Safari Guide Course - 28 Day£2,275 (28 days)

Duration & Fees

• £2,275 - 28 days

Start Dates

2012 Start Dates: 9 Jan - 5 Feb (Karongwe) | 8 May - 4 Jun (Karongwe) | 14 Aug - 10 Sept (Karongwe) | 23 Nov - 20 Dec (Makuleke)

Payment

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

What's Included

• Full support by the teaching staff and guides
• Accommodation and meals
• Lectures, game drives and walks
• Tea, coffee and cordials

What's not included

• International and domestic flights
• Transfers/transport to and from the camp, before and after the course
• Travel insurance to cover the period of the course (to include cover for repatriation)
• Tourist visas
• Any accommodation before and after the course
• Beverages (beer, ciders, bottled water)
• Personal items, clothes, travel goods etc
• Spending money – for drinks etc
• Laundry
• Kruger National Park Entrance Fee (if applicable)
• FGASA registration, examination and moderation fees (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 is 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.

Please note:  A 28-day FGASA Trails Guide Course is also offered for those who have already completed a Level 1 qualification or would just prefer to experience learning to be a trail guide rather than a field guide: Trail Guide FGASA – 28 days

What is covered during the course:

• Welcome and introduction
• Birds
• Amphibians and Reptiles
• Mammals
• Trees and tracking
• Bush survival skills
• Navigation and orientation
• Approaching dangerous game
• 4 Wheel Driving for Game Viewing
• Use of binoculars
• Wildlife photography
• Geology
• Ecology
• Astronomy
• Sleep out in the bush

Those joining this course will gain in-depth knowledge about nature, ecology and wildlife but that is only one aspect of the course.  It is about absorbing nature, learning how to interact with the environment, and tuning yourself into the ecosystems.  It’s about becoming intertwined with the natural environment that sustains us.  Along with learning about wildlife and nature… it is also a cultural interchange for our learners.  The inter-human benefit of living and learning together in the outdoors for 28 days tests one’s social and emotional intelligence skills and provides you with a holistic life experience. It is a bonding experience - in 28 days learners learn about the natural environment, themselves and each other.

Learners who have attended this courses have returned to the “real world” with a different outlook on life.  Some have taken this new outlook into their day-to-day lives and others, inspired by their time, have completely changed their lives and careers.

Typical Daily Itinerary

A typical daily programme at the camp follows a routine of rising early, usually before sunrise, enjoying hot coffee while you listen to the bush waking up and then leaving the camp for an outing into the wilderness.

The outings are extremely flexible and determined by the unpredictability of what is found during the outing in combination with the subjects that have to be covered.  The outing could be a game drive following up on the roar of a lion heard during the night or a walk learning about the plant species occurring in the area.  It could be a walk following fresh elephant tracks, learning how to track the animal and finding it or it could be a game drive to a waterhole where animals come to drink.
  
Learners return to camp in the late morning for a hearty brunch which is followed by a lecture on the subject of the day.  Study and rest time is then followed by afternoon tea and another outing into the wilderness until sunset, if walking, or until well after dark if doing a game drive.

Afternoon outings could include night drives looking for nocturnal animals such as owls, bushbabies and leopards or it could be a walk looking for and learning how to identify interesting birds.  It could be time spent studying the night skies or it could be a time for learners to test their 4x4 driving skills.

It is then back to the camp for dinner, stories around the campfire, discussing the day’s experiences and wondering about tomorrow’s adventures.

The emphasis is on practical day-to-day experiences in the bush.  The daily outings are flexible and may focus on specific subjects such as animal tracks and tracking, birds, plant identification or animal behaviour, or may involve game viewing and learning about the ecosystem in general.

Location and Environment

The training programmes take place in  a South African bush camp that has access to 9,000 hectares of untamed and stunning African bush. Students will have the opportunity to view and interact with elephant, rhino, lion, cheetah and leopard as well as a huge variety of antelope and bird life.

The accommodation camps are designed to allow students to get up close and personal with their environment. The camps are of uncluttered and authentic game reserve style, and as it is completely unfenced there are occasional nocturnal visitors, especially hyena - hence the sounds of the bush are literally right outside the accommodation!   It also provides a perfect opportunity to practice tracking skills through and around the camp each morning.

