Why Bushwise?
What sets Bushwise apart
Since the first Bushwise course was held in 2006, we’ve provided world-class field guide training to students from around the globe. Bushwise delivers the highest standard in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. This ensures our students land the best jobs in the future, backed by our employment guarantee – an industry exclusive.
It’s our passion, respect and dedication to nature, and our students, that drives us to keep on improving our courses. We train our students to deliver the best guided experiences and to be a valuable addition to wildlife research programs.
Why
Bushwise?
No.1 rated on TrustPilot
Our courses consistently rank highest on multiple review platforms, from No.1 on TrustPilot to our top ratings on Google, Facebook, GoAbroad, and GoOverseas. We produce the best field guides entering the industry, and lodges regularly contact us to request alumni for their job openings.
Bushwise is the exclusive Southern African training provider for the International Field Guide Association (IFGA) qualification and standards.
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Exclusive IFGA training provider
We are the sole Southern African training provider for the IFGA qualification. When a wildlife guide has the letters IFGA after their name, it means they were successfully admitted to and passed the most selective field guide training program in the world. They are prepared to exceed guest expectations, every step of the way.
Award winning trainers
The Bushwise team includes award-winning staff, including Pioneer Moyo and Nico Brits, category winners from the Safari Guide of the Year competition 2022 and 2023. Our trainers are experts in their field, and are constantly gaining experience and knowledge themselves. We are a specialised and committed team, with nearly a century of experience combined. We have experts in entomology, ornithology, conservation, rifle handling, botany and more.
Global opportunities
Through the IFGA curriculum, there are also unique work placement opportunities in remote destinations like Costa Rica, Thailand, Madagascar and more. Bushwise students use their training to advance their careers, all over the world. Our graduates have gotten jobs in places like Patagonia, USA, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda.
Work placements
After completing your training, do a 6-month work placement at a real lodge, reserve, conservation or wildlife research organisation. That means you’ll get valuable real work experience for your CV, as you build a professional network and get your foot in the door. Placements include luxury lodges in Southern Africa, likeThanda Portfolio, Greenfire Game Lodge, Kapama and Sibuya, and beyond.
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100% Employment rate
Since 2012, Bushwise has seen a 100% employment rate for South African graduates of our IFGA Professional Safari Guide course (6-12 months) (not including COVID-19 period when many companies had hiring freezes). This is due to the fact that our graduates are well-prepared for the job market, with skills and experience that goes beyond the books and beyond expectations.
Recruitment services
We offer comprehensive career counselling and recruitment services to all of our students, helping them reach their dream career and excel in their goals. This includes access to a vast alumni network, job posts and notifications, personalised job-search assistance, connections with hiring managers, and much more.
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Ethical guiding
Bushwise is aware of misguided practices in wildlife conservation and field guiding. Driving too close to animals, damaging ecosystems and making poor decisions in the hopes of a tip. For that reason, we prioritise aligning our courses with best practices in ethical guiding. As a unique extra, we also train all our staff and students on child and vulnerable adult protection policies and best practices.
92% of lodges prefer Bushwise grads
When lodges see Bushwise and International Field Guide Association (IFGA), they know you’ve received the top-tier field guiding education. In fact, lodges regularly request Bushwise grads for open positions. That’s because we understand what employers are looking for, and prepare you in the best way possible to enter the industry. We also work closely with key players in the wildlife sector to align our curriculum with the latest industry requirements.
Soft skills
Guiding isn’t just about the knowledge you share, it’s about the way you guide and how you connect with your guests. It’s the soft skills that make a world-class guide stand apart from the rest: communication, leadership, empathy, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, and more. We believe in the importance of training students on these aspects to make them the best guides possible.
Support at every step
Feel safe and supported throughout your time with us. Safety and first aid training are a priority that we take seriously. Bushwise’s practical courses are unique due to the amount of learning support we give students. When you need extra guidance on a topic, our trainers will be there to give you the support you need.
Career guarantee
Bushwise offers an exclusive career guarantee – the only in the industry. We are so confident in our training programs that we guarantee to South African students of our 12 month course that they will receive a job offer within 6 months of graduating.