Wildlife Courses

Wildlife Training Courses in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe

Whether you like to turn your love for African wildlife and nature into a career or you like to immerseyourself for a selected period of time, these Wildlife Training Courses are sure to be remembered for a lifetime. A combination of real life African Bush adventures to handle anything that you might encounter and classroom studies are thought by professionals to provide you with a solid background.

Reconnect to the natural world through educational and exciting and life-changing wilderness experiences.

These training courses provide you with the in-depth learning experiences that you need if you are interested in the following:

EDUCATION

Are interested in learning about African wildlife and nature;
Want to pursue a career in nature-guiding;
Are a career nature-guide looking to enhance your qualifications;
Are an international university looking for study-abroad credits for your students, or;
Are simply someone who wants to learn more about Africa’s ecosystems;

ADVENTURE

Like a safari experience with more meaning;
Track big game on foot;
Drive a 4×4 game drive vehicle;
Shoot a rifle,
Sleep out under the stars in the middle of great wilderness, surrounded by wild animals;

LODGE TRAINING

Own or manage a game or nature reserve or safari lodge somewhere in Africa,

Here are details on the courses. Please see below for pricing and dates (date changes are possible so please confirm with us prior making plans).

Overnight in the bush

One of the camps during your course

Info, Prices and Course Dates for 2026:

Kenya – Course in Masai Mara

This course is a great fit for wildlife enthusiasts wanting to gain a greater knowledgeable understanding of nature while experiencing East Africa’s wildlife. Whilst absorbing all there is to know about nature, participants also learn about the three-way relationship that exist between the local communities, wildlife and conservation efforts.

7 Day Course: US$2,783.-

7 – 13 February

25 – 31 August

01 September – 07 September

14 Day Course: US$4,763.-

1 September – 14 September

We also have Kenya Field Guide and Kenya Safari Guide Courses held in Kenya. Please inquire.

Courses in South Africa:

Wilderness Trails Experience

Our 6-day Wilderness Trails Skills Course is perfect for aspirants or qualified guides to sharpen their wilderness survival skills. The course is jam-packed with information and will give you the confidence you need to work and live in the outdoors.

Lessons taught in this course will not be found in any book, but learning will be hands-on. With our world-class instructors, you will be able to learn everything there is to know about wilderness survival. You’ll never feel lost in the wild again!

South African Rand 14,905 Approx US$931.-

22 June – 27 June 2026 l Makuleke

21 July – 26 July 2026 l Makuleke

16 August – 21 August 2026 l Makuleke

16 September – 21 September 2026 l Makuleke

07 October – 12 October 2026 l Makuleke

Birding

This course enables birding enthusiasts to identify a great variety of species of birds by sight and sound and to also learn about their biology and ecology. It also caters for those who wish to learn about the basics of bird identification or improve their existing identification skills.

Birding in the Bush Rand 28,039 or approximately US$1,752

Basic Birding and Advanced Birding Rand 22,605 or approximately US$1,412

06 February – 12 February 2026 l Makuleke

23 March – 29 March 2026 l Makuleke

23 March – 29 March 2026 (20A) l Mashatu (Basic Birding)

15 April – 21 April 2026 (20B) l Pridelands (Basic Birding)

07 July – 13 July 2026 (19C) l Makuleke (Advanced Birding)

29 August – 29 September 2026 (19D) l Makuleke (Advanced Birding)

14 October – 20 October 2026 (20C) l Karongwe (Basic Birding)

08 November – 14 November 2026 l Makuleke

03 December – 09 December 2026 (20A) l Mashatu (Advanced Birding)

05 December – 11 December 2026 (20D) l Pridelands (Basic Birding)

10 December – 16 December 2026 (20B) l Mashatu (Advanced Birding)

Tracking 7 Day Course

A vast amount of information can be gathered about mammals, birds and reptiles without ever having seen them. Every animal leaves some indication of its presence that can be recognized. Through the ancient art of animal tracking participants are taught how to ‘reconstruct’ the scene and understand what could have, would have, and should have happened. This course will engross participants in all aspects of traditional tracking skills – track and sign identification, animal trailing and hunter-gatherer techniques.

South African Rand 26,389 Approx US$1,649.-

8 – 14 August 2026(Makuleke)

7 -13 May 2026 (Karongwe)

Trails Guide

Do you have a passion for wildlife and would like to become a professional trail guide?

We offer an exciting opportunity to learn about wildlife on some of Africa’s most beautiful wilderness trails. Our trail guide courses are designed to equip aspiring trail guides with the skills they need to lead walks and provide guests with an unforgettable experience.

Students participating in the Trails Guide training are working towards attaining their FGASA Apprentice Trails Guide status and have already completed their FGASA Nature Site Guide (NQF2) qualification. You also don’t have to be a field guide wanting to attain the trail guide certificate to do this course. You can simply want to be a part of the conservation movement and reconnect with nature in an exceptional and unique way.

South African Rand 85,169.- approx. US$ 5,323.-

10 January – 06 February 2026 (19D) l Makuleke

17 April – 14 May 2026 (20A) l Makuleke & Pridelands

10 May – 20 May 2026 (20B) l Timbavati & Mashatu

02 July – 29 July 2026 l Pridelands

11 September – 08 October 2026 l Makuleke

08 November – 05 December 2026 (20C) l Pridelands

Field Guide NQF 2 – 55 days

Be exposed to a variety of natural working conditions at good value for money.

Time on this course is split between at least two of our remote wilderness camps, maximising exposure to different areas, wildlife, biomes and biodiversity.

This course lays the foundation for a career in field guiding (and many other wildlife-related careers), but it is also suitable for anyone wanting to gain knowledge and skills while immersing themselves in nature.

South African Rand 139,998 (approx US$8,749.-)

04 January – 27 February 2026 l Timbavati & Pridelands

11 January – 06 March 2026 (20A) l Mashatu & Timbavati

07 February – 02 April 2026 l Mashatu & Karongwe

13 February – 08 April 2026 (20B) l Makuleke & Pridelands

07 March – 30 April 2026 l Mashatu, TBC & Karongwe

18 April – 11 June 2026 l Mashatu & Pridelands & Karongwe

03 July – 26 August 2026 l Mashatu & Pridelands

05 August – 28 September 2026 l Karongwe & Pridelands

07 August – 30 September 2026 (20C) l Mashatu & Timbavati

14 September – 07 November 2026 l Karongwe & Pridelands

07 October – 30 November 2026 (20D) l Mashatu & Timbavati

12 October – 05 December 2026 l Makuleke & Karongwe

Professional Field Guide – All Camps

This comprehensive and unique one-year course has been designed to supply the safari industry with high-caliber FGASA and CATHSSETA qualified professional field guides. Students live and learn at four different wilderness camps giving them exposure to diverse ecological and geographical terrains, wildlife species, climates and more. These remote wilderness camps may include the Makuleke Concession (Kruger), Karongwe Reserve, Timbavati, Mashatu Reserve (Botswana) and Pridelands Reserve. The unfenced bush camps provide a consistently stimulating environment in which to learn, supported by highly qualified and experienced instructors, each with their own unique way of training and guiding that will enhance the overall student training experience. There is no other course that offers this breadth of wildlife immersion and knowledge.Participants can graduate with the following qualifications –

What you can expect to graduate with

South African Rand 397,460 (approx US$24,841.-)

05 January – 15 December 2026 (20A)

01 February – 22 December 2026 (20B)

01 August 2026 – 04 July 2027 (20C)

01 October 2026 – 06 September 2027 (20D)

GRAB LIFE BY THE HORNS AND ACCOMPLISH THE UNUSUAL – YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!