Summers in this part of Africa are warm with temperatures ranging from the mid 20's C on cloudy days to the high 30's C on clear days. Occasionally peak temperatures can exceed 40 C.  Rain in the summer tends to be either heavy with short-lived thunder storms or more gentle frontal rain over a longer period.  The winters tend to be dry and mild but with occasional winter showers.

A little bit of luxury?

Have you thought about treating yourself to a night or two of luxury at the end of your course? We can provide a perfect haven to unwind and indulge yourself before heading home. Take a look at the spectacular Kirkman's Kamp to see if you're tempted.

Support and Orientation

Support and advice is available from Amanzi Travel office staff and project/trip leaders. Upon booking, you will receive a comprehensive pre-departure pack that provides all the details you will need to prepare for your trip to Africa.  This document includes information on accommodation, staff, visas, optional activities, packing checklist and medical advice and if you have any questions that are not answered in the pack we are always on hand to help and advise. We will do all we can to ensure that you are well prepared and looking forward to your trip to Africa. You will also receive an in country orientation on arrival.

A 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency contact number is provided for everyone who travels with us.

Amanzi Travel holds an ATOL licence (9401) and is able to arrange your flights on request giving you financial protection for your flight and trip costs. We also offer advice on personal travel insurance for your trip.

The training programmes take place in South African bush camps that collectively have access to 66000 hectares of untamed and stunning African bush. 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. The 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.

Karongwe Camp

The Karongwe Camp is situated on the banks of the Karongwe River in the 9 000 hectare (22 239 acre) Karongwe Game Reserve, to the south-west of the Kruger National Park.  Accommodation is in walk-in safari style tents with shared bathroom facilities.  This camp is a good place for viewing leopard, lion and cheetah as well as elephant and white rhino.

As the camp itself is unfenced, we often have four-legged guests in the camp.  Hyena make nightly patrols of the camp and are often seen by learners who choose to make one of the viewing decks their home for the duration of the course.  Elephant, cheetah and lion have also made appearances on occasion.

Accommodation is in shared walk-in style Meru tents with twin beds.  There are shared washing facilities and a central communal area surrounded by the open decks.  Students have the option to sleep out on the open decks if they are feeling adventurous.  Single room occupancy is supplied on a double rate basis and men and women do not share a tent unless booked as a couple.

Meals
Early morning wake-up:    Tea, coffee, biscuits and fresh fruit
Brunch after activity:           Cooked breakfast, cereals and fruit
Afternoon tea :                     Light snacks
Dinner:                                  A balanced, warm plated meal (Meat, vegetables and salad)

Makuleke Kruger Park Camp

The Makuleke Kruger Park Camp is situated in the 24 000 hectare (59305 acres) Makuleke concession in the far northern and most remote part of the Kruger National Park. This area is characterised by great biodiversity and a human history reaching to the remote past. 

Accommodation is in safari tents on wooden decks covered with thatch in the shade of nyala trees. Each unit has a veranda overlooking the bush and an en-suit bathroom with a flush toilet, shower and basin. The sleeping arrangements at all the camps consist of 2 peole sharing per tent. Single requests are required to pay double-rates. Women and men do not share tents unless booked as a couple.

This camp is unfenced in order to allow free movement for the animals in their natural environment. Most of the animals that are found in the Kruger Park can be viewed in the concession. Large herds of buffalo and elephant are not uncommon and the birding in this incredible part of the Kruger Park is unsurpassed. 

Meals
Early morning wake-up:    Tea, coffee, biscuits and fresh fruit
Brunch after activity:           Cooked breakfast, cereals and fruit
Afternoon tea :                     Light snacks
Dinner:                                  A balanced, warm plated meal (Meat, vegetables and salad)

South Africa

Why visit South Africa?

Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. There’s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Africa’s biggest game reserve - Kruger National Park - boasting the most mammal species of any game reserve, and the magnificent peaks and plunging valleys of the escarpment of Drakensberg.

Cape Town is widely described as one of the world's most beautiful cities. Some of its more famous landmarks include Table Mountain, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades), Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak, Kirstenbosch Gardens and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. A combination of historical coastal charm and urbane sophistication, Cape Town has some of the finest beaches and is also the gateway to the lush Cape Winelands, famous for world-renowned wines. From here, it is an easy journey to the Whale Route, where Southern Right whales can be seen (June - November) and humpback whales, Bryde's whales, Minke whales and bottlenose dolpins can be viewed year round.

