Uncategorized Archives

Big bird week on a nature conservation course

This blog was written by Bushwise student Jacques du Toit, in October 2022 when the students participated in a Bushwise big birding competition. 3 min read This week was “Bird Week”, a refreshing change in scenery from our usual schedule throughout the semesters thus far. On Monday we were briefed on the rules, regulations and...

Mad for marula fruit: facts about the marula tree

BY: Megan Colborne As a field guide, you need to be prepared for every type of question. From “what is a marula tree?” to “are African animals getting drunk from ripe marula fruit?” Whatever the question, we’ve got you covered on all things marula. Once you’ve completed your training at Bushwise Field Guides and...

Off-roading in the bush – and in life

Leaving the fast-paced life of the German autobahn behind, Bushwise student Marc Weber discusses slowing down and off-roading in the African bush. Camp manager blogs are written by our current students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week. As a stereotypical...

On the trail: A student’s introduction to tracking

BY: Callum Evans Camp manager blogs are written by our current students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week. During the fourth off-week of the semester, some of the Bushwise students attended a week-long course on trailing animals at Colin Patrick...

No shortcut to Trails Guide

BY: Lindi Hutchinson, a trainer at the Bushwise Balule Campus. I remember my journey to become a full Trails Guide. It was everything but easy. There was a lot of sweat, tears and frustration. I jumped from lodge to lodge in the hope of finding a quicker way to achieve the hours and encounters I...

Daniel Mogale on falling deeply in love with nature, and life after Bushwise

The Bushwise alumni gives his unfiltered take on choosing the road less travelled, and staying focused through a tumultuous time. BW: I hope you are well. Where in the world are you now? DM: I am quarantined in the capital city (Pretoria), learning Mandarin. BW: When did you do the Bushwise course? DM:...

How to navigate using the stars in the savannah

Imagine learning how to navigate using stars to find your way through the savannah. You can on a Bushwise course. Read on to find out more.

Why geology matters in field guiding

What is the study of geology? And how do field guides use geology in the field? Read on for answers to these questions and more.

Five of the biggest differences between field guides and game rangers

BY: Tasneem Johnson-Dollie Looking to become a conservationist? Well, getting a feel for the differences between what game rangers and field guides do is a good place to start when planning for a career in conservation. Yes, field guides and game rangers work at the same establishments, and they may even interact with each other...

Then the rains came

By: Sergio Cerrai The dust of the dry winter had settled on the cars parked on campus. This prompted me to wash my car……. and then…… the rains came. What if I had washed my car a few weeks earlier? The overcast sky and rain stayed with us for five days. A river that has...