Your pathway
to the world
of wildlife tourism
Bushwise
Practical Wildlife Tourism Course - 6/12 months
Step into the world of wildlife tourism with practical hands-on training across lodge operations, marketing, and safari guiding. Immerse yourself in African wildlife, learn to create compelling marketing campaigns, and gain the skills to manage guest experiences and the business side of safari tourism – all while living in a Big Five Game reserve.
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Your gateway to a career in wildlife tourism
Want to get into wildlife tourism but not sure where to start? The Practical Wildlife Tourism Course gives you a complete, hands-on understanding of the industry – combining lodge operations, marketing know-how, and safari guiding skills, preparing you for real jobs and setting you up for a variety of roles in the wildlife tourism industry.
And the best part? You don’t need any academic certificates to take this course – just a deep love of the wild.
This course is for you if:
- You’ve just finished school and want practical, on-the-ground training rather than more classroom theory.
- You’ve finished your time at university and want to turn your theoretical studies into real-world, practical skills.
- You’re taking a gap year and want a fun, structured way to build experience and confidence.
- You’re curious about a career in wildlife tourism and want to see what it’s all about.
For eligible South African graduates of our 12-month course, we offer an industry-first employment guarantee — a job offer within 12 months of qualifying (available to eligible students; terms apply). Our unique in-house recruitment team will also support you throughout your time with us with one-on-one career coaching, personalised job-matching, and placement on our applicant network to help connect you with opportunities across Southern Africa.
Course overview
This course is designed to give you a fast, hands-on route into the world of wildlife tourism – combining practical field skills, marketing expertise, and lodge operations knowledge. Over 6 or 12 months, you’ll gain experience across all aspects of running and promoting a safari lodge, learning alongside a passionate group of people who share your love for the bush.
During the course, you will:
- Develop practical skills in guest relations, booking management, revenue generation, event coordination, and day-to-day lodge management.
- Explore how to design and deliver exceptional safari experiences, from check-in to post-stay follow-up.
- Learn how trade relations, partnerships, and commercial practices contribute to the success of many lodges and wildlife organisations.
- Build essential bush skills, including wildlife tracking, ecology, and field safety.
- Learn to create engaging content, manage social media campaigns, produce photography and videography, and understand digital marketing strategies that support conservation and tourism.
There’s an optional six-month work placement that gives real-world experience: it helps you build your portfolio, expand your network, and take your first step toward a career in wildlife tourism. The placement forms the second half of the 12-month course – choose the 6-month option for training only, or the 12-month option to combine training with a practical placement.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a well-rounded skill set, a portfolio of work, and the confidence to step into roles across wildlife tourism, marketing, and lodge operations.
After you graduate, you’ll have ongoing access to the Bushwise Network – our connections to wildlife reserves, safari lodges, and conservation organisations – as well as our recruitment service and talent acquisition team. This network is designed to help you take the first step into a wildlife career that matches your skills, interests, and goals.
Why study with Bushwise?
Trusted for over 20 years
For more than two decades, Bushwise has been a trusted name in the wildlife, tourism, safari, and hospitality sectors. Our long-standing commitment to quality education and industry partnerships means thousands of graduates have launched successful careers with our support, making us a reliable foundation in the safari and hospitality industries.
An industry-first employment guarantee*
Bushwise offers the only employment guarantee in the industry. We’re confident in the quality of our training, so much so that we guarantee that eligible South African graduates of our 12-month course will receive a job offer within twelve months of qualifying. Learn more about our guarantees here.
*Available to eligible students only. Terms and conditions apply.
Recognised accreditations
Bushwise graduates leave fully qualified and industry-ready. Our nationally recognised accreditations include CATHSSETA Nature Site Guide qualifications (NQF2), Cybertracker Track and Sign, Basic Wilderness First Aid, and more. In addition, our in-house courses and certificates give our guides an extra edge in the safari industry.
Award-winning trainers
The Bushwise team includes award-winning guides such as Nico Brits, a category winner at the Safari Guide of the Year competition in 2022. Our trainers are experts dedicated to continually expanding their knowledge and skills. Together, they bring over 150 years of combined experience across specialities like wildlife behaviour, conservation, rifle handling, botany, and more, making us a specialised and committed team.
Ethical guiding specialists
We’re aware of the damaging practices that exist in the industry, from crowding animals, prohibiting animal movement, to poor guest management and tip-driven decisions. At Bushwise, we train guides to be ethical guiding specialists, a skill that is more important than ever in today’s wildlife and conservation industry. Our courses include a dedicated module and assessment on Ethical Guiding, ensuring students learn to lead responsibly and sustainably.
No.1 rated on TrustPilot
We’re proud to be the top-rated field guide training provider on TrustPilot, with consistently high ratings across other review platforms like Google, Facebook, GoAbroad, and GoOverseas. Our graduates leave well-prepared, professional, and confident, and their reviews speak volumes about the quality of our training and support.
Guaranteed placement*
For our 12-month course students: after completing six months of training, you’ll embark on a six-month work placement at a real lodge, reserve, or conservation organisation. This invaluable experience boosts your CV, helps you build a professional network, and gets your foot in the door. Placements include luxury lodges across Southern Africa, as well as international opportunities in destinations such as Kekoldi, Costa Rica, or Chiang Mai, Thailand. Learn more about our guarantees here.
Practical, industry-ready skills for wildlife tourism
This course gives you hands-on experience across the full spectrum of wildlife tourism operations, including guest experience management, back-of-house lodge operations, digital marketing, social media, photography, and marketing campaigns. You’ll gain a well-rounded, industry-relevant foundation to launch your career.
Industry’s only 360° recruitment division
Bushwise is the only training provider with a built-in 360° recruitment division designed to support both guides and lodges. With our large network of lodge partners across Southern Africa and beyond, we make it even easier for qualified professionals to find the right job and for lodges to hire top-tier candidates.
Whether it’s permanent placements, short-term contracts, or seasonal roles, our recruitment team works with graduates and experienced guides alike. We also offer free one-on-one career advice to help you navigate your next step. From job matching and personalised support to assisting lodges to build strong guiding teams, our recruitment division connects the best people with the best opportunities – all under one roof.
Live in nature while you learn
There’s no better place to train as a wildlife marketer than the bush itself. Over 6 or 12 months, you’ll live in camp, surrounded by wildlife and experienced guides. Understanding animal behaviour firsthand is essential for content creators, marketers, and photographers who want to do justice to wild spaces.
Fund your Bushwise course!
- Discounts of up to £2200.
- Grants & scholarships of up to £4500.
- Student loans available.
Exclusive
benefits at Bushwise