The Garden Route is renowned for its beaches, indigenous forests, nature reserves, lakes, mountain ranges, adventure opportunities and hiking trails. Plettenberg Bay is a relaxed beach paradise with spectacular walks and hikes where one can watch dolphins and whales on eco-marine cruises. With some of the world's finest beaches, the Eastern Cape's untouched and pristine coastline also has a rich social, cultural and political history. Port Elizabeth is the gateway to the Eastern Cape, and the perfect complement to the Garden Route. Cape St Francis is situated on the Indian Ocean coastline, in and around Africa's largest man made web of canals and waterways, and is renowned for its long, sandy beaches, surfing, rock fishing and tranquil lifestyle.

Kruger National Park is the flagship of South Africa's game reserves, offering an unrivalled wildlife experience over two million-hectares. Private concessions operating within and alongside Kruger National Park feature luxurious, exclusive game lodges with many exciting safari activities. Some of these lodges are unfenced, allowing for the free movement of wildlife. Madikwe Game Reserve, in the North West province, is one of South Africa's largest private Big Five game reserves and features numerous lodges and camps. The Waterberg area in the northwest is also malaria-free and is aptly named for its strong streams that flow even in dry seasons, making for excellent game viewing. Both reserves are great for those seeking an accessible malaria-free wilderness experience.

Durban is a sub-tropical city and the gateway to KwaZulu-Natal. It offers a unique mix of Zulu, Indian and colonial cultures. Visit the Anglo-Zulu battlefields, take a fascinating glimpse into Zulu culture, hike in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains, dive the reefs, marine and coastal reserves of Maputaland, as well as experience Big Five game reserves. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is renowned for saving the white rhino from the brink of extinction, and Phinda Private Game Reserve is well known for its award-winning lodges and conservation initiatives.

Johannesburg meaning "Place of Gold", is South Africa's economic powerhouse. This vibrant and cosmopolitan city is home to many attractions including the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, and also offers shopping from world-class to atmospheric curio markets. Known as the "Jacaranda City", the state capital of Pretoria features beautiful blossoming trees, significant old buildings and fascinating museums, including the Transvaal Museum, home of Mrs Ples, the australopithecine fossil found at the Cradle of Humankind.

Highlights of South Africa

• Breathtaking scenery, quaint coastal villages, cosmopolitan cities, wine routes and exclusive bush lodges.
• Exciting Big Five safaris in unspoilt wilderness areas.
• Malaria-free game viewing and sunshine all year round.
• See Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held in prison for 27 years.
• Go up Table Mountain by cable car for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful Cape Town.
• Whale watching and great white shark cage diving.
• Beautiful, pristine beaches perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
• The Cradle of Humankind: Sterkfontein is one of the world's most productive and important palaeoanthropological sites.

Climate

For Johannesburg:

Seasons	Max	Min
Summer (September - April)	25 °C	10 °C
Winter (May - August)	19 °C	4 °C
Rainfall: October to March, with November to January heaviest

South Africa has typical seasons of weather for the southern hemisphere, with the coldest days in July-August. The Benguela Current, a cold motion that moves from the lower South Atlantic Ocean, causes moderate temperatures on the West Coast. On the central plateau, which includes Free State and Gauteng provinces, the altitude keeps the average temperatures below 30 °C.
In winter, also due to altitude, temperatures drop to freezing point, and in some places, even lower. Heavy snows have fallen recently for the first time in decades in Johannesburg. During winter, it is warmest in the coastal regions, especially on the Eastern Indian Ocean coast and Garden Route, where it has year round mild weather with occasional rain. As winter is cooler and drier, it is more suitable for hiking and outdoor pursuits, and is also a good time for game viewing as vegetation is less dense and thirsty animals congregate around rivers and other permanent water sources.

In summer, South Africa experiences the hottest temperatures and this is generally when most rain falls, October – March. However, there is one exception -  the Western Cape, which is a winter-rain area that enjoys a Mediterranean climate (average 26°C).

Christmas to mid-January, and Easter are the height of the peak season for visitors.
Autumn (April/May) and Spring (mid-Sept to November) are ideal almost everywhere.

Key Facts

Population – 50 million
Capital – Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)
Currency – Rand (ZAR)
Official Language(s) – Afrikaans, English (South African English), Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Time difference – GMT +2 hours
Telephone – country code 27, international access code 00

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