KRUGER PARK TRAILS GUIDE COURSE - ADVANCED
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SOUTH AFRICA
A 28 day course designed to further your guiding experience and develop your skills in the bush. This month long course is also the perfect opportunity for those that have completed a FGASA Level 1 certification or equivalent to develop their skills in trails guiding and logging encounters in this dramatic African environment. The backdrop to your African adventure will be the Kruger Park Camp, set in the remotest and most private reaches of the world famous Kruger National Park
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Location: |
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SOUTH AFRICA |
Dates: |
2009 Start Dates: 01 July - 28 July, 05 August - 01 September, 09 September - 06 October, 14 October - 10 November |
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Fees: |
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Payment: |
30% of course fee is required as a deposit at time of booking – the balance is due 8 weeks before departure |
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Reference: |
AA010 |
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General Information
The aim of this month long course is to further develop the skills and knowledge of those that have already undertaken a FGASA Level 1 or equivalent course. The course is conducted in a different, wilder area providing a genuine and exhilarating Field Guide experience. A larger proportion of this course is spent on foot in the bush, teaching you the skills necessary to conduct bush walks yourself in big game country. The emphasis at all times is on the safety of the individual and group and the student will have the opportunity to observe and learn from extremely experienced guides. The students are expected to demonstrate decision making skills in the field and to adopt leadership roles.
As part of the developing role of the student towards a professional guiding career, the student will be expected to participate actively in care of the camp environment, guiding equipment and the safari vehicles. As part of the leadership roles, the student will need to be sensitive to and appreciate the needs of other students and work as part of a team to achieve their goals.
Please note: we also offer a 28 day FGASA Level 1 Fields Guide Course for those that have not already completed an equivalent level guiding course.
Please click on the link below for further information:
Field Guide FGASA – 28 days.
Lecture Subjects
- Introduction to the Trails Guide Course
- Advanced Orientation
- Tracks and Tracking
- Survival and Bush Skills
- Walking in Big Game Country
- Situational Awareness
- Approaching Dangerous Game
- Dangerous Animal Knowledge & Behaviour
- What a Trails Guide carries in a Backpack
- Birding & Bird Identification
- Geology
- Ecology
- Historical Human Habitation
- Conservation Ethics
- Weapon Handling, Safety and Ballistics
- Wilderness Concept
- Radio Procedures
- FGASA Rifle Handling & VPDA Qualification Opportunities
- Presentations, Tests and Evaluation
Philosophy
The aim of the course is to give the students that attend it everything they need to further their own interests and development, be that en route to a professional guiding career or purely to learn more about the bush that inspires them. The courses aim to foster not only the knowledge and skills essential to allowing the students to become excellent guides but also to show them something of the philosophy and approach that is an integral part of our interaction with the magnificent bush environment. The course aims to give the student a new outlook on the environment and perhaps even life. It is recognised that by inspiring the students that attend the course, they can go on to pass on their enthusiasm and attitudes to those they meet after returning home or to careers in the guiding industry.
Location and Environment
The training programmes take place in South African bush camps that collectively have access to 66000 hectares of untamed and stunning African bush. Depending on the camp where your course is taking place you will have the opportunity to view and interact with buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard as well as a huge variety of antelope and bird life.
The accommodation camps are designed to allow you to get up close and personal with your environment. The camps are uncluttered and authentic game reserve camps. Both camps are unfenced allowing the occasional nocturnal visitor. This means the sounds of the bush will literally be right outside your accommodation, it also provides a perfect opportunity to practice your tracking skills through and around the camp each morning.
Summers in this part of Africa are warm with temperatures ranging from the mid 200c/680F on cloudy days to the high 300C/860F on clear days. Occasionally peak temperatures can exceed 400C/1040F. The winters tend to be dry with an average morning temperature of 60C/430F tending towards warmer mornings when there is cloud cover. Afternoon temperatures range from 180C/650F to 320C/890F. There tend to be occasional winter showers and rain in the summer tends to be either heavy and short lived thunder showers or more gentle frontal rain over a longer period.
Kruger Park Concession Camp
The concession is situated within the Pafuri region which spans 24000 hectares. The concession is found in the northern part of the national park and is between the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers. The concession itself takes its name from the people that inhabit the area. The community was removed from the area in 1968 but after lengthy efforts made a return in 1998. Members of the local community are employed in the camp and the area is steeped in folklore. The area is true wilderness and located in one of the remotest areas of the park that is not accessible to normal tourists. It is a very diverse area ranging from the quietly flowing Nyala tree shaded river banks, populated by plentiful hippos and crocodiles, to the breath taking Lanner Gorge and palm fringed wetlands bordered by ancient Baobab trees. Game is varied as you would expect of the Kruger Park. Animals such as zebra, impala and kudu are resident along with lions, leopards, elephant and rhinoceros. The area is renowned for its abundant birdlife featuring rare species such as Pel’s Fishing Owl, the Wattle-eyed Flycatcher and the Grey-headed Parrot.
