geology ecology botany animal wildlife behaviour kenya study tribes field course african bush lectures self study FGASA lrvrl 1 lions Tsavo ecosystem

geology ecology botany animal wildlife behaviour kenya srudy tribes field course african bush lectures self study FGASA lrvrl 1 lions Tsavo ecosystem

KENYA FIELD GUIDING COURSE - 28 DAYS
RUKINGA TSAVO, KENYA

This 28 day course, designed to produce high calibre trained field guides or just be a great experience for the enthusiast, is full of adventure packed days – living in and learning about nature in a wilderness camp in Kenya. Participants will take part in a variety of learning activities and spend time driving and walking, exploring some of the most beautiful parts of Africa, whilst experiencing the fantastic Tsavo Elephants and Lions.

Location:

RUKINGA TSAVO, KENYA

Dates:

3 Sept - 30 Sept 2010, 2011 Start Dates to be confirmed

Fees:

£2,085 - 28 days

Payment:

30% of course fee is required as a deposit at time of booking – the balance is due 12 weeks before departure

Reference:

AC001

General Information

This is both the first step for those wishing to embark on a career as a guide or an ideal way for the enthusiast to expand their knowledge and experience of the African bush. The course is structured to allow students to get the maximum possible practical exposure to their new environment to make the bush their home. Their time in the bush will be divided between walking and driving based activities. There is a daily lecture and self study time in the evening to provide students with the knowledge base required to make the most of their African adventure.

Tsavo is world famous for its “man eating and mane less” lions as Kenya is for the Masai Mara – few other places in the world can offer such intensity of wildlife and visitors from many countries come to here time and again just to see these fantastic animals.

The Tsavo ecosystem covers an area of 43,000 square kilometres and is one of the largest and most important wildlife refuges in Africa. The area comprises the Tsavo East and West National Parks and the Mkomazi Game Reserve which occupies about 5,000 square kilometres in Tanzania. The south of the area is bordered by privately owned land used mainly for livestock grazing and some agriculture apart from the Rukinga Sanctuary – an 80,000 acre area of land – where the camp is based. The camp is set out like a traditional African village surrounded by fantastic views.

The ecosystem is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna, many species being classified as vulnerable, threatened or endangered, and there is also a large predator population, especially lions. The Sanctuary forms part of a wildlife corridor across the Taru desert for a population of almost one thousand elephants and hundreds of buffalo that migrate between the Parks in search of water. This results in Rukinga being a temporary home to one of the largest elephant populations on private land in Kenya. Amongst the other species the area has to offer are buffalo, giraffe, hioppopotamus, rhino, warthog, zebra, cheetah, hyena, leopard, jackal, mongoose, baboon, monkeys, aardvak and porcupine to name but a few.

There is a human population of almost 12,000 – the majority of whom are subsistence farmers. Tsavo has in the past worked with six villages – Bungule, Jora, Rukanga, Kiteghe, Makwasinyi and Kisimenyii. Sasenyi village – which borders the sanctuary – is the nearest village to Camp Tsavo (13 km) and is a 30 minute by road.

In the past the area has been too harsh for exploitation and has only had settlers in the last century. The local indigenous people offer a wealth of rich and diverse cultures and traditions and tribes include the Wakamba, Wataita, Masai and Waliangulu.

The weather in Tsavo is warm and dry with a temperature range from 20 - 40 degrees with rainfall that varies from 200mm - 700mm per annum.

Course Subjects Covered

Welcome and Introduction
Introduction to guiding in nature
Creating a guided nature experience
Geology and soils
Astronomy
Weather and climate
Basic ecology
Basic taxonomy
Botany and grasses and vegetation identification
Arthropods (insects and relatives)
Amphibians and Reptiles
Fish, birds and mammals
Animal behaviour
Tracks and tracking including radio procedures
Radio procedures
Conservation management and historical human habitation
Habitat management
Bush camps

Tests

There will be three written tests; two oral presentations and two practical evaluations – a walk evaluation and a game drive evaluation.

Additional activites may include:

Basic 4x4 driving skills *fees included)
Walking trails (fees included)
Involvement in conservation and community projects
Day trip to Tsavo East
Day trip to Tsavo West

Typical Daily Itinerary

Learners will rise early, usually before sunrise, and enjoy hot coffee before departing on an early morning outing. These are flexible and determined by what is found during the outing or on what subjects need to be covered. The roar of a lion heard during the night might lead to a game drive, or perhaps a walk learning about the plant species found in the area. Fresh elephant tracks could lead to learning how to track the animal and finding it, whilst another outing might be a drive to a waterhole where animals come to drink.

Learners return to camp in the late morning for a hearty brunch, which is then followed by a lecture on the subject for the day. Then there is time for study or rest, followed by afternoon tea and another outing into the wilderness until sunset (if walking) or until well after dark if on a game drive.

Afternoon outings might include night drives to look for nocturnal creatures such as owls, bush babies and leopards, or maybe a walk to learn how to identify interesting birds. It could be time spent studying the sky at night, but all outings will end back at camp for dinner and stories around the camp fire – a time to talk over the experiences of the day and think about the adventures for tomorrow.

The emphasis is always on practical daily experiences in the bush. Daily outings are flexible and subject to change and may be subject-focused or may just involve game viewing or learning about the bush in general.

Certification and Accreditation (optional)

This Field Guide Course provides students with everything they need in order to gain the FGASA Level 1 qualification (FGASA is the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa). This was developed in 1993 and is the first of its kind in the safari industry, recognised by leading safari game lodges. If participants decide to take this qualification they need to registrater with FGASA. This is not included in the course fee. There are course tests and a certificate for those not wishing to take the FGASA qualification.

Support

Support and advice is available from your course leaders throughout, and also from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.

Find out more about Amanzi Travel support.

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all our participants upon booking their course and further advice and information will be provided by telephone and email before departure. An orientation will be provided upon arrival.

Amanzi Travel can arrange your international flights for you

Accommodation and Meals

Camp Tsavo is a permanent bush camp in the centre of Rukinga Sanctuary and is set out like an African village. The makuti-thatched rondavels were built using local techniques, materials and labour. Learners will be accomodated in 4 pax bandas which are cool and mosquito free. The camp has an ablution block with showers and flushing toilets. There is one large mess area as well as a large campfire area where you can relax after a hard day working in the bush.

There are eight single sex dormitories which sleep up to 40 people and there are large dome tents which can accommodate a further 40 people during the summer

The classroom is most often the outdoors but some subjects requiring classrooms will be taught in the education centre which has a fully stocked laboratory, a library or study room and a classroom.

Meals are prepared in a large well-equipt kitchen in the camp, manned by our head chef who, supported by his team supply a daily menu of fresh local produce. Fish, meat, chicken, fruit and vegetables are all part of your menu and a wide range of diets can be catered for including vegan and vegetarian.

Getting There

Course participants should arranage flights into Mombasa Airport, Kenya. There is a transfer available at 9am on the start date of the course leaving from the Reef Hotel in Mombasa for 110 USD (one way). Please note this price is subject to change. We would recommend arriving into Mombasa the day before your course start date. Full details of local accommoadation are provided in the pre-departure pack.