Introduction to Field Guiding

Info

Learn with the top-rated FGASA provider. Engage in personal, interactive learning experiences delivered by our academy of experts. Make connections, start your dream career.

Next start date 04 March 2024

Course Frequency Every 3 months

Duration 4 weeks

Time Commitment 10 hours per week

Format Self-paced, online

Age 18 and above

Language English

price From £ 720

enquire

Overview

There’s a reason we’re the top-rated FGASA provider. More than 90% of our graduates get a job upon earning their FGASA NQF4 qualification, formerly known as the FGASA Level 2. This is due to our strong connections with ecotourism employers across the African continent and our ability to develop new field guides of the highest calibre using our superior learning experiences. Unlike other FGASA courses of its kind, where learners self-study all training materials, we provide an engaging, experiential experience delivered by experts with over 50 years of combined experience in the field.

Join our online FGASA course to attend masterclasses led by directors of conservation organisations, managers of private nature reserves and professional field guides who have led thousands of safari drives and walks. Along with your classmates, fellow rising stars in African ecotourism, ask our experts questions and receive answers informed by many years of experience. These discussions are designed to not only allow you to master the subject matter, but to create meaningful connections with leaders in the field. This allows you to kickstart your professional network, an essential aspect of modern-day employment as most vacancies today are filled through referral.

In addition to providing tons of opportunities for social learning, our course is designed to keep you motivated throughout by providing regular progress milestones in the form of quizzes. Learning is also facilitated through the discussion of real-world case studies to ground the theory in the practical application of field guiding.

We want you to become the kind of field guide lodges reserve for their top clientele and who garners recommendations wherever you go. Four modules in this course cover Special Knowledge and Skills, training which will be crucial as you develop as a field guide. For example, completing the Viewing Potentially Dangerous Animals (VPDA) and Advanced Rifle Handling (ARH) modules will allow you to develop the advanced safety skills required to give clients the up-close-and-personal wildlife interactions they’re looking for.Β 

Once you have successfully passed both of our online courses and your FGASA Apprentice Field Guide theory examination, your next step to becoming a qualified field guide is to apply this knowledge on-site in the African wild. You can do this by joining us at the Bushwise campus in South Africa’s Limpopo region, not far from Kruger National Park.

Course details

Course specifics
  • 4 weeks

  • 7–10 hours per week

  • Self-paced

  • 18 and above (We welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels.)

  • English

What you’ll learn

On completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Understand the role and responsibilities of the professional field guide
  • Lead and engage large groups of diverse people from around the world
  • Understand the recommended ethical guiding practices and carry out an ethical guided experience in the natural environment
  • Carry out research on suitable sites in preparation for your guests
  • Ensure the health and safety of your clients on a guided experience.

Join this online course to attend live lectures delivered by leaders in their field who have over 50 years of combined experience. See the African wild through their eyes, informed by in-depth knowledge developed over many years. Listen to their stories and learn from their successes and mIssteps. Ask them questions and receive personal feedback.

Why choose us?

You’ll be joined on your learning journey by other students from around the world who are just as passionate about African nature and wildlife as you are. You’ll get the opportunity to discuss real-world case studies that put the theory you’re learning into context.

Through regular knowledge-check quizzes and assignments, you’ll see your expertise grow, and get to apply your acquired knowledge to things you might see and experience while in wild African spaces.

You’ll complete the first three official FGASA modules. Topics covered include the best practices of field guiding, radio procedures, rifles and advanced rifle handling, and viewing potentially dangerous animals.

But, like all Bushwise courses, we cover so much more than the fundamentals. By attending our masterclasses, you’ll gain insight into various aspects of conservation. You’ll also learn about anti-poaching initiatives and innovative conservation strategies. This course is designed for everyone, from students, new graduates or career changers who are looking to start a career in African wildlife, to working professionals or retirees interested in citizen science projects.

If you’re interested in starting a professional field guiding career, this course is your first step.

Info

Learn with the top-rated FGASA provider. Engage in personal, interactive learning experiences delivered by our academy of experts. Make connections, start your dream career.

