Launch Ranger Academy to Empower Local Communities and Foster Education

Bushwise Field Guides and the Sabi Sabi Collection are proud to announce a new initiative to train the next generation of field guides through the Sabi Sabi Ranger Academy in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park. This initiative will sponsor students from local rural communities to complete field guide training, equipping them with valuable skills and providing them with career opportunities.

Starting in July 2024, Bushwise will train aspiring field guides from South Africa at Greg’s Camp within Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. The Sabi Sabi Foundation and their community development partner the Gillespie Foundation will sponsor eight students per year from local communities in each training group, beginning with four students this July. This initiative unites two organisations committed to community development and conservation, enhancing career opportunities and offering an immersive ranger training experience.

Bushwise will train candidates according to the International Field Guide Association (IFGA) standards and CATHSSETA requirements. Students will undergo six months of formal training, followed by a six-month work placement in South Africa or internationally. Upon graduation, our goal is that these newly qualified field guides will be recruited by Sabi Sabi or other luxury lodges.

Sabi Sabi and Bushwise are dedicated to instilling community and conservation values in future guiding generations. The pandemic and other global events underscored the critical role of local tourism in conservation and highlighted the dependence of game reserves on neighbouring communities for sustainable initiatives. The Sabi Sabi Ranger Academy is a key step in these organisations’ mission to respect culture and history and conserve the land for the future.

Bushwise is the leading field guide training provider in South Africa. It is the exclusive IFGA training provider in Southern Africa and consistently produces world-class guides through its CATHSSETA accredited courses.

Sabi Sabi has provided life-changing experiences to guests and residents alike since 1979. They have built a world-renowned guiding team, offering holistic experiences in the bush. As Sabi Sabi expands into the Sabi Sabi Collection, they recognise the importance of growing from within and providing a platform for the next generation of rangers, trackers, and conservationists.

Media Enquiries: Annie DuPre (annie.dupre@gviprograms.com) and Jacques Smit (smit@sabisabi.com)