The camp is unfenced allowing the occasional nocturnal visitor to wander through the camp. Accommodation is in comfortable thatched, tented rooms mounted on decks with en-suite bathroom facilities. The focal point of the camp is the large open sided deck that serves as the dining and study area.
There is no cell phone coverage at the camp; the nearest area with reception is 16km away. Weekly trips are made to the area to allow students to make phone contact. There is no facility to purchase additional airtime at the camp. Emergency calls can be made via the camps satellite phone or the camp can be reached via the office.
Certification and Accreditation
The Trails Guide Course is endorsed by the FGASA. The FGASA offer a Trails Guide certification for those that have achieved Level 1 already. The theoretical examination can be sat once the Level 1 has been achieved. After a certain amount of experience has been achieved the candidate can apply for the practical evaluation. Please contact us for further details. The examination fee is currently approximately £15.00.
Typical Daily Itinerary
Rise before sunrise to a morning breakfast of coffee and biscuits whilst you listen to the bush begin to come to life around you. Your first activity of the day will be an outing into the bush. The format of these outings is very flexible and will depend on what is found on the outing as well as maybe on the roar of a lion heard during the night. The programme will also take account of the subjects that need to be covered during the course. The outing may either be on foot or in the Landrover TDI safari vehicles.
Students return to camp towards the end of the morning to enjoy brunch followed by the day’s lecture. There is study and rest time following this for you to digest the information gained during the morning outing and lecture as well as the brunch! Afternoon tea is enjoyed prior to the afternoon outing. If on foot this will last until sunset, if in the vehicles until well after dark. Drives could be looking for nocturnal animals such as the leopard or bushbabies or practicing indentifying the local bird life. Time could be spent practicing your 4x4 driving skills or practicing your new found astronomy skills.
Following this full day of activities everyone returns to camp for dinner followed by socializing around the camp fire, exchanging stories of the day’s adventures and wondering about the delights that may be in store tomorrow.
Support
Support and advice is available from your Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support.
Orientation
A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all families upon booking their placement and further advice and information will be provided via telephone and email before departure. A full orientation will be provided on arrival by the project coordinator including information on the current status of the project and familiarization with the local surroundings.
Accommodation and Meals
Kruger Park Concession Camp
Accommodation at the Kruger Park Concession Camp is in 10 comfortable thatched, tented rooms situated on large wooden decks shaded by the Nyala trees. All rooms have en-suite bathroom facilities with a shower, wash basin and hot running water. Each room also has a verandah overlooking the bush.
There is no electricity at the camp with paraffin lamps and battery operated energy saving lights being used for lighting. The camp has a generator to supply power for charging cameras, phones and batteries. It is recommended that volunteers bring a torch, with headlamps and battery operated lamps recommended to help with studying. Fresh drinking water is available from the taps and cordial fruit juices, tea and coffee are provided. The camp has a shop where soft drinks, beers and cider can be purchased. The camp only accepts cash (there are no credit/debit card/cheque facilities). If you prefer to drink wine you will need to bring this with you (there is not sufficient refrigeration space to cool white wine). A laundry service is available from the camp cleaning person at a small additional weekly charge.
Meals
Breakfast: biscuits, fruit or cereal with tea and coffee at sunrise.
Bruch: fruit, cereal and a variety of cooked breakfasts.
Afternoon tea: sandwiches and snacks
Diner: hot plated dinner of meat, vegetables and salad
Getting There
International flights should be arranged into Johannesburg (OR Tambo) Airport. From here onward transfer can be made either by road or air.
If you prefer to fly, flights to Pafuri in Kruger Park are offered by Sefofane Airlines from Lanseira Domestic Airport in Johannesburg. The flight time is approximately 3 hours, you will be met by a game drive vehicle at the landing strip to transfer you to the camp.
Road transfers can be arranged for you from Johannesburg (OR Tambo) Airport to the camp if you prefer, the transfer time is between 7 and 8 hours. Uncovered car parking is available at the camp if you would prefer to self drive. The cost of the transfer is £206 return.
Project Fees
What is included
- Full orientation by local staff on arrival
- Full support by the teaching staff and guides
- Accommodation as indicated above
- Breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner
- Lectures, game drives and walks
What is excluded
- International and domestic flights including arrival and departure fees if applicable
- Transfers to and from Johannesburg airport on arrival and at the end of the project - we can arrange return transfers for you from Johannesburg airport for £206
- Travel insurance to cover your project (to include cover for repatriation)
- Tourist Visas
- Any accommodation before and after the course
- Personal items, clothes, travel goods etc
- Spending money – for drinks etc
- Laundry
- Kruger National Park Entrance Fee
- FGASA registration, examination, moderation and annual membership fees approximately £70.00 (taking the exam is optional)
- Optional day excursions