Field Guide and Nature Course

 

Length: A 28 day course

Overview: A great way into the rewarding world of field guiding. This course combines expert teaching in both practical and theoretical fields with a unique location inside the wild and wonderful Okavango Delta. Once qualified in this course you have an employable qualification throughout Southern Africa.

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How to book and pay: Secure with a £195 deposit and full payment is due eight weeks before departure.

tickWhat's included:

  • Tuition fees
  • All activities ie. Walks, game drives
  • Three meals a day
  • Unlimited tea, coffee and juices
  • Transfers to and from Maun Airport

crossWhat's not included:

  • Alcohol and other luxury items
  • Additional activities not included
  • Flights
  • Personal Travel Insurance
  • FGASA membership, theory and practical assessment fee (all of which can be pre – ordered through Last Wilderness).

Introduction

Further Information

This course is a unique opportunity for a foreign student to gain a highly professional bush qualification through Okavango Guiding School. You will learn animal tracking, bush driving, animal behaviour, guest liason skills and much more!

If successfully completed you will be issued with a Field Guides of Southern Africa (FGASA) certificate to show that you are capable of guiding guests in the African wilderness.

Location

The Okavango training camp is situated on the permanent water of the southern Okavango Delta roughly 30km from the town of Maun in Northern Botswana.

Age limits

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at time of departure to Africa. Maximum age depends on applicant's physical condition.

The Training Course

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The course is designed to qualify you as a student in guiding guests into the wild areas of Africa. It is a 28 day course that is designed to get the novice guide to a level of guiding that makes him employable under a mentor guide at a lodge or safari camp.

To do this you must achieve 21 days of practical assessment in a bush setting with one of Okavango Guiding School's guide trainers. If practically competent you can then sit a FGASA Level 1 exam at the end of the course and gain your qualification.

The 28 days will cover a wide variety of skills with the emphasis on walking and driving guiding in the bush with potentially dangerous animals. You will also have daily lectures on subjects as varied as animal behaviour, geology or guiding standards. Emphasis is on exposing you as a potential guide to as many bush situations as possible while learning the important theory behind it all. This will be achieved with the help of some of Southern Africas top guides.

Course Support

The course will be co-ordinated by one of Okavango Guiding Schools top guides. Any one of Clinton Phillips (Cliffy), Brent Reed or Grant Reed will be on hand at all times to assist you with any support or issues that you have.

Orientation

On arrival in Maun you will be met by a representative of Okavango Guiding School and taken to their central office. From here you will be transferred to the course camp in the Okavango Delta.

Once settled in camp you will be given course itinerys and information about the upcoming 28 days. This is the chance to ask questions and get to know other members of the course.

Accomodation photo

Meals and accomodation

Your course camp is set on a beautiful channel of the Okavango Delta under the shade of tall trees. You will be staying in shared two-man tents with hot showers and toilets available near by. Lectures and meals are eaten in central mess tent with other members of the course and your guide trainer.

You are provided with three meals a day to help you with the physical and mental efforts you will be exerting in the bush.

Free time

Obviously on the course you will want time to reflect on and digest what you have learnt so there is always a period in the middle of the day to do just that. There are a lot of subjects to cover in a short period of time so you will find that you are very busy on a daily basis.

Getting there

From Johannesburg International Airport you will need to book a ticket to Maun International Airport. Air Botswana is the only operator and can be found on the internet - there is also a UK office number available on the site.

From Maun you will be met by a course representative and transferred to base.

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