Next start date 04 March 2024

Course Frequency Every 3 months

Duration 4 weeks

Time Commitment 10 hours per week

Format Self-paced, online

Age 18 and above

Language English

price From £ 720

enquire

Testimonials

We pride ourselves on the success of our students. Their success starts with the quality and depth of our courses. Our online courses are no different.

We value the power of reviews and the importance they play in decisions for our prospective students.

Take some time to read what our alumni have to say. The testimonials from students around the world who completed our online courses will hopefully help you in making your decision to join the Bushwise team.

Read the testimonials below.

I found the course to be extremely helpful and informative. ...

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Want to become a professional nature guide? Join BUSHWISE they ...

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To future students, from all the places I could've chosen, ...

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Thank you for the most amazing, engaging and interesting courses ...

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The course exceeded my expectations. It went into so much ...

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I am a gap year student who loves nature and ...

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I definitely enjoyed the course, you gain a lot of ...

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The course was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed every online class, ...

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This course is one of a kind, I could not ...

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This course was very intense and super interesting! If there ...

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A lovely course with a world of information at your ...

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Hands down the best online course I have attended! Very ...

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It was so exciting to learn what your role as ...

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β€œThoroughly enjoyed this course… Potentially Dangerous Game was my favourite ...

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An amazing course who you will learn so many thing ...

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Once again Bushwise has done it! I enjoyed the course ...

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Just finished both of the online courses and can’t rate ...

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Info

Learn with the top-rated FGASA provider. Engage in personal, interactive learning experiences delivered by our academy of experts. Make connections, start your dream career.

Next start date 04 March 2024

Course Frequency Every 3 months

Duration 4 weeks

Time Commitment 10 hours per week

Format Self-paced, online

Age 18 and above

Language English

price From £ 720

enquire

The Bushwise difference

Bushwise’s founder is a passionate conservationist. After her long and fruitful career in conservation, she realised there is a need for professional field guides to help ethically sustain the wonderful planet we call home. This passion gave birth to Bushwise in 2006, and we have been delivering the cream of the crop to the safari industry in qualified field guides.

It’s our passion, love and dedication for mother earth that drives us to constantly evolve in our learning methods. As a result, there is a substantial difference in experience and education that you receive at Bushwise, and that is why we deliver field guides of the highest standards. This is why we can confidently offer an employment guarantee to all our South African students

Highest quality
field guide trainer in South Africa

Bushwise is well known in the industry as a provider of the highest quality field guide trainer in South Africa. This online course aims to provide a level of quality and support which is no different.

Responsive and
efficient support that goes above and beyond

The Bushwise team is extremely passionate about nature and the field guiding industry, and focuses on providing support above and beyond other providers. Whether it’s assisting students to reach specific learning-based milestones, or providing support towards a new career path in the safari industry.

Expert-lead personal learning experiences

Bushwise’s online courses are unique due to the amount of personal and guided learning time the student gets. There are weekly live webinars hosted by the instructors, allowing you to engage with students in discussions and Q&As. There are also student forums available to interact with fellow students, discuss topics of interests, ask questions and learn new things.

Info

Learn with the top-rated FGASA provider. Engage in personal, interactive learning experiences delivered by our academy of experts. Make connections, start your dream career.

Next start date 04 March 2024

Course Frequency Every 3 months

Duration 4 weeks

Time Commitment 10 hours per week

Format Self-paced, online

Age 18 and above

Language English

price From £ 720

enquire

Syllabus

The course is made up of four official FGASA modules, three of these are additional NQF2 modules.

Take a look at the course outline below:

Week 1

- Aims and principles of nature guiding
- What makes a nature guide ethical

- Outcomes and best practices of interpretation
- Important skills and tools for guiding

Week 2

- Practical guiding competence: from pre-briefings to debriefings and everything in between
- The qualifications and legal requirements to guide

- How to operate a two-way radio
- Sighting procedures and common radio protocols in the field

Week 3

- The role and responsibilities of an apprentice trails guide
- How to interpret potentially dangerous animals’ behaviour and conduct a safe and ethical animal encounter

Week 4

- Rifle safety and shot placement
- Protocol for advanced handling of a bolt action rifle

- Tips on preparing for your FGASA theory examination
- Next steps for pursuing a career as a professional field guide