiles, Fish, Birds and
Mammals
13. Conservation management
14. Cultural heritage and finally
15. Environmental management

Practically, your course will be divided further into 7 more areas:

• Learn basis 4x4 driving skills
• Sleep out in the bush
• Learn to handle fire arms
• Monitor and interpret animal behaviour
• Identify tracks and learn safe informative tracking skills
• Learn radio procedures
• Learn the preparation and safety procedures needed as it relates to bush camps

Throughout the month, you will engage in a number of written and oral tests, undertake practical game walks and drives which are continually evaluated and monitored to ensure that you are ready and prepared to take your exam and the end of the 8 weeks.