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.

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

Overnight in the bush

DSC07921One of the camps during your course

Info, Prices and Course Dates for 2025:

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.-

01 September  – 07 September (MTC)

14 Day Course: US$4,763.-

1 September – 14 September (MTC)

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

Courses in South Africa: 

Wilderness Trails Experience

This purist wilderness experience is about traversing across some of the finest and most remote wilderness regions of southern Africa on foot. The course may challenge some personal boundaries as participants sleep in the open wilderness under the stars and travel light with minimal supplies.

South African Rand 14,905 Approx US$828.-

4 may – 9 May, 2025 (Makuleke)

23 June – 28 June (Makuleke)

20 July – 25 July (Makulele)

26 August – 31 August (Makulele)

12 September – 17 September (Makulele)

2 October – 7 October (Makulele)

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.

South African Rand 26,895 Approx US$1,494.-

06 February – 12 February 2025 l Makuleke
23 March – 29 March 2025 l Makuleke
23 March – 29 March 2025 (19A) l Mashatu (Basic Birding)
21 April – 27 April 2025 (19B) l Karongwe (Basic Birding)
24 June – 30 June 2025 (18C) l Mashatu (Advanced Birding)
26 July – 01 August 2025 (18D) l Makuleke (Advanced Birding)
26 August – 01 September 2025 (18E) l Mashatu (Advanced Birding)
19 October – 25 October 2025 (19C) l Karongwe (Basic Birding)
13 November – 19 November 2025 l Makuleke
04 December – 10 December 2025 (19A) l Mashatu (Advanced Birding) 05 December – 11 December 2025 (19D) l Karongwe (Basic Birding)
10 December – 16 December 2025 (19B) 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 25,135. Approx US$1,396.-

19 July – 25 July, 2025 (Makuleke)

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 81,114.-  approx. US$ 4,506

4 January – 31 January 2025 (18D) l Pridelands
10 January – 06 February 2025 (18E) l Makuleke
17 April – 14 May 2025 (19A) l Makuleke & Selati
16 May – 12 June 2025 (19B) l Pridelands & Makuleke 11 July – 07 August 2025 l Pridelands

07 September – 04 October 2025 l Makuleke 13 November – 10 December 2025 (19C) l Selati

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 136,279 (approx US$7,571.-)

11 January – 06 March 2025 l Mashatu & Pridelands
11 January – 06 March 2025 (19A) l Karongwe & Selati
07 February – 02 April 2025 (19B) l Mashatu & Selati
12 February – 07 April 2025 l Makuleke & Pridelands
11 March – 04 May 2025 l Mashatu, TBC & Selati
11 April – 04 June 2025 l Mashatu & Selati
14 May – 07 July 2025 l Mashatu, Karongwe, Mashatu & TBC
15 July – 07 September 2025 l Karongwe & Selati
07 August – 30 September 2025 (19C) l Mashatu, Karongwe & Pridelands 07 August – 30 September 2025 l Pridelands & Selati
07 September – 31 October 2025 l Pridelands, Karongwe & Selati
07 October – 30 November 2025 l Makuleke & Karongwe
07 October – 30 November 2025 (19D) l Mashatu & Pridelands

1

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, Selati Reserve, 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 –
1. FGASA Field Guide Level 1 (theory and practical)
2. FGASA Trails Guide Back Up (theory and practical)
3. Firearm Proficiency Certificate (with a PFTC accredited provider)
4. Advanced Rifle Handling (FGASA accreditation)
5. Animal Tracks and Tracking (FGASA accreditation)
6. Basic Birding
7. Advanced Birding (FGASA accreditation optional)
8. Wilderness Medicine: Level 1 & 2 (SMART – registered & FGASA endorsed provider)
9. Navigation and Orientation
10. Lodge Placement Programme
The Professional Field Guide course comprises of 5 – 6 months intense theoretical and practical Field Guide training from our camps, followed by the Lodge Placement Programme (4 -5 months of practical experience at a reputable lodge).

South African Rand 397,460 (approx US$22.435.-)

05 January – 16 December 2025 (19A)
01 February – 22 December 2025 (19B)
01 August 2025 – 19 July 2026 (19C)
01 October 2025 – 10 September 2026 (19D)

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